World Cup Swans: Ivor Allchurch

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 the great Ivor Allchurch.

The 'Golden Boy’ of Welsh football, Ivor Allchurch, remains Swansea’s all-time leading goalscorer with 192 strikes to his name.

Allchurch spent just over a decade in his first stint with the Swans and returned to the club for a further three years following spells with Newcastle United and Cardiff City, before finally ending his career at the age of 50 after stints with non-league Worcester City, Haverfordwest County and Pontardawe Athletic. 

The 5ft 10in forward also made 68 appearances for Wales, scoring 23 goals – a tally which puts him joint-third on his country’s all-time leading goalscorers' list.

Allchurch's achievements were recognised when he was awarded an MBE in 1966, while his statue was unveiled upon the opening of the Liberty 39 years later. 

AT THE SWANS

Born in Swansea in 1929, Allchurch joined the Swans as an amateur at the age of 15 after being spotted by scout Joe Sykes.

He made his first-team debut five years later and scored 118 league goals during his first spell before leaving for Newcastle in 1958.

Allchurch returned to the Vetch from Cardiff at the age of 35, spending a further three years at his hometown club before making his final appearance against Hartlepool in May 1968.

Overall, Allchurch played 503 times for the Swans in all competitions.

AT THE WORLD CUP

Allchurch was named in Jimmy Murphy’s 22-man squad for Wales’ first and so far only appearance at the World Cup finals in 1958.

He was an ever-present for the Dragons, scoring in the 1-1 draw with Mexico and in the 2-1 win over Hungary in the Group 3 play-off.

Allchurch also started in the quarter-final defeat by Brazil, when a 17-year-old Pele broke Welsh hearts.