Derek Tapscott
Encyclopedia
Derek Robert Tapscott was a Welsh
former professional footballer and Wales
international.
, to Florence and Stanley, Tapscott was one of sixteen children. As a child he began attending High Street Junior School in August 1936 where he remained until leaving school at the age of 14. Having left school, he worked as a delivery boy for a local butcher and later an assistant to a television repairman before becoming an apprentice bricklayer
at the age of 16.
In October 1950, he was called up for his national service
, joining 4 Training Regiment of the Royal Engineers
. Despite this, Tapscott was regularly granted permission to return to South Wales on match weekends to play for Barry Town
. Within three months of his conscription, he became a member of the drill staff and was later promoted to Corporal. During his national service, Tapscott served alongside his future Arsenal
team mate Jim Fotheringham
.
as a youth whilst continuing his work as a bricklayer, before being signed by Tom Whittaker
for Arsenal
for £4,000 in October 1953, Having previously spent time on trial at their North London
rivals Tottenham Hotspur
. After a prolific run in the reserves, scoring thirteen goals in fifteen matches in the London Combination League, he made his first-team debut against Liverpool
on 10 April 1954 and scored twice. Tapscott went on to score five more goals in as many matches that season.
The young Welsh inside forward
became a regular the following season (1954-55
), missing only five matches, and despite not being the centre forward was the club's top goalscorer in both 1955-56
and 1956-57
with 21 and 27 goals respectively. His form for Arsenal resulted in him being named in a London XI
side to play a Basel
XI in May 1956 in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
.
An injury sustained in the 1957-58
playing for Wales put Tapscott out of the Arsenal first team, and he struggled to oust his replacement Vic Groves
once he returned to fitness. He left Arsenal in September 1958, moving to Cardiff City, having rejected a move to the club earlier in the season. In all he scored 68 goals in 132 matches for Arsenal.
for a fee of £10,000, Tapscott made his debut in a 4–1 win over Grimsby Town
. The team, managed by his former Barry Town manager Bill Jones, won promotion back to the First Division
in 1960 with Tapscott forming an effective partnership with his former Arsenal team mate Brian Walsh
. Tapscott still holds the club record for most goals scored in a single game with six scored during a 16-0 win over Knighton Town
in the Welsh Cup
.
Tapscott was also part of the Cardiff side that played in the club's first ever European competition when they reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
, including scoring the winning goal against Sporting Clube de Portugal in the second round. He played his final game for Cardiff on 6 February 1965 in a 2–0 defeat to Northampton Town
as injury kept him out of the side for the remainder of the 1964–65 season and at the end of the season he was released.
n side Addington and a player-manager role at Sligo Rovers
but, not wanting to move away from his Cardiff
home, he signed for Division Four
side Newport County
. However he appeared just 15 times for the club, scoring one goal during a 3–1 win over Bradford City
on 7 March 1966, before leaving at the end of the 1965–66 season. He later moved into non-league football with spells at Cinderford Town
, Haverfordwest County and Carmarthen Town before retiring in 1970.
squad for a match with Austria
. On 9 May 1954 Tapscott made his Wales debut in a 2–0 defeat to Austria in Vienna
. Including his debut, Tapscott played in nine consecutive matches between 1954 and 1956, scoring his first international goal during a 2–1 win over England
on 22 October 1955. However, Tapscott did not go to Sweden
for the tournament itself, reportedly after refusing to sign for Cardiff City
. He was recalled to the Wales squad after the world cup as part of the squad for the 1959 British Home Championship
, scoring in the final two matches of the competition in matches against England and Northern Ireland
. In total, Tapscott won 14 caps for his country, scoring four goals.
and Diadora
until his retirement in 1997, and wrote his autobiography
, entitled Tappy.
He died on 12 June 2008, leaving his wife Glenys, two daughters and three grandchildren.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
former professional footballer and Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
international.
Early life
Born in BarryBarry, Wales
Barry is a town and community in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales. Located along the northern coast of the Bristol Channel less than south-southwest of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, Barry is a seaside resort, with attractions including several beaches and the Barry Island Pleasure Park...
