From the shadows of the Vetch to glory days

FROM Sandfields to the World Cup and a place in English football history.

Former Swansea City star Terry Medwin celebrated his 80th birthday with a surprise meal at the Marriott Hotel in the city on the weekend.

Former Swan Terry Medwin with his wife Joyce at a surprise 80th birthday party held in his honour at the Marriott Hotel
Former Swan Terry Medwin with family at the Marriott
In his days as assistant manager.

And for a boy who grew up in the shadow of Vetch Field, Terry's football career took him to heights only a few reach.

After signing for his beloved hometown club, Terry went on to represent his country in the 1958 World Cup — the last time Wales appeared at the competition — and played for the swashbuckling Tottenham Hotspur team which created history by doing the league and cup double in 1961.

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"I was born right outside Vetch Field," said Terry. "My father was a prison officer who had come up from Hampshire.

"When I was little I used to sneak into the ground around two hours before kick-off, they used to have a crowd of 25,000 to 30,000 there. They were lovely days."

After signing with the club in 1949, the attacking player who could play in a number of positions, went on to play 169 times for the Swans in seven years.

Then the glamour of Spurs came calling and he moved to London, along with his wife Joyce, in 1956, two years before taking part in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.

Under legendary manager Bill Nicholson the club achieved the double of league and FA Cup in 1961. It is the last time the north London club has won the league.

Terry, who now lives in West Cross, said: "I played at the World Cup in 1958 and scored against Hungary in the play-off match to reach the quarter-finals.

"We played against Pele's Brazil and lost. We were missing John Charles, I wouldn't say we would have won if we had him but he was a terrific player. I played 17 times for Spurs the year we won the double.

"It was a lovely time, It was like going from the local empire to playing at the Palladium.

"We had some great players, people like Danny Blanchflower.

"Dave Mackay was the best player I played with. He was a hard player but he was never carded."

After picking up another FA Cup winners' medal in 1962, tragedy would strike Terry the following year when he broke his leg during a game in South Africa.

He became a coach at Fulham and then assistant manager to John Toshack at the Swans.

To mark his 80th birthday, Terry was special guest of the Swans at the Liberty at the weekend where he saw them slip to a 3-0 defeat against Everton.

"It was a nice day, one of my sons, Stephen, and two of my grandsons came along," he said.

"It was tough for the Swans. They couldn't get into the game for the first 25 minutes, they gave so many free kicks away.

"When you lose players like Joe Allen and Leon Britton, who was injured, is it hard.

"But I think they will be fine again this season."

robert.goodman@swwmedia.co.uk

01792 514665