I think it's a toss up between Alan Tate and Ashley Williams for the best use of hands in the penalty area...
Yep, Tony Millington was also my favourite - and also in goal around that time was Dillwyn John. As for Lenny Allchurch, I seem to recall that the chant/song went "We've got Little, Lenny, Lenny, Lenny Allchurch on the wing, on the wing. "We've got Little, Lenny, Lenny, Lenny Allchurch on the wing, on the wing" Lenny oh Lenny Allchurch. Lenny Allchurch on the wing." or something like that !
Talking of Lenny Allchurch here is a clip of the Swans v Sunderland in the FA Cup at the Vetch in 1955 with Len and Ivor playing. Ended up 2-2 - would we settle for a similar score this coming season? http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=38979
Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger Roger Roger Freestone ...... SWANS LEGEND. If only De Vries showed half the commitment to the cause that man did.
I'm another who remembers and appreciated Tony Millington, he was one of my all time favourites. In those days you could walk around from the North Bank over to the old East terrace which had railway sleepers to stand on and as a kid along with loads of other youngsters I would stand right behind him for one half and then watch from the North Bank for the rest of the game. What a character he was, always with a smile on his face he would often entertain us by swinging from the cross bar or doing handstands. We'd often offer him our sweets and if we ever had a penalty he would kneel down facing us by the post and pretend to pray giving us a wink as he did so. Apart from all that he was an excellent keeper and often would keep us in matches with some outstanding acrobatic saves. So sad that he's now wheelchair bound, would love the chance to meet him again and say thanks for some great memories.
For me it's Freestone and De Vries, both were class acts on and off the field and kept a great deal of clean sheets for us.
Johnny King was very good, yes I go back a few yrs. Then there was Roger Freestone the worst would have Dyer who lost us the fa cup semi final
Think the worst by a mile was Derek Belotti, truly awful keeper. Jason Jones was poor, Dai Davies was very overated and who should never been brought in to replace Dave Stewart. Remember someone brought in a pair of giant hands and stuck them in the goalmouth before one of his games... Best was probably Roger Freestone for his fantastic handling especially of crosses though his kick outs would often let him down landing out of play. Thought Geoff Crudgington and Jimmy Rimmer were also decent keepers whilst Mike Hughes was another who sadly had his career cut short by illness, met him a few years back in a Swans away game at Norwich where he was working for the prison service.
I knew there was one that I left out was Mike Hughes, such a pity he had a bright career ahead of him.
Talking to Mike at that game in Norwich by the way he said he didnt rate De Vries because of his poor command of the area and his inability to catch crosses...
He wasn't wrong there. If Dorus could commanded the box and catch a ball then I do feel he could make the Holland team.
