Ron Harland

DOB: 19th October 1950

Position: Striker

Season of first appearance: 1969/70

Season of last appearance: 1970/71

Full Appearances: 36

Substitute: 4

Goals: 6

Also played for:

Crystal Palace (0), Dover, Bexley United, Croydon, Marconi (Australia) and Brisbane Lions (Australia).

Player Profile:

5\' 10\" tall Croydon-born England Youth international who began his career with Crystal Palace, scoring once in 12 reserve team appearances spanning the 1968/69-1969/70 seasons, before joining Margate as a 19 year-old in January 1970.

Ron made his debut in a Kent Senior Shield tie at Ramsgate on 20.1.70 and impressed with his hard work. However his performance in a game against Bath on 14.2.70 was described as \"a mixture of the good and the mediocre\" by the Thanet Times. Ron usually played as a striker but also featured in midfield and he made 29 appearances (one as sub) during the remainder of the 1969/70 season, scoring four times. His goals included a brilliant 30 yard volley in a 4-1 defeat at Cambridge United on 23.3.70 and a diving header during a 3-2 win King\'s Lynn on 4.4.70.

Ron spent most of the early part of the 1970/71 season in the reserves, despite the local press stating that he was \"highly-rated by all East Kent managers\". He scored twice in a 3-1 win at Ramsgate on 20.10.70, one of the goals was an excellent lob, but they were his last for the club. After making just 11 first team appearances, three of them as sub, Ron was released in December 1970 and joined Dover.

However a month later Dover also released him and he then joined Bexley although Ramsgate were said to be interested too.

Ron later played for Croydon before moving to Australia.

During 1975 he played for Marconi in the Australian Regional League and he moved on to Brisbane Lions, also in the Regional League, for the 1976 season. Ron stayed with them when they moved into the National League in 1977. In May of that year Ron suffered a major injury that ended his senior career.

He later returned to the UK and by 2011 Ron was an FA Level 1 qualified coach and had been working with youngsters at Milton Keynes Wanderers for several seasons.

During his time at Margate Ron said that his hobbies were dancing and ten pin bowling.