Born in 1935, Ron Springett signed for capital outfit QPR as an 18-year-old to begin a career between the sticks that would ultimately see the Londoner earn legendary status 172 miles north here at Hillsborough.
He signed for the Owls in 1958 and would go on to make 384 senior appearances for the club before re-joining Rangers as part of a unique swap deal involving his brother and fellow goalkeeper Peter in 1967.
Soon establishing himself as our undisputed number one, Ron’s role was vital as Wednesday sealed promotion back to the old Division One in 1959. His outstanding form duly led to an international call from England, for whom he would feature in the 1962 and 1966 World Cups, in Chile and on home soil respectively.
Ron represented England on 33 occasions, becoming first choice for a four-year period before the emergence of the country’s greatest ever goalkeeper Gordon Banks.
He was part of the England squad that lifted the World Cup in 1966 but the Wembley occasion was shrouded in controversy as only the 11 players on the pitch were awarded medals.
However, following a high profile campaign led by the FA many years later, FIFA elected to honour the whole squad, thus on 10 June 2009, Ron was presented with his medal by Prime Minister Gordon Brown at a Downing Street ceremony.
The gifted goalkeeper did make an appearance beneath the Twin Towers in that iconic year of 1966, though, as Wednesday were edged out 3-2 by Everton in the FA Cup final.
Ron returned to first club QPR the following year but was soon back in S6 as, given his outstanding service through a near decade-long stint with Wednesday, he was awarded a testimonial game against Sheffield United that took place at Hillsborough on 25 September 1967.
After a distinguished Rangers career that spawned 147 appearances in two separate spells, Ron hung up his gloves in 1968 and for the Owls’ part remains our most capped England player in history.
RON SPRINGETT 1935-2015 RIP