Ronald Cope (5 October 1934 – 27 August 2016) was an English footballer from Crewe, Cheshire, who played as a centre half-back in the Football League for Manchester United and Luton Town.[1]

Ronnie Cope
Personal information
Full name Ronald Cope
Date of birth (1934-10-05)5 October 1934
Place of birth Crewe, Cheshire, England
Date of death 27 August 2016(2016-08-27) (aged 81)
Position(s) Centre half
Youth career
1950–1951 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1951–1961 Manchester United 93 (2)
1961–1963 Luton Town 28 (0)
1963–1968 Northwich Victoria ? (10)
1968–1969 Winsford United ? (?)
1968–1969 Nantwich ? (1)
1969–1971 Northwich Victoria ? (0)
Managerial career
1965–1966 Northwich Victoria
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
Manchester United F.C. in 1960 – from the left, standing: Maurice Setters, Bill Foulkes, Ronnie Cope, Harry Gregg, Albert Scanlon, Bobby Charlton. Front row from the left: Warren Bradley, Albert Quixall, Dennis Viollet, Shay Brennan and Joe Carolan.

Cope played four times for England Schoolboys in 1950.[2] He joined Manchester United as an amateur in the same year, turned professional in 1951, and made his debut for the club on 29 September 1956 against Arsenal at Highbury.[3] However, he only gained a regular first-team place after the Munich air disaster.[4] He lost his first-team place to Bill Foulkes in October 1960,[citation needed] and left United for Luton Town in August 1961 on a £10,000 transfer. He left the professional scene two years later, although he continued to play at non-league level for Northwich Victoria and also served the Cheshire club as manager.[3]

His father, George, had played for Crewe Alexandra, and he was considered a stand-out player in the squad, always being where he was needed.[citation needed] Like his father, Cope also played Cheshire County League football for Nantwich.[5]

Cope died on 27 August 2016.[6][7]

Honours

edit

Manchester United

References

edit
  1. ^ "Ron Cope". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
  2. ^ Roberts, Jan (16 June 2004). "Local heroes". Ellesmere Port Pioneer. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Ronald Cope". MUFCInfo. Mark Graham. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
  4. ^ "1957/58". StretfordEnd.co.uk. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
  5. ^ Chatwin, Michael (2020). Ultimate Book of Nantwich Town Football Club. Empire. ISBN 978-0-9563068-2-1. OCLC 1199329275.
  6. ^ OBITUARY: RONNIE COPE
  7. ^ COPE RONALD : Obituary
  8. ^ Vernon, Leslie; Rollin, Jack (1977). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977–78. London: Brickfield Publications Ltd. p. 490. ISBN 0354 09018 6.
edit
  • Ron Cope at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database