| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Idris Morgan Hopkins | ||
| Date of birth | 11 October 1910 | ||
| Place of birth | Merthyr Tydfil, Wales | ||
| Date of death | 9 October 1994 (aged 83) | ||
| Place of death | High Wycombe, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | ||
| Playing position | Right wing | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1927 | Merthyr Town | Unknown | |
| 1929 | Sheffield Wednesday | Unknown | |
| 1932 | Crystal Palace | 4 | (0) |
| 1932-1947 | Brentford | 272 | (77) |
| 1947 | Bristol City | 27 | (0) |
| Total | 303 | (77) | |
| National team | |||
| 1934-1939 | Wales | 12 | (2) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
|||
Idris Morgan (Dai) 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 1st Division. He was born in Merthyr Tydfil.
Contents |
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, New Road and Merthyr Town.
Hopkins' career as a professional footballer started when he was signed by Sheffield Wednesday having been spotted playing at amateur level. He moved on to Crystal Palace in 1932[1] where he played 4 games before being transferred to Brentford.
It was at Brentford where he established himself as a footballer as part of their greatest ever team.[2] 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 290 official appearances scoring 77 goals,[3] however his total number of both appearances and goals for the club is considerably higher if appearances made during the war which do not count towards players' official records are included.
In 1946 Brentford, in Division 1, and with Hopkins as club captain were relegated to Division 2. During that season at the age of 39 he scored 4 goals. This season was the last, as of 2008, that Brentford FC were in the top flight of English football.
In May 1947 he left Brentford and signed for Bristol City[4] where he played 24 times before retiring in 1948 at the age of 40.
He also made two appearances for West Ham United as a guest player during World War II .[5]
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.
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[6]
| Home Side | Away Side | Date | Score | Ground | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | Wales | 21.11.1934 | 3-2 | Pittodrie Aberdeen | 0 |
| Wales | Ireland | 27.3.1935 | 3-1 | Racecourse Ground Wrexham | 1 |
| England | Wales | 5.2.1936 | 1-2 | Molyineux Wolverhampton | 0 |
| Ireland | Wales | 11.3.1936 | 3-2 | Celtic Park Belfast | 0 |
| Wales | England | 17.10.1936 | 2-1 | Ninian Park Cardiff | 0 |
| Scotland | Wales | 2.12.1936 | 1-2 | Dens Park Dundee | 0 |
| Wales | Ireland | 17.3.1937 | 4-1 | Racecourse Ground Wrexham | 0 |
| England | Wales | 17.11.1937 | 2-1 | Ayresome Park Middlesbrough | 0 |
| Ireland | Wales | 16.3.1938 | 1-0 | Windsor Park Belfast | 0 |
| Wales | England | 22.10.1938 | 4-2 | Ninian Park Cardiff | 1 |
| Scotland | Wales | 9.11.1938 | 3-2 | Tynecastle Edinburgh | 0 |
| Wales | Northern Ireland | 15.3.1939 | 3-2 | Racecourse Ground Wrexham | 0 |
| Home Side | Away Side | Date | Score | Ground | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | England | 11.11.1939 | 1-1 | Ninian Park Cardiff | 0 |
| Wales | England | 18.11.1939 | 2-3 | Racecourse Ground Wrexham | 0 |
| England | Wales | 13.4.1940 | 0-1 | Wembley | 0 |
| England | Wales | 26.4.1941 | 4-1 | City Ground Nottingham | 0 |
| England | Wales | 25.10.1941 | 2-1 | St. Andrews Birmingham | 1 |
| Wales | England | 9.5.1942 | 1-0 | Ninian Park Cardiff | 0 |
| England | Wales | 24.10.1942 | 1-2 | Molyineux Wolves | 0 |
| England | Wales | 22.2.1942 | 5-3 | Wembley | 0 |
| Wales | England | 5.5.1944 | 0-2 | Ninian Park Cardiff | 0 |
Brentford
After football Idris 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 before settling in Buckinghamshire with his wife, Nancy, and sons Barry and Ashley.
He was modest about his career but did on occasion share his stories providing an insight into the game of old.[7]
Idris died in on the 9th October 1994 two days before his 84th birthday. A minutes' silence was held as a mark of respect before Brentford F.C's next match on the following Saturday.