Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Idris Morgan Hopkins [1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 11 October 1910||
Place of birth | Merthyr Tydfil, Wales [1] | ||
Date of death | 9 October 1994 83) [1] | (aged||
Place of death | High Wycombe, England | ||
Position(s) | Outside right | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1925–1926 | New Road Amateurs | ||
1926–1927 | Gellifaelog Amateurs | ||
1929–1930 | Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | (0) |
1930–1931 | Dartford | ||
1931–1932 | Ramsgate Press Wanderers | ||
1932 | Crystal Palace | 4 | (0) |
1932–1947 | Brentford | 293 | (77) |
1947–1948 | Bristol City | 27 | (0) |
Total | 303 | (77) | |
International career | |||
1934–1939 | Wales | 12 | (2) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Idris Morgan Hopkins (11 October 1910 – 9 October 1994) was a Welsh footballer famed for his talented right foot. He played for many clubs throughout his career, but most famously Brentford where he captained them in the English First Division. He is a member of the Brentford Hall of Fame. [2]
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. [1]
Hopkins' first taste of professional football came with spells at Football League sides Merthyr Town and Sheffield Wednesday in 1927 and 1929 respectively. [1] He failed to make a league appearance for either side before dropping back into non-league football with Dartford and Ramsgate Press Wanderers. [3] He moved on to Crystal Palace in 1932 where he played 4 games before being transferred to Brentford. [4]
It was at Brentford where he established himself as a footballer as part of their greatest ever team. [5] 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. [6]
In 1946 Brentford, in Division 1, and with Hopkins as club captain were relegated to Division 2. During that season he made 43 appearances and scored four goals. [7] This season was the last that Brentford were in the top flight of English football until they won promotion in 2021. [8]
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. [9]
He also made two appearances for West Ham United as a guest player during World War II. [10]
His weekly wage was £12, the maximum permitted under league rules. Equivalent to £330 a week in 2007 terms, it was significantly lower than the wages of modern international footballers. He was inducted into the Brentford Hall of Fame in 1989. [2]
Hopkins was capped 12 times for Wales playing in the British Home Championships between 1934 and 1939, and undoubtedly would have won more if it hadn't been for World War II. He also made 9 appearances for Wales in wartime internationals scoring once.
During his international career he played against such greats as Cliff Bastin, Stanley Matthews and Tommy Lawton. Perhaps the most notable match he appeared in was Wales 4–2 victory over England in 1938 at Ninian Park as part of the 1939 British Home Championship. Idris was amongst the scorers for Wales with Stanley Matthews and Tommy Lawton netting for England. [11]
Home Side | Away Side | Date | Score | Ground | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scotland | Wales | 21 November 1934 | 3–2 | Pittodrie Aberdeen | 0 |
Wales | Ireland | 27 March 1935 | 3–1 | Racecourse Ground Wrexham | 1 |
England | Wales | 5 February 1936 | 1–2 | Molineux Wolverhampton | 0 |
Ireland | Wales | 11 March 1936 | 3–2 | Celtic Park Belfast | 0 |
Wales | England | 17 October 1936 | 2–1 | Ninian Park Cardiff | 0 |
Scotland | Wales | 2 December 1936 | 1–2 | Dens Park Dundee | 0 |
Wales | Ireland | 17 March 1937 | 4–1 | Racecourse Ground Wrexham | 0 |
England | Wales | 17 November 1937 | 2–1 | Ayresome Park Middlesbrough | 0 |
Ireland | Wales | 16 March 1938 | 1–0 | Windsor Park Belfast | 0 |
Wales | England | 22 October 1938 | 4–2 | Ninian Park Cardiff | 1 |
Scotland | Wales | 9 November 1938 | 3–2 | Tynecastle Edinburgh | 0 |
Wales | Northern Ireland | 15 March 1939 | 3–2 | Racecourse Ground Wrexham | 0 |
Home Side | Away Side | Date | Score | Ground | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wales | England | 11 November 1939 | 1–1 | Ninian Park Cardiff | 0 |
Wales | England | 18 November 1939 | 2–3 | Racecourse Ground Wrexham | 0 |
England | Wales | 13 April 1940 | 0–1 | Wembley | 0 |
England | Wales | 26 April 1941 | 4–1 | City Ground Nottingham | 0 |
England | Wales | 25 October 1941 | 2–1 | St. Andrews Birmingham | 1 |
Wales | England | 9 May 1942 | 1–0 | Ninian Park Cardiff | 0 |
England | Wales | 24 October 1942 | 1–2 | Molineux Wolves | 0 |
England | Wales | 22 February 1942 | 5–3 | Wembley | 0 |
Wales | England | 5 May 1944 | 0–2 | Ninian Park Cardiff | 0 |
Brentford
After football Hopkins had spells coaching in Sweden with IFK Norrkoping and FK Slepnier, and 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 Kandies in Harefield during the 1960's and 70's before settling in Buckinghamshire with his wife, Nancy, and sons Barry and Ashley.[ citation needed ]
Hopkins died in 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.[ citation needed ]
JamesBain was a Scottish professional footballer and manager, best remembered for his 28 years as a player, manager and assistant manager at Brentford. In 2013, Bain placed fifth in a Football League 125th Anniversary poll of Brentford's best ever captains and was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in May 2015.
