Ron Reynolds
Encyclopedia
Ronald Sidney Maurice Reynolds (2 June 1928 – 2 June 1999) was a goalkeeper
whose career spanned nearly 20 years; he played 290 League games for three professional clubs, and for most of the 1950s played for Tottenham Hotspur
, alongside his friend and tactical confidant, Danny Blanchflower
.
and started his career at Aldershot
as a 17–year old in 1945.
While a 22 year old goalkeeper with Aldershot, Ron Reynolds wrote to Southampton
asking for a trial but unfortunately Saints declined this offer and Ron instead went to White Hart Lane
iniially as the understudy to Ted Ditchburn
.
had tried to sign him, but Ron was considered too valuable to be released and it wasn’t until ten years after he had first contacted Southampton that Ted Bates
, beating the transfer deadline by 24 hours, bought him from Spurs for £10,000.
.
Ron was in goal in a memorable match on 5 December 1960, in the League Cup
round 4 at home to Leeds United
– he went off after 19 minutes, injured when diving bravely at the feet of the Leeds centre-forward, McCole. He was replaced in goal by Cliff Huxford
who conceded four goals; fortunately for Southampton, Derek Reeves
scored all five goals for the home side, who ran out 5–4 victors.
He broke his ankle in the first match of the 1961–62 season
, at home to Plymouth Argyle
on 19 August. He was replaced in goal, firstly by Terry Paine
who let in 2 goals and was in turn replaced by Huxford. Reynolds took no further part in that season but fought his way back into the first team and was re-established as first choice keeper at the start of the next season.
Unfortunately, his career was terminated by a dislocated shoulder sustained at Fratton Park
on 28 September 1963 – again Huxford took over in goal as substitutes were still not available.
Ron was one of the first professional footballers to have worn contact lenses.
, before joining a firm of insurance brokers in 1964. He later set up his own brokers business in Haslemere.
He had gathered a fascinating collection of memorabilia providing a rare insight into the world of the 1950s footballer. It was the era of the maximum wage, a time when players could not leave their club without the express say-so of their bosses; employers had a serfs and masters mentality, which was famously described as 'soccer slavery' by Jimmy Hill
.
Reynolds himself was quite a character - fastidious and outspoken he was a formidable PFA (Professional Footballers' Association
) representative and was behind many of the perceived insurrections of his more famous soul-mate Danny Blanchflower, with whom he shared a passion for the glory of the game. His strength of character made him a natural champion of employee's rights, but this sense of purpose was also ideal in his career as a goalkeeper.
In 2003, his son, David, published a collection of his late father’s memoirs.
In the book he reports an incident of "tapping-up
" – whilst at Southampton, he was astonished to be contacted by the great Alf Ramsey
over a possible transfer to Ipswich Town
.
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
whose career spanned nearly 20 years; he played 290 League games for three professional clubs, and for most of the 1950s played for Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
, alongside his friend and tactical confidant, Danny Blanchflower
Danny Blanchflower
Robert Dennis "Danny" Blanchflower was a former Northern Ireland international footballer and football manager, and journalist who captained Tottenham Hotspur F.C. during its double-winning season of 1961. He was ranked as the greatest player in Spurs history by The Times in 2009...
.
Aldershot
Ron was born in HaslemereHaslemere
Haslemere is a town in Surrey, England, close to the border with both Hampshire and West Sussex. The major road between London and Portsmouth, the A3, lies to the west, and a branch of the River Wey to the south. Haslemere is approximately south-west of Guildford.Haslemere is surrounded by hills,...
and started his career at Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
as a 17–year old in 1945.
While a 22 year old goalkeeper with Aldershot, Ron Reynolds wrote to Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
asking for a trial but unfortunately Saints declined this offer and Ron instead went to White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Tottenham, London, England. Built in 1899, it is the home of Tottenham Hotspur and, after numerous renovations, the stadium has a capacity of 36,230....
iniially as the understudy to Ted Ditchburn
Ted Ditchburn
Edwin George 'Ted' Ditchburn was an English professional football goalkeeper who played for Northfleet United, Tottenham Hotspur, Romford, Brentwood Town and represented England on six occasions at international level....
.
Tottenham Hotspur
During his spell at Tottenham, PortsmouthPortsmouth 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...
had tried to sign him, but Ron was considered too valuable to be released and it wasn’t until ten years after he had first contacted Southampton that Ted Bates
Ted Bates (footballer)
Edric Thornton "Ted" Bates MBE was a former Southampton F.C. player, manager, director and president which earned him the sobriquet Mr. Southampton.-Playing career:...
