FORMER CITY STAR DIES
A FORMER Cardiff City player who made more than 200 appearances for the club has died after collapsing on a bike ride.
Ron Healey, who played as goalkeeper for the Bluebirds between 1974 and 1982, died on Monday aged 65, the Manchester Evening News reports.
The keeper, from Wilmslow, began his professional career with Manchester City in 1970 and made 38 senior appearances, before brief spells with Coventry City and Preston North End on loan.
He then went on to make a name for himself with the Bluebirds, initially on loan and then a permanent deal followed.
He made his Cardiff City debut against West Bromwich Albion in a 2-2 draw in March 1974, and made more than 200 appearances for the club before a pelvic injury cut short his playing career aged 30.
His time with Cardiff City also saw him pick up two international caps for the Republic of Ireland, against Poland in 1977 and against England at Wembley in a World Cup qualifier three years later.
Born and raised in Wythenshawe in south Manchester, he always supported Man City and continued to attend games at the Etihad stadium.
After his playing career, he worked at Manchester Airport and then for British Steel before becoming a prison officer at HMP Styal, where he spent more than 12 years.
He also set up a successful football coaching business, Just 4 Keepers, with his son Scott.
Ron collapsed during a cycle ride with a friend through Altrincham, near Trafford, on Monday.
An air ambulance was called and he was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital but efforts to resuscitate him failed.
His son Scott, 48, from Audenshaw, told the Manchester Evening News: “He was very highly regarded and highly rated at Man City but he was only 18 when he made his debut. He was the number two to Joe Corrigan. He was very well rated there but Joe was very well established and Ron ended up moving on.
“He was out cycling with a friend. He loved his golf and got into cycling in the summer. He was out with a friend. He had a little bit of heart trouble previously and had heart bypass surgery a few years ago although his health was still pretty good after that, so this has come as a bit of a shock. “He was always pretty active.” A spokesperson for Cardiff City said: “All of us at Cardiff City FC would like to offer our condolences to Ron’s family at this difficult time.”