All hail the returning king

On the surface of it a gate of more than 4000 might suggest that its boom time through the Bescot turnstiles again.

However deduct the 744 punters who'd travelled the length of the M5 for the privilege of witnessing a 0-3 reverse and the 3300-odd remaining customers with Saddlers persuasions offers a much more realistic statement of where attendances are currently at.

In addition, it is entirely probable that some of the growth in numbers last Saturday can be attributed to the return and half-time pitch appearance of the incomparable Ray - sorry – Sir Ray Graydon.

Indeed in turning out to collect his Walk of Stars award on the very same rectangle of turf that he produced miracles upon a decade earlier Graydon even managed to instantly repeat one feat from that magical period, namely increasing numbers through the gate.

Clearly, it didn't need Saturday's cameo to confirm the status and esteem in which the Walsall faithful hold their former manager.

From the moment he walked through the door in 1998 Graydon commanded the respect of every man, woman and child of Saddlers persuasion. Honest Ray, Organised Ray, Charming Ray and Magician Ray, the man had it all and in his time here he took us on the most unexpected and exhilarating magical mystery tour that I've ever experienced with our football club.

That first year was magnificent, with the first incarnation of his team rolling out 1-0 win after 1-0 win after 1-0 win.

Without the benefit of a superstar striker, midfielder or defender Graydon turned his patchwork quilt of budget buy sows ears into the most magnificently efficient and committed silk purse, generating that rarest of specimens - a side better on grass that it ever could be on paper.

Indeed had you predicted on the day he arrived that his side of misfits and has-beens would end the season sandwiched between Fulham and Manchester City then I guess that the men in white coats would have probably been booked to knock the door.

Inevitably, the first post-promotion win had to be at the ground of our nearest and dearest and those home chants of "what's a ground without a team?" that followed their defeat would never ring more true as Graydon's team outfought, outworked and outsmarted Sir Jack's collection of individuals and their hapless manager.

Had Graydon not had already been elevated to legendary status, then that win and the subsequent one in West Bromwich certainly would have.

Unsurprisingly time has been good to Ray Graydon's era. The ludicrous decision to remove him from his duties has looked, Richard Money's time aside, increasingly ludicrous in the eight years or so since Jeff momentarily forgot what and who we were. The conveyer belt of ever inferior replacements has only assisted to immortalise Graydon's three and a half years of club growth and development, not to mention immense fun.

So it was unsurprising that Graydon's half-time appearance last weekend was greeted with immense warmth and respect.

A warmth and respect that was reciprocated by a man of the moment who appeared touched by the reception he received. He shouldn't have been surprised however. Whilst many ex-managers and players have had to experience somewhat 'interesting' returns to Bescot we, like all fans, know and recognise those who have served us so magnificently. Alan Buckley was probably the last man to receive a similar welcome to that that greeted Ray Graydon last weekend and in Buckley, Sir Ray is in exalted company.

Welcome back Ray, just don't leave it so long next time.