Rhossili residents perhaps knew Dave Powell best as a quietly-spoken, friendly, family man, attending community events with his wife Barbara, and both very proud of their grandchildren. Those who got to know him eventually learned that as well as being a former policeman, there was another aspect to his earlier career – as a Welsh International football star! This is the story of Dave’s life and career.
Early life and football career
Dave was born in 1944 in Dolgarrog, a small village in the Conway Valley. His parents were Margaret and David Powell and he had an older brother, Iver. Dave weighed little more than 2lbs at birth and it’s hard to believe that he survived. His Dad died when Dave was 7 and his mother worked hard to keep the home going. Dave was a Welsh speaker and didn’t speak English until he was 11 years old.
He went to Llanrwst Grammar School and played football for the school, also playing as wing for a local works team in the village. When he moved to Gwydyr Rovers in the Vale of Conway League, he played centre half. A scout from Wrexham saw him and signed him in 1962, first as an apprentice as part of the ground staff and then offering him a professional deal. Dave made his League debut in May 1963 as full-back and played 134 times for the ‘Red Dragons.’ He was also part of the Wrexham team that was runner-up to the Welsh cup in 1965.
Meanwhile he met Barbara in Wrexham when she was 17 and he was 19. She was still at school and he was teased mercilessly by his teammates for dating a school girl. It was love at first sight. They married in 1968 – a very busy year for Dave. In May he made his international debut for Wales, married Barbara in July and later that summer, two weeks after moving into their new house in Wrexham, he signed for Sheffield United for a fee of £28,500. Dave explained that,
“It was right out of the blue. At 11am on Septmebr 11, I learned that United wanted me. I had a ten-minute phone conversation with Barbara, drove to Sheffield, by 3pm I was a United player and made my Second Division debut at Blackburn the following Saturday!”
A rising star
It’s reported that there were raised eyebrows at Second Division Sheffield United signing a virtually unknown player from the Fourth Division. But Manager Arthur Rowley had admired 24-year-old Dave’s style and felt he was playing well below his actual class, with his ‘determined attitude, powerful tackling and speed of recovery.’
So Dave and Barbara moved to Sheffield and Dave quickly became a popular character at Bramall Lane amongst his fellow-players in the dressing room, United staff and supporters. He also got to know Joe Cocker, who would sometimes train with the team, and developed a life-long interest in his music.
Within just a few years, club supporters were saying that Dave was worth three or four times what Sheffield United had paid for him. Dave, the “quietly-spoken blond star” played 89 matches for ‘the Blades’ and was reported as being ‘a commanding figure in their back four’ that ‘any manager would like in his side.’
In 1969, just a year after joining the club, Dave earned the title of Player of the Year. On being presented with the award at the Supporters Club meeting, in typical modest and gracious style, Dave said,
“I never expected anything like this. You are wonderful supporters and I only hope next year every United player has a trophy to admire – the Second Division Championship.”
His hope was realised. Dave was a key member of Sheffield United’s 1970/71 side that clinched promotion back to the First Division in 1971, after finishing as runners-up in the Second Division.
Unfortunately, like so many professionals, Dave was no stranger to injury. Two days before his 21st birthday, he injured his right leg, needing 21 stitches and was 13 weeks out of the game. A few years later, towards the end of the 1971 season, he sustained a serious knee injury during a game with Queen’s Park Rangers and had to take a break from playing for over a year.
In September 1972 Dave returned to Wales on a free transfer to allow him to join Cardiff City. He played 36 times for the Bluebirds over two seasons and was part of the 1973 side that won the Welsh Cup, beating Bangor City 5-0 in the final leg. This gained the Bluebirds entry to the European Cup Winners’ Cup where they lost out to Hungary’s Ferencvaros team. Then, after further injury, Dave retired from professional football in 1975, at the age of 31.
International footballer
Dave’s international career was also noteworthy. He was cited as an example of a player who belied the commonly held view that international stars would only be picked from First Dvision football teams. Described as a ‘powerful defender for Wales,’ he made his debut in Wales’s Under 23s in October 1966, when he’d just turned 22. After a further three Under 23s caps for Wales, he gained his first senior international cap in May 1968, in a 1-1 game playing against West Germany at Ninian Park, Cardiff. Dave earned 11 senior caps for Wales in total between 1968 – 1972, scoring once in a 3-1 defeat to East Germany in October 1969.
April1970 was a particularly busy time for Dave, playing for Wales in the British Championship series. His first game was Wales v England at Ninian Park Cardiff and they drew 1-1. This was the same English team that had won the World Cup in 1966! Next was Scotland v Wales in Glasgow and the score was 0-0.
