Phil Dwyer

Philip John Dwyer (28 October 1953 – 30 November 2021) was a Welsh professional footballer. Born in Cardiff, he began his career with his hometown club Cardiff City, joining the side as an apprentice in 1969. He made his professional debut for the club in October 1972, winning his first honours the same season by helping the side win the Welsh Cup. He suffered relegation with Cardiff in 1975 but helped the side win promotion back to the Second Division at the first attempt, scoring 10 goals during the season.

Dwyer remained a mainstay of the side for more than a decade, becoming known by the nickname "Joe" due to his perceived resemblance to Joe Royle. He was nearly released by manager Len Ashurst in 1982 following a serious knee injury. He returned to the first team, winning promotion in the 1982–83 season and was ever present during the 1983–84 campaign.

He set a new club record for Football League appearances the following year, overtaking Tom Farquharson's long standing record. Dwyer left the club in 1985 after falling out with manager Alan Durban. He made 575 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring 51 times during a 13-year spell. He made his international debut for Wales in April 1978 and gained ten caps over the following year, scoring twice. He won his last cap in October 1979.

He finished his playing career with a brief loan spell at Fourth Division side Rochdale where he made 15 appearances, scoring once. He retired from playing in 1985 and joined the South Wales Police. He served with the force for 15 years before resigning after an incident of drink-driving. He later became a freelance legal representative.

Early life Dwyer was born on 28 October 1953 in the house where his family resided on Penarth Road in Grangetown, Cardiff. The area was in the midst of an economic downturn following the end of the Second World War and a falling demand for coal, one of the main industries of the region, which also affected the local docks. Dwyer's family home, which he described as having "tiny living quarters", had no bathroom, meaning the family bathed in front of the fire in a metal bath with water boiled on the stove. The house also had no central heating leading to "very harsh" nights in winter. His parents, Ted and Constance, had met and married in Tonypandy where his father had worked as a miner. In the hope of improving their prospects, the pair moved to Cardiff where his father found work at a foundry in Tremorfa. His mother also took up work in the canteen of an aluminium manufacturing factory. while Peter joined the armed forces. His other brother, Brian, was a keen sportsman and played football at amateur level for local side St Patrick's. He also represented Wales in boxing at the Empire Games. As his family was relatively poor, he and his friends would often steal fruit and vegetables from gardens and, on one occasion, he was caught shoplifting by a policeman. He took up numerous sporting activities in his youth, including cricket, rugby and baseball, but was most keen on football, idolising the Leeds United side featuring Billy Bremner, as well as Manchester United striker George Best. Dwyer grew up supporting Cardiff City and began attending matches at the club's home ground, Ninian Park, from a young age. Often unable to afford the entry fee for matches, he and his friends would often sneak into the ground by climbing disused railway sleepers to scale the fencing around the stands.

Dwyer attended Bishop Mostyn High School in Ely as a teenager, Dwyer met his future wife Ann in his teens at a local nightclub and the pair began dating soon after.

Club career Youth and first team breakthrough Dwyer's childhood dream was to become a professional footballer and his career began to progress at the age of 14 when he was picked to represent the Cardiff Schools side for the first time. He gained international recognition soon after when he was selected to represent Wales at under-15 level in the Victory Shield, a youth competition held between the Home Nations. Despite this, he initially struggled to attract interest from clubs until he was invited to train with the youth team at Cardiff City by Harry Parsons, a long serving employee of the club. Dwyer began training with the side every Tuesday but still held little hope of fulfilling his dream. He was due to start a carpentry apprenticeship with a company at Cardiff Docks which had been arranged by his brother-in-law who worked at the site. To Dwyer's surprise, he was offered a contract by Cardiff when he turned 16 in 1969, earning around £5 per week.

