Some Personal Memories of Ron Radford
To us he was simply ‘Ron Radford’, the number 11 with the ill-fitting shirt so baggy it was like a raincoat. But to the country at large, he will be forever known as “Ronnie Radford”, made famous by John Motson’s superb commentary on BBCTV ‘Match of the Day’ when Hereford United beat Newcastle United in that epic FA Cup replay of 1972.
We’re due up to play Portsmouth this Friday in front of those same BBCTV ‘Match of the Day’ cameras. What goal will they show before the match? I don’t need to tell you. Big Ron’s goal will be shown for all time. He was part of a team I was privileged to watch that season, including during our extended Cup run. Each one was a character, so eloquently described later by Colin Addison and Ricky George. None of them were anything other than just ordinary guys who loved to play football. And to us fans we loved to watch them play. Put them together in a football team and the sum of the parts was far greater than the individuals.
I never saw his shot enter the net. Thousands of Meadow Enders threw their hands up in front of me to tell me it was a goal! What a goal too, ‘Match of the Day’ Goal of the Season. Bobby Charlton was on the award panel and described it as not only a shot he would have been proud of, but the significance of when it occurred during the match.
That season was not just one match, it was a season of pure enjoyment. Thanks to all the players, and today I say “Thank you Ron, for all the memories”.
Richard Tomkins
The Ronnie Radford FA Cup goal (including the tackle) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHZWyMFgM80