, beating the transfer deadline by 24 hours, bought him from Spurs for £10,000.
Southampton
Ron’s composure and experience became a vital ingredient as Southampton went on to lift the Division 3 championship at the end of the 1959–1960 season1959-60 in English football
The 1959–60 season was the 80th season of competitive football in England.-Diary of the season:17 November 1959: Phil Taylor resigns as manager of Liverpool after three years as manager, with all three of his seasons in charge ending with a narrow failure to win promotion to the First...
.
Ron was in goal in a memorable match on 5 December 1960, in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
round 4 at home to Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
– he went off after 19 minutes, injured when diving bravely at the feet of the Leeds centre-forward, McCole. He was replaced in goal by Cliff Huxford
Cliff Huxford
Clifford George "Cliff" Huxford is a former footballer born in Stroud, Gloucestershire, who played as a wing half in the Football League for Chelsea, Southampton and Exeter City....
who conceded four goals; fortunately for Southampton, Derek Reeves
Derek Reeves
Derek Reeves was an English footballer, born in Poole, Dorset, who played as a centre forward for Southampton and Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in the Football League....
scored all five goals for the home side, who ran out 5–4 victors.
He broke his ankle in the first match of the 1961–62 season
1961-62 in English football
The 1961–62 season was the 82nd season of competitive Football in England.-Overview:The season was notable for the remarkable achievement of Ipswich Town winning the League Championship. Under the managership of Alf Ramsey, the club progressed from the old Third Division South to the First Division...
, at home to Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
on 19 August. He was replaced in goal, firstly by Terry Paine
Terry Paine
Terence Lionel Paine MBE is a former English footballer.Paine made 713 football league appearances for Southampton F.C. and 111 for Hereford United F.C...
who let in 2 goals and was in turn replaced by Huxford. Reynolds took no further part in that season but fought his way back into the first team and was re-established as first choice keeper at the start of the next season.
Unfortunately, his career was terminated by a dislocated shoulder sustained at Fratton Park
Fratton Park
Fratton Park is a football stadium in the English city-port of Portsmouth. It has been the home of professional club Portsmouth F.C. since its construction in 1898.-Description:...
on 28 September 1963 – again Huxford took over in goal as substitutes were still not available.
Ron was one of the first professional footballers to have worn contact lenses.
Retirement
After his injury, Ron scouted briefly for Saints and Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, before joining a firm of insurance brokers in 1964. He later set up his own brokers business in Haslemere.
Memorabilia
He died on his 71st birthday (2 June 1999), and upon clearing out his house his family discovered a meticulously kept archive of Reynolds' professional career - cupboards, shoeboxes and carrier bags full of notebooks, programmes, ticket stubs, press cuttings, photographs, souvenirs from foreign tours and Reynolds' own match reports of all his games.He had gathered a fascinating collection of memorabilia providing a rare insight into the world of the 1950s footballer. It was the era of the maximum wage, a time when players could not leave their club without the express say-so of their bosses; employers had a serfs and masters mentality, which was famously described as 'soccer slavery' by Jimmy Hill
Jimmy Hill
James William Thomas "Jimmy" Hill OBE is an English association football personality. His career has taken in virtually every role in football, including player, union leader, coach, manager, director, chairman, television executive, presenter, analyst and match official.-Early life:Hill was born...
.
Reynolds himself was quite a character - fastidious and outspoken he was a formidable PFA (Professional Footballers' Association
Professional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
) representative and was behind many of the perceived insurrections of his more famous soul-mate Danny Blanchflower, with whom he shared a passion for the glory of the game. His strength of character made him a natural champion of employee's rights, but this sense of purpose was also ideal in his career as a goalkeeper.
In 2003, his son, David, published a collection of his late father’s memoirs.
In the book he reports an incident of "tapping-up
Tapping-up
In professional team sports, tapping up or tampering is an attempt to persuade a player contracted to one team to transfer to another team, without the knowledge or permission of the player's current team. This kind of approach is often made through the player's agent...
" – whilst at Southampton, he was astonished to be contacted by the great Alf Ramsey
Alf Ramsey
Sir Alfred Ernest "Alf" Ramsey was an English footballer and manager of the English national football team from 1963 to 1974. His greatest achievement was winning the 1966 World Cup with England on 30 July 1966...
over a possible transfer to Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
.