Dwyer became affectionally known as "Joe" by Cardiff fans and teammates, a nickname that originated during his early years at the club when goalkeeper Fred Davies commented that Dwyer resembled Everton forward Joe Royle. As an apprentice, he was also employed as the club's ground staff where youth players were required to fulfill various tasks, such as cleaning kit and clearing rubbish from the stands at the ground after matches. With no organised age group league to play in, the youth team competed in local amateur divisions against senior teams. During the 1970–71 season, Cardiff's youth team entered the FA Youth Cup and reached the final of the competition, the furthest the side has ever advanced. Having won five ties, Cardiff faced Arsenal in the final. Cardiff held Arsenal to a goalless draw in the first leg before losing the return fixture 2–0 at Ninian Park.

On his 18th birthday, Dwyer was offered his first professional contract with the club by manager Jimmy Scoular, earning £20 per week. With Cardiff struggling in the Second Division during the 1972–73 season, Dwyer became increasingly involved in the first team as Scoular attempted to improve the side's fortunes. On 7 October 1972, Scoular dropped David Carver from the side and handed Dwyer his professional debut against Leyton Orient. Playing as a right-back, he helped the side record a goalless draw, Dwyer remained in the first team for the remainder of the season and was ever present for the side in all competitions following his debut. He made 40 appearances during the season, Victory in the Welsh Cup had qualified Cardiff for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and Dwyer made his debut in continental competition on 17 September 1974 in a goalless draw with Portuguese side Sporting CP. Cardiff were eliminated after losing the return leg 2–1. Dwyer's performances resulted in his selection for the Wales under-23 side ahead of a match against England at Ashton Gate Stadium in January 1974, helping his side to a 0–0 draw. Cardiff's results gradually stabilised under O'Farrell, with Dwyer scoring his first senior goal for the club in a 2–0 victory over Preston North End on 9 March 1974 after heading in a cross from Leighton Phillips.

O'Farrell resigned suddenly in April 1974 and the side again avoided relegation on the final day of the season, drawing 1–1 with Crystal Palace to relegate their opponents in their stead. Dwyer won his second Welsh Cup at the end of the season, as Cardiff defeated Stourbridge under Jimmy Andrews, who had previously been O'Farrell's assistant. In January 1975, Cardiff played Millwall at The Den. With Cardiff trailing 5–1, a frustrated Dwyer deliberately collided with Millwall goalkeeper Ray Goddard causing the opposition player to be stretchered off the field with a concussion. Dwyer's actions had caused fans from both sides to clash and a Millwall supporter ran onto the pitch and aimed a punch at Dwyer. Seeing the punch coming, Dwyer was able to avoid being hit and grabbed the fan in a headlock. Holding on until the fan was apprehended by police. Dwyer later refused to press charges against the fan. Cardiff finished the season in 21st position, suffering relegation to the Third Division, and went on to lose the Welsh Cup final 5–2 to Wrexham over two legs.

Promotion and Second Division return

Relegation prompted Andrews to rebuild his squad, letting several players leave and replacing them with new signings. Dwyer credited one of the new arrivals, Wales international Mike England, as being a positive influence on his game, remarking how he "made me a better player". Although the team's results were generally positive, Andrews believed his team lacked physical presence in midfield and moved Dwyer into an unfamiliar holding midfield role. As well as his defensive responsibilities, Dwyer also provided an attacking impetus by regularly charging into the penalty area for crosses. This proved fruitful immediately as he scored a brace in his first match in the new role and was denied a first career hat-trick when he missed a penalty late in the game.

On 8 November 1975, while playing in a league match against Gillingham, Dwyer collided with an opposition player and received a blow from the player's knee to the back of his head and was knocked unconscious. The impact resulted in a blocked airway and Dwyer briefly stopped breathing. Cardiff physio Ron Durham managed to clear his airway by using the corner flag pole and revived him with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. He was taken to hospital by an ambulance that had driven onto the Priestfield pitch. Some initial reports even suggested that Dwyer had died, however, he was back playing for the Bluebirds just seven days later against Colchester United. He continued his goalscoring form in his new role, scoring braces during a 5–2 victory over Peterborough United in December and against Walsall and Colchester in February 1976. He returned to the side in late September, in a goalless draw with Millwall. Upon his return, Dwyer found himself playing in his more usual role in defence rather than in midfield.

