Ronald Orr
Encyclopedia
Ronald Orr was a Scottish
international footballer who played for Newcastle United
and Liverpool Football Club amongst others in the early 20th century.
, Scotland
, Orr was an inside-forward who played for Kilwinning Eglinton, Glossop North End and St Mirren before Newcastle United signed him in May 1901. He spent seven seasons on Tyneside
helping the Magpies to the League title
in both 1904-05
and 1906-07
. He also appeared for the club in the 1906 FA Cup Final, where they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat by Everton
.
Orr joined Liverpool in April 1908, when manager Tom Watson
paid £350 for his transfer. He made his debut in a Football League Division One match at Villa Park
against Aston Villa on the 4 April 1908, bagging his first goal in the same match. Unfortunately for Orr and Liverpool, it was a consolation goal in a 5-1 defeat. This wasn't to be his only strike of the season however, as he managed a more than respectable 4 goals in the final 5 matches of that 1907-08 season
.
Orr kept up his goalscoring exploits the following season
, finishing up as the Reds top scorer with 20 goals from his 33 starts an average of a goal every 1.65 games. The following season
proved to be a tougher challenge where goals were concerned and Orr only scored 5 times in his 31 appearances. By the 1910-11 season
he was struggling to hold down a regular starting role at Anfield
and he eventually lost his place completely at the beginning of the 1911-12 campaign
. Orr eventually left for Raith
in January 1912, after making a total of 112 appearances for Liverpool, during which he scored 39 times. He also played for South Shields
before he retired.
Orr represented Scotland on 4 occasions during his career. His debut was on 9 April 1900 in a British Home Championship
match against Ireland
at Solitude, Belfast
a game that Scotland won 3-0. His one and only goal for the Scots also came in a British Championship game against England
, like his debut goal for Liverpool, it was at Villa Park, this time, in a 2-2 draw on the 3 May 1902.
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
international footballer who played for 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...
and Liverpool Football Club amongst others in the early 20th century.
Life and playing career
Born in Bartonholm, AyrshireAyrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Orr was an inside-forward who played for Kilwinning Eglinton, Glossop North End and St Mirren before Newcastle United signed him in May 1901. He spent seven seasons on Tyneside
Tyneside
Tyneside is a conurbation in North East England, defined by the Office of National Statistics, which is home to over 80% of the population of Tyne and Wear. It includes the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Metropolitan Boroughs of Gateshead, North Tyneside and South Tyneside — all settlements on...
helping the Magpies to the League title
English football champions
The English football champions are the winners of the highest league in English football, which is currently the Premier League. Teams in bold are those who won the double of League Championship and FA Cup, or the European Double of League Championship and European Cup in that season.Following the...
in both 1904-05
1904-05 in English football
The 1904–05 season was the 34th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Stockport County were replaced by Doncaster Rovers in the Second Division....
and 1906-07
1906-07 in English football
The 1906–07 season was the 36th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:-First Division:-Second Division:P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = PointsReferences...
. He also appeared for the club in the 1906 FA Cup Final, where they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat by Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
.
Orr joined Liverpool in April 1908, when manager Tom Watson
Tom Watson (football)
Tom Watson was an English football manager who managed Sunderland A.F.C. and Liverpool F.C. around the turn of the 20th century....
paid £350 for his transfer. He made his debut in a Football League Division One match at Villa Park
Villa Park
Villa Park may mean:United Kingdom* Villa Park, an association football stadium in Birmingham, EnglandUnited States* Villa Park, California, a small city in Orange County* Villa Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County...
against Aston Villa on the 4 April 1908, bagging his first goal in the same match. Unfortunately for Orr and Liverpool, it was a consolation goal in a 5-1 defeat. This wasn't to be his only strike of the season however, as he managed a more than respectable 4 goals in the final 5 matches of that 1907-08 season
1907-08 in English football
The 1907–08 season was the 37th season of competitive football in England. Manchester United were Football League champions for the first time, while Bradford City won the Second Division and Wolverhampton Wanderers won the FA Cup...
.
Orr kept up his goalscoring exploits the following season
1908-09 in English football
The 1908–09 season was the 38th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Tottenham Hotspur played their first ever season in the Football League, gaining promotion to the First Division in the process...
, finishing up as the Reds top scorer with 20 goals from his 33 starts an average of a goal every 1.65 games. The following season
1909-10 in English football
The 1909–10 season was the 39th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Aston Villa won their sixth top division title.Lincoln CIty were re-admitted to the Football League after a season away, at the expense of Chesterfield.-Honours:...
proved to be a tougher challenge where goals were concerned and Orr only scored 5 times in his 31 appearances. By the 1910-11 season
1910-11 in English football
The 1910–11 season was the 40th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Huddersfield Town entered the Football League for the first time. Grimsby Town were the team who made way for them...
he was struggling to hold down a regular starting role at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
and he eventually lost his place completely at the beginning of the 1911-12 campaign
1911-12 in English football
The 1911–12 season was the 41st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Blackburn Rovers won the First Division title for the first time....
. Orr eventually left for Raith
Raith Rovers F.C.
Raith Rovers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. They are members of the Scottish Football League, currently playing in the First Division, having secured promotion from the Second Division as champions in 2009. Rovers have won one national trophy, the...
in January 1912, after making a total of 112 appearances for Liverpool, during which he scored 39 times. He also played for South Shields
South Shields F.C.
South Shields F.C. are a football club based in South Shields, England. They have a long and complicated history, with three distinct incarnations taking the name...
before he retired.
Orr represented Scotland on 4 occasions during his career. His debut was on 9 April 1900 in a British Home Championship
British Home Championship
The British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
match against Ireland
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
at Solitude, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
a game that Scotland won 3-0. His one and only goal for the Scots also came in a British Championship game against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, like his debut goal for Liverpool, it was at Villa Park, this time, in a 2-2 draw on the 3 May 1902.
Career details
As a player:- Newcastle United (1901–1908): 180 appearances, 70 goals
- Liverpool FC (1908–1912): 112 appearances, 39 goals
- Scotland (1900–1904): 4 appearances, 1 goal