Hereford Historian Ron Parrott looks back at the life of Ronnie Burbeck who has died.
I was saddened to hear the news about the passing of Ronnie Burbeck, he was one of my schoolboy heroes and I lived in awe of him. He came to Hereford at the age of 30 and was one of several players that manager Bob Dennison brought down with him from Middlesbrough. They included that wonderful schemer Alan Rodgerson and the colourful character and ex-England winger Eddie Holliday. After retirement from professional football, Alan settled in Ewyas Harold and played Herefordshire League football for them for several years to come.
BURBECK, RONNIE
Appearances: 61 (61+0 sub.) Goals: 18
Seasons played: 1964/65 to 1966/67
Born Leicester 27th February 1934, died Leicester 31st January 2025, aged 90
A right-winger by trade, Ronnie started his career as a youngster with Leicester City and in July 1951, he was one of 20 youngsters selected by the FA for an England Youth training camp. In October that same year, he was selected to represent the North in an amateur international trial and he went on to win a couple of England Youth caps whilst at Filbert Street. During four seasons with the Foxes, his chances were limited and he only managed three first-team appearances. However, Ronnie signed for Bob Dennison’s Middlesbrough in October 1956 and went on to make his name with them. Ronnie broke his wrist in January 1959 and lost his place, ironically, to future England international and future Hereford United player, Eddie Holliday but returned to the side later that same season. Very popular with the fans, Ronnie scored regularly and also laid on lots of goals for a certain Brian Clough. In one never-to-be-forgotten game in October 1960, Middlesbrough drew 6-6 at Charlton Athletic, with Ronnie not only scoring twice himself but also laying on the crosses for two of Brian Clough's hat-trick goals. In seven happy seasons at Ayresome Park, Ronnie scored 29 times in 152 appearances. He then dropped down a division to the Third, when he spent the 1963/64 season with Darlington, scoring just once in 18 starts.
Ronnie then followed Hereford United's new manager Bob Dennison down to Edgar Street and was a regular in Hereford's most successful season ever. Again, Ronnie was popular with fans and became feared in the Southern League for his pace down the right-wing and his ability to put over a string of accurate crosses. He spent three seasons with United, making a total of 61 appearances and scoring 18 goals. Ronnie was also a keen cricketer and twice played for Leicestershire in the 1958 Minor Counties Cricket Championship. After finally hanging up his boots, Ronnie settled in Ewyas Harold and carried on playing for them in the Herefordshire League for many more seasons. Ronnie loved where he lived on the common and didn’t move from there until his wife died and he decided to move back to Leicester in 2020, to be near his son and daughter-in-law.