Ronnie Clayton

[Kelbo]

I had the prevelige of seeing him play, could tackle, head, pass and read the game so well, a top bloke, a true Rover who will be missed but never forgotten, the world will be a sadder place without him!

RIP Ronnie

[yoda]

I was fortunate enough to see him play at the latter end of his career.

I also met him several times when he did the stadium tours.

I true gentlemen and a true Rovers legend.

RIP Ronnie.

Ditto, no more to say

[RibbleValleyRover]

Dave Whelan's tribute from the BBC Site:

A former team-mate of Ronnie Clayton, Wigan chairman Dave Whelan paid tribute to Clayton, describing him as "Blackburn and England through-and-through".

"It's such a shock and such a sad loss for Blackburn and the sporting world," Whelan told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"He was the nicest man you could ever meet and to play behind him was a great privilege. He was the fittest person I have ever played with or seen in the whole of my life.

"When we used to train every day, Ron and myself used to run from our training ground, which was two miles away from Ewood Park. We used to run and race each other back to the stadium and I could never beat him."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/9140892.stm

[finndaloo]

He lived at the top of our road when we were kids. Reffed some of our games on a horse field at the back of his house and even somtimes let us wear his international shirts. Always a gentleman and known as Uncle Ronnie to me, my brother and our friends. This news is indeed a shock and it surely is a very sad day. He was a good man and a brilliant ambassador for the Rovers.

[Gav]

Really saddened by this news, only saw him in the summer having a meal at a pub on the outskirts of burnley.

One club man, captain of England, absolute legend.

RIP Ronnie.

[NookRover]

Unfortunately never got to see him play, unfortunately never got to meet him.

The word Legend is banded about far too easily these days, but not in the case of Ronnie Clayton.

R.I.P Ronnie

[alexanders]

Met him on one of the tours. A really nice man who had great tales and knowledge about the club!

RIP Ronnie!

[XLM]

Was only saying the other day its the likes of Ronnie and Duggie that statues and stands should be built and named after at "Ewood Park".

RIP Ronnie

Hear hear!

When i started watching Rovers in the sixties to many Rovers were 'Douglas and Clayton'. Even at the end of their careers they were both still class acts. Darwen End-Clayton stand, Blackburn End-Douglas stand. Perhaps it could be the last contribution of the trust.

Jack would have approved.

[Baz]

Rest In Peace Ronnie.

I grew up on tales on how good Ronnie and Dougie were. Nearly 600 club appearances at his only league club, 35 International Caps and 5 of those as Captain.

A true legend.

[John Howarth]

A very sad day in the history of Blackburn Rovers. He was such a great guy to talk to about the "good old days". My condolences to Val and the family

[01/01/92Ewood]

May he Rest in Peace indeed.

He was the cornerstone of the team I grew up watching in the late 1950s. Like many on here, I met him briefly in later years and felt I'd met not just a Rovers player but a Rovers fan too. You won't get many like him in years to come.

Wise words m1st!

[rovers1995]

I have just been speaking to somebody who works at Rovers and she told me that Ronnie had the early signs of alzheimers (probably why he was forgetful at the tours recently). Apparently, not so long ago he went to a function and all the way there he was talking about Jimmy McIlroy. He hadn't forgot anything about football and when he got to the table his reaction changed as Gordon Burns (BBC News) was sat at his table. Ronnie couldn't remember Gordon and kept saying 'Which football team did he play for?' Sad to hear but just goes to prove that Ronnie truly did love the game just as much as the game loves him.

[RIML]

I met him on a ground tour and he told me some great facts about Rovers.

Keep smiling Ronnie. Rest in peace.

This is when I met Ronnie about 6 years ago

[Cheeky Sidders]

This is very sad news. He had a quiet dignity about him that today's players could learn a lot from. A genuine captain of men both on and off the field.

[imperial rover]

Very sad news. Had the pleasure of meeting him many years ago when he often ate in the restaurant I worked in. Was always happy to talk football. Thoroughly decent chap. Sadly before my time in playing terms but the sort of character I wish we had now. RIP

[jim mk2]

I'm very upset about this. Loved watching him as a player, lived near him, played footy with his son, received the cup from him after winning a schools final at Ewood.

Lovely man, gentleman footballer with no equivalent in the modern game.

.

[Claytons Left Boot]

One of my favourite Rovers photographs shows a diving Ronnie netting in a 2-1 win at Ewood in the FA Cup quarter final against Liverpool in March 1958. Crowd that day, 51k. A few days before the cup game we had played them at Ewood in the league, crowd that day 41k. If there is one thing I could change with my life it would be to have been born ten years or so earlier and caught Rovers in their pomp, mid 50's onwards, with Ronnie, Duggie and the rest. I was, though, lucky enough to have seen Ronnie play between 1966 and 1969 and indeed attended his testimonial at the end of his career.

What a great idea, mentioned earlier, to have a stand named after him and perhaps a statue. Very fitting.

RIP

[mark1875]

my thoughts at this sad time go out to Ronnie's wife Val and his family.

Absolutely devastated upon hearing this news. I met Ronnie on many occasions through ground tours when younger, various events down at the ground and he was often seen pottering around the ground. Always took the time out of his schedule to talk to the fans. Unfortunately i am too young to ever remember Ronnie in the famous blue and white halves, however I have always been told of his ability by my father.

Today is a sad sad day for everyone associated with Blackburn Rovers Football Club. I hope the club give him a fitting tribute tomorrow prior to the match and the players show the characters Ronnie showed himself and give him the perfect tribute by claiming 3 points off the champions.

True blue - never to be forgotton, R.I.P Ronnie

[AggyBlue]

Such shocking news, I'm really saddened, RIP Ronnie.

Edited October 29, 2010 by AggyBlue

[Derbyshire Blue]

Cant say I remember seeing him play... but do remember going to his Testimonial Match... always came over as a proper Gent.

R.I.P

[Darwen Rover]

Had never met him..

But clearly a man many of us can learn from

God bless Yr soul sir

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

As mentioned renaming one of the stands would be a lovely gesture to a great servant and fan of Rovers.

I had the pleasure of one of his ground tours and he was still kicking and heading every ball with the stories he told...the fire was still burning bright for the game.I too never saw him play but listening to my dad enthuse about him was enough.Tomorrow will be an emotional day for all Rovers fans at Ewood.

[roversmum]

He loved Rovers and was loved by Rovers. RIP Ronnie, one of the nicest men I have ever met. Thoughts and prayers to your family. So sad. xx

[whalleyrover]

R.I.P. Ronnie. A true gentleman who todays young players should model themselves on.

[steverovers]

R.I.P. Ronnie. A true gentleman who todays young players should model themselves on.

Spot on!

RIP Ronnie