Introduction
Ronnie Sinclair (born 19 November 1964, Stirling) is a former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Although born in Scotland, Sinclair spent his career in England, with the majority of his appearances coming with Bristol City, Stoke City and Chester City.
Playing career
Capped by Scotland at youth and schoolboy level, Sinclair joined Nottingham Forest as an apprentice from Stirling Boys Club and he signed professional forms in November 1982. However he failed to make a first-team appearance for the City Ground club and it was in a loan spell with Division Four side Wrexham in the closing stages of the 1983–84 season that Sinclair gained his first Football League action. Over the following two seasons he spent time on loan with Derby County, Sheffield United and Leeds United without making the first-team, but he was snapped up on a permanent basis by Leeds in June 1986 for £10,000. He made eight league appearances the following season before twice joining Halifax Town on loan.
In September 1989 Sinclair moved to Bristol City, who he helped win promotion from Division Three in his first season at Ashton Gate. By the early stages of the 1991–92 campaign he was out on loan again though, spending time with Walsall before beginning a five-year stay with Stoke City in a £25,000 move in November 1991. Sinclair faced regular competition for the goalkeeper's shirt with Stoke but played more than 20 games in his first three seasons at the club.
After falling out of favour, Sinclair joined Chester City on a free transfer in August 1996. After conceding just 43 goals in 1996–97, Chester qualified for the Division Three play-offs with Sinclair voted the club's player of the season. The Blues lost to Swansea City in the semi-finals and the following season saw Sinclair miss 13 league games following the emergence of Wayne Brown. He was not selected again after a 5–0 thrashing at Exeter City on 4 April 1998 and manager Kevin Ratcliffe announced later in the month that Sinclair's contract would not be renewed.
Coaching
Sinclair never played professionally again after leaving Chester and has spent most of his time working as goalkeeping coach with Stoke City (where he initially was registered again as a player). He became the assistant academy manager before moving to Aston Villa to become the academy goalkeeping coach.
He has also played non-league football with Leek Town and Witton Albion. Sinclair in recent times has continued to pull on his gloves and regularly appears in charity games and alongside former team-mates in the Masters series.
Career statistics
- Sourced from The English National Football Archive
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other[A] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Wrexham (loan) | 1983–84 | Fourth Division | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Leeds United | 1986–87 | Second Division | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Halifax Town (loan) | 1986–87 | Fourth Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1988–89 | Fourth Division | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Bristol City | 1989–90 | Third Division | 27 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| 1990–91 | Second Division | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| Walsall (loan) | 1991–92 | Fourth Division | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Stoke City | 1991–92 | Third Division | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| 1992–93 | Second Division | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 38 | 0 | |
| 1993–94 | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1994–95 | First Division | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| 1995–96 | First Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Chester City | 1996–97 | Third Division | 37 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 44 | 0 |
| 1997–98 | Third Division | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| Career Total | 237 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 275 | 0 | ||
- A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Anglo-Italian Cup, Football League Trophy, Football League play-offs and Full Members Cup.
Honours
- Bristol City
- Football League Third Division runners-up: 1989–90
- Stoke City
- Football League Second Division champions: 1992–93
- Chester City
- Player of the Season: 1996–97
Personal life
His son Craig (born 1992 in Stoke-upon-Trent) is also a footballer. The Defender played in his youth for Stoke City F.C. and is currently playing for Henley Town F.C.. Craig is also an accomplished cricketer who plays under his elder brother, Cameron at Eccleshall CC, NSCCL Division 2 Champions 2016