Portsmouth goalscoring great and former Aston Villa manager Ron Saunders dies

Pompey goalscoring great Ron Saunders has passed away at the age of 87.
Neil Allen
By Neil Allen
Published 7th Dec 2019, 19:33 BST
Updated 8th Dec 2019, 17:28 BST
Ron Saunders, pictured in Pompey colours in 1963, has passed away at the age of 87. Picture: Lemmon/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesRon Saunders, pictured in Pompey colours in 1963, has passed away at the age of 87. Picture: Lemmon/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Ron Saunders, pictured in Pompey colours in 1963, has passed away at the age of 87. Picture: Lemmon/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Saunders is the third-highest scorer in the club’s history, netting 162 times in 261 appearances after recruited in September 1958.

Arriving from Division Four side Gillingham for £10,000, the powerful centre-forward scored at least 20 times in four of his six full campaigns.

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Saunders left in August 1964, moving to Watford in a £15,000 deal following a bitter fall-out with manager George Smith.

In 2013, he was inducted into Pompey’s Hall of Fame, although unable to attend the Fratton Park event through ill health.

Saunders would go on to achieve tremendous success as a manager, winning the Division One title with Aston Villa in 1981 and also claiming the League Cup twice.

He suffered from dementia later in his life and, since May 2018, has resided at a care home near Solihull.

In August 2018, his son, Ronnie, opened up to The News about his dad’s illness – and the former striker’s love for Pompey which never diminished.

Related topics:PompeyPortsmouthAston VillaWatfordGillingham

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