Ron Greener
Encyclopedia
Ron Greener is an English former footballer, who played as a defender
. Born in Easington, County Durham
, he played his entire career in his native North-East. He started his career with Newcastle United
, before he moved to Darlington
in 1955. He spent most of his playing career with Darlington, and set the club's appearance record of 490 first-team appearances.
at Easington Colliery, and began his football career playing for Easington Colliery Welfare
and for Barnsley
at youth level, before joining Newcastle United
as a professional in 1952. He made his first-team debut on 3 October 1953, in a 2–0 home defeat against Charlton Athletic
in the First Division
. He played only twice more for Newcastle before signing for Darlington
in 1955. He immediately established himself in the first team, playing 132 consecutive games, a run which came to an end in February 1958 when he was snowbound at home, unable to join up with the team travelling to Workington
. The run included the "thrashing" of Chelsea
, Football League champions only three years earlier, in the Fourth Round of the 1957–58 FA Cup. After letting slip a three-goal lead at Stamford Bridge
, Darlington won the replay 4–1 after extra time. His performances earned him selection for the Third Division North
representative side to play against the South in April 1957.
He missed most of the club's first season in the newly-formed Fourth Division
after breaking his leg in August 1958, but returned the following season to play regularly for the remainder of his Darlington career. He was part of the squad which won promotion to the Third Division
in 1965–66 under manager Lol Morgan
, and a regular first-team player the following season under Jimmy Greenhalgh
, but was released on a free transfer at the end of the 1966–67 season. Nicknamed "The Man Mountain", Greener had made 490 first-team appearances for Darlington, still, as of 2010, a club record, his final appearance coming in April 1967 against Bristol Rovers
at Feethams
. He finished his football career with two years at Stockton
.
The club named a conference room at their Darlington Arena stadium in his honour.
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. Born in Easington, County Durham
Easington, County Durham
Easington is a town in eastern County Durham, England. It comprises the ancient village of Easington Village and the ex-mining town of Easington Colliery, which are separate civil parishes. It is located at the junction of the A182 leading north-west to Hetton-le-Hole. Seaham Harbour and...
, he played his entire career in his native North-East. He started his career with Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, before he moved to Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
in 1955. He spent most of his playing career with Darlington, and set the club's appearance record of 490 first-team appearances.
Football career
Greener worked as a blacksmithBlacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
at Easington Colliery, and began his football career playing for Easington Colliery Welfare
Easington Colliery A.F.C.
Easington Colliery Association Football Club are an English amateur football club based in Easington Colliery, County Durham, England, and currently play in the Northern League Division Two .Easington Colliery A.F.C...
and for Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
at youth level, before joining Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
as a professional in 1952. He made his first-team debut on 3 October 1953, in a 2–0 home defeat against Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
. He played only twice more for Newcastle before signing for Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
in 1955. He immediately established himself in the first team, playing 132 consecutive games, a run which came to an end in February 1958 when he was snowbound at home, unable to join up with the team travelling to Workington
Workington A.F.C.
Workington A.F.C. is an English football club from Workington, Cumbria. They are in the Conference North, and play their home matches at Borough Park, which has a capacity of 3,101 . The club play in red, and are known locally as the Reds...
. The run included the "thrashing" of Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, Football League champions only three years earlier, in the Fourth Round of the 1957–58 FA Cup. After letting slip a three-goal lead at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
, Darlington won the replay 4–1 after extra time. His performances earned him selection for the Third Division North
Football League Third Division North vs. South Representative Games
The Third Division North and Third Division South of The Football League was a level in English association football, which ran from 1921 to 1958.From 1954–55 season until 1957–58 season, there was a series of games between teams representing the Third Division North and the Third Division South.-...
representative side to play against the South in April 1957.
He missed most of the club's first season in the newly-formed Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
after breaking his leg in August 1958, but returned the following season to play regularly for the remainder of his Darlington career. He was part of the squad which won promotion to the 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...
in 1965–66 under manager Lol Morgan
Lol Morgan
Lol Morgan is a former professional footballer and manager who was active during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. He was born in Rotherham, England.- As a player manager :Darlington*Fourth Division runner-up: 1965-66...
, and a regular first-team player the following season under Jimmy Greenhalgh
Jimmy Greenhalgh
Jimmy Greenhalgh was manager of the English football club Darlington from 1966-1968. He let Darlington legend and Quakers hall of fame man Ron Greener go on a free transfer in 1967.- Managerial statistics :-External links:...
, but was released on a free transfer at the end of the 1966–67 season. Nicknamed "The Man Mountain", Greener had made 490 first-team appearances for Darlington, still, as of 2010, a club record, his final appearance coming in April 1967 against Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
at Feethams
Feethams
Feethams is a cricket ground and the former home of Darlington F.C. for 120 years, from 1883 to 2003, until the club moved into a new stadium on the outskirts of Darlington.- History :...
. He finished his football career with two years at Stockton
Stockton F.C.
Stockton F.C. was an English football club based in Stockton-on-Tees. The club were known as 'The Ancients' because of their long-standing presence in the town. Their traditional colours were red and black quartered shirts with white shorts.-History:...
.
The club named a conference room at their Darlington Arena stadium in his honour.
As a player
- DarlingtonDarlington F.C.Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
- Division FourFootball League Fourth DivisionThe Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
runner-up: 1965–661965-66 in English footballThe 1965–66 season was the 86th season of competitive football in England.-Diary of the season:7 October 1965: An experiment to broadcast a live game to another ground takes place...
- Division Four
External links
- Profile at Darlington F.C. website
- League stats at Neil Brown's site