Lewis Wilf Image 1 Swansea Town 1927

Description

Swansea born centre forward Wilf Lewis began his football career in junior football playing for Baldwins Welfare in 1923 and Swansea Amateurs in 1924 before joining hometown Second Division club Swansea Town, for whom he made his Football League debut against Sheffield Wednesday in March 1926, scoring both goals in a 2-2 draw. Despite being a regular scorer in his initial limited opportunities, it wasn’t until the 1927-28 that he got a regular berth in the first eleven, although he’d already won the first of 6 Wales international caps in February 1927, when he played against England at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, scoring in a 3-3 draw. He scored twice more for Wales playing his last game in November 1929, also against England.

In 1927-28 he had a prolific season, scoring 25 goals in 40 appearances, including a hat-trick against South Shields, such that the following season was only two months old when Huddersfield Town stepped in to sign him in November 1928 after 43 goals in 67 appearances for The Swans. He played in the 1930 FA Cup semi final for The Terriers, when they beat Sheffield Wednesday, but wasn’t picked for the Final, and after falling to the fringes he joined Derby County in the 1931 close season after only 17 appearances, having scored 7 times for Town. He had a single season at Derby, scoring 3 goals in 8 appearances, before joining non league Yeovil & Petters United in 1932. He played for Bath City in 1933 but returned to Football League action with Cardiff City in 1934, spending two seasons at Ninian Park scoring 7 goals in 36 appearances before joining non league Haverfordwest Athletic in 1936 before his retirement.

This photograph was taken on 9th April 1927 when Wales played Ireland at Ninian Park, Cardiff. The game finished as a 2-2 draw.