Ahead of the 1977–78 season, Cardiff were struggling financially and the club was dealt a further blow by the restriction of crowd numbers at Ninian Park due to safety concerns. Dwyer was contacted by a former professional footballer who had recommended him to Greek side Panathinaikos. Dwyer was offered wages considerably higher than those he received with Cardiff, a villa and places at an English school for his children but the move broke down when Andrews refused to contemplate selling. Bristol City and Stoke City also made offers for Dwyer, with Bristol's bid totalling around £150,000, but Andrews again rejected the advances. The club began the season in poor form, winning one of their opening 10 matches. Dwyer bemoaned that the squad suffered a "severe lack of confidence" and the side suffered several heavy defeats, including conceding six goals in consecutive matches against Sheffield United and Bolton Wanderers in December 1977.

In an attempt to rectify the club's form, Andrews became increasingly desperate and even transfer listed the club's entire playing staff. An injury crisis amongst Cardiff's attacking players also led Andrews to use Dwyer and fellow defender Paul Went in forward roles in an attempt to utilise the pair's physical presence. Dwyer's most notable contribution in the role was a brace during a 2–2 draw with Crystal Palace in April 1978.

Departure of Andrews and new managers Dwyer began the following season by scoring in the opening game of the campaign, a 2–2 draw with Preston North End. However, the club's form remained indifferent and Andrews was sacked from his role as manager in November 1978. He was replaced by Richie Morgan in an appointment described by Dwyer as "a move that shocked every Cardiff City fan, and player". Despite his inexperience, Morgan led the club to their highest finish in nearly a decade, with Dwyer remaining a lynchpin of the side making 45 appearances in all competitions, having reverted to his traditional defensive role.

Expectations for the 1979–80 season were high following the previous campaign's finish and the side enjoyed positive results to begin with. The team did record a goalless draw with First Division side Arsenal in the FA Cup, before losing the replay 2–1, but the side finished the league season in 15th place. Although Morgan remained in charge, financial constraints led to the departure of several members of the coaching staff. Dwyer later described the move as "foolish" and the club struggled for form during the season and Cardiff avoided relegation on the final day of the season after recording consecutive goalless draws against Derby County and West Ham United.

Cardiff started the following season with a 2–2 draw with Oldham Athletic with Dwyer scoring his side's equalising goal. Morgan made several signings, including brothers Gary and Dave Bennett and steered the club to ninth place before he was relieved of his role and moved into an administrative position. Dwyer described the move as "one of the most baffling decisions I ever came across". The club endured a disastrous run of form under Morgan's replacement, Graham Williams, failing to win a game for more than three months between December 1981 and March 1982. Williams and Morgan were both sacked in March with the club in the relegation zone and were replaced by Len Ashurst. In his first game as a manager, Cardiff won 5–4 over Cambridge United. Dwyer played his last game of the season on 27 February in a 2–0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday before succumbing to a knee injury, caused by arthritis brought on by an operation on his cartilage earlier in his career, that ended his campaign.

To rectify his knee problem, Dwyer underwent another operation at the end of the season to have a piece of cartilage removed. Relegation had prompted rumours of a clearout of players at the club and, while recuperating in hospital, Dwyer read in the South Wales Echo that he was due to be released. On his release from hospital, Dwyer met with Ashurst who explained that, based on Dwyer's medical report, he believed Dwyer's best option was to retire from playing. Although Dwyer disagreed, the pair left the meeting on amicable terms. Dwyer set about training on his own, doing hundreds of squats each day while carrying sandbags to strengthen his knee. He received a phone call from former Cardiff manager Frank O'Farrell during the summer break who informed Dwyer of interest from Torquay United manager Bruce Rioch. He also received interest from Exeter City but decided on Torquay and played in several friendly matches for the side.

