Did Ray Parlour deserve more than 10 caps for England?!

Remember watching Ray make his debut at Anfield in 1992 and he conceded a penalty in the Wednesday night game on Sky. I watched the game before I headed out for night shift as a young copper then in East London. About 3am that morning, myself and a colleague in a panda car, stopped a vauxhall carlton near Romford that had a faulty light. When the driver got out, I immediately recognised it as Ray because of his hair and what I had watched about 6-7 hrs earlier. The guy I was with had no idea who he was. I had a quick chat with Ray about his car and the game. It was his mums car he was driving, and he was gutted about the penalty. I let him go, shook his hand and told most of my football mates about that story over the next few years. About 10 years later I was in a nightclub called Palms in Romford. We were watching the Arsenal v Newcastle evening game on one of the TV's inside . Ray was playing, I think he scored, and low and behold about 4 hrs later we spotted him in the nightclub with us. When he was alone I introduced myself and asked him about his debut and if he remembered being stopped by the police when nearly home. He did, so when I said it was me, we had a laugh, and he bought me a beer. Another copper I worked with had a daughter who passed away with cancer. Ray always arranged a signed Arsenal shirt for her annual cancer charity evening. Always had great respect for him as a player and a person ever since

Hearing what Glen Hoddle did to Ray, makes me really angry. How incredibly unprincipled.

Seems a really top bloke , even as a spurs fan I enjoyed this interview and his honesty , him Ian Wright and Martin keown allways give spurs respect ( even though it probably hurts ) and I respect them for that .

He wasn’t underrated by us Arsenal fans. I can assure you of that. He was a vital cog in the Arsenal midfield. Happy happy days they were!

The real romford Pele, was the ultinate football lad. What a guy!

Used to talk to ray parlour every morning when I was a cleaning at petrol station Really great bloke .. top top player that goal against Chelsea in the fa cup final ... It's only Ray Parlour 😂

It’s only Ray Parlour 😆 Legend! Thanks for everything Ray 👍

Criminally under rated. One of the best

As a Spurs fan he is down to Earth a top bloke... fair play :)

I can listen to ray talk all day. What a great guy

I'm a Spurs fan,but if I'm being honest I couldn't understand how his name was ommitted from that particular "World Cup"squad!.He had a fantastic season and had really hit some form!

This video was really good because none of the presenters are in it😂😂

I've never been an Arsenal fan as I'm from the North West. But I've always respected Ray Parlour, what a player.

As an united fan I hated him because he was so damn good..now that he is not playing ..I love him

What a legend. Remember Ray & Freddie scoring in the 2002 FA-cup final against Chelsea. Loved that Arsenal era, and the boys seem to have enjoyed it as well

Salt of the Earth is Ray. When your under pressure in life with your job, a young family and finances its easy to make mistakes. A few drinks now and then can lead to one to many. When I first came to London I lived in a bedsit in Holland Park. Went down to Shepherds Bush to watch QPR, Rodney Marsh, Stan Bowles and the Morgan twins. A really great team. Unfortunately a lot of grief with hooligans in the crowds. Football has changed so much from those days. It was hard men versus genius's back then. Rodney, Stan and George Best could deal with Billy Bremner and the Leeds boys but the contests were great. Miss you Ray, great interview. I live in Luton now and after a long exile we might be back in the Championship after 10 years ! Hope springs eternal in football for everyone.

"I had the cheek to ask him on the plane 'should we have a few beers on the way back?'" LOL this guy is an absolute legend

Even though they didnt get the wages the footballers get now I think being a footballer pre-social media with the drinking culture. Must have been a great time.

Great player, great bloke. And I’m a Spurs supporter. Also acknowledge Ian Wright as a legend.’

Miss having Ray at the Arsenal. Loved him strutting around the Highbury turf.

"Short back and sides, Eileen" 😂🤣😭

He was genuinely world class for us at times, especially Wenger's title winning seasons .

The build-up to cup final day was the best. It was the best day of the year. When I was a lad cup final day was the best day of the year. As you said ray it was the only live game on TV on account of that I used to go watch football whenever or wherever I could. Ray should have been in the WC squad. You were fantastic in 98. Thanks Ray...

A lot say we have never replaced Vieira but to be honest have we ever replaced Ray Parlour? Great player and a decent bloke.

