 Dwyer in 2012 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Philip John Dwyer[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 28 October 1953 | ||
| Place of birth | Cardiff, Wales | ||
| Date of death | 30 November 2021 (aged 68) | ||
| Place of death | Cardiff, Wales | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1969–1972 | Cardiff City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1972–1985 | Cardiff City | 471 | (41) |
| 1985 | → Rochdale (loan) | 15 | (1) |
| Total | 486 | (42) | |
| International career | |||
| 1979 | Wales U21 | 1 | (0) |
| 1978–1979 | Wales | 10 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Philip John Dwyer (28 October 1953 – 30 November 2021) was a Welsh professional footballer. Born in Cardiff, he began his career with his hometown club Cardiff City, joining the side as an apprentice in 1969. He made his professional debut for the club in October 1972, winning his first honours the same season by helping the side win the Welsh Cup. He suffered relegation with Cardiff in 1975 but helped the side win promotion back to the Second Division at the first attempt, scoring 10 goals during the season.
Dwyer remained a mainstay of the side for more than a decade, becoming known by the nickname "Joe" due to his perceived resemblance to Joe Royle. He was nearly released by manager Len Ashurst in 1982 following a serious knee injury. He returned to the first team, winning promotion in the 1982–83 season and was ever present during the 1983–84 campaign.
He set a new club record for Football League appearances the following year, overtaking Tom Farquharson's long standing record. Dwyer left the club in 1985 after falling out with manager Alan Durban. He made 575 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring 51 times during a 13-year spell. He made his international debut for Wales in April 1978 and gained ten caps over the following year, scoring twice. He won his last cap in October 1979.
He finished his playing career with a brief loan spell at Fourth Division side Rochdale where he made 15 appearances, scoring once. He retired from playing in 1985 and joined the South Wales Police. He served with the force for 15 years before resigning after an incident of drink-driving. He later became a freelance legal representative.
- ^ "Phil Dwyer". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ Rollin, Jack, ed. (1980). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1980–81. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 114. ISBN 0362020175.