1960-07-14 — Page 9

THE VALLEYS MAY REJOICE

By IVOR YORKE

Trevor Ford-that Welsh firecracker of a centre-forward who has been playing for PSV Eindhoven in Holland while spinning out a three-year British ban-is waiting for the one word that will bring him back to league soccer among the Welsh valleys.

Newport County have agreed a fee of about £1,500 for the services of 35- year-old Ford, one of the great characters of British post-war football. Now, manager Billy Lucas told me last week, they await news from the Football League whether his registration will be accepted.

Ford played more than 30 times for Wales during spells in the colours of Swansea Town, Aston Villa, Sunderland and Cardiff City transfer trail £69,000 during which changed hands.

some

He might well have joined Arsenal as 16-year-old: he had a successful trial at High- bury, but the war intervened. Then he signed for Swansea and set out a career that was destin- ed to bring him fame and the acclaim of millions who thrilled to his dashing style.

Automatic choice

and

The Welsh selectors quickly recognised Ford's ability played him in a Victory inter. national against Ireland in 1946.

In the first full after the war, Ford' got two of his country's goals in a

ECRSON

3-1 win over Scolland, and also netted Wales' consolation goal in their 2-1 defeat by Ireland.

From then

virtually was

on, fery Trevor

an automatic

choire. Like so many of his countrymen, he found inspira tion in the red shit of Wales. wits for and Pitting his

Loot- against Britain's best ballers, Ford

understandably wanted to play in the highest class all the time. So when, tyards the end of the 1946-47 season, Swansea were doomed to be relegated to the Third Division, Ford asked for transfer.

On January, 1947; the Welsh wonder left his home valleys for the tradition of Villa Park. The fce: in the region of

£9,000.

First hat-trick

Binningham that

It was at Ford found his best form, though goals were harder to get agains! light First Division defences. He cracked home 17 in

Cardiff City for £30,000 in: 1953.

For three more years, Ford a power for continued to be Wales-and his club. Then young giant named John Charles ousted him from Wales' centre forward spot..

TREVOR FORD

His troubles were only just beginning. In 1956-57 a letter signed simply "Smith" found its way to the Football League. A joint F4-Football League Com- 35 league appearances and scor-mission rapidly made inquiries ed again for Wales in their 2-1 Into Sunderland's books, defeat of Scotland.

More goals and international caps followed. In 1049-50, 27,998 people saw him score his first hat-trick in international soccer when Belgium were thrashed 5-1. But Ford was still not happy. In October, 1950, he went on the transfer sagain at his own request. Clubs clamoured tor his services-Cardiff City. Sunder- his land, Chelsea and even former side, Swansea.

Trevor was determined on later personal securlly, and said that Sunderland's offer of a house and the chance of, a well-pald outside part-time job decided matters. He went lo Sunderland and record cheque of £30,000 went into Aston Villa's bank,

Even then there were rumours with that during negotiations

the clubs, Ford had asked for payment in excess of the £10 to which he was entitled, The Football Association and the League held joint inquiry- and Ford was fined £100.

Yet the shrewd Welshman did not lose. A London newspaper pold him £100 for his side of the story and an unknown admirer sent him a like amount. His proat-£100,

Ousted

The signing of such an inter- national figure thrilled the North-East. At the time he was probably the most dangerous centre-forward in the country, and after drawing a blank in his first game (Chelsea won 3-0), he zoored a hat-trick in a home match and dislodged one of the goalposts at Roker Park with another terrific shot.

Ford went on to make 116 Appearances for "Sunderland, scoring 70 league and Cup goals. But he could not sețile. there either. Pining for his home, Trevor left Wearside for the valleys, moving to

FOR MEN WHO

KNOW THE BEST...

On April 10, 1957, the Com mission made its findings known

that money far in excess of the value of work done had been paid by the club to two drms of contractors over some five years and that the amount (more than £3.000) bad been refunded to Sunderland in notes.

Suspended

That cash. the Commission said, had been used to make payments contrary to the Foot- ball League's regulations.

Several officials of the Sun- derfazid club were suspended following the inquiry and six niryers Ford included were asked to answer allegations that they had recepted illegal pay- ments. Later, all but Ford ad- mitted receiving money.

wan

By then Trevor Ford playing in Holland. In his ab- sence the Commission accepted the evidence of manager Bill Murray that a parcel containing £250 had been handed to the Welshman.

Ford's denial was rejected and he was told that a profes- sional registration form from him would not be accepted for three seasofts up to and including 1959-60.

More orthodox

While he has been banished. Trevor the Terrible, has be- come a little more orthodox on the field. Stripped of most of the glamour he found at home, Trevor figured at inside- left in the Eindhoven sko. He became a mid-field player intent on making the chances for his team-mates.

PSV led the Dutch league half-way through last season, finishing in third place.

And the Ford saga continues, League decide to Should the

Third accept his registration,

England Division defences in will have the chance to cis- cover if he has lost any of his

fre.

Four D. Jones POWER GOES TO

BY MADDOCKS

THE HUMANS' HEADS AND THE LINEVITABLE 15M"

IS ORGANISED

WE MUST BAND

1

1

THE CHINA MAIL, THURSDAY, JULY 14, 1960.

