A Combative Midfield Player

William (Billy) Ronson 1957-2015

Billy Ronson was born in Fleetwood, where his father Percy was a record-breaking Fleetwood FC player, on 22 January 1957. After schoolboy football, Blackpool signed him as an apprentice professional on 14 August 1972. At the time he was a forward but later became a midfield player. He played only in the junior sides in the 1972/73 season before being signed as a full-time professional on 31 January 1974.

He made his senior debut for Blackpool as a 60th-minute substitute for Micky Walsh in the Lancashire Senior Cup second round tie against Bolton Wanderers on 12 February 1974 when he 'made a lively entry, giving the Blackpool attack more width but the finishing let the visitors down'. Blackpool lost the game 1-0. He also played in the final Central League game of the season against Nottingham Forest reserves on 29 April 1974 when Blackpool won with a Mickey Walsh goal.

Although only playing Central League football at the start of the
1974/75 season his form was good enough to attract attention and he was selected for training with the England Youth team at Lilleshall in September 1974 and again in October 1974.

He subsequently made his League debut for Blackpool against Nottingham Forest in a 0-0 draw on 29 March 1975, also played in a 3-0 defeat by Aston Villa on 19 April 1975 and he made two League appearances and 27 Central League appearances, scoring five goals, in the 1974/75 season. And to crown a fine season, he won the Blackpool Young Player of the Year award, the Harry Glossop Trophy.

He started the 1975/76 season at an unaccustomed centre forward position in the League side, appearing in a 0-0 draw with Fulham on 16 August 1975, but thereafter he was an infrequent member of the League side. His combative style caused Blackpool to suspended him for three games after he had been sent off in a reserve game against Leeds United on 20 March 1976. But, having missed three Central League games, fresh from his suspension, he played what was described as 'his best-yet senior game' in a 0-0 draw with West Bromwich Albion on 31 March 1976 although he 'spurned a couple of good chances by electing to pass square when a dip was in order'. However, up front, he was 'always a handful'. Unfortunately, The Football Association suspended him for three games starting on 1 April 1976 for the same sending offence against Leeds United reserves.

He returned to League action against York City on 19 April 1976 and he scored Blackpool’s equaliser three minutes from time in a 1-1 draw. His 'second League goal crowned a lively second half showing, despite the fact that he had found himself thrust into a strange midfield role'. The goal came after manager Harry Potts 'waved him to the right wing and Alan Ainscow back in midfield'.
And after a 1-0 victory over Sunderland on 20 April 1976 he earned the headlines RONSON LEADS CHAMPAGNE PARADE. Amplifying the headline the comment was 'Young Billy Ronson led the parade with a magnificent display of non-stop effort and skill, which marked his best game for the club. In only his second game back after suspension [sic], Ronson, who scored the equaliser at York, covered every inch of turf in a remarkably assured show of generalship. One minute he was back in defence cooling things down and mopping up anything loose. The next he was sweeping into the attack, prompting and probing. It was a shame he could not score to cap the performance.'

He played 17 League games plus making two substitute appearances, scoring two goals, one League Cup tie and 15 Central League games, scoring two goals, in the 1975/76 season.

He began the 1976/77 season in the pre-season Anglo-Scottish Cup ties and against Burnley on 11 August 1976 he 'had a fine match' and looked 'a more confident player' as he 'did well to keep ticking away in his first match after injury'. Blackpool won 2-1.

Having established himself as a combative midfield player he was rarely out of the side and after a 1-1 draw with Arsenal in the League Cup on 21 September 1976 he earned the headlines RONSON’S DISPLAY ONE TO TREASURE and the supporting comment was 'But only Ronson was getting up regularly in support and I cannot praise his almost single-handed efforts too highly. It was his best game for Blackpool, and one he should treasure.'

In mid-December 1976 manager Allan Brown felt that Dave Tong and Billy Ronson could have been in the reckoning for England Under-21 honours and only Tong’s ankle injury and Ronson’s switch to midfield kept them out of Don Revie’s reckoning. Of Ronson he said, 'If Billy had still been on the wing he would have stood out. Forwards always take glory, but since Billy has moved into midfield he has done all the hard work, but it is seldom the workers who get noticed.'
He missed only one game that season, playing 41 League games, scoring four goals, two FA Cup ties, and four League Cup ties, scoring one goal.

