Mel Hopkins (7 November 1934 – 18 October 2010)Mel Hopkins obituary was a Welsh international footballer. He played at left back.
Club career
The son of a miner,Incredible journey - from Ystrad Boys Club to World Cup; The boys of '58 - Western Mail, June 20, 2002 he was signed by Tottenham Hotspur at the age of 15, when spotted playing for his local boy's club. He was taken on as an apprentice after just one trial. Mel Hopkins made his debut in January 1952Tottenham Hotspurs transfer history - topspurs.com and winning a League and FA Cup double in 1961. - The Argus, October 26, 2004Remembering the genius of Garrincha - BBC.co.uk, 20 January 2008 In 1959, he suffered a serious injury following a collision with Ian St John, smashing his nose and upper jaw, an injury which would keep him out of football for two years.
In total, Hopkins played 219 games for Spurs, before leaving Spurs for Brighton and Hove Albion in October 1964 for a transfer fee of £8,000. He scored 2 goals and played 58 games for Albion. A brief spell at Ballymena United in Northern Ireland 1967 was followed by a move to Bradford Park Avenue in January 1969, where he played 30 games, retiring in 1970.
International career
Hopkins played for his country between 1956 and 1963,Mel Hopkins statistics on RSSSF earning 34 caps including playing for the Wales squad for the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden, where they lost narrowly to Brazil in the quarter-finals.Pele broke my heart, Saint broke my nose - interview with Mel Hopkins, The Argus, 19 December 2001 - The Argus, 2 July 2001
In 2003, Hopkins was given a merit award by the Football Association of Wales.Hartson scoops Welsh FA award - ESPNsoccernet, October 6, 2003
References
Further reading
Ashley Drake Publishing - When Pele Broke Our Hearts