, to Florence and Stanley, Tapscott was one of sixteen children. As a child he began attending High Street Junior School in August 1936 where he remained until leaving school at the age of 14. Having left school, he worked as a delivery boy for a local butcher and later an assistant to a television repairman before becoming an apprentice bricklayer
Bricklayer
A bricklayer or mason is a craftsman who lays bricks to construct brickwork. The term also refers to personnel who use blocks to construct blockwork walls and other forms of masonry. In British and Australian English, a bricklayer is colloquially known as a "brickie".The training of a trade in...
at the age of 16.
In October 1950, he was called up for his national service
Conscription in the United Kingdom
Conscription in the United Kingdom has existed for two periods in modern times. The first was from 1916 to 1919, the second was from 1939 to 1960, with the last conscripted soldiers leaving the service in 1963...
, joining 4 Training Regiment of the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
. Despite this, Tapscott was regularly granted permission to return to South Wales on match weekends to play for Barry Town
Barry Town F.C.
Barry Town FC are a football team based in Barry. They dominated the League of Wales during the 1990s, but finished bottom in 2003-04 and were relegated...
. Within three months of his conscription, he became a member of the drill staff and was later promoted to Corporal. During his national service, Tapscott served alongside his future Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
team mate Jim Fotheringham
Jim Fotheringham
James Gibb Fotheringham was a Scottish football defender.Fotheringham was a product of the Arsenal youth system and at 6'4" looked to be an imposing centre back. However, Fotheringham managed only a few runs in the first team and never really convinced before joining Heart of Midlothian for...
.
Arsenal
Tapscott played for Barry TownBarry Town F.C.
Barry Town FC are a football team based in Barry. They dominated the League of Wales during the 1990s, but finished bottom in 2003-04 and were relegated...
as a youth whilst continuing his work as a bricklayer, before being signed by Tom Whittaker
Tom Whittaker (footballer)
Thomas James "Tom" Whittaker MBE was an English football player, trainer and manager, chiefly associated with Arsenal Football Club...
for Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
for £4,000 in October 1953, Having previously spent time on trial at their North London
North London derby
The North London derby is the name of the football local derby between the two major teams in North London – Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.-History:...
rivals Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
. After a prolific run in the reserves, scoring thirteen goals in fifteen matches in the London Combination League, he made his first-team debut against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
on 10 April 1954 and scored twice. Tapscott went on to score five more goals in as many matches that season.
The young Welsh inside forward
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
became a regular the following season (1954-55
1954-55 in English football
The 1954–1955 season was the 75th season of competitive football in England, from August 1954 to May 1955:-Overview:* Chelsea win the League Championship for the first time.* Newcastle United win the FA Cup....
), missing only five matches, and despite not being the centre forward was the club's top goalscorer in both 1955-56
1955-56 in English football
The 1955–56 season was the 76th season of competitive football in England. The First Division was won by Manchester United, the fourth time they had won that particular accolade.-Awards:Football Writers' Association...
and 1956-57
1956-57 in English football
The 1956–57 season was the 77th season of competitive football in England.Manchester United won the First Division to become English football champions for the fifth time. Tottenham Hotspur were runners-up. In the Second Division it was Leicester City who finished in top spot, ahead of East...
with 21 and 27 goals respectively. His form for Arsenal resulted in him being named in a London XI
London XI
The London XI was an association football representative team, specially created to take part in the 1955-58 edition of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the precursor of today's UEFA Europa League although not recognized by UEFA....
side to play a Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
XI in May 1956 in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was a European football competition played between 1955 and 1971. The competition was the idea of Swiss pools supremo Ernst Thommen, Ottorino Barassi from Italy, and the English Football Association general secretary Stanley Rous, all of whom later became senior officials...
.
An injury sustained in the 1957-58
1957-58 in English football
The 1957–58 season was the 78th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:In this season, Sunderland was relegated for the first time in their history.This was the last season in which Division 3 was split, North and South...
playing for Wales put Tapscott out of the Arsenal first team, and he struggled to oust his replacement Vic Groves
Vic Groves
Victor George "Vic" Groves is an English former footballer.Born in Stepney, London, Groves started his career at east London non-league clubs Leytonstone and Walthamstow Avenue, and then briefly as an amateur for Tottenham Hotspur before signing professional forms with Leyton Orient in 1954...
once he returned to fitness. He left Arsenal in September 1958, moving to Cardiff City, having rejected a move to the club earlier in the season. In all he scored 68 goals in 132 matches for Arsenal.
