Members News: Remembering Ronnie Rees Who Died A Year Ago Today!

Ron in the Sky Blue 1964

On this day just a year ago (29th October 2023) our Association member, former Sky Blues 1960s winger Ronnie Rees, sadly passed away after a long illness aged 79. Ron had not been in the best of health for many, many years suffering a major stroke at the early age of 51 which from then on affected both his speech and mobility.

His infirmity sadly prevented him from returning to Coventry to meet up at Legends Day and the like with those many colleagues from that heady period of early Sky Blue success under our legendary ‘gaffer’ Jimmy Hill who went on to join CCFPA.

Ronnie Rees in Action in the late 1960s

Jimmy like many of the players from this era, sadly, have also passed away in recent years. We sent our condolences to Ron’s family and friends and an obituary and full appreciation of Ronnie’s career, penned by CCFPA’s former chairman and club historian, Jim Brown can be found in our ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ section (just click on the ‘Players’ tab above).

Ron, who was born in Ystradgynlais Wales, on 4th April 1944 was discovered as a youth playing for Merthyr Boys in 1960-61 and brought to Highfield Road by manager Billy Frith as an apprentice  with the ‘Bantams’ (as the City were then known) in September 1960. Awarded a professional contract in April 1962 by new broom gaffer JH Ronnie went on to become a key player for his manager and the Sky Blues, renowned for his close control and jinking runs particularly on the flanks*.

JH & Sky Blues celebrate D3 Championship. The players in view include John Sillett, Mick Kearns, Ron Rees (front left), George Curtis, Dietmar Bruck & Graham Newton.

He made his debut at outside left in a goalless draw at home to Shrewsbury Town on 15th September 1962 and, by the time he left for West Bromwich Albion in March 1968 for £65k, Ronnie had made 262 first team appearances and notched 52 goals for the Sky Blues as well as building up a substantial international career with Wales.

Leaving the Hawthorns in February 1969 for Nottingham Forest Ron ended his career in his home country with first Swansea Town (1972), then Haverfordwest (1975) and Merthyr Town. By the time he had hung up his boots Ron had gained 39 Full Caps for Wales (21 with City) and had also won seven Welsh Under 23 Caps (all with City).

Retiring in the close season of 1976 Ron became a car-worker with Ford at Swansea/ Bridgend and then worked as a Cardiff City administrator until his indisposition. In his latter years until his passing he had been living in a residential care home in Swansea.

*By way of tribute and to rekindle playing memories of the mercurial winger, courtesy of former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson you can click on the extensive Match of the Day highlights from the Sky Blues match against Bolton Wanderers in March 1967 to see a great example of a typical mazy run from Ronnie in 1967 setting up a goal for fellow CCFPA member Bobby Gould.

RIP Ronnie! You gave Sky Blue fans many memories to cherish!

Matchday Memories: On This Day 2005 – ‘Dele Delivers The Points For Micky’s Men Against Luton

Manager Micky

On this day (29th October)  in 2005 in charge of the Sky Blues at the Ricoh was their former defender Micky Adams. Things were not going too well for Micky’s men in the Championship fifteen matches into the campaign with only two wins to date for their troubles the last one five matches ago at the end of September. Last time out the Sky Blues had been beaten at Leicester City by the odd goal in three and Micky’s men were hovering over the relegation zone. A win was badly needed today at the Ricoh against high flying Luton Town and City deserve credit for getting the job done with a 1-0 win and all three points – but its not a pretty sight for the 22,219 fans!

‘Dele Adebola in the Sky Blue

The Sky Blues huge Hungarian loanee goalkeeper (borrowed from ‘Spurs) Marton Fulop (who sadly passed away in 2015) seemed to give CCFC’s defence some stability and confidence on his debut also bolstered by (now CCFPA member) Robert Page’s return. After a goalless first half the deadlock was broken two minutes in when Sky Blue midfielder James Scowcroft surged through the middle and crossed perfectly for (his now fellow CCFPA member) Dele Adebola to head home the decisive goal against the Hatters. The 1-0 victory was the Sky Blues first clean sheet in a dozen games!

The two teams lined up as follows:-

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1994 – See Sky Blue Dion Do For Man. City At H.R.

Phil Neal, CCFC’s gaffer

On this day (29th October) in 1994, with the Sky Blues, for the time being, under the management of Phil Neal, a goal from (now CCFPA member) Dion Dublin, snatched four minutes from time, was enough to beat Manchester City at Highfield Road in front of 15,802 fans.

