William “Billy” Ronson was born 22nd January, 1957 in Fleetwood, Lancashire. Billy, the son of Fleetwood Football Club stalwart Percy Ronson, began his career at Blackpool Football Club, making his debut in March 1975 against Nottingham Forest. He originally struggled to break into the side but eventually managed to establish himself in the first team. He was unable to prevent the club’s relegation during the 1977-78 season and spent one more year at the club before joining Cardiff City for a fee of £130,000, a club record at the time.
He went on loan to the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers in 1978, where he appeared in 21 games, scoring 1 goal with 2 assists. He returned to Cardiff City, he missed very few games in his two years at Ninian Park (90 games) before growing disenchanted with the club’s lack of progress and leaving to join Wrexham. His only season at Wrexham ended in relegation, and he left to join Barnsley. He became popular at the Yorkshire club before falling out with manager Allan Clarke and being loaned to Birmingham City for 2 games, before being released and returning to Blackpool on non-contract terms, where he played only 3 games.
He moved to America in 1986 to join the Baltimore Blast of the MISL, he would remain there until 1992. He was then on the Rowdies roster for the 1992 outdoor season. He then signed with the indoor side Detroit Rockers in 1993, where he would go on to make 29 appearances and scoring 19 goals. He returned to the Baltimore Blast, to finish out his career. In his later years he worked for American company Action Business Systems. He died of natural causes at his home in Perry Hall, Baltimore County, on 8 April 2015.
League Division Two – Fulham v Blackpool – Craven Cottage. Billy Ronson and Fulham’s Les Strong. 8 October 1977
Blackpool team group. (Back row, l-r) Terry Alcock, George Wood, Bill Bentley, Colin King and Alan Ainscow. (Middle row, l-r) Rob Hatton, Steve Harrison, John Curtis, Paul Hart, Stan McEwah and David Tong. (Front row, l-r) Kevin Moore, Alan Suddick, Peter Suddaby, Michael Walsh and Billy Ronson. 18 August 1976
G40DPR Blackpool team group. (Back row, l-r) Terry Alcock, George Wood, Bill Bentley, Colin King and Alan Ainscow. (Middle row, l-r) Rob Hatton, Steve Harrison, John Curtis, Paul Hart, Stan McEwah and David Tong. (Front row, l-r) Kevin Moore, Alan Suddick, Peter Suddaby, Michael Walsh and Billy Ronson
