Peter Mann Ronald (5 November 1889 – 21 April 1953) was an English

association footballer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...

. During his career he played for Hebburn Argyle,

Watford Watford () is a town and non-metropolitan district with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Hertfordshire, England, northwest of Central London, on the banks of the River Colne, Hertfordshire, River Colne. Initially a smal ...

Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest Football Club is a professional association football club based in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league system, English football. Founde ...

and West Stanley, primarily as an

inside right In the sport of association football, a forward (attacker or striker) is an outfield position which primarily plays further up the pitch than midfielders and defenders. As with any attacking player, the role of the forward relies heavily on bein ...

. Following his retirement as a player, he coached Watford between 1926 and 1946.

Career

Born in

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle ( , Received Pronunciation, RP: ), is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is England's northernmost metropolitan borough, located o ...

, Ronald started his career at nearby Hebburn Argyle, before transferring to

in June 1914 for an undisclosed fee. Despite the outbreak of the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, the Southern League continued for the 1914–15 season. Ronald quickly established himself as a regular starter in Watford's team, making 36 appearances and scoring 9 goals as Watford secured the Southern League title. He did not play for the club during wartime league matches, but did return for the 1919–20 season, scoring 10 of Watford's 69 goals as they finished as runners up in the Southern League to

Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. Most of Portsmouth is located on Portsea Island, off the south coast of England in the Solent, making Portsmouth the only city in En ...

goal average A goal or objective is an idea of the future or desired result that a person or a group of people envision, plan, and commit to achieve. People endeavour to reach goals within a finite time by setting deadlines. A goal is roughly similar to ...

. Ronald's third season at Watford coincided with their first in the newly formed

Football League Third Division The Football League Third Division was the third tier of the English football league system in 1920–21 Football League, 1920–21 and again from 1958–59 Football League, 1958 until 1991–92 Football League, 1992. When the FA Premier League ...

. On 28 August 1920, Ronald scored his team's opening goal in a 2–1 win over QPR at

Loftus Road Loftus Road, currently known as MATRADE Loftus Road Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a football stadium in Shepherd's Bush, West London, Greater London, England, which is home to Queens Park Rangers F.C., Queens Park Rangers Football Club, w ...

, thereby becoming the first man ever to score for Watford in the

Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional association football, football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, it is the oldest football league in Association football around the world, the w ...

.''The Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who'' p. 201 At the end of the 1920–21 season, Ronald transferred to

, for a fee of £500. After two seasons largely as a reserve player, he moved to West Stanley in 1923, before rejoining Watford the following year. After failing to make a first team appearance, Ronald retired as a player in 1925, remaining as a coach until the conclusion of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and resumption of peacetime football in 1946. He died in Watford seven years later, aged 63.

Honours

* Southern League Division 1: **Winner: 1914–15 **Runner up: 1919–20

References

* *

External links

Nottingham Forest

Watford Football Club
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ronald, Peter 1889 births 1953 deaths Footballers from Newcastle upon Tyne English men's footballers English Football League players Southern Football League players Hebburn Argyle F.C. players Watford F.C. players Nottingham Forest F.C. players West Stanley F.C. players Watford F.C. non-playing staff Men's association football forwards