| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ronald Futcher | ||
| Date of birth | 25 September 1956 | ||
| Place of birth | Chester, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1973–1974 | Chester City | 4 | (0) |
| 1974–1978 | Luton Town | 120 | (40) |
| 1978–1979 | Manchester City | 17 | (7) |
| 1976–1981 | Minnesota Kicks | 129 | (73) |
| 1982 | Portland Timbers | 23 | (13) |
| 1983 | Southampton | 0 | (0) |
| 1983–1984 | Tulsa Roughnecks | 49 | (33) |
| 1984 | NAC Breda | 7 | (3) |
| 1984–1985 | Barnsley | 19 | (5) |
| 1985–1987 | Oldham Athletic | 65 | (30) |
| 1987–1988 | Bradford City | 42 | (18) |
| 1988–1990 | Port Vale | 52 | (20) |
| 1990–1991 | Burnley | 57 | (23) |
| 1991–1992 | Crewe Alexandra | 21 | (4) |
| 1992 | Boston United | 2 | (0) |
| Total | 607 | (269) | |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Ronald (Ron) Futcher (born 25 September 1956 in Chester) is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.
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A gentleman off the pitch, he was a 'psychopath' on the field, noted for his aerial ability and solid ball control.[1]
Futcher started his professional career with hometown Chester City in the Fourth Division, appearing in four first-team games in 1973–74. He played the next four seasons with Luton Town, scoring seven goals in 17 games in the First Division in 1974–75, and 33 goals in 103 Second Division matches in the next three seasons.[2] In August 1978, Futcher transferred to Manchester City and played at Maine Road for one season.
Futcher began playing summers in the NASL in 1976 with the Minnesota Kicks, spending the next five seasons with the team. He played with the Portland Timbers for the summer of 1982 and then the Tulsa Roughnecks in 1983 and 1984, having spent a brief period in early 1983 back in England with Southampton, without making any first–team appearances.[3] He finished with 296 points in 201 career games in the league, including 119 goals. After almost being suspended for the 1983 Soccer Bowl, he scored Tulsa's second goal as the Roughnecks won the NASL championship.[4] Returning to Europe, Futcher had a spell with NAC Breda before heading back to England with Barnsley in 1984. After a season with Barnsley he joined Oldham Athletic, making 65 league appearances before leaving for Bradford City in 1987. In August 1988, Port Vale paid £35,000 for his services and he enjoyed regular football in the 1988–89 season and played in both legs of the play-off final which saw the club promoted. However he was dropped in October 1989, and he 'forced the issue' and was sold on to Burnley for £60,000 the following month.[5]
He made 57 appearances for Burnley from 1989 to 1991[6] before finishing his professional playing career with Crewe Alexandra, scoring four goals in 21 league games in 1991–92. His last senior game for them was in the Fourth Division Play-off Semi Final 1st leg, and his last Football League goal was a few weeks earlier against Doncaster Rovers.[7] He later played at non-league Boston United in 1992 before he retired.
As a coach he has been involved in college soccer in America, including at Oakland University.[8] Futcher is currently coaching at RSL Florida coaching the under-12 boys in Tampa, FL. He has previously worked as Bradford City's Community Officer and Youth Development Officer.[8]
Futcher's twin brother Paul played some 20 years in the Football League,[9] and Paul's son Ben also has extensive Football League experience.[10] Ron's other brother Graham also played professionally. Paul and Graham also started their careers with Chester City.