Cardiff City
Joining the "Bluebirds"Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
for a fee of £10,000, Tapscott made his debut in a 4–1 win over Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
. The team, managed by his former Barry Town manager Bill Jones, won promotion back to the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in 1960 with Tapscott forming an effective partnership with his former Arsenal team mate Brian Walsh
Brian Walsh (footballer)
John Brian Walsh is an English former professional footballer.-Career:Walsh began his career playing non-league football before joining Arsenal as an amateur in March 1949 before signing professional for the club five months later. He played a handful of friendlies for Arsenal before being called...
. Tapscott still holds the club record for most goals scored in a single game with six scored during a 16-0 win over Knighton Town
Knighton Town F.C.
Knighton Town Football Club is a Welsh football club founded in 1887, currently playing in the Mid Wales South League...
in the Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
.
Tapscott was also part of the Cardiff side that played in the club's first ever European competition when they reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
, including scoring the winning goal against Sporting Clube de Portugal in the second round. He played his final game for Cardiff on 6 February 1965 in a 2–0 defeat to Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
as injury kept him out of the side for the remainder of the 1964–65 season and at the end of the season he was released.
Later career
Following his release, Tapscott received offers from South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n side Addington and a player-manager role at Sligo Rovers
Sligo Rovers F.C.
Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at...
but, not wanting to move away from his Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
home, he signed for Division Four
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
side Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
. However he appeared just 15 times for the club, scoring one goal during a 3–1 win over Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
on 7 March 1966, before leaving at the end of the 1965–66 season. He later moved into non-league football with spells at Cinderford Town
Cinderford Town F.C.
Cinderford Town A.F.C. are a football club based in Cinderford in Gloucestershire, England. They were established in 1922 and joined the Western League in 1946. For the 2011-12 season, they are members of the Southern League Division One South and West...
, Haverfordwest County and Carmarthen Town before retiring in 1970.
International career
Having made just one appearance for the Arsenal first team, Tapscott was named in the WalesWales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
squad for a match with Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
. On 9 May 1954 Tapscott made his Wales debut in a 2–0 defeat to Austria in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. Including his debut, Tapscott played in nine consecutive matches between 1954 and 1956, scoring his first international goal during a 2–1 win over England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
on 22 October 1955. However, Tapscott did not go to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
for the tournament itself, reportedly after refusing to sign for Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
. He was recalled to the Wales squad after the world cup as part of the squad for the 1959 British Home Championship
1959 British Home Championship
The 1959 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations. It came the year after the notable failure of England and Scotland to impress at the 1958 FIFA World Cup, for which all four nations qualified for the only time...
, scoring in the final two matches of the competition in matches against England and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
. In total, Tapscott won 14 caps for his country, scoring four goals.
International goals
- Results list Wales' goal tally first.
Goal Date Venue Opponent Result Competition 1. 22 October 1955 Ninian Park Ninian ParkNinian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
, CardiffCardiffCardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, WalesWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
2–1 1956 British Home Championship 1956 British Home ChampionshipThe 1956 British Home Championship was a football tournament played during the 1955–56 season between the British Home Nations. It was the only occasion during the hundred year run of the Home Championship in which all four teams finished level on points...2. 23 November 1955 Racecourse Ground Racecourse GroundThe Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League...
, WrexhamWrexhamWrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
, WalesWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
1–2 Friendly 3. 26 November 1958 Villa Park, Birmingham BirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
2–2 1959 British Home Championship 1959 British Home ChampionshipThe 1959 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations. It came the year after the notable failure of England and Scotland to impress at the 1958 FIFA World Cup, for which all four nations qualified for the only time...4. 22 April 1959 Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Wales 1–4 1959 British Home Championship
After football
After retiring from playing he moved into business, working in the sporting goods trade for GolaGola
Gola may refer to:Groups and tribes:*Gola , in Balochistan, Pakistan*Gola people, a tribal people and language in Liberia*Gola , native to south-east Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Western Uttar Pradesh regions of IndiaPlace names:...
and Diadora
Diadora
Diadora is an Italian football, tennis, running, cycling, rugby, athletic shoe, clothing, and fashion accessory manufacturer with locations in Italy, the United States, and Hong Kong.-History:...
until his retirement in 1997, and wrote his autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, entitled Tappy.
He died on 12 June 2008, leaving his wife Glenys, two daughters and three grandchildren.