Ronnie Rees

Position
Midfielder
Nationality
Place Of Birth
Ystradgynlais
Date Of Birth
April 4, 1944
Date Of Death
October 29, 2023 (79)
Games Played
262
-
Per Game
Games Started
262
1.0
Per Game
Minutes
23408
89.3
Per Game
Goals
52
0.2
Per Game
Assists
8
0.03
Per Game
Notes
Stats
Matches
Transfers
Gallery
Internationals

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

Football League First Division (England)
1967-1968
Coventry City
30
30
2650′
3
8 (0)
3
30
30
0
2650′
3
0
0
8 (0)
3
0
FA Cup (England)
1967-1968
Coventry City
2
2
180′
1 (0)
1966-1967
Coventry City
1
1
90′
1 (0)
1965-1966
Coventry City
3
3
270′
2 (0)
1964-1965
Coventry City
1
1
90′
1963-1964
Coventry City
2
2
180′
1 (0)
1962-1963
Coventry City
8
8
750′
17
17
0
1560′
0
0
0
5 (0)
0
0
League Cup (England)
1967-1968
Coventry City
1
1
90′
1966-1967
Coventry City
3
3
239′
1 (0)
1965-1966
Coventry City
4
4
360′
1
1964-1965
Coventry City
4
4
360′
2 (0)
1963-1964
Coventry City
2
2
180′
1 (0)
1962-1963
Coventry City
1
1
90′
1 (0)
15
15
0
1319′
0
0
0
5 (0)
1
0
Football League Second Division (England)
1966-1967
Coventry City
39
39
3455′
3 (0)
1
1965-1966
Coventry City
41
41
3624′
1
7 (0)
3
1964-1965
Coventry City
41
41
3690′
7 (0)
121
121
0
10769′
1
0
0
17 (0)
4
0
Football League Third Division (England)
1963-1964
Coventry City
46
46
4140′
13 (0)
1962-1963
Coventry City
33
33
2970′
4 (0)
79
79
0
7110′
0
0
0
17 (0)
0
0
Totals:
262
262
0
23408′
4
0
0
52 (0)
8
0
Date
For
Against
H/A
Result
Football League First Division 1967-1968
Football League First Division 1967-1968
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
L 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Everton
A
L 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Sheffield Wednesday
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Newcastle United
H
L 1:4
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
A
L 1:0
60`
Coventry City
Liverpool
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Sheffield United
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Burnley
H
W 5:1
90`
1
Coventry City
West Ham United
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Leicester City
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Everton
H
L 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Fulham
H
L 0:3
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Sunderland
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
A
L 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
H
L 2:3
90`
2
Coventry City
Sheffield Wednesday
A
L 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Chelsea
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
H
W 4:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Newcastle United
A
L 3:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
L 0:3
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
H
W 2:1
70`
1
1
Coventry City
Arsenal
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
H
L 1:3
90`
1
Coventry City
Sheffield United
H
D 2:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
A
D 3:3
90`
Coventry City
Burnley
A
L 2:1
90`
FA Cup 1967-1968
FA Cup 1967-1968
Coventry City
Tranmere Rovers
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Tranmere Rovers
H
D 1:1
90`
1
League Cup 1967-1968
League Cup 1967-1968
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
L 1:2
90`
Football League Second Division 1966-1967
Football League Second Division 1966-1967
Coventry City
Millwall
H
W 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
H
W 3:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Cardiff City
A
D 1:1
80`
Coventry City
Huddersfield Town
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Derby County
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Northampton Town
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Blackburn Rovers
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Bolton Wanderers
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Northampton Town
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Carlisle United
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Charlton Athletic
A
W 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Preston North End
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Bury
A
W 0:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Bristol City
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Norwich City
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Rotherham United
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Rotherham United
H
W 4:2
90`
Coventry City
Hull City
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
W 5:0
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
W 1:3
90`
1
Coventry City
Cardiff City
H
W 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Huddersfield Town
A
L 3:1
45`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
H
L 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Derby County
A
W 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Charlton Athletic
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Bolton Wanderers
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Carlisle United
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Preston North End
A
L 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Bury
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Bristol City
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Norwich City
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Millwall
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Birmingham City
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Plymouth Argyle
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Portsmouth
A
W 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Plymouth Argyle
A
L 4:2
90`
Coventry City
Hull City
H
W 1:0
90`
FA Cup 1966-1967
FA Cup 1966-1967
Coventry City
Newcastle United
H
L 3:4
90`
1
League Cup 1966-1967
League Cup 1966-1967
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
H
L 1:3
59`
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Derby County
H
W 2:1
90`
Football League Second Division 1965-1966
Football League Second Division 1965-1966
Coventry City
Huddersfield Town
A
W 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Charlton Athletic
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Leyton Orient
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Birmingham City
H
W 4:3
90`
1
Coventry City
Derby County
H
W 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Derby County
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Portsmouth
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Bolton Wanderers
H
D 2:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Cardiff City
H
W 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Carlisle United
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
A
W 0:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Bristol City
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Rotherham United
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Plymouth Argyle
H
W 5:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Preston North End
H
W 5:1
90`
Coventry City
Norwich City
H
W 2:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Norwich City
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Huddersfield Town
H
L 0:3
41`
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
A
D 1:1
73`
Coventry City
Leyton Orient
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Birmingham City
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
W 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Bolton Wanderers
A
L 4:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Portsmouth
H
W 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Plymouth Argyle
A
W 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Charlton Athletic
H
W 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Preston North End
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Cardiff City
A
W 1:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Carlisle United
H
W 3:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
H
W 5:1
90`
Coventry City
Bristol City
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
D 3:3
90`
Coventry City
Bury
H
W 1:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Rotherham United
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Bury
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
H
W 2:1
90`
FA Cup 1965-1966
FA Cup 1965-1966
Coventry City
Everton
A
L 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Crewe Alexandra
