
As an 18-year old Ronnie Rees was almost released by Jimmy Hill in the spring of 1962 but within months was in the first team after Hill’s new left-winger Bobby Laverick failed to impress in his early games. Hill’s gamble in promoting the Welsh youngster to the first team in September 1962 came off and for the next six years he was a virtual ever-present in the team making 262 appearances and scoring 52 goals. International honours soon arrived - he first won Under 23 honours and in 1964 after being an ever present in the Division Three championship side won the first of his 39 full caps. The lad from Ystradgynlais was in illustrious company playing with greats such as John Charles, Ivor Allchurch and Cliff Jones but was not overawed.
In the memorable 1963-64 promotion season he scored 15 goals, including a hat-trick in the 8-1 thrashing of Shrewsbury. Three years later he was a major influence as City won promotion to Division One and set up many goals with his speedy wing play which demolished many full-backs over the years, in addition to scoring a vital goal in the famous 3-1 victory over Wolves.
In 1968 with Noel Cantwell keen to strengthen the side in the club’s first of many relegation battles, Rees was the only saleable asset and was allowed to join West Brom for £65,000. He was still a regular for Wales, playing on either left or right wing, and retained his international place after his move to West Brom and a subsequent move to Nottingham Forest the following year. His club career ended at Swansea City in 1975 and he went to work at the Ford factory in the city but had to retire at the age of 51 after a stroke.
Hat tricks (1)
1963-64
22 October 1963 v Shrewsbury Town H
















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Wales, 21 caps, 2 goals
1964-65
3 October 1964 Wales v Scotland, Cardiff, British Home Championship, 3-2
21 October 1964 Denmark v Wales, Copenhagen, 1966 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group 7, 1-0
18 November 1964 England v Wales, Wembley, British Home Championship, 2-1
9 December 1964 Greece v Wales, Athens, 1966 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group 7, 2-0
17 March 1965 Wales v Greece, Cardiff, 1966 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group 7, 4-1
31 March 1965 Northern Ireland v Wales, Belfast, British Home Championship, 0-5
1 May 1965 Italy v Wales, Florence, 1966 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group 7, 4-1
30 May 1965 USSR v Wales, Moscow, 1966 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group 7, 1-2
1965-66
2 October 1965 Wales v England, Cardiff, British Home Championship, 0-0
27 October 1965 Wales v USSR, Cardiff, 1966 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group 7, 2-1
24 November 1965 Scotland v Wales, Hampden Park, British Home Championship, 4-1
1 December 1965 Wales v Denmark, Wrexham, 1966 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group 7, 4-2, goal
30 March 1966 Wales v Northern Ireland, Cardiff, British Home Championship, 1-4
14 May 1966 Brazil v Wales, Rio de Janeiro, friendly, 3-1
18 May 1966 Brazil v Wales, Belo Horizonte, friendly, 0-1, replaced
22 May 1966 Chile v Wales, Santiago, friendly, 2-0
1966-67
16 November 1966 England v Wales, UEFA Euro 1968 Qualifying Group 8, 5-1
12 April 1967 Northern Ireland Wales, Belfast, UEFA Euro 1968 Qualifying Group 8, 0-0
21 October 1967 Wales v England, Cardiff, UEFA Euro 1968 Qualifying Group 8, 0-3
22 November 1967 Scotland v Wales, Hampden Park, UEFA Euro 1968 Qualifying Group 8, 3-2
28 February 1968 Wales v Northern Ireland, Wrexham, UEFA Euro 1968 Qualifying Group 8, 2-0, goal
2 further caps for West Bromwich Albion and 16 caps and 1 goal for Nottingham Forest (total 39 caps, 3 goals)
Wales U23, 7 caps, 3 goals
1962-63
5 December 1962 Scotland U23 v Wales U23, Aberdeen, 0-2
27 February 1963 Wales U23 v Northern Ireland U23, Swansea, 5-1, 2 goals
1963-64
13 November 1963 England U23 v Wales U23, Eastville, 1-1</span
4 December 1963 Wales U23 v Scotland U23, Wrexham, 3-1
5 February 1964 Northern Ireland U23 v Wales U23, Belfast, 3-3
1964-65
4 November 1964 Wales U23 v England U23, Wrexham, 2-3, goal
10February 1965 Wales U23 v Northern Ireland, Cardiff, 2-2