Ronald Menzies

Ronald Sutherland Menzies (1846 – 1903) was a Scottish football executive who served as the president of Belgian club FC Liégeois from 1896 to 1903. He was a prominent citizen in Liège, thus becoming the British vice-consul of the city.

Early and personal life Ronald Sutherland Menzies was born in 1846 in Lee, then in Kent, now a London suburb, as the son of James Sutherland Menzies (1806–1886), from Finsbury, and Louisa Caroline Amelia Seyffert (1814–1891). with all but one being born in Liège. The Boverie also housed a velodrome, and therefore, his sons might have developed a deep interest for cycling as well, especially Jack, since he never played football in his adult life.

Menzies (in the center) and the squad of Liégeois, including his son Harry (standing, second from left), shortly after winning the inaugural championship in 1896. On 14 February 1892, members of the Liège Cyclist's Union founded the Liège Football Club, and Menzies was certainly quick to make his registration in the club, thus becoming one of Liégeois' first members. At some point in early 1896, Menzies became the club's president, and he immediately led his team to a title, the inaugural national championship of Belgium in 1895–96, thus becoming first-ever Belgian Champion.

Liège won back-to-back titles in 1898 and 1899, beating FC Brugeois 6–3 in the two-legged final of 1899. In the 1901–02 season, Menzies had three of his sons playing in the club's first team, Guy, Harry, and the teenager Frédéric. In 1902, Harry left Liégeois to join club rivals Beerschot AC, and in doing so, he became the first player to play for both clubs.

Later life At the turn of the century, Menzies already was a prominent citizen in Liège, having lived there for over two decades by then, and thus, in 1903, he became the British vice-consul of the city; however, he died shortly thereafter.