Jack did ring, however. As their friendship flourished and they travelled and fished, they saw some new houses being built near the Ridgepool there in Ireland. It was called Moy Heights and Ray suggested that they should get one between them. The next day Jack’s wife Pat rang Ray up and asked him what this was about a house and hence they subsequently cracked on and bought it. It’s been the best investment they ever made, and they often go there. I probably should have mentioned this earlier on in the chapter, but while talking to Ray in Chester it became clear very quickly that he should write his own book. He admitted that quite a few people have suggested that and he is considering it. So, as a result, I have only recorded a small handful of the stories he regaled me with that afternoon, otherwise I would spoil the real thing when he writes it. I have offered to help get him started. I plan to send him a draft structure to put all his life into to get his book started. ‘Now that would be a book,’ he said. I really want to record so many of the tales that Ray tells me, but I would feel guilty. There are so many tales from his travels with Jack, many of which came about just when and just after he became Republic of Ireland coach. He got them into their first World Cup in 1990. The man became a national hero. In 1996, he was awarded honorary Irish citizenship. The honour amounts to full Irish citizenship, and it is the highest honour the Irish state gives out and it does so very rarely indeed. The tales all have one common theme, that Jack takes the time to sign every autograph and is a thoroughly decent man. I would have loved to have met him. Ray, its been a blast. I will get a draft knocked out soon of your book and we will have another coffee. Footnote: Jack Charlton sadly passed away on the 10th July 2020. Months later, when I am talking to Ray to sort out some of my spelling mistakes, he muses on what a great book he has in his memory about the great man.
117
