Peter Ronald
Encyclopedia
Peter Mann Ronald was an English association footballer. During his career he played for Hebburn Argyle, Watford
, Nottingham Forest and West Stanley
, primarily as an inside right. Following his retirement as a player, he coached Watford between 1926 and 1946.
, Ronald started his career at nearby Hebburn Argyle, before transferring to Watford
in June 1914 for an undisclosed fee. Despite the outbreak of the First World War, the Southern League
continued for the 1914–15 season
. Ronald quickly established himself as a regular starter in Watford's team, making 36 appearances and scoring 9 goals as Watford secured the Southern League title. He did not play for the club during wartime league matches, but did return for the 1919–20 season
, scoring 10 of Watford's 69 goals as they finished as runners up in the Southern League to Portsmouth
on goal average. Ronald's third season at Watford coincided with their first in the newly formed Football League Third Division
. On 28 August 1920, Ronald scored his team's opening goal in a 2–1 win over QPR
at Loftus Road
, thereby becoming the first man ever to score for Watford in the Football League.
At the end of the 1920–21 season, Ronald transferred to Nottingham Forest, for a fee of £500. After two seasons largely as a reserve player, he moved to West Stanley
in 1923, before rejoining Watford the following year. After failing to make a first team appearance, Ronald retired as a player in 1925, remaining as a coach until the conclusion of the Second World War and resumption of peacetime football in 1946. He died in Watford seven years later, aged 63.
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, Nottingham Forest and West Stanley
West Stanley F.C.
West Stanley Football Club was a football club based in the mining village of West Stanley, County Durham, England.Originally known as "Oakey's Lillywhites", the club was founded in 1889 and became founder members of the North Eastern League in 1906...
, primarily as an inside right. Following his retirement as a player, he coached Watford between 1926 and 1946.
Career
Born in Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, Ronald started his career at nearby Hebburn Argyle, before transferring to Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in June 1914 for an undisclosed fee. Despite the outbreak of the First World War, the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
continued for the 1914–15 season
1914–15 Watford F.C. season
Watford Football Club are an association football team from the county of Hertfordshire, England. The 1914–15 season was their nineteenth season of league football, since joining the Southern League as West Hertfordshire for the 1896–97 season...
. Ronald quickly established himself as a regular starter in Watford's team, making 36 appearances and scoring 9 goals as Watford secured the Southern League title. He did not play for the club during wartime league matches, but did return for the 1919–20 season
1919–20 Watford F.C. season
-External links:*...
, scoring 10 of Watford's 69 goals as they finished as runners up in the Southern League to Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
on goal average. Ronald's third season at Watford coincided with their first in the newly formed Football League Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. On 28 August 1920, Ronald scored his team's opening goal in a 2–1 win over QPR
QPR
QPR usually refers to Queens Park Rangers F.C., an English football club.QPR may also refer to:*Queen + Paul Rodgers, a 2004-2009 musical supergroup*Queen's Park Rangers , a football club playing in the Grenada League...
at Loftus Road
Loftus Road
Loftus Road is a football stadium in Shepherd's Bush, London. It is home to the English football team Queens Park Rangers of the Premier League and has a capacity of around 18,500. The four stands are called the Loftus Road End , Ellerslie Road Stand, South Africa Road Stand and the School End,...
, thereby becoming the first man ever to score for Watford in the Football League.
At the end of the 1920–21 season, Ronald transferred to Nottingham Forest, for a fee of £500. After two seasons largely as a reserve player, he moved to West Stanley
West Stanley F.C.
West Stanley Football Club was a football club based in the mining village of West Stanley, County Durham, England.Originally known as "Oakey's Lillywhites", the club was founded in 1889 and became founder members of the North Eastern League in 1906...
in 1923, before rejoining Watford the following year. After failing to make a first team appearance, Ronald retired as a player in 1925, remaining as a coach until the conclusion of the Second World War and resumption of peacetime football in 1946. He died in Watford seven years later, aged 63.
Honours
- Southern League Division 1Southern Football LeagueThe Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
:- Winner: 1914–151914–15 Watford F.C. seasonWatford Football Club are an association football team from the county of Hertfordshire, England. The 1914–15 season was their nineteenth season of league football, since joining the Southern League as West Hertfordshire for the 1896–97 season...
- Runner up: 1919–201919–20 Watford F.C. season-External links:*...
- Winner: 1914–15