When news of his return to action with Torquay reached Ashurst, his former manager dispatched a scout to watch Dwyer. Ashurst immediately offered Dwyer a new contract with Cardiff which he quickly accepted and the turnaround concluded with Dwyer being named in the starting line up for Cardiff's opening match of the season against Wrexham. Dwyer returned to the starting line-up and scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Walsall in his first game. Dwyer remained a mainstay of the side for the rest of the campaign as the club embarked on a strong run of form that ultimately ended in winning promotion back to the Second Division after finishing second. Although he often had to manage his training regime as his persistent knee injury limited his training time. The season was marred by an FA Cup upset defeat to non-league side Weymouth in which Dwyer was at fault for the winning goal after losing possession on the edge of his own penalty area. However, the club's return proved to be disappointing as a lack of funds and serious injury problems to the side's forward players made results difficult. During the course of the season, Ashurst resigned from his role to join Sunderland and was replaced by a caretaker manager duo of coaches Jimmy Goodfellow and Jimmy Mullen. The club finished the campaign in 15th place while Dwyer remained ever present in league competition for the second time during his career. He appeared in all 42 league matches and all 8 matches in cup competitions. In one of the defeats, a 2–1 loss to Blackburn Rovers on 18 September 1984, Dwyer set a new club record for appearances in the Football League with 446, surpassing goalkeeper Tom Farquharson's record which had stood since 1935. Cardiff went on to finish the season in 21st position in Dwyer's absence, returning to the Third Division.

Rival South Wales clubs Swansea City and Newport County had shown interest in signing Dwyer, although Durban did not inform him of their interest. Despite dropping two divisions to sign for Rochdale, Dwyer actually earned a higher salary from his new side than he had previously been receiving. Cardiff allowed Dwyer to train with the club's youth team during the week before travelling north to Rochdale every Friday in preparation for the club's weekend match. He formed a defensive partnership with Joe Cooke on his arrival and would stay in a room at a local pub after each match before returning to Cardiff. Rochdale were placed in the relegation zone when Dwyer arrived but the club's form gradually improved and he scored his first goal for the club with the winner during a victory over fellow relegation candidates Southend United. Rochdale eventually finished in 17th position and offered Dwyer a one-year contract, but he chose to reject the offer and retired from football.

International career

Having previously represented Wales at youth and under-23 levels, Dwyer received his first call-up to the senior Wales side in April 1978. Usually a defender, his first selection coincided with a period in which he was playing as a forward for Cardiff. Dwyer was recalled for Wales' following match and scored again during a 3–1 defeat to England in the 1978–79 British Home Championship at his home club ground, Ninian Park, after heading in from a cross by Carl Harris. Wales manager Mike Smith chose the pair to start in Wales' opening match of the 1979–80 British Home Championship, a 3–0 victory over Scotland.

A goalless draw with England left Wales and Northern Ireland in a deciding fixture in the final match to determine the tournament's winner. The match eventually ended in a draw which resulted in Northern Ireland winning the title as Wales finished as runners-up for the second consecutive season.

Style of play Dwyer was particularly renowned for his tough style of play and described how he was seen as the team's "enforcer" during his time at the club. He later commented how "Not only did I have to take care of myself, but I also had to dish it out if one of our flair players was getting some bother". Dwyer was often tasked with shadowing the opposition's star players and attempting to disrupt their performance with physical tactics. Roger Gibbins, who won promotion with Dwyer in 1983, described him as "an out-and-out centre half who was good in the air, competed very well and who put his head in where it hurt." The couple's first child, Darren, was born in September 1974 and their second, Claire, was born in 1976. His wife, Ann, later became a care worker and spent 20 years in the role and also spent time working in a nursery.

After retiring from football, in 1985 Dwyer joined the South Wales Police force, after being recommended by a friend who worked in the force. Dwyer began his career in the force on foot patrol and later described the regular verbal abuse he and his colleagues received, although he states that being a former player for Cardiff ensured he received less than most police officers. In his spare time, Dwyer did briefly play amateur football and also coached local teams in the Cardiff area. He also represented the South Wales police football team in matches against their counterparts from around the United Kingdom.

He went on to become a freelance legal representative after being offered a position by a local law firm that he had known from his time in the force.

Dwyer died in Cardiff on 30 November 2021, at the age of 68.

Career statistics

Club

International goals Scores and results list Wales goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Dwyer goal.

Honours Cardiff City Welsh Cup: 1972–73, 1973–74, 1975–76; runners-up: 1974–75, 1976–77 Football League Third Division runners-up: 1975–76, 1982–83