I’m a Qpr fan - parlour was brilliant -hard as nuts and a winner

Big up the Romford pele, an invincible premier league winner Arsenal legend.

As an old school united fan I’ve got nothing but total respect for ray, those old days of rivalry are some of my best football memories

AS A UNITED FAN I HAVE NOTHING BUT RESPECT FOR RAY. TRULY UNDERRATED PLAYER. A FANS PLAYER.

"who else is coming?" "no these are 7 each" LOL 😆

Great footballer, even better story teller! An ARSENAL LEGEND!

Love you Ray,you were fantastic for us,very underated and versatile, people forget that, you played right across the midfield, Arsenal and PROUD!,top bloke Ray!!.

'Short back and sides' 😂😂😂 what an absolute legend!

The Romford pele !! And he’s so right about cup final day. I used to watch it from 9am when it started until the end which was about half 5. When the FA cup still mattered. And Bryan robson was my hero growing up. As a United fan when he was in the team it gave us an extra 10 or 20%.

One of the most underrated players in Arsenals and premier league history..

Loved the utd arsenal rivalry, football has never been the same since. I am fan of neither of them but it was great to watch.

Absolutely brilliant again keep up the greatnesses👌🏻

100% genuine guy!

Love Ray. Excellent player and great stories.

One of my favourite players growing up. Certainly not the most technically gifted but he would run through a brick wall for the team and rarely went missing in a big game. Motm for me in the '98 cup final and of course there's was that absolute screamer vs Chelsea four years later.

Had a good dad, mad into football, encouraging his boys. COYI

How is the real Romford Pele not a pundit, he tells the best stories....especially the Kolo Toure trial😂😂😂

I met ray when i was taking my grandkids to see a star war at the cinema near Highbury in 1996 and he was lovely.

Comes across as a grounded well brought up lad. Credit to his upbringing. His dad sounds like a gem 💎

Manager's personal private beliefs should play no part in selection...

Ray Parlour - I liked Arsenal when I lived in USA, & remember thinking he was French at the time because I was wondering why he didn't get picked for England. Homeboy was from Romford!

Wish modern day footballers were like this. Great story. Coys.

This was a brilliant series. Bring it back please!

They say you should never meet yout heroes, but Ray is a top bloke happy to have a laugh and give you time. Lovely chap and an underrated footballer. The Romford Pele indeed!

Great great player and a thorn-in-the-side as he always seemed to score against Leeds (my team). really enjoyed this video...

Fantastic player. Always gave maximum effort every game. Wish I could say the same about the current lot. Only thing I would say about Ray, he should’ve scored more goals for Arsenal I think. Showed very good goal scoring ability at times. 2 hat-tricks in his Arsenal career are testimony to that, but with his engine and bullet shot he should’ve been a 10 goals a season man really. You gotta love him though!

Enjoyed that, not an Arsenal fan but was interesting to listen to Ray stories.

What a player this guy was, class is permanent

Parlour was seriously underrated. He could do it all, pass, run all day, could score, brave, basically what James Milner is now

Nice bloke. Really like him. Decent, honest bloke and love listening to him on talk sport. From a Leeds fan.

The Romford Pele gets into "my squad" off sheer effort alone, was never disappointed to see Ray Parlour in Arsenal's staring 11 😎

Just think how many arsenal legends were in that 98 double team and he was player of the season.

MU fan ,hated when he played against us, he was class and didn’t mind an argument, hoddle was a tit, should have just sat down and talk to him

I like his story about Kolo Toure's trial. That's hilarious!

Great interview, what a down to earth bloke...nice one

Romford Pele, happy memories: inc the FA cup final goal v Chelsea in Cardiff... top geeza!

Ray parlour was brilliant under wenger especially in CM he got some goals aswell 2 hat ricks he was in the invincible team of 2003/04 i always liked ray marc Overmars named him the Romford pele so that is saying something as overmars was class

Great player for Arsenal very underrated footballer most Arsenal fans love him

Ray comes across as such a decent bloke. Always interested in what he has to sayl.

Loved Ray Parlour , absolute legend 👍

LOL, there is no triad area in Hong Kong. It was Parlour who got pissed and caused trouble because HK people don't usually bother anyone unless they've been offended.

