
Ron was a key player in the club’s rise from Division 4 to Division 1 between 1958 and 1967 and was one of only four players to appear for the club in all four divisions of the Football League (George Curtis, Brian Hill and Mick Kearns were the others).
A tough tackling half back, signed from Nottingham Forest by Billy Frith in November 1958 in a £6,000 double deal with goalkeeper Arthur Lightening and he was a key member of the team promoted from Division Four that season.
Over the next few seasons Ron was a virtual ever-present in the side with his main strength being winning the ball and feeding his forwards with penetrating passes. Ronnie’s penchant was for scoring long-range goals and taking penalties. He was entrusted with taking spot-kicks soon after Jimmy Hill’s arrival in 1961 and over the next five seasons he missed only one out of 23 attempts – that was at Millwall in 1964 his shot hit the post. His nonchalant penalty-taking style fooled many goalkeepers. The kicks may not have been powerful but they were always deadly accurate in their execution.
In August 1963 he became the only City defender to score a hat-trick when, against Crystal Palace at Highfield Road he scored two penalties and a stunning 35-yard free-kick in a 5-1 victory. That season he ended with 11 goals – eight from penalty kicks – as City won the Third Division title.
In the 1967 Division Two promotion season there were signs that 31-year old Ronnie was slowing up but he played 34 games and only lost his place to Brian Lewis in the final memorable run-in. Ron played just four games in the top division before signing for Notts County on a free transfer. In 1969 he joined non-league Grantham but soon after was lured back to Highfield Road as youth team coach. He led an outstanding crop of young players to the FA Youth Cup final in his first season and although the final was lost to Tottenham Ron was feted as a good coach. In November 1971 however he was sacked as manager Noel Cantwell brought in Tony Waiters as his Director of Coaching. Ron went to work at Massey Ferguson where he worked in the factory alongside several other ex-City stars and played and coached an excellent works team. After retirement he lived in Coventry, and regularly visited the Ricoh until his death in 2022.
Penalties (22 - 21 scored)
1962-63
23 October 1962 v Bristol City H, scored
1 May 1963 v Reading A, scored
20 May 1963 v Shrewsbury Town A, scored
1963-64
24 August 1963 v Crystal Palace H, scored x2
5 October 1963 v Brentford A, scored
3 January 1964 v Millwall H, scored
1 February 1964 v Hull City H, scored
8 February 1964 v Mansfield Town A, scored
13 March 1964 v Southend United H, scored
11 April 1964 v Queens Park Rangers H, scored
18 April 1964 v Millwall A, missed, hit post
1964-65
22 August 1964 v Plymouth Argyle H, scored
12 October 1964 v Huddersfield Town H, scored
1965-66
4 September 1965 v Manchester City H, scored
25 September 1965 v Carlisle United H, scored
13 November 1965 v Ipswich Town H, scored
20 November 1965 v Birmingham City A, scored
15 January 1966 v Plymouth Argyle H, scored
14 February 1966 v Crewe Alexandra H, scored
26 March 1966 v Cardiff City H, scored
1966-67
26 December 1966 v Rotherham United H, scored
Free kick goals (1)
1963-64
24 August 1963 v Crystal Palace H
Hat tricks (1)
1963-64
24 August 1963 v Crystal Palace H
Own goals (1)
1958-59
18 April 1959 v Chester A



























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































