George Dewis Explained

George Dewis
Fullname:George Renger Dewis
Birth Date:22 January 1913[1]
Birth Place:Burbage, England
Death Place:Hinckley, England
Position:Centre forward
Youthclubs1:Stoke Golding
Years1:1933
Years2:1933–1950
Clubs1:Nuneaton Town
Clubs2:Leicester City
Years3:1941–1942
Clubs3:Chesterfield (guest)
Years4:1943–1944
Clubs4:Leeds United (guest)
Years5:1944–1945
Clubs5:Sheffield United (guest)
Years6:1945–1946
Clubs6:Bury Town (guest)
Years7:1945–1946
Clubs7:Yeovil & Petters (guest)
Years8:1950–1951
Caps2:116
Goals2:45

George Renger Dewis (22 January 1913 – 23 October 1994) was an English footballer who played as a centre forward in The Football League between the 1930s and 1950s. Born in Burbage, Leicestershire, he spent the majority of his career with Leicester City, whom he returned to once he retired from playing, becoming part of the coaching staff. Dewis also spent a brief time at Yeovil Town and appeared as a guest player for a number of clubs during World War II.

Career

After playing as a junior for the Stoke Golding village side, Dewis was playing for Nuneaton Town when he was spotted by First Division side Leicester City in 1933.[2] Dewis made his league debut for Leicester on 9 December 1933 in a home fixture against West Bromwich Albion,[3] and remained a mainstay of the club until 1950, scoring 45 goals in 116 league games. The club experienced mixed fortunes during the 1930s and suffered relegation but in 1938–39 Dewis was Leicester's top scorer.

Dewis lost much of his career to the Second World War, spending time in the army while playing for Leicester in the wartime football leagues, as well as guesting for Chesterfield, Leeds United, Sheffield United, Bury Town and Yeovil & Petters.[4]

Following the war Dewis resumed league football with Leicester, and was again their top scorer during the 1946–47 season. In April 1947 he hit a hat-trick for City in a Second Division game against Millwall, which was City's first ever home game against Millwall.[5] With his best years now behind him, Dewis moved to Yeovil Town, for whom he had previously guested during the war, in the summer of 1950, but stayed only one season before retiring.

Following his retirement, Dewis became part of the coaching staff at his former club, Leicester City, initially as a coach, then as a trainer for the youth and reserve teams before finally becoming the club's kit man, a post he held until 1983. During his time as a coach, Dewis played a key role in the rise to prominence of Peter Shilton at the club.[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham. Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. 2008. 38. 978-1-874718-69-7.
  2. Book: Joyce, Michael. Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Soccerdata. 2004. 978-1-899468-67-6.
  3. Web site: George Dewis. Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database. Neil Brown. 21 October 2011.
  4. Web site: Yeovil programmes 1945-6. Ciderspace. 9 March 2014.
  5. Web site: Head to Head: Millwall . Leicester City F.C. . 28 March 2011 . 12 September 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120315150917/http://www.lcfc.com/page/LatestNews/0%2C%2C10274~1390267%2C00.html . 15 March 2012 .
  6. Web site: Peter Shilton: The Autobiography - book extract. Amazon. 9 March 2014.