An athletic player who possessed all the characteristics needed from manager Arthur Rowe to lead his side to the League Championship in the "Push and Run" side made Ron Burgess a player who will live long in Tottenham's history.  An inspirational leader, who had his career interrupted by World War II, but when play started after the conflict, he became noted as one of the finest attacking wing-halves of his era.  His energy in the midfield gave Arthur Rowe's “Push and Run” side the focus they needed, as his stamina was endless and he pushed forward to support attacks.  In addition, Ron was a team player, accepting a deeper, withdrawn role in the Second Division Championship winning season for the benefit of the team.

Burgess was working as a miner when he was spotted by Spurs playing inside right for Cwm Villa, his village side and was invited to come to London and join the club.  However, initially, Tottenham did not think he would make the grade and let him go, but he went to White Hart Lane to watch an "A" team game before he returned to Wales.  The Spurs team need a player to cover for an absentee and Burgess pulled on his boots to play for what he thought would be the last time for the club, in an unusual right-half position which he had never played in previously.  At the end of the game with two goals to his name and having put in a fine performance, he was asked to go out to the Tottenham's nursery club Northfleet United.  At the Kent club, he helped them to win the Kent Senior League and Senior Cup, a year after joining them, he signed professional, but returned to Spurs before playing pro for Northfleet.

Once Ron made his debut in the Tottenham first team, he immediately became a regular, only the Second World War preventing his tally of appearances being even greater, although during the war, Burgess was selected to play for Wales in war-time internationals.  For Tottenham, his inspiring performances led by example, with his driving runs and stamina giving him the ability to go around opponents for the full ninety minutes, coupled with the fierce shot he possessed in each foot making him a difficult customer for the other side to read.  With a leap to win numerous headers and a tackle like a defender, Burgess was an all-rounder, who was a major influence on the team and the style the club played at his time he was at Spurs.  Well-suited to the need to give the ball to a team-mate and go for the return that Rowe instilled in the team, captain Ron set the tone for his colleagues and took the team to the Second Division title in 1949-1950 and then lifted the First Division title a year later, when the Tottenham team stunned the top flight with their new brand of football.  His ability to join in attacks and be ready to track back to defend made him a vital member of Rowe's squad.

His performances for Spurs after the conflict was recognised by his country, for whom he won 32 caps, missing only two internationals in that run of games.  He was in the side that represented the Football League (becoming the first Welshman to do so) and played in a representative match for Great Britain against Europe in 1947.

In May 1954, Burgess took the post of player-coach at Swansea Town, despite some calling for him to stay on in the top division.  However, he was securing his future, as he had been promised the manager's post in the near future.  After four years back in his native Wales, he moved on to manage Watford and with half an eye for his own club and half an eye for Tottenham, he recommended a young goalkeeper he had picked out himself to his old team ... by the name of Pat Jennings.  Later became manager of non league Hendon and Bedford Town and was working as a scout for Luton Town until 1974.

Ron retired to Worthing in Sussex, but moved back to South Wales until he died on 14th February 2005 in Swansea.