Phil Dwyer Autobiography

Last year I was privileged to be asked to write Phil Dwyers autobiography. The book is almost finished now and will be out in September/October. I'm just tying up a few loose ends to make sure we havent missed anything so Im asking all City fans what are their favourite memories of Phil and do they have any stories about him ? Fire away lads!

I was at Ninian park in 77 when he played centre forward for Wales v England ............ altho we lost 1 - 3 I was so proud that day when Joe scored Wales's goal at the Canton End . As a kid growing up I used to copy his style of tackling on the football pitch and thanks to Joe I had many cuts n bruises to show BUT always won the ball and always came of better than the other guy

I was at Ninian park in 77 when he played centre forward for Wales v England ............ altho we lost 1 - 3 I was so proud that day when Joe scored Wales's goal at the Canton End . As a kid growing up I used to copy his style of tackling on the football pitch and thanks to Joe I had many cuts n bruises to show BUT always won the ball and always came of better than the other guy

ha ha ha thanks mate! I just finished writing about that game. Phil said going down Sloper Road on the team coach he saw a banner saying "Dwyer the Dragon" and he had to look away as it brought tears to his eyes!

It was great day , City's centre half playing centre forward for Wales then scores against England and Peter Shilton ! Always remember watching MOTD that night and remember Barrie Davies saying " the local boy has done it " after the goal !

When the ball hit the net he turned to Peter Shilton and said "Don't worry Shilts, the net will save it" ha ha

I like another story about Joe against England - this time at Wembley in 1989 (I think).

I was at the game and Joe was marking then top player Kevin Keegan. There was a long ball over the top and Joe simply out muscled Keegan and then dribbled the ball up to the centre circle where he sent a 50 yard pass straight into touch.

Lawrie Mcmenemy was the expert covering the highlights for the BBC that evening and his quote on this 'highlight' (during the drab 0-0 game) was:

'As you know Dwyer has played for a long time at a struggling club and in the game we call that type of pass the "Relegation Boot"

Cheeky b*stard!

Last year I was privileged to be asked to write Phil Dwyers autobiography. The book is almost finished now and will be out in September/October. I'm just tying up a few loose ends to make sure we havent missed anything so Im asking all City fans what are their favourite memories of Phil and do they have any stories about him ? Fire away lads!

That sounds like it will be a great read, I look forward to its release

always see him in the a pub and should "bluebirds" and always turns with a smile and hand up, seeems like a top fella

I like another story about Joe against England - this time at Wembley in 1989 (I think).

I was at the game and Joe was marking then top player Kevin Keegan. There was a long ball over the top and Joe simply out muscled Keegan and then dribbled the ball up to the centre circle where he sent a 50 yard pass straight into touch.

Lawrie Mcmenemy was the expert covering the highlights for the BBC that evening and his quote on this 'highlight' (during the drab 0-0 game) was:

'As you know Dwyer has played for a long time at a struggling club and in the game we call that type of pass the "Relegation Boot"

Cheeky b*stard!

ha ha ha brilliant!!!!! i'll ask him about it! keep them coming, this sort of stuff is invaluable!

Dwyer was one of my favourite players along with John Buchanan. He could play anywhere in defence or up front he was our own version of John Charles!

My favourite memory of him was when he got sent off against Shrewsbury at home in 1981 by Brian Stevens, I was just making my way into the old family enclosure with my old man when he wacked Ian Atkins and was promptly sent off....this was after 3 minutes!!. 20 minutes later he was sitting in the dug out in his tracksuit & dunlop green flash trainers.

He was a proper city hard man and a legend to boot

Dwyer was one of my favourite players along with John Buchanan. He could play anywhere in defence or up front he was our own version of John Charles!

My favourite memory of him was when he got sent off against Shrewsbury at home in 1981 by Brian Stevens, I was just making my way into the old family enclosure with my old man when he wacked Ian Atkins and was promptly sent off....this was after 3 minutes!!. 20 minutes later he was sitting in the dug out in his tracksuit & dunlop green flash trainers.

He was a proper city hard man and a legend to boot

You cant remember if that was a 2.2 draw with Shrewsbury in April 1981 can you by any chance?

It was Shrewsbury I mised the incident , just saw the guy on the deck before Joe was called to the ref then sent off !

Pompey away 82/83 season, Joey was outstanding against Billy Rafferty & Alan Biley.

Great memory as a 12 year old went to game with my dad and his mates remember Joey having an outstanding game against Billy Rafferty & Alan Biley, buzzing sight as he turned to City ffans on final whistle and smashed his fist in the air with delight & passion at gaining a battling point against our promotion rivals.
Joey is a legend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another story my dad mentioned City v Leicester (he thinks) and someone smashed our striker Gary Stevens from behind Joey walks up turns the opposing player around to look at the number on shirt.
Play carries on and 5 minutes later the said opposing player is sprwaled on the deck Joey has clobbered him off the ball quality!!!.

