COVENTRY City has paid tribute to former winger Ronnie Rees, considered one of the most exciting talents of the 1960s and the Sky Blue Revolution, who has passed away aged 79.
Rees starred in the Sky Blues Third Division and Second Division title triumphs, making 262 appearances and scoring 52 goals for the club.
The winger, born in Ystradgynlais in Wales on April 4, 1944, was spotted playing for Merthyr Boys by Coventry City’s scouts and manager Billy Frith brought him to Highfield Road in September 1960.
Frith would be replaced in November 1961, and his successor, the legendary Jimmy Hill, handed Rees his first professional contract in April 1962 as well as his debut in September of that year.
In 1963/64, Rees starred as an ever-present in City’s Division Three championship-winning side, scoring 15 goals including a hat-trick in the 8-1 thrashing of Shrewsbury.
Three years later he was a major influence as City won promotion to England’s top-flight for the first time in the club’s history in the 1966/67 campaign.
A Coventry City spokesperson said all at the club were ‘deeply saddened’ to learn of Rees’s death and sent condolences to his loved ones.
