Ronnie Radford
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ronald Radford | ||
| Date of birth | 12 July 1943 | ||
| Place of birth | South Elmsall, West Riding of Yorkshire, England | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1961 | Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | (0) |
| 1961–1962 | Leeds United | 0 | (0) |
| 1962–1965 | Cheltenham Town | ? | (?) |
| 1965–1966 | Rugby Town | ? | (?) |
| 1966–1969 | Cheltenham Town | ? | (?) |
| 1969–1971 | Newport County | 68 | (7) |
| 1971–1974 | Hereford United | 61 | (6) |
| 1974 | Worcester City | ? | (?) |
| 1974–???? | Bath City | ? | (?) |
| ???? | Forest Green Rovers | ? | (?) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1974 | Worcester City (player-manager) | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Ronald "Ronnie" Radford (born 12 July 1943 in South Elmsall, West Riding of Yorkshire) is a former English footballer who notably scored a memorable goal in the 1971–72 FA Cup for Hereford United during their famous 2–1 giant-killing of Newcastle United.
Radford started his footballing career at Sheffield Wednesday and later Leeds United, but did not make a first team appearance for either club. He joined Cheltenham Town where he was an ever-present in the 1963–64 season, even though he was only a part-time footballer; working during the week as a joiner. He spent one season at Rugby Town before returning to Whaddon Road in 1966. Newport County then paid £1,500 for him in 1969, and in his first season he was voted Player of the Year by the supporters. While at Newport Radford scored a volley from the edge of the box against Bradford Park Avenue, which flew into the top corner. Years later Radford said in an interview that he believed that goal was equally as good a goal as his most famous effort.
Eventually the financial and physical strain of travelling to and from Newport led to Radford moving to a club closer to home. That club was Hereford United. Radford was a regular in the Hereford midfield and was part of the team that went on an incredible cup run, from the Fourth Qualifying Round to the Fourth Round Proper. In the Third Round Hereford met Newcastle United at St James' Park, and the team of part-timers came away with a 2–2 draw, after going 1–0 up in the first minute.
The much-postponed replay at Edgar Street was played on a quagmire of a pitch in front of a capacity crowd. The match was being covered by the BBC with a young John Motson commentating. It was originally scheduled for a small slot on Match of the Day later that evening. Newcastle went 1–0 ahead in the last ten minutes, and with the tie seemingly settled, Radford won a tackle in the Newcastle half and played a one-two with Brian Owen (who had scored the first goal at Newcastle). The return pass bobbled on the muddy surface but sat up nicely for Radford, and he unleashed a 30-yard strike into the top corner that beat Willie McFaul to equalise. The goal sparked a pitch invasion, and the images of the muddy pitch, Radford celebrating with arms aloft and the crowd invading the pitch, have since become immortalised in FA Cup history.
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