Ronald Orr

Ronald Guinness Orr Gunion, known as Ronald Orr (6 August 1876 – 21 March 1924) was a Scottish footballer, who played for Newcastle United and Liverpool amongst others in the early 20th century. He played twice for Scotland in 1902 and 1904, scoring one goal.

For the Canadian politician, see Ron Orr.

Ronald Orr
Personal information
Full name Ronald Guinness Orr Gunion[1][2]
Date of birth (1876-08-06)6 August 1876
Place of birth Bartonholm, Scotland
Date of death 21 March 1924(1924-03-21) (aged 47)
Place of death Kilwinning, Scotland
Position(s) Inside forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1896–1897 Kilwinning Eglinton
1897–1898 Glossop North End
1898–1901 St Mirren 55 (27)
1901–1908 Newcastle United 160 (61)
1908–1912 Liverpool 108 (36)
1912 Raith Rovers 5 (1)
1912–1913 South Shields
National team
1902–1904 Scotland 2 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Born in Bartonholm (by Kilwinning), Ayrshire, Orr was an inside forward who played for Kilwinning Eglinton, Glossop North End and St Mirren[3] before Newcastle United signed him in May 1901. He spent seven seasons on Tyneside helping the Magpies to the League title in both 1904–05 and 1906–07. He also appeared for the club in the 1906 FA Cup Final, where they succumbed to a 1–0 defeat by Everton.[4]

Orr joined Liverpool in April 1908, when manager Tom Watson paid £350 for his transfer. He made his debut in a Football League Division One match at Villa Park against Aston Villa on 4 April 1908, bagging his first goal in the same match. Unfortunately for Orr and Liverpool, it was a consolation goal in a 5–1 defeat. This wasn't to be his only strike of the season, however, as he managed a more than respectable four goals in the final five matches of that season.

Orr kept up his goalscoring exploits the following season, finishing up as the Reds' top scorer with 20 goals from his 33 starts an average of a goal every 1.65 games. The next season proved to be a tougher challenge where goals were concerned, and Orr only scored 5 times in his 31 appearances. By the 1910-11 season, he was struggling to hold down a regular starting role at Anfield, and he eventually lost his place completely at the beginning of the 1911-12 campaign. Orr left for Raith Rovers in January 1912,[3] after making a total of 112 appearances for Liverpool, during which he scored 39 times. He also played for South Shields, before he retired. During the First World War, he turned out for Fulham as a wartime guest in several friendly matches.

International career

Having scored in a Home Scots v Anglo-Scots international trial match,[5] Orr was selected to make his Scotland debut on 3 May 1902 in a British Home Championship match against England, and he scored to put his side two goals up in an eventual 2–2 draw; like his debut goal for Liverpool, it was at Villa Park (this match was replayed from the original fixture at Ibrox Park, where a stand collapsed, killing 25 spectators and injuring hundreds). His second and last cap was also against England two years later, this time a 1–0 defeat.[6]

Honours
Newcastle United

References
  1. The Death of Ronald Orr, Dundee Courier, 27 March 1924, via Play Up Liverpool
  2. Statutory registers - Births - Search results, ScotlandsPeople
  3. John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. "Player Details : Ronald Orr". Toon1892.com. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  5. Football. | The Match against England. | Home Scots V. Anglo-Scots trial match, The Glasgow Herald, 25 March 1902
  6. (Scotland player) Ronald Orr, London Hearts Supporters Club
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