Ron Stainton

Ronald George Stainton (10 June 1909 – 2 March 1966) was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Birmingham.[2] He played mainly as a left back. Stainton also played non-league football for Bournville Athletic, Worcester City, Shrewsbury Town, Gresley Rovers, Dudley Town and Shirley Town / Solihull Town.

Ron Stainton
Personal information
Full name Ronald George Stainton
Date of birth (1909-06-10)10 June 1909
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Date of death 2 March 1966(1966-03-02) (aged 56)
Place of death Solihull,
Height 5 ft 7 1⁄2 in (1.71 m)[1]
Position(s) Left back
Youth career
Bournville Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1926–1927 Bournville Athletic
1927–1932 Birmingham 1 (0)
1932–1933 Worcester City
1933–1934 Shrewsbury Town
1934 Gresley Rovers
1935 Dudley Town
1935–1939 Shirley Town / Solihull Town
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Life and career

Stainton was born in 1909 in the Bournville district of Birmingham,[3] a son of Frank Howard Stainton, a hardware merchant's clerk, and his wife Leah née Peacock.[4] He attended St Stephen's School,[5] and was a member of the King's Norton Schools football team that reached the quarter-final of the English Schools' Shield in 1922–23, in which they lost to the eventual runners-up, Birmingham Schools, in front of a 6,000 crowd at St Andrew's.[6] Stainton was selected for the schoolboy international against Scotland in May 1923 at Hampden Park, a match which England lost 5–3.[7]

Stainton played youth football for Bournville Athletic,[8] and came into the senior side in August 1926.[9] He played for Birmingham's Central League side as an amateur in the 1926–27 season, and signed professional forms in the 1927 close season.[10] The 18-year-old Stainton made his first-team debut on 1 October 1927 in a 1–1 draw at home to Bolton Wanderers in the Football League First Division. He was selected "in the hope that he would strengthen what has been a position of weakness", but his inexperience showed, and the Birmingham Gazette's reporter felt he needed "a lot more coaching" before he could expect a regular place in the side.[11]

He played for the reserves in the Central League and for the "A" team in the Birmingham Combination, but made no more first-team appearances.[3] He was eventually listed for transfer in 1932,[12] and after two months, was given a free transfer.[13] Stainton had trained as a carpenter, and joined Worcester City in part because he found a suitable employer in the area.[14] Stainton helped Worcester finish as runners-up in the Birmingham & District League,[15] and then moved on to another Birmingham League club, Shrewsbury Town, for 1933–34.[16] He appeared for clubs including Gresley Rovers and Dudley Town in 1934–35,[17] before moving to Shirley, Solihull, where he played for Shirley Town and was reinstated as an amateur.[18] The club renamed itself Solihull Town in 1938, and Stainton was captain in 1938–39.[19]

In April 1939, by which time he had established himself in the building trade in Solihull – the 1939 Register lists him as managing director of a building contractors[20] – Stainton stood for election to the local council as an independent, but lost out to the residents' association candidates.[21] During the war, Stainton played football for Moor Green[22] and was actively involved with the physical fitness of the local Air Training Corps.[23]

Stainton married Jessie Strother at St Stephen's Church, Selly Park, in October 1932.[24] They had two children, Maureen and John.[25] Stainton and Jessie were living in Shirley at the time of his death in 1966 at the age of 56;[26] she died the following year.[25]

References
  1. "Birmingham". Athletic News. Manchester. 22 August 1927. p. 8.
  2. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 248. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  3. Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 126. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  4. "1911 England Census for Ronald George Stainton Worcestershire Kings Norton". RG14/17837 – via Ancestry.com.
    "Birmingham, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754–1937 for Frank Howard Stainton Balsall Heath, St Thomas in the Moors 1886–1900" – via Ancestry.com.
  5. "The local schools' shield". Birmingham Gazette. 9 February 1923. p. 9.
  6. "Schools' football". Sports Argus. Birmingham. 5 May 1923. p. 3.
    "ESFA U15 Inter Association Cup". English Schools' Football Association. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  7. "Scottish schoolboys' fine win. England well beaten at Hampden". Evening Telegraph. Dundee. 21 May 1923. p. 11.
  8. "King's Norton". Sports Argus. Birmingham. 20 December 1924. p. 3.
  9. "Rugby Town draw with Bournville". Rugby Advertiser. 31 August 1926. p. 4. Amongst the new-comers was Stainton, a schoolboy international, who appeared at left back.
  10. "Central League, Birmingham v. Wolves". Sports Argus. Birmingham. 30 April 1927. p. 4.
    "Birmingham F.C.'s youthful veteran". Birmingham Gazette. 19 August 1927. p. 8. Stainton, a Bournville lad, displayed considerable promise in his games as an amateur last season.
  11. Forward (3 October 1927). "Birmingham's need of new players". Birmingham Gazette. p. 8.
  12. "For next season". Birmingham Gazette. 9 May 1932. p. 13.
  13. "Stainton's transfer fee removed". Birmingham Gazette. 15 July 1932. p. 12.
  14. Argus Junior (13 August 1932). "To-night's talk". Sports Argus. Birmingham. p. 1.
  15. "Worcester City". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  16. "Birmingham League". Sports Argus. Birmingham. 26 August 1933. p. 5.
  17. "Player database – Stainton". Gresley Rovers Online. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
    "Birmingham Combination". Sports Argus. Birmingham. 12 January 1935. p. 4. Ron Stainton was at left-half
  18. "Shirley Town's new players". Birmingham Gazette. 30 August 1935. p. 12.
    "Untitled". Birmingham Gazette. 15 January 1936. p. 13.
  19. "Solihull Town F.C.". Birmingham Gazette. 17 June 1938. p. 15.
    Wilson, Peter (8 January 1939). "Call them pest matches!". Sunday Mirror. London. p. 31.
  20. "1939 England and Wales Register for Ronald G Stainton Warwickshire Solihull UD QELL" – via Ancestry.com.
  21. "To-night's talk". Sports Argus. Birmingham. 17 June 1938. p. 15.
    "Solihull". Birmingham Post. 4 April 1939. p. 16.
  22. "Birmingham Combination". Sports Argus. Birmingham. 11 May 1940. p. 4.
  23. "Solihull A.T.C.F.C.'s fine record". Evening Despatch. Birmingham. 22 October 1941. p. 3. Under the able guidance of Ronnie Stainton, Solihull A.T.C. have a great football team and their record to date is outstanding...
    "Second birthday of Solihull A.T.C.: 53 "propellers"". Evening Despatch. Birmingham. 15 February 1943. p. 3. Physical development of cadets is the charge of P.O. Stainton, and full facilities for football, cricket, swimming, boxing, and gymnastics are provided.
  24. "Untitled". Birmingham Gazette. 24 October 1932. p. 12.
  25. "Deaths: Stainton". Birmingham Post. 21 December 1967. p. 18.
  26. "Wills and probate 1858–1996: Stainton 1966". UK Probate service. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
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