Cod Almighty | Postbag

Fond memories of the great Ron Rafferty

27 January 2021

Ron Rafferty's death was reported on 25 January 2021. He scored 152 goals for the Mariners, in 277 matches between 1956 and 1963. Two of our readers remember the Town great.

Always appreciative of the fans

As a 10 year old in the late fifties standing close up behind the Osmond goal, I remember how Ron Rafferty always smiled to the crowd at the end of an attack. He wore his heart on his sleeve and he shared it with us all. A wonderful abiding memory.

from Derek Turner

That warm feeling

Kirky's article on Ron Rafferty perfectly conveys the great man's abiding importance to the generations who saw him with Scott, Fell and, if I'm right, briefly the fabulous Jeff Whitefoot.

I tried to find an article I sent to CA a few years ago about the time Ron came for his medical. My dad was club doctor at the time and went off with Ron to conduct the appropriate tests. On their return, I remember Ron looking down on me, smiled and said "Hello!" I was instantly smitten. It was when we got in the car that my dad handed me a medicine bottle and asked me to put it in the pigeon hole. It was warm and full of Ron's urine for testing. My hand felt very strange for some time after. A closeness with a hero I wasn't at all sure about.

from Malcolm Carson

Thanks Derek and Malcolm. Contact Cod Almighty using our feedback link