Three previous seasons of frustration were forgotten by West Perth defender Ray Holden in 1982. It was a year in which he could justifiably claim the mantle of number one full back in the land, after being a standout performer for Western Australia in three interstate games. Against South Australia(twice) and Victoria he was one of our best in a defence that was under pressure. Subsequently drafted by Melbourne, a succession of disappointment, clearance wrangles, and injury combined to eventually ring the curtain on a career of what may have been for the dashing Holden. Son of former State Amateur representative Bob Holden, Ray was a product of Tuart Hill juniors, where he was coached by Dennis Cometti, and was a regular inclusion in district combined sides as a ruckman or centre half forward. Joining West Perth's Ken McAullay-coached colts in 1977, he played a season with them, and big things were predicted for the big man in 1978. An ankle injury in a scratch match put paid to that, and he was forced onto the sidelines for ten weeks.  Debuting in the first game of 1979, Holden lined up in a back pocket alongside Geoff Taylor against Subiaco and played half the season, before being relegated to the reserves for the latter half of the year. Coach Graeme Campbell left him there for the following season as well, before playing him at full back in the league side in 1981.  Holden was reunited with his old under fifteens coach in 1982, when Cometti was appointed coach of the Cardinals.  It may or may not have been a result of the partnership, but Holden became a revelation in '82. His outstanding form led to a position on Melbourne's list, and it was with much anticipation that he made his way East at the season's end. Debuting in the first match of 1983, it was to be a year of disillusionment for the full back. “I basically didn't quite fit in,”he recalled. It was always going to be hard to oust Danny Hughes from the full back position, but there didn't seem to be many opportunities given to the West Australian from coach Barassi, and he ended up with three appearances with the Demons league side.  Holden had taken twelve months leave from the Fire Brigade, and, seeing his career going nowhere in Melbourne, he requested a clearance back to WA.   There were complications, however, when Melbourne put a hefty transfer price on his head, and West Perth baulked at the amount. Just when it was looking bleak for Holden, Perth coach Mal Brown, who had been State coach in 1982, and was aware of the capabilities of the full back, contacted him and advised that Perth would pay the fee if he was happy to join them.  For Perth it seemed a good investment. The twenty four year old Holden should have had at least six years left to give the club, but things went awry right from the start. In an exasperating series of major mishaps which led to Brown labelling Ray as the “most social player at the club,” he injured a hamstring on the eve of the first match of 1985, putting him out for ten weeks, tore a ligament bone from his ankle early in 1986, had an appendix operation a few days before the first game of 1987, incurring a four week break, then copped another injury mid season. That was the final straw for Holden, who had struggled through sixteen games with Perth in two and a half years. His younger brother, Gary, had recently debuted with West Perth, so Perth agreed to clear him back to play with him.  His record in the following two and a half years at the Cardinals was remarkably the same as the stint with Perth, sixteen games taking his total at the club to 102. Two operations on a buttocks tendon in 1989 brought Holden's career to an end.  The Melbourne experience had made Holden conscious of life after football, and he had subsequently studied accountancy at University, graduating in 1988. After twelve months recuperation, the then thirty one year old joined former team mate Dan Foley at Quairading, where he played for one season, before accompanying Foley to Wembley Amateurs in 1992.  Spending time coaching juniors at West Perth, Holden became club treasurer in 1995, a position he still holds. His eldest son, Tristan, plays with Wembley, while Kyle is at West Perth, and has played a couple of league games.  Toughest opponent he gives to Claremont forward, Warren Ralph..”he had some pretty good delivery,” while Robbie Flower, from Melbourne, was the best he played with.  These days Ray Holden is busy at Holden Accountants, in Herdsman Business Park, and enjoys any opportunity to whisk wife Janeale away for a trip, when the kids aren't dragging him to the beach for a surf, as well as some basketball.    Ray Holden had an all too brief time at the top. The promise of a long and satisfying career was never realised.His experience was an example of the fickleness of the game, and a lesson for any young players to enjoy the good times and take nothing for granted.  “I enjoyed the good times I had,” he said. “I'm grateful there were some highs among the lows.”