Ron Lord Collection

Ron Lord is a legendary Australian goalkeeper, probably deserving of a more expansive Wikipedia entry than this. Thankfully he got a picture on the FFA's Hall of Fame website as an inductee in the inaugural 1999 group, unlike many others.

Ronald Allan Lord was born in the inner western Sydney suburb of Rozelle on July 25, 1929. As a child he took up the opportunity to play numerous sports, chiefly soccer in the winter and cricket in the summer but also competing in swimming, athletics, water polo and hockey. As a footballer he was fullback for the Rozella Waratahs as well as the Western Suburbs district representative team. From there he began turning out for the lower grade teams of the Drummoyne club, and in 1946 he made his first team debut in the opening game of the season away at Woonona-Bulli.

It would prove to be a major turning point in his career, as he suffered a serious ankle injury and departed the field early. After a few weeks on crutches, the injury persisted as he was troubled by pain whenever he attempted to kick a ball as he sought to return to the game. Then came a twist of fate as he attended a day at Drummoyne Oval to support the team to find out the reserve team goalkeeper had failed to turn up. Thinking he should be able to handle things, banking on at least being able to draw upon his water polo experience in throwing the ball, he volunteered his services and set himself on a new path that would eventually lead to the top of the game in Australia.

It was an inauspicious debut, as four goals were put past him without a reply, but he now became Drummoyne's second grade goalkeeper. He was understudy to Ken Hough, who was the incumbent national team goalkeeper. Ron would make his debut in goals for the first team when Hough toured New Zealand with the Australian team in 1948.

In 1950, when Hough switched to rugby league, Ron became Drummoyne's No.1, having already been on the fringes of representative honours whilst being deputy the year before. That year he would make his New South Wales debut, and the following season he played his first game for his country.

He would go on to make 399 appearances in NSW First Division games, moving to Auburn when Drummoyne became defunct at the end of 1950 before finishing his career with the highly successful Prague side from 1957-1964. He would make numerous appearances for New South Wales in big games against touring sides from overseas. In a time when the national team didn't travel as much as it does now, and during which several years were lost during a ban from FIFA, Ron's international peak was the 1956 Olympics held in Melbourne. 

Below are links to the Ron Lord Photo Galleries:

As with all photos on this site, please click on them to enlarge.


Playing Photo Gallery

Team Photo Gallery

Olympics Photo Gallery

Events Photo Gallery

Clippings Gallery

Further reading:

Ron Lord's 1956 Olympics Diary

Ron Lord Testimonial Day Programme - February 16, 1964



                                             








With thanks to Ron Lord, Brian Lord and Greg Stock