The 1977/78 side saw him in and out of the League side and when substituted against Southampton on 17 December 1977 he was 'clearly upset' and went 'straight to the dressing room after looking angrily at manager Allan Brown' as Blackpool lost 1-0. Knowing that he was unsettled, he was a target for Aston Villa in December 1977 but he said that he would be content to stay at Blackpool provided he played in the first team. Brown commented, 'They want first team soccer and it is only natural that they are upset when they are dropped. But they must always remember that a manager cannot play for them. If they want to stay in the first team they have to fight to maintain their form. If they want a move they have to fight to impress prospective buyers. If they don’t put the effort and tight attitude into their play they will be dropped from the first team and have no chance of moving. It has always been a two-way process. And my experience shows that once a player is reinstated in the first team and he and the team are playing well everyone forgets he is transfer-listed. Really it is meaningless.'

Ronson didn't let the talk of a possible transfer affect his performances and the press comment was 'Ronson battled incessantly to keep Blackpool ticking over when it seemed to many fans that both sides had left the pitch a fortnight ago. He has played consistently well for the past four games' as Blackpool drew 2-2 with Notts County on 7 March 1978. And he finished the 1977/78 season having played 32 League games plus making two substitute appearances, scoring three goals, one FA Cup tie, two League Cup ties and two Central League games.

Along with Jimmy Weston, he missed the start of the 1978/79 season through having played football in the North American League during the summer and on 14 August 1978 manager Bob Stokoe commented. 'As far as we know they are involved in regional play-offs, which could take until the end of the month. We want them back as soon as possible.' In the event he was four weeks late in returning and then Blackpool had to rush clearance through so that he could play for the club.

On his return he said that he would not be keen to go back to America unless it was on a two-year contract. He commented, 'The only way to make it big out there is to sign up a lucrative two-year contract but I have ambitions in English football and I will see if I can fulfil them.' He added, 'The standard of football was remarkably high and they give you the four-star treatment but England is still tops for me.'

He returned to action in a second round League Cup tie against Ipswich Town on 30 August 1978 when his 'presence in midfield was decisive' as he 'buzzed around adding defensive solidity and accuracy in distribution to the department, inspiring his team-mates in counter attacks and directing things with composure and authority' as Blackpool won 2-0.

His consistently good performances were attracting scouts from other clubs and in mid-September 1978 a number of First and Second Division clubs were regularly watching him but Blackpool announced that they were not prepared to sell him. Even so, subsequently moves to Ipswich Town and Aston Villa fell through because neither club would meet Blackpool’s valuation of £150,000, a price tag made to put other clubs off signing him.

In a 1-1 draw with Manchester City in a third round League Cup tie on 4 October 1978 he 'did everything he does best, picking up well, using the ball nicely and controlling the midfield flow with a performance full of authority'. But by mid-November all was not well with manager Bob Stokoe saying that had he had a stronger squad Ronson would have been in the reserve team following some of his displays at the time. He felt that the player’s heart was not in Third Division football.

Stokoe commented, 'Billy thinks I should pat him on the back when I believe he should be criticised for aspects of his game. I am only trying to help the lad become a better player. Had Alan Waldron’s form and attitude been better he would have replaced Billy in the side. I have spoken to Billy about his future at Blackpool. If he wants First division football he has got to prove his ability. I don’t want to keep players who don’t want to play for the club but the current state of the squad means everyone must knuckle down. Billy plays his last game today [11 November 1978] before possibly a three week suspension [he had accumulated 20 penalty points and was to appear before a tribunal the following Tuesday]. If clubs come in for him and he is not prepared to stay and fight for us we will consider it in the appropriate light but I want him to stay and play well for us.'

Ipswich were then back interested in signing him, as were Wolverhampton Wanderers and Millwall. Stokoe spoke of his appearance before the FA hearing and said, 'I have tried my best to help Billy understand that he cannot take out his own personal frustrations by getting involved in incidents on the pitch. In view of some of the blatant offences he has committed to pick up the 20 penalty points I felt I could not defend his conduct.' Rosnon earned a two-match ban.

