Idris Hopkins

Early life

Hopkins was born in the mining town of Merthyr Tydfil in Wales, son of a coal miner. He was naturally right footed but spent a great deal of time improving his weaker left foot repeatedly kicking a ball against a wall until it was of equal standard. Before turning professional he played football at an amateur level for Gellyfaelog and New Road.

Professional football career

Hopkins' first taste of professional football came with spells at Football League sides Merthyr Town and Sheffield Wednesday in 1927 and 1929 respectively. He moved on to Crystal Palace in 1932 where he played 4 games before being transferred to Brentford.

It was at Brentford where he established himself as a footballer as part of their greatest ever team. He wore the number 7 shirt and was an old fashioned inside forward with two good feet and a determined attitude. Between 1932 and 1947 and he made 314 official appearances, scoring 77 goals and added over 200 appearances and 49 goals during the Second World War. This season was the last that Brentford were in the top flight of English football until they won promotion in 2021.

In May 1947 he left Brentford and signed for Bristol City where he played 27 times before retiring in 1948 at the age of 40.

He also made two appearances for West Ham United as a guest player during World War II.

His weekly wage was £12, the maximum permitted under league rules. He was inducted into the Brentford Hall of Fame in 1991.

Honours

As a player Brentford Football League Second Division Championship: 1934–35 Football League Third Division Championship: 1932-33

As an individual Brentford Hall of Fame

Non-playing career and retirement After retirement as a footballer, Hopkins had spells coaching in Sweden with IFK Norrkoping and FK Slepnier, and in Turkey with Demirspor F.C. He also managed Ramsgate, Portadown and Sutton United. He eventually moved to Middlesex where he owned and ran a confectionery shop in Harefield during the 1960s and 1970s before settling in Buckinghamshire with his wife, Nancy, and sons Barry and Ashley.

Hopkins died on 9 October 1994 two days before his 84th birthday. A minutes' silence was held as a mark of respect before Brentford's match on the following Saturday.