Dwyer was one of my favourite players along with John Buchanan. He could play anywhere in defence or up front he was our own version of John Charles!

My favourite memory of him was when he got sent off against Shrewsbury at home in 1981 by Brian Stevens, I was just making my way into the old family enclosure with my old man when he wacked Ian Atkins and was promptly sent off....this was after 3 minutes!!. 20 minutes later he was sitting in the dug out in his tracksuit & dunlop green flash trainers.

He was a proper city hard man and a legend to boot

You cant remember if that was a 2.2 draw with Shrewsbury in April 1981 can you by any chance?

October 1981 we drew 1-1 Gary Basil Stevens scored the goal for us and Tim Gilbert popped up with an own goal for them!

Ive asked Phil about the Shrewsbury and Leicester game and both stories will be in the book! Thanks guys, you've been really helpful! If anyone else has got any more tails please let me know!

I got told by an ex player that when Phil was playing for Wales at the same time as Leighton James , then came the local derby and Leights and Phil was on opposite sides obviously. At the first chance Phil cut Leights in half and he was withering around on the floor then looked up at Phil and said i thought we were team mates !! Phil replied not today we f*cking aint. LEGEND !!!

I was just talking to my father - Allan Couch, who played for City during the late 60's & early 70's and I just called him to ask for any stories on Phil. He played with Phil in the Cardiff City youth team that reached the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup and with the Welsh youth.

My father remembers Phil Dwyer's Cardiff City debut in 1972 away at Leyton Orient, and that game my father was on the bench for City and was sat right next to Jimmy Scholar. There was a passage of play during that game when there was a crunching 50-50 challenge close to the dugout area and my father remembers Jimmy saying to him before the challenge "There's only one winner here boy"......!! And indeed Phil won it no problem.....

I was just talking to my father - Allan Couch, who played for City during the late 60's & early 70's and I just called him to ask for any stories on Phil. He played with Phil in the Cardiff City youth team that reached the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup and with the Welsh youth.

My father remembers Phil Dwyer's Cardiff City debut in 1972 away at Leyton Orient, and that game my father was on the bench for City and was sat right next to Jimmy Scholar. There was a passage of play during that game when there was a crunching 50-50 challenge close to the dugout area and my father remembers Jimmy saying to him before the challenge "There's only one winner here boy"......!! And indeed Phil won it no problem.....

I was just talking to my father - Allan Couch, who played for City during the late 60's & early 70's and I just called him to ask for any stories on Phil. He played with Phil in the Cardiff City youth team that reached the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup and with the Welsh youth.

My father remembers Phil Dwyer's Cardiff City debut in 1972 away at Leyton Orient, and that game my father was on the bench for City and was sat right next to Jimmy Scholar. There was a passage of play during that game when there was a crunching 50-50 challenge close to the dugout area and my father remembers Jimmy saying to him before the challenge "There's only one winner here boy"......!! And indeed Phil won it no problem.....

Brilliant!! Your dad is alreay mentioned in the book

If my memory is correct didn't Joe at a Jack game at the Vetch turn to us city fans thumping his fist into his hand and pointing over to the Jacks in the North bank?

Two memories of Joe for me that stick out !

We were playing Crystal Palace in the early 80's at Ninian, Phil was marking his old team mate Andy McCulloch (my first City hero), they had been at it all game, when McCulloch tried to go past Dwyer towards the Grange end on the Bob bank side, Joe hit McCulloch so hard in the tackle, he landed on the red gravell running around the outside of the pitch.

Second one was Newport County home I believe 82/83 season, a melee ensued outside the cardiff penalty area with a few players tussling for the ball, the referee blew his whistle and up off the floor ran Joe, with the ball tucked under his arm like a blindside flanker !

Two memories of Joe for me that stick out !

We were playing Crystal Palace in the early 80's at Ninian, Phil was marking his old team mate Andy McCulloch (my first City hero), they had been at it all game, when McCulloch tried to go past Dwyer towards the Grange end on the Bob bank side, Joe hit McCulloch so hard in the tackle, he landed on the red gravell running around the outside of the pitch.

Second one was Newport County home I believe 82/83 season, a melee ensued outside the cardiff penalty area with a few players tussling for the ball, the referee blew his whistle and up off the floor ran Joe, with the ball tucked under his arm like a blindside flanker !

Another story that was second hand is that Joe was always getting injured in training and one day his wife turned up and had a

go at the players for being too rough with him !

This came from a mate who was there, he was a YTS at the time !

remember tarki saying he was playing in one game when there cb gave him a dig in the ribs and phil saw it,he had a word in his ear [ do that again and i will break your legs] lets say tarki didnt see him for the rest of the game !