Vale: Ron Tindall

It was with great sadness we learned of the passing of football coach Ron Tindall at the age of 76.

Ron was a shining example of the difference between the modern footballer and those from an earlier era, quiet, modest, humble and always willing to give any one the time of day and share the wealth of his experience. A kind generous man.

Ron Played for West Ham United, Portsmouth and Reading but is best known for his time at Chelsea where he partnered the great Jimmy Greaves and together they scored 59 goals in the 1960/61 season, which is still a club record today. Greaves has acknowledged that he was the perfect strike partner for him, as evident in the fact that Greaves scored 43 of the 59 goals! In 160 appearances for the Blues, Ron scored 67 goals.

He was also a talented cricketer and loved to share his knowledge on this game too,-as I was fortunate to enjoy,- always with the same modesty. He played for Surrey between 1956-1966, he scored 5446 runs in first-class matches at an average of 24.86, including two centuries and with a highest score of 109 not out. He also took 150 wickets at an average of 32.38. In 1963 He reached one thousand runs in a season. HIs most successful season was 1962 when he received more opportunities thanks to the retirement of two of the games greats, Jim Laker and Sir Alec Bedser. In that season he took 66 wickets at 23.92.

After moving to Western Australia he became the Director of Coaching in football and influenced the lives of hundreds of young players and many of the current coaches not only in the state, but also in Australia. It was only right that he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2008. Football West are to be applauded for the move made just last year to honour his dedication and influence on the game by fittingly re-naming the WA coach of the year award the Ron Tindall Medal and he presented the award to the first recipient Michael Roki in 2011.

In this way his memory will live on forever, in a way that is appropriate, yet in many people’s heart whose lives he touched his memory will never fade.

Rest in Peace