David Sidney "Dai" Nicholas (12 August 1897 – 7 April 1982) was a Welsh footballer who played in the English Football League for Merthyr Town, Swansea Town and Stoke.[1]

Dai Nicholas
Personal information
Full name David Sidney Nicholas[1]
Date of birth (1897-08-12)12 August 1897
Place of birth Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales[1]
Date of death 7 April 1982(1982-04-07) (aged 84)[1]
Place of death Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales[1]
Position(s) Winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1919 Merthyr Town
1919–1920 Swansea Town
1920–1921 Merthyr Town 46 (2)
1921–1924 Stoke 54 (3)
1924 Aberavon Athletic
1924–1929 Swansea Town 151 (14)
Total 251 (19)
International career
1921–1927 Wales 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Nicholas was capped by Wales at schoolboy level in 1912 and he was given trials by Merthyr Town but due to World War I he was recruited by the Royal Navy.[1] Towards the end of the war he played several games as an amateur for Swansea before turning professional with Merthyr, only to enter the Carmarthen Training college to begin training as a teacher.[1] In 1921 he joined Stoke and was a 'speedy winger' who performed well on the wing for Stoke before becoming homesick in 1924.[1] He moved back to Swansea Town and also became a teacher in his native Aberdare.[1]

Career statistics

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Club

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Source:[2]

Club Season League FA Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Merthyr Town 1920–21 Third Division South 17 1 3 0 20 1
1921–22 Third Division South 29 1 3 0 32 1
Total 46 2 6 0 52 2
Stoke 1921–22 Second Division 6 0 0 0 6 0
1922–23 First Division 32 3 2 1 34 4
1923–24 Second Division 9 0 1 0 10 0
1924–25 Second Division 7 0 0 0 7 0
Total 54 3 3 1 57 4
Swansea Town 1924–25 Third Division South 19 2 0 0 19 2
1925–26 Second Division 25 4 7 2 32 6
1926–27 Second Division 34 2 5 0 39 2
1927–28 Second Division 37 2 1 0 38 2
1928–29 Second Division 31 2 2 0 33 2
1929–30 Second Division 5 2 0 0 5 2
Total 151 14 15 2 166 16
Career Total 251 19 24 3 275 22

International

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Source:[3]

National team Year Apps Goals
Wales 1923 1 0
1927 2 0
Total 3 0

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. ^ Dai Nicholas at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  3. ^ Nicholas, Dai at National-Football-Teams.com