Wales' record goal scorer for his generation and a strike rate that is unmatched. "Fiery Ford" had a hard hitting style that put terror into the hearts of opposing goalkeepers. His trademark was to charge the goalie into the back of the net if they held onto the ball too long. He made his mark off the pitch too when the Press ran his revelations about 'under the counter' payments in football. No sooner had he won an appeal against his suspension by an angry FA than he was banned for accepting a payment himself. He left to play in Holland and missed the World Cup campaign but Wales missed him more.
St
Asaph's famous son has broken all the goal scoring records for Wales and
for Liverpool. Autumn 1992 must be his most memorable season when he scored
against the Faroes to go ahead of Trevor Ford and Ivor Allchurch in goals
scored for Wales. With Liverpool he bagged all the trophies going and
passed Roger Hunt's record number of goals while playing against arch-rivals
Manchester United.
Swansea
rival of John Charles when a schoolboy, he grew up to be "the Golden
Boy of Welsh Football". The fair haired genius played the beautiful
game with style - brilliant at pinpoint passes to the striker out front,
superb ball control and always unhurried. Swansea were lucky to enjoy
Ivor for so long. However, First Division clubs were slow to realise his
brilliance and were finally woken up by his performance in the 1958 World
Cup in Sweden.
Where's the border?In 1933 the Spurs Vice Chairman, Mr Cadman complained that two Welsh players should not play for Wales as they came from Monmouthshire. Ted Robbins replied "Let Mr Cadman try to get a drink in that county on a Sunday and he'll soon realise he's in Wales!".
Whose side are you on?Robert Ernest Evans played ten times for Wales until in 1910 English football officials found out he was born in Chester. They obviously liked him as he went on to play twice for England against his old side.