Mel Hopkins

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Mel Hopkins (born 7 November 1934 in Ystrad Rhondda[1]) was a Wales international football player. He played at left back.

Contents

[edit] Club career

The son of a miner[2], he was signed by Tottenham Hotspur at the age of 15, when spotted playing for his local boy's club.[3]. He was taken on as an apprentice after just one trial.[2] Mel Hopkins made his debut in January 1952[4] and winning a League and FA Cup double in 1961.[5][6] In 1959, he suffered a serious injury following a collision with Ian St John, smashing his nose and upper jaw, an injury which would keep him out of football for two years.[3]

In total, Hopkins played 219 games for Spurs, before leaving Spurs for Brighton and Hove Albion in October 1964 for a transfer fee of [[GBP|£]8,000.[4][3] He scored 2 goals and played 58 games for Albion. A brief spell at Ballymena United in Northern Ireland 1967 was followed by a move to Bradford Park Avenue in 1968, where he played 30 games, retiring in 1970.[1]

[edit] International career

Hopkins played for his country between 1956 and 1963[7], earning 34 caps[1] including playing for the Wales squad for the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden, where they lost narrowly to Brazil in the quarter-finals.

In 2003, Hopkins was given a merit award by the Football Association of Wales.[8]

[edit] Personal life

Mel Hopkins is now retired, and lives in Beach Green, Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex.[9][3]

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[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Mel Hopkins statistics - newcastlefans.com
  2. ^ a b Incredible journey - from Ystrad Boys Club to World Cup; The boys of '58 - Western Mail, June 20, 2002
  3. ^ a b c d Pele broke my heart, Saint broke my nose - interview with Mel Hopkins, The Argus, 19 December 2001
  4. ^ a b Tottenham Hotspurs transfer history - topspurs.com
  5. ^ Fans will not forgive Santini - The Argus, October 26, 2004
  6. ^ Remembering the genius of Garrincha - BBC.co.uk, 20 January 2008
  7. ^ Mel Hopkins statistics on RSSSF
  8. ^ Hartson scoops Welsh FA award - ESPNsoccernet, October 6, 2003
  9. ^ The fiery captain who loved a good punch-up - The Argus, 2 July 2001

[edit] Further reading

  • Ashley Drake - When Pele Broke Our Hearts
v • d • e
Wales squad - 1958 FIFA World Cup
1 Kelsey • 2 Williams • 3 Hopkins • 4 Sullivan • 5 M. Charles • 6 Bowen • 7 Medwin • 8 Hewitt • 9 J. Charles • 10 I. Allchurch • 11 C. Jones • 12 K. Jones • 13 Vearnecombe • 14 Edwards • 15 C. Baker • 16 Crowe • 17 Leek • 18 Vernon • 19 Webster • 20 Elsworthy • 21 L. Allchurch • 22 T. Baker • Coach: Murphy
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