:David Powell (footballer, born 1944)

{{other people|David Powell|David Powell (disambiguation){{!}}David Powell}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = David Powell

| image =

| caption =

| full_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1944|10|15|df=y}}

| birth_place = Dolgarrog, Wales

| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|12|04|1944|10|15|df=y}}

| death_place = Cardiff, Wales

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}

| position = Defender

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Gwydir Rovers

| years1 = 1963–1968

| clubs1 = Wrexham

| caps1 = 134

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 1968–1972

| clubs2 = Sheffield United

| caps2 = 89

| goals2 = 2

| years3 = 1972–1974

| clubs3 = Cardiff City

| caps3 = 36

| goals3 = 1

| totalcaps = 259

| totalgoals = 3

| nationalyears1 = 1966–1968

| nationalteam1 = Wales U23

| nationalcaps1 = 4

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 1968–1972

| nationalteam2 = Wales

| nationalcaps2 = 11

| nationalgoals2 = 1

|medaltemplates = {{medalTeam|Wrexham}}

}}

David Powell (15 October 1944 – 4 December 2023) was a Welsh professional footballer who played as a defender. He played for Wrexham, Sheffield United and Cardiff City before being forced to retire through injury. He also represented Wales at full international level, winning eleven caps.

Club career

Powell was born in Dolgarrog. Having played with local side Gwydir Rovers as a youth, he was taken on as an apprentice by Wrexham in January 1962 where he worked as a member of the ground staff.{{cite book |author=Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham |title=Sheffield United Who's Who |publisher=Hallamshire Press |year=2008|page=260 |isbn=978-1-874718-69-7}} By May 1968 he had graduated to the first team and was handed his first professional contract, going on to make 134 appearances for the Welsh club.

Powell was signed by Sheffield United in September 1968 for a fee of £28,500. He became a regular in United's defence for the following three seasons, being voted the club's Player of the Year in 1969,{{cite book|title=Sheffield United: The Complete Record|author=Denis Clarebrough and Andrew Kirkham|page=534|publisher=Derby Books Publishing Company Limited|year=2012|isbn=978-1-78091-019-2}} and was an integral part of the side that gained promotion to the English top-flight in 1971. Unfortunately for Powell he badly injured his knee during a game at Queens Park Rangers towards the end of that season and remained sidelined for over a year.

Powell was eventually released by United in September 1972 to allow him to return to Wales and join Cardiff City. He played for a further two seasons, making 36 league appearances for the Bluebirds before retiring through injury.{{cite web|url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/davepowell.html|title=Dave Powell|publisher=Neil Brown|accessdate=12 November 2012}} The highlights of his City career came as the side won the 1973 Welsh Cup and subsequently gained entry into the European Cup Winners' Cup where they lost out to Ferencvaros.{{cite web|url=http://www.penmon.org/page34.htm|title=Dave Powell – Dolgarrog|publisher=Penmon|accessdate=10 November 2012}}

International career

Powell made his debut for Wales U23's in October 1966, in an 8–0 loss to England.{{cite web|url=http://www.11v11.com/players/dave-powell-23129/|title=Dave Powell|publisher=11v11.com|accessdate=10 November 2012}} After a further three appearances for the U23s he graduated to the full senior squad and gained his first cap on 8 May 1968 in a 1–1 draw with West Germany. Powell played eleven games for Wales in total, scoring once in October 1969 during a 1–3 loss to East Germany.

Personal life and death

Following his retirement from football, Powell took a job with the South Wales Police, working at their training centre in Bridgend and coaching their football team. Following his retirement from the police Powell settled in the Cardiff area. He died there on 4 December 2023, at the age of 79.{{cite news |title=David Powell |url=https://funeral-notices.co.uk/notice/powell/5161910 |access-date=14 February 2024 |publisher=Funeral Notices |date=14 December 2023}}

Career statistics

:Scores and results list Wales' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Powell goal.

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of international goals scored by David Powell
scope="col"\|No. !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Venue !scope="col"\|Opponent !scope="col"\|Score !scope="col"\|Result !scope="col"\|Competition
style="text-align:center"\|1	22 October 1969{{cite web\|url=http://www.11v11.com/matches/wales-v-east-germany-22-october-1969-230776/\|title=Wales v East Germany, 22 October 1969\|publisher=11v11.com\|accessdate=10 November 2012}}	Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales	{{fb\|GDR}}	style="text-align:center"\|1–3	style="text-align:center"\|1–3	1970 World Cup qualification

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by David Powell

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

style="text-align:center"|1

22 October 1969{{cite web|url=http://www.11v11.com/matches/wales-v-east-germany-22-october-1969-230776/|title=Wales v East Germany, 22 October 1969|publisher=11v11.com|accessdate=10 November 2012}}

Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales

style="text-align:center"|1–3

1970 World Cup qualification