World Cup Swans: Colin Webster

As the 2018 World Cup draws closer, the official website takes a look back at the players who have turned out for the Swans and played on the biggest stage of all.

Today, we focus on Colin Webster.

Colin Webster is one of just 22 players who have represented Wales at the World Cup finals.

The physical inside forward started out at Cardiff City before spending six years at Manchester United, where he won the league title and reached an FA Cup final.

He then enjoyed a five-year stint with the Swans and finished his professional career with Newport County.

Webster was also capped four times at international level, but failed to find the net for the Dragons.

AT THE SWANS

Born in Cardiff in 1932, Webster joined the Swans from Manchester United for £7,500 in September 1958.

A dangerous marksman in the box, he made his debut against Bristol City the following month and finished his first season at the club with nine goals.

Webster then top-scored in the league over the next two campaigns with 22 and 19 strikes respectively, and was part of the side that won the Welsh Cup in the latter campaign.

Overall, he played 179 times for the Swans in all competitions, scoring 73 goals.

AT THE WORLD CUP

Webster was named in Jimmy Murphy’s squad for Wales’ first and only appearance at the finals in 1958.

He started the opening two games as the Dragons played out 1-1 draws with Hungary and Mexico. However, the forward was unused in the stalemate against Sweden, as well as the 2-1 victory over the Hungarians.

Webster was restored to the starting line-up for the quarter-final showdown with Brazil, where a second-half strike from a 17-year-old Pele was enough to end Welsh hopes.