Ronald Leslie Baynham (10 June 1929 – 18 March 2024) was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, spending most of his career with Luton Town. He earned three caps for the England national team.
Early Life
Baynham was born in Erdington, Birmingham, Warwickshire, on 10 June 1929. He began playing football in his youth when his brother put him in goal for their local junior team.
Club Career
Baynham took up goalkeeping during a spell in the army on National Service. He declined a trial with Wolverhampton Wanderers, thinking himself not good enough. After his discharge, he played for Bromford Amateurs and was signed by Worcester City in August 1950. In November 1951, he was transferred to Luton Town for £1,000, a sum that helped save Worcester City from financial difficulties.
At Luton, he competed with Bernard Streten for the starting goalkeeper position for four years before becoming the regular first-choice keeper in 1955. Baynham played for Luton in the 1959 FA Cup Final, which they lost 2–1 to Nottingham Forest—a loss he described as the "biggest disappointment" of his career. In September 1960, he suffered a skull fracture during a match against Sheffield United but later resumed playing.
He retired in 1964 at age 35, though he returned for one reserve game in 1965 despite injury. He made 434 appearances in all competitions for Luton Town.
International Career
Baynham earned three caps for England in 1955:
- A 5–1 win against Denmark in Copenhagen on 2 October 1955
- A 3–0 win against Northern Ireland
- A 4–1 win against Spain on 30 November 1955
He was subsequently overlooked in favour of Reg Matthews and received no further caps. In 2021, his three England caps were auctioned and purchased by the registered charity Hatters' Heritage, with the intention of displaying them at Kenilworth Road and a planned museum.
Later Life and Death
After retiring from football, Baynham worked as a painter and decorator and at Luton Airport, before retiring to the village of Silsoe, Bedfordshire. In 2020, he was voted by Luton Town supporters as the club's best ever goalkeeper. He died on 18 March 2024 at the age of 94. At the time of his death, he was the oldest surviving England international footballer.
Honours
- Luton Town
- FA Cup runner-up: 1958–59
