Phil Dwyer

Football player infobox
playername = Phil Dwyer


fullname = Philip Joseph Dwyer
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1953|10|28
cityofbirth = Cardiff
countryofbirth = Wales
height =
currentclub = Retired
clubnumber =
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1972-1985
1985
clubs = Cardiff City
→ Rochdale (loan)
caps(goals) = 471 (41)
015 0(1)
nationalyears = 1978-1979
nationalteam = Wales
nationalcaps(goals) = 0010 0(2)
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Philip Joseph Dwyer (born 28 October, 1953 in Cardiff) is a former Welsh international football player. He attained 10 caps for Wales and played his club football for Cardiff City as a centre-half.

Football career

Dwyer, affectionally known as "Joe" by Cardiff City fans was born on Wednesday, 28 October 1953 in Grangetown, Cardiff and is is one of Cardiff City's best loved players. He currently has the record number of appearances for the club with 471 in league competition between 1972 to 1985. However on 8 November 1975 Dwyer came close to never reaching the milestone for Cardiff. While playing in a league match against Gilingham he collided with an opposition player and received a blow from the players knee to the back of his head and was knocked unconscious. The impact had forced Dwyer to swallow his tongue and he stopped breathing before Cardiff physio Ron Durham managed to clear his airway, and save his life, by using the corner flag pole. He was taken to hospital by an ambulance that had driven onto the Ninian Park pitch and was back playing for the Bluebirds just seven days later against Colchester United. ["Near-tragedy for Dwyer" The Cardiff City Miscelany pg.95]

He made his international debut for Wales against Iran on 18 April 1978. He scored the only goal of the game but also had one disallowed and a header of the post. Phil went on to play in 9 of the next 12 games for his country. All his caps came during his time as a Cardiff City player, for whom he scored 41 goals in his 471 League appearances.

Besides his time at Cardiff Phil had a brief loan spell at Rochdale A.F.C., scoring once in his 15 League games.

After football

After retiring from football Dwyer became a policeman in the town of Wenvoe, where he has lived with his wife Ann for twenty years. He spent fifteen years as a police officer before becoming a freelance legal representative. [ [http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2006/12/16/dwyer-the-defender-on-and-off-the-pitch-91466-18274034/ "Dwyer the defender on and off the pitch"] South Wales Echo Retrieved on 28 November, 2007]

References

External links

* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_international.asp?HeroID=17451 Phil Dwyer] at Footballheroes.net