Ray Bushe

Football player infobox
playername = Ray Bushe


fullname = Raymond Christopher Bushe
height = 5' 7"
nickname = "Busher"
cityofbirth = Dublin
countryofbirth = Ireland
dateofbirth = 31 December 1942
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
position = Striker/Forward
youthyears = 1958 - 1960
youthclubs = Belgrove F.C.
seniorclubs = Drumcondra F.C. Dundalk FC St Patrick's Athletic F.C. Athlone Town AFC

Raymond Christopher "Ray" Bushe (born 31 December 1942) was an Irish soccer player from Dublin during the 1960s and 1970s.

Born in the Dublin suburb of Ranelagh, he played his schoolboy football with various clubs before being spotted by Drumcondra F.C. while playing minor for Belgrove F.C. on Dublin's Northside. Bushe was selected to represent Ireland in a mini-tournament in the UK in 1963, alongside Mick Dalton and Joe McGrath. Bushe played and scored on his international debut vs Switzerland (a 30 yard shot) and then had his ankle broken by a reckless challenge from an Italian defender in the 2nd game. He never represented his country again. Fact|date=March 2008 After several successful season with Drumcondra, he signed for Dundalk FC, where he played for several seasons, scoring many goals, before moving to St Patricks Athletic in Dublin. Again, he enjoyed a successful stint with the Saints, and finally ended his career with Athlone Town AFC [http://www.iol.ie/~eganwd/atfc/history/] . He was the first big name player to move to Athlone, then a budding non league club, with ideas of entering the League of Ireland. Bushes goals and his ability helped achieve that goal, and helped attract more big names to the County Westmeath outfit. He was joined again by Mick Dalton, Willie Roche, Paddy McDonald, and others. After several successful season with Athlone, he dropped out of the professional scene, and starred with the great junior football club Hoganville from Ringsend, where he went on to win many honours. He has two daughters and one son Jason Bushe, who played his schoolboy football with Rosemount Boys and Stella Maris Football Clubs. Jason Bushe played for the League of Ireland with Athlone Town AFC and Kilkenny City F.C. in late 1980s and early 1990s. He went on to play for some clubs in Leinster Senior League such as Railway Union, Glenmore Celtic, Ballyfermot United and Dublin Bus F.C.