Thu. Sep 19th, 2024
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Former Swansea, Tottenham Hotspur and Wales wing Terry Medwin has died at the age of 91.

The Swansea-born attacker played 30 times for Wales, and scored the winning goal when they beat Hungary 2-1 in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.

He was also part of the Tottenham squad which won the FA Cup and League double in 1961 and the FA Cup two years later.

His career was ended by a broken leg suffered while playing for Spurs in 1963.

Medwin’s goal against the Hungarians at the Rasunda Stadium in Solna ranks among the most important scored by a Welsh player at international level.

It gave Wales a 2-1 win and earned them a place in the quarter finals against Brazil.

A goal by Pele – only 17 years old at the time – knocked Wales out of the tournament, but it remains their best performance at the World Cup.

“It was a long time ago, and it was only the one time we got to the World Cup finals, but you’ll never forget it,” said Medwin in 2014.

“It was a great experience playing for Wales when I first got my cap but even better when we qualified for the World Cup.

“We won a play-off against Hungary and that’s where Big John (Charles) got injured.

“Had he been fit enough to play against Brazil, I’m not saying we would have won, but he was such a great player.

“Sadly, he had a few tears and he couldn’t play, and then Pele got his first goal for Brazil in the World Cup.”

Medwin made his debut for what was then Swansea Town in 1949, and was a key player for the club until his departure for Tottenham for £25,000 in 1956.

He was joined at White Hart Lane two years later by his former Swansea and Wales team-mate Cliff Jones.

In 1961 Tottenham became the first club to win a league and cup double in the 20th century, though Medwin had to battle for a starting place with Terry Dyson.

However, Medwin re-established his status the following season and played in the 3-1 victory over Burnley in the 1962 FA Cup final. It was to be his last silverware as a player, as a broken leg suffered during a tour of South Africa the following year effectively ended his career.

After retiring as a player he coached at Fulham and was assistant manager to John Toshack at Swansea during the club’s climb from the old Fourth Division to the First Division of the Football League in the late 1970s and early 80s.

Medwin was a guest of honour at the announcement of Wales’ squad selected to go to the 2022 World Cup.

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