Grand Prix-type race track for Kent

A constant attraction to south of England color- racing enthusiasts, the Brand's Hatch (Ker) circuit has recently undergone a change and is being turned into what has already been described as a miniature Nurburing (famous German. racing circuit),

The Directors of Brand's Hatch Circuit Ltd., invited representatives of the Press to attend a pre- view last week, to watch various members of the motor-car and motor-cycle racing try out their respec Live skills on the track.

Here

the circuit fast a racing car is seen on approaching a new section, Hawthorn Bend, seen in distance.

·

Alteration work to the track, costing in the re- gion of £40,000, has taken only six months and will enable at least 100,000 speciators to enjoy future meetings. Reuterphoto,

Sports Diary

TO-BAY

Hawls

Colony Ladies Singler motenes at KBGC, KCC, PRC, HKFC, Recreio,

5.20 p.m.

Men's Open Fairs matches at HKFC, KBGC. Recreio, PRC, HKCC. KCC, TAC, 5.20 p.m.

TO-MORROW

Meeting

V.R.C. Annual Meeting at kong Bank board room 5.30 p...

Water-polo

Brigade v R.A.F. 630 p.m.; H.K. Regt, v CYMCA. 7 p.m.

THE GORILLAS REALISE THE NEW SUPERIOR MIND HAS WON, AND THEY RETURN TO THE JUNGLE AS INFERIOR JILANIMALS

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WHAT'S IN

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Back in the good old days, when British was Best so far as

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to tag the name "Arsenal" somewhere into their title.

Dave Thomas to seek golf's

greener pastures

By A CHINA MAIL CORRESPONDENT

The burly six-footer who stood beside me watching Welsh comedian Harry Secombe clown his way to the 18th green at Sudbury (Middlesex) Golf Club, looked like a boxer or a film star... then I spotted the Ryder Cup badge on his dark blue blazer.

He was David Thomas, 25-year-old British golf star, who has decided to give up his com- fortable job as a full-time professional at Sud- bury to become a "playing professional."

For Dave Thomas, 6ft 2in. and 15st, knows what he wants out of golf the chance to be- come one of the top men in the game before he is 30.

BOOKS AND SPORT

LAUGHS AND ADVICE BY

-KEITH MARSHALL

By CHARLES STEPHEN

He is resigning from the Middlesex club to Join Sun- ningdale in Berkshire, whers he will be assistant to Arthur Loes and still be able to em- bark upon an ambitious five- year programme that will take him on the world circuit of important tournaments,

"I feel that you cannot possi- bly do the jobs of tournament | player and club professional,” he

says.

Dilemma

Many will opplaud his senti- ments-among them the mem- bers of the Sudbury club, who, though loth to lose such grand character, fully realise bis dilemma of how to maintain an ever-improving record 25 а tournament golfer while com- mitted to routine duties as #

How's your golf these days- rusty? Never mind,club professional.

the best thing to do is have a good chuckle over it.

During his five years with Sudbury, Thomas has spent a great deal of time away from these Isles playing in tourna- For that reason I recommend Beefy boys play in crder to

iT ments. He has their

played down. "Golf Galcre", (Nicholas Koye, keep

weight 15s.) a collection of articles by Bishops play because it provides Mexico, Fiji, Australia, New Afrien und Keith B. Marshall, who The opportunity to use colour-Zealand, South specialises in following and ful language in out-of-the-way America apart from all over Europe and, inspired by his ruecesses, would rightly expect writing about golf tournaments bunkers, and the game's leading players.

to continue, these tours. advice, like this: "Don't worry There is plenty of sound

bout your swing after you get en the fire tee, If you haven't leaned to play and swing by then, it's too late."

Today British team has taken the name of "Crewventus"

Mr Marshall also has some -proof enough of the complete! change in the balance of soccer highly diverting theories about power.London Express Service. I people who play golf. He says:

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Like Billy Talbert, Scottish- born Tommy Armour is a

Born in Newcastle of Welsh parents and encouraged by his father, Thomas was a single- handicap player by the time he was twelve years old At 15 he became an assistant at the Northumberland club, later moving on to the Moortown clubs at Leeds,

famous sportsman who Top performances triumphed over tragedy.

Follcaving his army, service

As a tank officer in World in Malaya, Thomas returned to War I, he was caught in a mus- Moortown for a spell, moving tard gas attack and lost his to Sudbury via Moor Park eyesight. Later he regained sight (Heris).

of his right eye and came back to win the 1927 U.S. Open Golf Championship and the 1931 Bri- ! lish Open.

Like Tilbert, too, he has now turned out a thundering good book in "A Round of Gölt with Tommy Armour (Hodder and Stoughton, 15s.)-one of the most readable fnstruction books yet written on the game,

It was in 1935 that he first same to the forefront, winning both the Assistants" Cham- plonship and the Belgian Open.

Three years later he perform- ed brilliantly in the British Open, ending as runner-up to Australian Peter Thomson, Alsa In 1958 be married a former Melbourne fashion buyer after

So many books of this kind provide a wealth of sound advice a whirlwind courtship and won couched in stodgy text book the Dutch Open Championship. terms. Armour avolds this

Now he looks ahead to en bunker by describing stroke by even more successful future. strake a nine-hole game with With his magnificent long game, an old rabbit who has resolved confideating and single- to pack up golf ms a bad job.

mindedness David Thomas" acts A well-written, beautifully off on a programme which I be- presented

book. And worth lieve will prove him to be among every penny of the price.

the finest British golfers ever.

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