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Swindon Town
A
W 1:2
90`
1
League Cup 1965-1966
League Cup 1965-1966
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
L 6:1
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
W 2:3
90`
Coventry City
Leyton Orient
A
W 0:3
90`
1
Football League Second Division 1964-1965
Football League Second Division 1964-1965
Coventry City
Leyton Orient
A
W 1:3
90`
Coventry City
Swansea Town
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Cardiff City
H
L 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Cardiff City
A
L 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Norwich City
H
W 3:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Bury
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Charlton Athletic
H
W 2:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Rotherham United
A
W 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Portsmouth
H
L 1:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Swindon Town
A
L 4:1
90`
Coventry City
Huddersfield Town
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Northampton Town
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Newcastle United
H
W 5:4
90`
1
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
A
W 2:3
90`
Coventry City
Preston North End
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Preston North End
A
L 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Bolton Wanderers
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Plymouth Argyle
A
W 2:3
90`
Coventry City
Rotherham United
H
L 3:5
90`
Coventry City
Norwich City
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Bury
A
L 5:0
90`
Coventry City
Leyton Orient
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Charlton Athletic
A
L 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Portsmouth
A
W 0:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Swindon Town
H
W 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Swansea Town
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Southampton
A
L 4:1
90`
Coventry City
Northampton Town
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Derby County
H
L 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Newcastle United
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Derby County
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
W 5:3
90`
Coventry City
Bolton Wanderers
A
W 1:3
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
W 1:3
90`
1
Coventry City
Plymouth Argyle
H
W 2:0
90`
FA Cup 1964-1965
FA Cup 1964-1965
Coventry City
Aston Villa
A
L 3:0
90`
League Cup 1964-1965
League Cup 1964-1965
Coventry City
Leicester City
H
L 1:8
90`
Coventry City
Sunderland
H
W 4:2
90`
Coventry City
Mansfield Town
H
W 3:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
W 4:1
90`
1
Football League Third Division 1963-1964
Football League Third Division 1963-1964
Coventry City
Colchester United
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Peterborough United
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Millwall
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
H
W 4:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Bristol Rovers
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Port Vale
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Port Vale
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Oldham Athletic
H
W 4:1
90`
Coventry City
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
A
L 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Southend United
H
L 2:5
90`
Coventry City
Watford
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Wrexham
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Brentford
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Mansfield Town
A
L 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Hull City
H
D 2:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Oldham Athletic
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Luton Town
H
D 3:3
90`
1
Coventry City
Reading
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Millwall
H
W 3:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Barnsley
H
W 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Barnsley
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Walsall
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
A
W 3:6
90`
1
Coventry City
Bristol Rovers
H
W 4:2
90`
Coventry City
Peterborough United
H
W 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Southend United
A
W 1:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Shrewsbury Town
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Watford
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Shrewsbury Town
H
W 8:1
90`
3
Coventry City
Colchester United
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Bristol City
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Wrexham
H
W 3:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Bristol City
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Brentford
A
W 2:3
90`
1
Coventry City
Crewe Alexandra
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Mansfield Town
H
L 0:3
90`
Coventry City
Hull City
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Crewe Alexandra
H
W 5:1
90`
Coventry City
Luton Town
A
W 1:3
90`
Coventry City
Notts County
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Reading
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Walsall
A
W 0:3
90`
1
Coventry City
Notts County
A
W 0:3
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
H
W 5:1
90`
FA Cup 1963-1964
FA Cup 1963-1964
Coventry City
Bristol Rovers
H
L 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Trowbridge Town
A
W 1:6
90`
1
League Cup 1963-1964
League Cup 1963-1964
Coventry City
Rotherham United
A
L 4:2
90`
Coventry City
Luton Town
A
W 3:4
90`
1
Football League Third Division 1962-1963
Football League Third Division 1962-1963
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
A
W 1:3
90`
1
Coventry City
Shrewsbury Town
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Southend United
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Port Vale
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Reading
A
L 4:1
90`
Coventry City
Bristol Rovers
H
W 5:0
90`
2
Coventry City
Carlisle United
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
H
L 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Millwall
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Halifax Town
H
W 5:4
90`
Coventry City
Wrexham
A
L 5:1
90`
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
H
W 4:1
90`
Coventry City
Northampton Town
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Colchester United
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Barnsley
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Peterborough United
H
D 3:3
90`
Coventry City
Peterborough United
A
W 0:3
90`
Coventry City
Notts County
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Carlisle United
H
W 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Halifax Town
A
W 2:4
90`
1
Coventry City
Wrexham
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Northampton Town
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Barnsley
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Bristol City
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Reading
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Bradford Park Avenue
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Port Vale
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Bradford Park Avenue
H
W 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Shrewsbury Town
H
D 0:0
90`
FA Cup 1962-1963
FA Cup 1962-1963
Coventry City
Manchester United
H
L 1:3
90`
Coventry City
Sunderland
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Portsmouth
A
W 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Portsmouth
H
D 2:2
120`
Coventry City
Portsmouth
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Lincoln City
A
W 1:5
90`
Coventry City
Millwall
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Millwall
A
D 0:0
90`
League Cup 1962-1963
League Cup 1962-1963
Coventry City
Swansea Town
H
W 3:2
90`
1
Club Out
Club In
Transfer Date
Fee
Club Out / Club In
Transfer Date / Fee
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
Fri, 01 Mar, 1968
£65,000
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
Fri, 01 Mar, 1968
£65,000
Youth
Coventry City
Tue, 01 May, 1962
Youth
Youth
Coventry City
Tue, 01 May, 1962
Youth

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