For the past 20 years, Ants legend Ronnie McDonald has been an almost constant feature around McKenna Park be it as a player, manager or coach but pre season 2024/25 will have a slightly different feel to it with Ronnie deciding that due to other commitments he would have to step away from the backroom team.
Ronnie was signed by James McKenna back in 2003 as a young midfielder who found it hard at first to break into a strong Ants side but he bided his time and when the chance came to cement a starting place he took it with both hands and made himself a first pick for several Ants managers over the next 12 years before taking over the reins himself with Tony Kane for season 2016/17. Despite that not going as well as hoped he stayed on at the club working with John Doyle after Tony had stepped away at the end of that season. Ronnie’s commitment to the club saw him remain as one of the backroom team as a coach after John Doyle left, helping out John Kelly before his current role as Assistant Manager to current boss Danny Taylor.
A popular character around McKenna Park, Ronnie’s coaching, work ethic, determination, sense of humour and his experience at this level will be missed but we wish him all the best with his future endeavours.
Speaking to the Ants website Club Secretary Martin McKenna said “Ronnie has been a great servant to the club over the past 20 years and we are sad that he has chosen to step away as we look to continue to grow the club but having spoken to Ronnie, I totally understand his reasons for stepping away. He’ll be a big miss in and around the place although We expect we’ll still see him around McKenna Park from time to time. We would like to wish him well in his future endeavours and as the saying goes Once an Ants man always an Ants Man”
Thanks for everything over the past two decades Ronnie and good luck
