Gil Reece

Gilbert Ivor Reece {born Cardiff 2 July 1942, died Cardiff 20 December 2003) was a Welsh professional footballer.

Reece was working as a plumber when he joined Cardiff City as a part-timer in May 1961 and made his way into the reserve side before spending a period on loan at Ton Pentre. He was released by the club during the 1962-63 season and joined Pembroke Borough until the end of the season when he was offered the chance to sign for Newport County in 1963. At the end of the following season his impressive displays convinced Sheffield United to pay £10,000 to sign him and soon after he was called up to win his first cap for Wales against England.

His time at Sheffield United was interrupted by a badly broken leg, but despite this he went on to appear over 200 times for the club, establishing himself as a fan favourite with the Bramall Lane crowd, before leaving to return to his hometown club Cardiff City in September 1972 alongside teammate Dave Powell in an exchange deal for Alan Warboys. Appointed club captain, he went on to play in a variety of different roles for the club and in his first two seasons his goals helped the club win the Welsh Cup, scoring a hat-trick in the second leg of the 1973 final and once in the second leg of the 1974 final. The club suffered relegation during the 1974-75 season, with Reece finishing as the clubs top scorer with 8 goals, but managed to win promotion on the first time of asking the following year. Reece left the club at the end of the season and joined Swansea City where he spent a short time before retiring.

After 1976 Reece played for non-League Barry Town. On retiring from his playing career he ran a family heating business before becoming a hotelier in Cardiff.

He was also the brother of Welsh boxer Leonard Reece.

References

[http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article37691.ece Obituary in the Independent]