ken ronaldson

A gangly but skilful youngster with a good touch, it took Ken just four minutes to score as a trialist for the reserves in a 2-1 victory against St Mirren A in May 1963. His performance made a sufficient impression for him to be signed permanently from Edinburgh Rangers when the Dons returned for pre-season training in July. Ken gave a first class display in the first reserve game of the 1963-64 season scoring two goals in a 5-1 victory over Dundee United A. He would go on to prove himself as a key figure in the reserves throughout the season.
Having an uncanny knack of being on the right place at the right time when a scoring opportunity appeared, his performances in the reserves saw him promoted to the first team for a friendly against Morton in April 1964. Although moving the ball neatly on occasion, Ken struggled with the pace of the game and was caught in possession on a few occasions. The overall view however was that he would learn with experience and had by no means let himself down.
Despite the fact that Ken hadn't been able to cement a regular place in the first team, a return of fourteen goals in twenty two reserve games was a good effort for his first professional season. Ken's full first team debut was to come as somewhat of a surprise. With Ian Burns out with an ankle injury, Charlie Cooke moved back to left half and Ken was called in at inside right to face Rangers at Ibrox in the first game of the 1964-65 season. If it was a difficult debut then Ken displayed no signs of being overawed, being cool and often clever on the ball and showing a level of distribution that more than merited his inclusion in the side.
He retained his place against St Johnstone on the following Wednesday again showing a good conception of the game and despite lacking a bit in pace he appeared capable of claiming a regular first-team place. However, Ian Burns return to fitness meant Cooke moved back to inside forward and Ken back to the reserves. The sale of Cooke to Dundee in December 1964 saw Ken come into the side to replace him against Clyde. However, in a poor Dons performance Ken failed to show any of his previous promise and the general view was that he was still not ready for a permanent first team place.
Dropped along with Ernie Winchester and Andy Kerr, Ken would not have another first team opportunity and despite continuing to appear in the reserves he was one of the 17 players freed by new manager Eddie Turnbull in April 1965.
Ken signed for Bristol Rovers in July 1965, where playing on the wing he became a great favourite with the Rovers fans. Scoring in three consecutive league matches in October 1966 and against Mansfield Town in September 1967, Ken scored after just twenty-eight seconds and again against Mansfield Town an eighteenth-minute opening goal in the comfortable home win in March 1969.
He joined Gillingham in November 1969 as a swap for Carl Gilbert, however, Ken failed to make any real impression at the club. None more so than in his last senior game for the club, a 4-1 defeat against Bristol Rovers in October 1970, where it was unfortunately noted that he was ineffective and had largely failed to take the opportunity of establishing himself in the side. He left the club in 1971 to pursue a career with the Kent Constabulary.
Sadly Ken would latterly suffer from dementia before passing away in July 2021.