Dion in the Sky Blue

This was Dion’s eighth goal in eleven starts since signing for the Sky Blues from Manchester United.  Though the visitors were on a great scoring run (nine goals in their last two) and play like the home side for considerable periods of the game the Sky Blues defended their position very effectively and were able to take the points. The Sky Blues tricky forward from Zimbabwe (and CCFPA’s 300th recruit) Peter Ndlovu must take much credit for mesmerising the Mancunians defence in the box to get over the cross which Dion bravely forced in at the near post.

https://youtu.be/zatQ4iGlY4Y

The Sky Blues lined up as follows (CCFPA members underlined):-

Steve Ogrizovic, Ally Pickering, Brian Borrows, Julian Darby, Dave Busst, David Rennie, Sean Flynn, Paul Cook, Dion Dublin, Roy Wegerle and Peter Ndlovu

Ian Brightwell, in the Sky Blue

Brian Horton‘s Manchester City side lined up:-

Simon Tracey, Andy Hill, Terry Phelan, Steve Lomas, Michel Vonk, Ian Brightwell, Nicky Summerbee, Garry Flitcroft, Niall Quinn, Paul Walsh and Peter Beagrie   Referee:- Martin Bodenham

 

Man. City’s defender Ian Brightwell came to the Sky Blues for the 1999/99 season but ended up with only wearing the Sky Blue shirt for one League Cup appearance! Later on, in mid January in the return at Maine Road, the two sides took part in a dispiriting goalless draw. Ian came from a great sporting background with his mum Ann (Packer) winning Olympic gold in 1964 and dad Robbie a silver olympic medalist and  director with sports companies Adidas UK and Le Coq Sportif UK.

CCFC 1994-95

The Sky Blues finished their 1994-95 season in 16th place in the Premiership five points clear of the relegation zone after CCFPA member ‘Big Ron’ Atkinson had taken over from Phil Neal. Manchester City were tucked in one point and one place below City in seventeenth. Only Aston Villa acted as a safety cushion in eighteenth protecting the trap door.

 

Ipswich Town finished plumb bottom of the Premier League, a massive 21 points away from safety! Above them, but also relegated (in ascending order) were Leicester City, Norwich City and Crystal Palace who were still three points adrift of safety. Blackburn Rovers took the title by only a point from Lancashire rivals Manchester United.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.

 

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1983 – Super Sky Blues Stun Stoke City

Gould R the ‘gaffer’

Sky Blue Benno

On this day (29th October) in 1983 the Sky Blues manager Bobby Gould took his team to the Victoria ground for a Division One game with Stoke City. Bobby, of course, had been a renowned striker for CCFC as well as other clubs but as a ‘Cov Kid’ was hoping to do well against the Potters as last time out they had their colours lowered at Highfield Road by West Ham United. The homesters were struggling having only won one in their last nine so Sky Blues hopes were high! There was a crowd of 11,836 in the ground including a reasonable showing from Bobby’s home city and they saw the Gouldfather’s team gave him a welcome 3-1 win in the Potteries over a poor Stoke City side so keeping them in the top ten!

An interesting footnote was that the referee, Mr D.Scott pulled a muscle ten minutes in and had to be replaced for almost all the game by linesman Mr. D.Crone.

Terry in the Sky Blue

Dave in the Sky Blue

The Sky Blues had managed to go in at half time in the lead by 2-1. (Now Association committee member) Dave Bennett had given us the lead two minutes after the half-hour mark folowed up by our diminutive striker  Terry Gibson netting four minutes later after a slip up from Stoke’s former Sky Blue central defender Paul Dyson (like Terry also now a CCFPA member).

Although the Potters’ Mickey Thomas pulled one back four minutes from the half-time whistle, it was City’s Dave Bamber that wrapped up the points for the Sky Blues by bamboozling Dyson out on the wing and advancing from the touchline beating another two Stoke defenders to finish with a stunning left footer!    

Bobby’s Boys lined up (CCFPA members underlined):-

Paul Dyson in the Sky Blue

Raddy Avramovic, Brian Roberts, Martin Singleton, Ashley Grimes, Trevor Peake, Sam Allardyce, Dave Bennett, Micky Gynn, Dave Bamber, Terry Gibson and Nicky Platnauer

Stoke put out the following team:-

Peter Fox, George Berry, Peter Hampton, Robbie James, Paul Dyson, David McAughtrie, Dennis Tueart, Sammy McIlroy, Brendan O’Callaghan, Micky Thomas and Mark Chamberlain   Referee:- D.Scott (replaced by D.Crone)

Struggling Stoke improved after manager Ritchie Barker (with his long ball tactics) was sacked and replaced by his assistant Bill Asprey. Under Bill they won the return at Highfield Road against the Sky Blues in February by the odd goal in five! At the end of the 1983-84 Division One season Bobby’s boys survived by a couple of points in nineteenth spot whilst the Potters finished one place above them on the same points!