Ron Newman (1 May 1933 – 20 February 2021)

It is sad to report the death, at the age of 87, of former Coventry City player Ron Newman. A skilful forward signed from Northampton Town in 1956 Ron scored within a minute of his debut against Southampton at Highfield Road which is probably the fastest ever City debut goal at a home game. Ron only played 13 games for the club over two seasons in what was a dark period for the club.

Born in Pontypridd in South Wales Ron was a talented all-rounder at school and represented Wales schoolboys at rugby as a scrum half. Despite growing up in the rugby hotbed of South Wales football took priority however after a Northampton scout spotted young Ron playing for Ynysybwl FC near his home town and he signed for the Cobblers in October 1953. Two other Pontypridd boys also joined Northampton around that time, Ken Leek, a Welsh international centre-forward who later played for Leicester City, and centre-half Colin Gale.

Ron had to wait almost two years for his first team debut, at Bournemouth in April 1955 when he scored the only goal. The following season Northampton started the season with five straight victories with Ron playing at inside right and he appeared to have cemented his place in the team. However an injury cost him his place and he was unable to get back into the team.

In March 1956 City manager George Raynor arranged a swap deal bringing Ron to Highfield Road with centre-forward Charlie Dutton moving to the County Ground. Coventry City was still in disarray after the departure of manager Jesse Carver back to Italy at Christmas. The team had been in a golden seam of form before his departure with seven wins in eight and lying fifth in Division Three South with an outside chance of promotion. Head coach Raynor, famous for leading Sweden to third place in the 1950 World Cup, had stepped into the manager's chair but the team's form had been poor with only two wins in nine and the team had slipped to 10th with any promotion hopes disappeared.

Three days after signing Ron went straight into City's first team for the home game with Southampton, replacing Eric Johnson and promptly scored in the very first minute. Nemo in the Coventry Telegraph described the goal in the Pink:

(Denis) Uphill started it with a splendid through pass to Peter Hill and the inside-left darted down the middle before drawing out Traynor and flicking the ball to 'new' boy Newman who coolly shot City into the lead with an unstoppable shot.

City won the game 2-0 with Ken McPherson scoring in the second half in front of 13,493 and Ron kept his place for a further five games and netted another goal in a 4-1 win over QPR. Ron lodged with a couple in Clovelly Road. There was another change of management at the club in the summer of 1956 with Harry Warren arriving from Southend and Ron was soon out of favour. After seven first team games early in the season he was in the reserves playing alongside a young George Curtis, Steve 'Kalamazoo' Mokone and Iain Jamieson. 

In 1957 he was released by City and joined another Third Division club Torquay United where he played four games that season before moving into non league soccer with Bedford, Rugby Town and Rushden Town. In 1964 after leaving Rushden Town he went to Wellingborough and for three years was player-coach to their reserve team, “Newman's chicks”, as they were known.

                          Ron at 2012 Legends Day

Ron worked in insurance for most of his working life, even when he was playing, and retired from the Britannic Assurance Company in 1996. He continued to live in Northampton with his wife Sheila (they were married for 63 years) and sons Kevin and Michael becoming a keen golfer at Northampton Golf Club and represented his county. Ron was a member of the Coventry Former Players Association and attended several Legends Days until his health deteriorated. His widow Sheila told me he was very proud to be in the Association and looked forward to receiving their newsletters. RIP Ron.