Alf Sherwood
Encyclopedia
Alfred Thomas "Alf" Sherwood (13 November 1923 – 12 March 1990) was a Welsh
international footballer. Between 1947 and 1957, he gained a total of 41 Caps.
Known as the King of the sliding tacklers, Sherwood was an ex-miner who threw his all into the game especially when facing the England forward, Stanley Matthews
, who described him as "the most difficult opponent he ever played against". His qualities were pace, sureness of tackle and a great positional sense. Sherwood also captained Wales to a famous win over England
in 1955.
at both football and cricket
, playing alongside Trevor Ford
and Gilbert Parkhouse
, before becoming one of the Bevin Boys
, a scheme created by former Minister of Labour and National Service Ernest Bevin
, in which young men aged between 18–25 were drafted to work as miners during World War II
.
in 1942, from Aberaman Athletic
after impressing then manager Cyril Spiers
in a wartime friendly. He originally played as a wing half
but during a match against Lovells Athletic
the club was short of defenders so Sherwood was moved to full-back where he was so impressive that he played the position for the rest of his career. In total he played in 140 wartime fixtures for the club. The Football League returned for the 1946–47 season and Sherwood missed just one match as the club finished top of the third division south. Following the departure of Fred Stansfield
, he formed a full back partnership with another Cardiff City great, Ron Stitfall
, and in the 1951–52 season Sherwood was appointed captain of the club, leading them back to the first division that year.
Sherwood was also the stand in goalkeeper for both club and country, due to substitutes having not yet been introduced. His greatest goalkeeping moment came on 17 April 1954 in a match against Liverpool
. Goalkeeper Ron Howells
fractured his thumb while making a save during the match and Sherwood took over in his place, facing a penalty from Scottish
international Billy Liddell
from which he performed a double save to all but asure Liverpool of relegation. Sherwood went on to become one of the all time appearance leaders for the club in all competitions before he was allowed to leave the club by manager Trevor Morris, to join Newport County
, in 1956 at the age of 33. He went on to confound critics by playing in over 200 hundred matches for Newport as well as adding his last two Wales caps at the club. He was selected to play in the Third Division South representative team
in 1957. After leaving Newport in 1961 he had a short-lived spell as player-manager of Barry Town
before fully retiring from football and working for the National Coal Board
as a security officer.
In 2006 he was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
international footballer. Between 1947 and 1957, he gained a total of 41 Caps.
Known as the King of the sliding tacklers, Sherwood was an ex-miner who threw his all into the game especially when facing the England forward, Stanley Matthews
Stanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE was an English footballer. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the English game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers'...
, who described him as "the most difficult opponent he ever played against". His qualities were pace, sureness of tackle and a great positional sense. Sherwood also captained Wales to a famous win over England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in 1955.
Early life
As a youngster, Sherwood was a youth international for WalesWales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
at both football and cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, playing alongside Trevor Ford
Trevor Ford
Trevor Ford was a Welsh international centre forward footballer who played for Aston Villa, Cardiff City, Sunderland and Swansea Town. He was born and died in Swansea.-Football career:...
and Gilbert Parkhouse
Gilbert Parkhouse
William Gilbert Anthony Parkhouse was a Welsh cricketer who played in seven Tests for England in 1950, 1950-51 and 1959....
, before becoming one of the Bevin Boys
Bevin Boys
Bevin Boys were young British men conscripted to work in the coal mines of the United Kingdom, from December 1943 until 1948. Chosen at random from conscripts but also including volunteers, nearly 48,000 Bevin Boys performed vital but largely unrecognised service in the mines, many of them...
, a scheme created by former Minister of Labour and National Service Ernest Bevin
Ernest Bevin
Ernest Bevin was a British trade union leader and Labour politician. He served as general secretary of the powerful Transport and General Workers' Union from 1922 to 1945, as Minister of Labour in the war-time coalition government, and as Foreign Secretary in the post-war Labour Government.-Early...
, in which young men aged between 18–25 were drafted to work as miners during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Career
Sherwood joined Cardiff CityCardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
in 1942, from Aberaman Athletic
Aberaman Athletic F.C.
Aberaman Athletic Football Club is a Welsh football club that currently play in the Welsh Football League Division One. Their ground is situated on Cardiff Road, Aberdare, between the suburb of Aberaman and the village of Abercwmboi....
after impressing then manager Cyril Spiers
Cyril Spiers
Cyril Henry Spiers was an English association football goalkeeper who played for Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur and later went on to manage at Football League clubs for twenty years.-Career:...
in a wartime friendly. He originally played as a wing half
Wing half
In association football, the position of wing half or wing half back) was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries...
but during a match against Lovells Athletic
Lovells Athletic F.C.
Lovell's Athletic F.C. was the works team for Lovell's sweet factory in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, which played professional football from 1918 until 1969.-History:...
the club was short of defenders so Sherwood was moved to full-back where he was so impressive that he played the position for the rest of his career. In total he played in 140 wartime fixtures for the club. The Football League returned for the 1946–47 season and Sherwood missed just one match as the club finished top of the third division south. Following the departure of Fred Stansfield
Fred Stansfield
Fred Stansfield is a Welsh former international footballer. He was born in Cardiff.-Career:Stansfield, a centre-half, had been playing for Grange Athletic when he joined Cardiff City in 1942 as a part time professional...
, he formed a full back partnership with another Cardiff City great, Ron Stitfall
Ron Stitfall
Ronald Frederick "Ron" Stitfall was a Welsh professional footballer and Wales international. A one club man he played his entire career for his hometown club Cardiff City.-Career:...
, and in the 1951–52 season Sherwood was appointed captain of the club, leading them back to the first division that year.
Sherwood was also the stand in goalkeeper for both club and country, due to substitutes having not yet been introduced. His greatest goalkeeping moment came on 17 April 1954 in a match against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
. Goalkeeper Ron Howells
Ron Howells
Ronald Gilbert "Ron" Howells is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He was capped by Wales and played in The Football League for three clubs.-Playing career:...
fractured his thumb while making a save during the match and Sherwood took over in his place, facing a penalty from Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
international Billy Liddell
Billy Liddell
William Beveridge "Billy" Liddell was a Scottish footballer, who played his entire professional career with Liverpool. He signed with the club as a teenager in 1938 and retired in 1961, having scored 228 goals in 534 appearances...
from which he performed a double save to all but asure Liverpool of relegation. Sherwood went on to become one of the all time appearance leaders for the club in all competitions before he was allowed to leave the club by manager Trevor Morris, to join Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
, in 1956 at the age of 33. He went on to confound critics by playing in over 200 hundred matches for Newport as well as adding his last two Wales caps at the club. He was selected to play in the Third Division South representative team
Football League Third Division North vs. South Representative Games
The Third Division North and Third Division South of The Football League was a level in English association football, which ran from 1921 to 1958.From 1954–55 season until 1957–58 season, there was a series of games between teams representing the Third Division North and the Third Division South.-...
in 1957. After leaving Newport in 1961 he had a short-lived spell as player-manager of Barry Town
Barry Town F.C.
Barry Town FC are a football team based in Barry. They dominated the League of Wales during the 1990s, but finished bottom in 2003-04 and were relegated...
before fully retiring from football and working for the National Coal Board
National Coal Board
The National Coal Board was the statutory corporation created to run the nationalised coal mining industry in the United Kingdom. Set up under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, it took over the mines on "vesting day", 1 January 1947...
as a security officer.
In 2006 he was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame.
Honours
Cardiff CityCardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
- Football League Division Three South Winner: 1
-
- 1946–47
- Football League Division Two Runner-up: 1
- 1951–52
- 1946–47