Ron Smillie

DOB: 27th September 1933

Position: Midfielder

Season of first appearance: 1966/67

Season of last appearance: 1966/67

Full Appearances: 31

Substitute: 3

Goals: 10

Also played for:

Barnsley (131,18), Lincoln City (95,15), Chelmsford City, Folkestone Town, Dartford.

Player Profile:

Diminutive Grimethorpe-born player who began his career as a junior at Barnsley in 1950 and worked his way up to the first team. Ron made 30 senior appearances between 1951/52 and 1955/56 before transferring to Lincoln in June 1956.

He made his debut for the Imps in a 1-0 home defeat against Stoke in the 2nd Division on 13.10.56 and went on to score 15 times in 95 first-team appearances spanning the 1956/57 to 1959/60 seasons.

Ron then returned to Barnsley in July 1960 and made a further 101 senior appearances for them, scoring 17 times.

In 1963, he dropped into non-league football when he joined Chelmsford and Ron spent three years there before moving to Margate in May 1966 at the same time as his Chelmsford team-mates Peter Gillott and David Pye.

Almost immediately after signing for Margate, Ron joined the squad that travelled to West Germany for a three-match tour in June 1966 and he scored in a 5-1 win over Unter Kocken during the trip.

Ron made his competitive debut on 20.8.66, the opening day of the 1966/67 season, in a 5-2 Southern League win over Barry at Hartsdown Park. He was then in and out of the side during the remainder of the campaign, making a total of 34 appearances (three as a substitute) as Margate won promotion from the Southern League Division One by finishing as runners-up. Ron scored ten goals, including a cracking drive from 25 yards in a 3-3 home draw with Folkestone on 24.10.66. He also found the net with a fluke from the right wing during a 4-0 win over Dunstable at Hartsdown Park on 29.10.66. His attempted cross floated over the visiting keeper and dropped into the net. At the end of the season, Ron was released and he joined Folkestone for the 1967/68 campaign, scoring four goals there during the season.

He then moved to Dartford where he spent the 1968/69 campaign, scoring twice in 23 appearances before departing.

By 1971, Ron was coaching Chelmsford Boys and his son Neil was in their side. Neil later played for clubs including Crystal Palace and Gillingham and also had a spell as the Gills' manager.

In 1975, Ron became youth team coach at Chelmsford.

He died in Broomfield, Essex, on 17.8.05 aged 71.