Ronald "Ron" Healey is an English

English people

The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...

-born Irish

Irish people

The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 former professional footballer.

Club career

Healey was a goalkeeper who began his career with Manchester City

Manchester City F.C.

Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...

. Following an apprenticeship with City, he signed professional forms for the club in October 1969 and he made his debut at 17. As he was the understudy to the English international goalkeeper Joe Corrigan

Joe Corrigan

Joseph Thomas Corrigan , is a former football goalkeeper who played for Manchester City and England.-Career:...

, he only played 30 times for City between 1970 and 1974 before moving to Cardiff City

Cardiff City F.C.

Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...

 in March 1974, making his debut in a 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion

West Bromwich Albion F.C.

West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...

. On his arrival he shared the no.1 spot with Bill Irwin

Bill Irwin (footballer)

William "Bill" Irwin is a Northern Irish former professional footballer, currently working as director of soccer at the University of Portland and head coach of the United States women's under-23 side.-Personal life:...

 before eventually managing to claim the spot as his own. During the 1975-76 season he helped the club to win promotion to Division Two.

During his time at Cardiff, Ron, when asked to find a young new goalkeeper, discovered a 12 year old Andy Dibble

Andy Dibble

Andrew Gerald "Andy" Dibble is a Welsh former professional football player who played as a goalkeeper.A journeyman who played for many different teams, Dibble won three caps for the Wales national football team....

.

After a spell with Bangor City

Bangor City F.C.

Bangor City Football Club are a semi-professional Welsh football club from the City of Bangor. The club compete in the Welsh Premier League, being ever present since the league was founded in 1992....

, he retired from the game through injury.

International career

He also played international football twice for the Republic of Ireland national football team

Republic of Ireland national football team

The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....

. He kept a clean sheet on his international debut, a 0-0 draw with Poland

Poland national football team

The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...

 on 24 April 1977 and made his only other appearance as a substitute for Gerry Peyton

Gerry Peyton

Gerald "Gerry" Joseph Peyton is a former football goalkeeper, and currently the goalkeeping coach at Arsenal....

 in a World Cup qualifier against England

England national football team

The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...

 at Wembley Stadium in 1980.

Coaching

Healey currently coaches goalkeepers, along with his son Scott, for coaching company Just 4 Keepers.

Honours

Cardiff City

• Division Three
  Football League Third Division
  The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
  
   Runners-up: 1

1975–76

• Welsh Cup
  Welsh Cup
  The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
  
   Winner: 1

1975–76

• Welsh Cup
  Welsh Cup
  The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
  
  Runner-up: 1

1976–77