Earlier this year the Trust embarked on a new project to help recognise the achievements of our former players who represented both Swansea Town and Wales during their playing careers.
The Trust Heritage group decided to launch the initiative by seeking the approval of Open Reach to paint their equipment box on Cwm Level Road, Plasmarl with images of brothers Ivor and Len Allchurch.
Ivor, who was the eldest of the two brothers was born on the 16 October 1929, with Len following on 12 September 1933. From a large family of seven siblings and a step brother, they learned their football on the streets and playgrounds of Plasmarl and on the pitches of Cwm Level Park.
Note: For a more detailed background article on the Allchurch brothers please see the attached article “The Allchurches” that local author and Trust Ambassador David Brayley has written that will be added to our www.swanstrust.co.uk website for future reference
After conversations with the families including that of Ivor’s widow Esme and her son David suitable images were sourced, final designs approved and the box has now been painted and officially unveiled in a small ceremony earlier today as can be seen from the pictures below and the following BBC Wales and S4C Heno features:
Allchurch brothers mural unveiled in Swansea – BBC Sport
Heno – Tue, 22 Oct 2024 – BBC iPlayer
We are grateful to the families of Ivor and Len for their help and support and also to local councillors Mike White and Beverly Hopkins for allowing the work to be undertaken and also for arranging a donation towards its costs.
Also our thanks go to the Club and the Former Players Association Committee for attending and then allowing everyone to return to the Swansea.com stadium for tea and welsh cakes.
Following positive feedback from local residents and supporters and how well this painted box on Cwm Level Road has been generally received there are now plans to roll this project out onto similar equipment boxes around Swansea to recognise other former players who have a link to that area.
Subject to the necessary approval of the communication companies who own the proposed boxes the Swansea born international players earmarked to the recognised in the same manner are:
- Trevor Ford
- Cliff Jones & Terry Medwin (the Sandfields Boys)
- Harry Griffiths
- The Alice St Boys
- Mel Nurse
- Herbie Williams
The locations of these boxes have already been chosen and they are close to where the players grew up, went to school or have another significant link to the player(s).
Once again, we’ll ensure that the families of the above players are part of the final design(s) before the work on any equipment box begins. We are also extremely grateful to Swansea City Football Club and the Former Players Association for agreeing to support us in this next phase of the project.
As soon as these boxes are painted and officially unveiled, we’ll issue further updates to include their locations so that supporters can see the completed boxes for themselves.
If anyone would like to get involved or learn more about this initiative, please email us at supporters@swanstrust.co.uk
Swansea City Supporters’ Trust
21st October 2024