The 1927–28 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's first season in the Football League and their first season in Third Division South. The season runs from 1 July 1927 to 30 June 1928.
Tamer Hasan Fernandes is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Brentford and Colchester United.
Michael John Block was an English professional footballer who played as a right winger. He made nearly 200 Football League appearances for Chelsea, Brentford and Watford over a 10-year period.
Leonard Francis Townsend was an English professional footballer who made over 110 Football League appearances, either side of the Second World War, for Brentford, Bristol City and Millwall as an inside right. He later became a manager in non-League football, serving Hayes, Slough Town and in two spells, Maidenhead United. Townsend's achievements with Maidenhead United saw him inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2005.
James Raven was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Brentford, Bristol Rovers and Wrexham as a right half.
Barry Edward Thornley is an English retired professional footballer who played as a winger and full back in the Football League for Brentford and Oxford United. He later made over 200 appearances in a four-year spell at Chelmsford City.
James Jay was an English professional footballer who played as a wing half in the Football League for Bristol City. He is the record Southern League appearance-maker for Brentford and was posthumously inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2015.
Herbert Young was an English professional footballer who made over 260 appearances as an outside left in the Football League for Aberdare Athletic, Brentford, Newport County, Queens Park Rangers, Bristol Rovers and Swindon Town.
Cecil Blakemore sometimes known as Cyril Blakemore, was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward in the Football League, most notably for Crystal Palace, Brentford and Norwich City. He also played for Bristol City and Swindon Town.
David Drummond Sherlaw was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a forward in the Football League for Charlton Athletic, Brentford and Bristol City. He also played in the Scottish League for Bathgate, Montrose, St Johnstone, St Bernard's and Leith Athletic.
John Phillips was a Welsh professional footballer who played as a forward in the Football League, most notably for Bristol Rovers and Merthyr Town. He finished his league career with 107 goals in 179 appearances.
During the 1921–22 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. The club improved on its debut season in the league to finish 9th, which would be its highest placing until 1929–30.
During the 1933–34 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division for the first time in the club's history. A strong run in the middle of the season saw the Bees hold the second promotion place throughout March 1934, before a drop in form led the club to a 4th-place finish.
During the 1934–35 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. The Bees led the division for much of the second half of the season and were promoted as champions to the First Division for the first time in the club's history. Brentford also won the London Challenge Cup for the first time.
During the 1935–36 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League First Division for the first time in the club's history. A torrid run in the opening half of the season left Brentford in the relegation places, but after a number of key signings were made, just two defeats from Christmas Day 1935 through to the end of the season elevated the Bees to an impressive 5th-place finish, the club's highest-ever in the league pyramid. Brentford also reached the final of the London Challenge Cup for the second consecutive season, but were beaten by league rivals Arsenal. In 2013, the Brentford supporters voted 1935–36 as the club's third-best season.
During the 1946–47 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League First Division. The Bees' 12-year run in the First Division ended with relegation to the Second Division after a disastrous season, which tied the club record for fewest league victories and most league defeats. The club did not play again in the top-tier until 2021–22, 74 years later.
During the 1965–66 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. After an awful first half of the season, Brentford dropped into the relegation places in January 1966 and failed to recover, ending the club's three-season spell in the Third Division.
{{cite web}}
: |author=
has generic name (help)