I never did like Glen Hoddle as England manager his decisions cost us the game against Argentina in the world cup `98

Really interesting and funny chat! Quality player 👍

He’s a joy to listen to is Ray Parlour. Stories are brilliant. Love the guy. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿See you at Cheltenham Ray. Don’t spill your pints! 🍺

I remember the 02 fa cup final when he scored against us. I remember the cup final days & the build up as a kid on BBC. I think I'm one the last generation where the FA cup meant alot to teams before Sky & other big cooperations took over. As a Chelsea fan, I was really upset back then. I knew Arsenal were powerful, but i still remember being miserable. The two goals we conceded was a banger. Seems like a long long time ago now, him & freddie Lundberg with the red hair who scored against us.

He was very spirited player. May not be most technically gifted but gave everything in field. Arsenal lacked such a player in their trophy less years.

My brother got a West Ham kits as his first football strip as well. Only problem was we lived in Glasgow in the late 1960s and he was a mad Celtic fan. West Ham was the only kit they had in the tiny sports shop in the town we were on holiday in. In those days you were just chuffed to get anything at all. I guess it was just after England's WC win and there were a few good 'Ammers in the team.

No Affiliation at all to my Club but I’ve got to say I LOVE RAY PARLOUR class guy & a great footballer LEGEND ! Up The Villa

Great guy, always so honest, not enough of Ray types about anymore, too many pampered nobodies, he was a top footballer, and a brilliant guy.Loved this interview so honest , no bullshit

It's true there was only one live game a year, the cup final. It's unreal in today's world...

I was lucky enough to fall in love with Everton in the 80's. FA Cup final day was awesome. Also Ray Parlour was a great player as well.

Just look at Ian Wright he only managed 33 caps

He brought energy and balance, top player.

"drunk the first 2 very quickly cause we haven't had a drink for 13 days" LOL

Great interview from a great player (Man Utd supporter)

Top man Ray parlour, great player. Everton fan.😎

Great video and input from Ray Parlour

50 curries a month and 100 pints and he's bang in shape.

In the 1990's Spurs training ground was near Hendon. I was lucky enough to be invited to watch a youth match between Spurs and Arsenal. The Spurs team were run by Patsy Holland (ex W Ham) During the game one tall long haired Arsenal player stood out. Every time the ball came anywhere near him he kicked the nearest Spurs player up in the air, not sure he ever got near the ball. Some time later I saw this kid in the Gooners first team, Ray Parlour!!! Having said that he was one of their best players in the modern era. He also tell a good story and yes he should have got more than 10 caps. COYS

Top man Ray Parlour great bloke

You never see ray parlour and Charlie dimmock in the same room ,hmmmmm!!

When the FA Cup was the biggest day of the year. European Cup? As important as Jeux Sans Frontiers. Streets were silent in every town across the country. Didn't matter who was playing. Dad and uncles having a drink, cousins kicking a ball about outside. Probably the biggest event after Christmas. Especially when one got a colour TV! Anyway. Love Ray's stories. Great player.

I'm a City fan so have nothing to gain, but I've always liked parlour I thought he was a top player and held is own in some talented Arsenal teams. I would even say he was a pivotal member should have had more England caps. All the best Romford Pele and your contribution to football. You're very welcome.👍🏾☀️👋🏾✨🙏🏾🙂

Great interview but shame about the background music which was too intrusive at times and distracts from what Ray was saying

I've seen Ray Parlour a couple of times on the Billericay High Street in Essex.

Had a beer with him in Singapore, very easy man to like. Lots of chat and time for fans.

I met Ray parlour once...a top man and very funny. I imagine he was a popular character in the squad as well as a top player.

Romford Pele! Total bs re England! Should have got many more caps. Such a versatile player and raised the level of his play when the Dutch and French posse’s came to Arsenal! Arsenal Legend!

Great interview

Worked with his brother on MJN ....spoke about him, back in the day, when he was coming through the ranks.....Romford Pele...love im...😉👍

Love Ray Parlour. A real top class player. He'd walk into todays England team!!

Brilliant interview.

Remember your screemer v Chelsea in the FA cup final , top player and servant for the Arsenal, a true legend and so grounded, good luck Ray !😉

Met ray in 2008 in London great guy and player

Not an arsenal fan, but always liked Ray Parlour. Top player and top guy. 👍🏻