He knuckled down after the disappointment of suspension and hearing the transfer news and in January 1979 Stokoe commented, 'I am thrilled with Billy’s attitude. It must have been frustrating for him to undergo trials with Villa and Ipswich and then find that neither were prepared to pay what we wanted, but Billy’s first debt is to himself and the team and if he continues to play well he will get his reward.'

But Stokoe had to apologise publicly to Ronson on 21 February 1979 after the news that he had been placed on the transfer list on 19 February had been leaked to the national press before the player had been told. Stokoe commented, 'I am trying to get everyone pulling together and someone in the boardroom has let me and Billy down. Billy had to bind out about it when he picked up his daily paper and this is just not on.' Stokoe then explained that Ronson’s suspension was over the following Saturday and that he would play for the reserve team on the Monday after. He added, 'I have told Billy he will continue in the first team squad although I hope our midfield trio can prove they have the stuff to battle for points away as well as at home. I have not put a fee on Billy. I will try and get the best deal I can and I would prefer player exchanges. We were fined heavily by the FA last season and are already past 100 [penalty points] with 30 matches to go. The way Billy was going he’d get them on his own and the club cannot afford this problem of Billy niggling at referees.'

Scoring two goals in the League game against Chesterfield on 14 March 1979 earned him the headlines with Ronson Shines As Pool Glow. He 'got into good attacking positions and his finishing was clinical' as Blackpool won 3-1.

In late March 1979 there still had been no bids for Ronson from clubs in the First Division, where he wanted to play. He said that should no club bid for him he was happy to give 100% to the Blackpool cause and added, 'I am not upset that clubs have not come in. I’m happy to do my best for Blackpool as I promised I would.' He had bought a house in the area and was to be married in June and had recently appeared on television. Of that Stokoe commented, 'I let Billy go on television recently to state his case and he has had ample chance to say his piece. Now I want him to keep his mouth shut and let the future take care of itself. I have preached to all the players the need to build a team to have players who respect each other and enjoy playing together.'

The club served him with a two-week ban starting with the game against Bury on 7 April 1979 and he went on to miss four matches because on 14 April he received a two-match ban from the FA, but in effect he only missed one game through the suspension for his club ban did not finish until the first of his two games had passed. The FA suspension was his third of the season and encompassed seven matches as he was banned for reaching 20, 30 and then 40 penalty points. He had gathered 19 bookings in two seasons. He stated that he intended to keep out of trouble adding, 'I have not gone out looking for bother with referees, but I will obviously have to do something about it.'

Despite his disciplinary problems, he played 32 League games, scoring three goals, one FA Cup tie, three League Cup ties and two Central League games for Blackpool in the 1978/79 season. But it was to be his final season in the tangerine jersey.

Blackpool transferred him to Cardiff City for a fee of £135,000 on 14 July 1979 and he missed only one League game for Cardiff in his first season at the club and he won the Cardiff Supporters’ Club ‘Player of the Season’ award. He did even better in his second season for he was an ever-present, was deservedly made club captain and he once again won the ‘Player of the Season’ award.

He had played 90 League games and scored four goals for Cardiff City when he was transferred to Wrexham for a fee of £90,000 in October 1981. He played 31 League games plus making one substitute appearance, scoring one goal, four FA Cup ties and three Welsh Cup ties for Wrexham before he was transferred to Barnsley in August 1982 for a fee of £50,000.

Barnsley loaned him out to Birmingham City on 8 November 1985 and he played two League games for the Midlands club. Back at Barnsley, he went on to play 111 League games, make two substitute appearances and score three goals.

He re-joined Blackpool as a non-contract player on a month’s trial in January 1986 but he played only three League games and was not on the winning side in any of them. Blackpool drew 0-0 with Reading on 18 January 1986, and lost 1-0 to Derby County and similarly to Chesterfield on 1 and 4 February 1986.

The club released him after three League games in the 1985/86 season by which time he had played over 200 senior games for the club.

After being released by Blackpool he almost immediately jetted off to America after signing for Baltimore Blast on a two-year contract under ex-Fleetwood goalkeeper Kenny Cooper. He subsequently settled in the United States of America, where he died, aged just 58, on 8 April 2015.