The final game of the series was Wales v Northern Ireland at the Vetch Field, Swansea. George Best, considered by many people then to be the most talented player in the world, was playing for Northern Ireland and the stadium was crammed over 30,000 strong. George had to be smuggled in and out of the stadium to escape all of his young fans! But it was a great day for Wales as they beat the Irish 1-0. Reports said that George was ‘well shackled for much of the game by a tight Welsh defence’ with Dave marking world-famous George ‘out of the game.’ This match marked Dave’s 10th senior cap for Wales.
“When you pull on a Welsh shirt, it’s like putting on armour-plating, you can go through anything, breathing fire like a dragon.”
Dave Powell, Welsh International
On another occasion, Dave played against Italy. At that time they had the most expensive player in the world and Dave had to mark him. Dave played so well that Naples were interested in buying him. Everton and Spurs were also keen. In a TV interview the managers of Liverpool and Spurs said how well he could ‘read’ the game.
Dave’s skills in defence left a good impression on the international stage. A newspaper article from 1969 lists the names of 6 famous international centre forwards, including Northern Ireland’s Derek Dougan, and notes, “All six have come up against Sheffield United’s ace defender Dave Powell in the international arena and none of them can claim much success.” Dave himself was generous in recognising the talent of the international stars, saying of Derek Dougan, “It’s very enjoyable to play against him. He plays it hard – but straight, and he’s willing to give and take.”
Dave never boasted of his remarkable football achievements and many in the Rhossili community weren’t aware of them, but his family are justifiably very proud of him.
Joining the Police Force
Dave then joined South Wales Police Service and served for almost 18 years. He played for the South Wales Police football team and later became the manager. He worked in Canton, Fairwater and Riverside in Cardiff and later in Ely, the latter providing lots of very funny tales and experiences. Dave also spent time training Police Cadets. Finally he worked in the Administrative Support Unit (crime). He thoroughly enjoyed his police career and made many long-lasting friendships.
Inevitably, Dave had his share of anecdotes. He went to Buckingham Palace several times because of his work with the Police Cadets who were doing Duke of Edinburgh awards. At the time Dave had a car which had seen better days but he drove down to London in it anyway. He wore jeans for the journey and intended to stop before getting to his destination. What he hadn’t realised was that he would have a Police escort for the last part of the journey. So he couldn’t stop to change into a suit. Not many people have changed their trousers inside Buckingham Palace grounds!
On another visit to the Palace he wasn’t directed to any particular entrance. He found a door and entered and found his way down corridors with the walls covered in beautiful paintings. He was lost. Eventually he was found by a member of staff. Dave had created a security breach and all staff were alerted. Protocols were changed after that. Barbara’s comment: ‘Typical of Dave!’
Fishing
People who followed Dave’s performance on the pitch expressed some surprise that the ‘all-action approach’ soccer player was alo a keen fisherman, a sport requiring endless patience. Dave started fly fishing when he was just eight and develop a lifelong love of fishing – fly, river and sea. In 1969 he told a reporter: “I like to keep my eye in with a couple of sessions a week. Everything goes completely out of my mind and I can forget football for a couple of hours.”
During the great storm of 1987 he was out in a boat in the Bristol Channel. Roofers were working on the school where Barbara worked and they refused to work that day because of the wind, it was too dangerous. Thanks to a very experienced Skipper, Dave got home unscathed.
Dave the family man
Dave and Barbara went on to have two children. Darren was born in 1971 and Nina in 1973. Dave and Barbara adored them. Later, their three much-loved grandsons came along, Toby, William and Mikey.
He also loved their pets and formed a strong bond with them, including with Kitkat, one of their cats. Sally was a Jack Russell. Said Barbara, “Dave disappeared early one Christmas Day and returned with her. He hadn’t consulted anyone about having a dog but we all loved her. When Dave’s leg was in plaster for a long time, he limped – and Sally developed a limp too!”
Dave loved gardening and he had an allotment when they lived in Llantrisant. Later his speciality was growing tomatoes and mourners at his funeral smiled to see tomatoes amongst the flowers.
In later life Dave and Barbara moved here to Rhossili in 2002 and grew what Barbara describes as ‘a wonderful circle of friends’. He took an active interest in village events and determinedly set about learning to use a computer. Sadly Dave’s health began to decline and he became frail in his later years. He died in December 2023 at the age of 79 and is much missed. An extraordinary gentleman.
With many thanks to Barbara Powell and family for sharing photos, newspaper cuttings and stories