Dan Lewis (footballer)
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Daniel Lewis | ||
Date of birth | 11 December 1902 | ||
Place of birth | Maerdy, Rhondda, Wales | ||
Date of death | 1965 (aged 62–63) | ||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Youth career | |||
Maerdy | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
–1924 | Clapton Orient | ||
1924–1931 | Arsenal | 142 | (0) |
1931–1932 | Gillingham | 6 | (0) |
International career | |||
1927–1929 | Wales | 3 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Daniel Lewis (11 December 1902 – 1965) was a Welsh
Playing career
Born in Maerdy, Glamorgan, Lewis first played for local clubs, before moving to London and joining Clapton Orient. He also worked as a coal miner.[2] His move to the big time came in 1924 when he joined First Division Arsenal. He made his debut for the Gunners on 15 November 1924 against Everton; Arsenal won 3–2 and Lewis remained for the next thirteen games. However, after letting in five in a match at home to Huddersfield Town on 14 February 1925, Lewis was dropped.[3]
After Herbert Chapman arrived as Arsenal manager in 1925, Lewis shared goalkeeping duties with Jock Robson and Bill Harper, but Lewis gradually became the club's No. 1, particularly after Robson and Harper left in 1926 and 1927 respectively.[2] He won his first cap for Wales in a 3–3 draw against England on 12 February 1927. In all he won three caps, the last of which was a 6–0 defeat by England at Stamford Bridge on 20 November 1929.[4]
Lewis was the Arsenal goalkeeper in the
Lewis continued to play as Arsenal's regular goalkeeper for the next three seasons. However, when they reached Wembley for their second Cup final in 1930, Lewis was injured in Arsenal's 6-6 semifinal tie with Leicester City.[2] He missed the final and needed major surgery on his knee. He never fully recovered from this which effectively finished his football career. Arsenal, with Charlie Preedy in goal, beat Huddersfield 2–0 to claim their first major trophy.
Lewis hardly featured at all the following season, particularly after the signings of Bill Harper (for a second spell on a goalkeeper record fee of £4000) and
Lewis played only six times for Gillingham and apparently retired from professional football soon after. He died in 1965, at the age of 62.[4]
Honours
Arsenal
- 1926–27
References
- ^ Achates (25 August 1924). "Ready for action: few changes in the First Division of the League. Arsenal". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
- ^ a b c "Dan Lewis". Arsenal. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ ISBN 978-1899429035.
- ^ a b c Attwood, Tony (14 February 2013). "Daniel Lewis: The Goalkeeper Who Lasted from Knighton to Chapman". Woolwich Arsenal. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ Woodward, Hamish (9 June 2021). "Dan Lewis and The FA Cup Final that started a New Tradition at Arsenal". Atletifo Sports. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ Andrews, Neil. "Getting Shirty". Goalkeepers Are Different. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023.
External links
- BBC Wales on Air - 1927 FA Cup Final, with video footage of Lewis's error.