Alf Sherwood

Football player infobox
playername = Alf Sherwood


fullname = Alfred Thomas Sherwood
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date|1923|11|13
cityofbirth = Aberaman
countryofbirth = Wales
dateofdeath = March, 1990
height =
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = ?-1942
1942-1956
1956-1961
1961-1963
clubs = Aberaman Athletic
Cardiff City
Newport County
Barry Town
caps(goals) = 00? 0(?)
354 (14)
205 (21)
00? 0(?)
nationalyears = 1947-1957
nationalteam = Wales
nationalcaps(goals) = 041 0(0)
manageryears = 1961-1963
managerclubs = Barry Town (player-manager)
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Alfred Thomas "Alf" Sherwood (13 November, 1923 in Aberaman – 1990) was a Welsh international footballer. Between 1947-57 he gained a total of 41 Caps. Known as the King of the sliding tacklers he debuted in Wales' first full international against Ireland after World War Two. An ex-miner who threw his all into the game especially when facing the England forward, Stanley Matthews, who described him as "the most difficult opponent he ever played against". [ [http://www.footballingfifties.co.uk/Fullbacks.htm "Fifties full-backs"] Footballingfifties.com Retrieved on 26 December, 2007] His qualities were pace, sureness of tackle and a great positional sense. Sherwood also captained Wales to a famous win over England in 1955. [ [http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/leisure_tourism/welsh_wizards/indefence.htm "The Welsh Wizards - in defence"] Wrexham.gov.uk Retrieved on 2 May, 2008]

Early life

As a youngster, Sherwood was a youth international for Wales at both football and Cricket before becoming one of the Bevin Boys, a scheme created by former Minister of Labour and National Service Ernest Bevin, in which young men aged between 18-25 were drafted to work as miners during World War II.

Career

Sherwood joined Cardiff City in 1942, from Aberaman Athletic after impressing then manager Cyril Spiers in a wartime friendly. He originally played as a wing half but during a match against Lovells Athletic the club was short of defenders so Sherwood was moved to full-back where he was so impressive that he played the position for the rest of his career. In total he played in 140 wartime fixtures for the club. The Football League returned for the 1946-47 season and Sherwood missed just one match as the club finished top of the third division south. Following the departure of Fred Stansfield, he formed a full back partnership with another Cardiff City great, Ron Stitfall, and in the 1951-52 season Sherwood was appointed captain of the club, leading them back to the first division that year.

Sherwood was also the stand in goalkeeper for both club and country, due to substitutes having not yet been introduced. His greatest goalkeeping moment came on 17 April, 1954 in a match against Liverpool. Goalkeeper Ron Howells fractured his thumb while making a save during the match and Sherwood took over in his place, facing a penalty from Scottish international Billy Liddell from which he performed a double save to all but asure Liverpool of relegation. Sherwood went on to become one of the all time appearance leaders for the club in all competitions before he was allowed to leave the club by manager Trevor Morris, to join Newport County, in 1956 at the age of 33. He went on to confound critics by playing in over 200 hundred matches for Newport as well as adding his last two Wales caps at the club. After leaving Newport in 1961 he had a short-lived spell as player-manager of Barry Town before fully retiring from football and working for the National Coal Board as a security officer.

In 2006 he was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame. [ [http://www.rugbyrelics.com/sw/info/wshof.htm#Sherwood "Welsh sports hall of fame"] Retrieved on 26 December, 2007]

Honours

;Cardiff City

*Division Three South
**Winner (1): 1946-47
*Division Two
**Runner-up (1): 1951-52

References

* Cite book
title = The Cardiff City Miscellany
first = Richard
last = Shepherd
publisher = Pitch books
year = 2007
isbn= 1-9054-1104-9
* Cite book
title = The Who's Who of Cardiff City
first = Dean
last = Hayes
publisher = Breedon Books
year = 2006
isbn= 1-8598-3462-0