George Edwards

George, who’s parents owned the Kilgetty Stores in the village (now the Spar), began his footballing career at Kilgetty AFC and whilst he went on to play for Swansea Town, Coventry City, Birmingham City and Cardiff City, he never lost his passion for his village team, often travelling back from Birmingham to get a game for Kilgetty, whenever City didn’t have a fixture – something that would be unheard of in the modern game.

George’s talents as a youngster did not go un-noticed, and whilst studying at University in Swansea, he was soon picked up by Swansea Town, which lead to him winning his first cap as a Welsh Amateur International before the Second World War broke out. During the 1939-45 War he was stationed in the Midlands with the R.A.F. and played for Coventry City as an amateur.

At the end of the War the Coventry manager Harry Storer joined Birmingham City and signed George as a professional, George gaining a place at Birmingham University to continue his studies. He later went on to join Cardiff City in December 1948 for a then-substantial fee of £12,000, by which time he was a full Wales International.

George was with Cardiff for the rest of his playing career, until the end of 1954/55 when he retired at the age of 35, having played in the 1951/52 side that gained promotion to the top level (the original First Division). He won twelve senior peacetime caps for Wales, and made 222 League and Cup appearances for Cardiff, scoring 46 goals.

A University graduate who gained his B.A. and then his M.A. degree whilst still a player, he went into the oil retail industry towards the end of his career, working for Mobil Oil in South Wales and the West. The managing-director of that company was John Gridley who was the son-in-law of Cardiff City Chairman Sir Herbert Merrett. George’s thesis on the Pembrokeshire coalfield had impressed Sir Herbert who was a major coal-exporter in South Wales, and the Chairman was keen to have George involved in business after his playing-career.

George was also a football columnist with the now-defunct Sunday newspaper Wales Empire News after his playing-days, and also reported on Cardiff City matches for the BBC (radio and television) in their mid-1950s regional reports on Saturday evenings.

In May 1957 George was invited by Sir Herbert Merrett to join the Cardiff City Board, and he served as a director from 1957 until 1976, and then again from December 1981 until June 1986. He always maintained a close interest in the game, particularly in Cardiff, Birmingham City, and of course Kilgetty Football Club. He had a remarkable memory for matches and players that he had been involved with.

He was also a Cardiff magistrate for many years, was a member of the Sports Council of Wales, and often sat on tribunals for the Football Association of Wales.

George passed away in Cardiff in October 2008 at the age of 87,  pre-deceased his wife Pat, who had been a great support to him throughout his career in the game as player and director, having died just two years previous.

George and Pat regularly attended end of season functions at Kilgetty, with George still able to captivate the room with his after-dinner speaking.

George Edwards, a true Kilgetty boy.