Footballer has the ammunition for book (From Barry And District News)

Footballer has the ammunition for book

A BARRY football legend has brought a book out about his rise from the town to play for the mighty Arsenal.

Derek Tapscott now lives in Cardiff but was at Barry Town in the 1950s. In the 1949-50 season he signed amateur forms and he joined the ranks of the club. He was soon knocking goals in for them. In 1953 he was spotted by Arsenal and signed for them in the October.

During his days in Barry he was one of 16 children and lived on Queen Street. He went in the army in 1950 but he managed to play a few games for The Dragons in his two years of national service.

Derek - or Tappy as he was better known - was used to playing in front of a few thousand at Barry. When he went to Arsenal that became tens of thousands.

Derek, now 72, said: "I was in the changing rooms in Arsenal and I was nervous. At the time people like Joe Mercer were in the team and they made me fell very welcome. He took me under his wing but he broke his leg and that gave me a chance in the team. I was nervous at playing in front of 45,000 - Ray Swallow and Tommy Lawton said they were nervous about playing even though they had played many times before."

Derek made his league debut and that was enough for him to be selected to play for Wales. He joined Cardiff in 1958 and helped them to gain promotion to the topflight in the football league.

The book was launched on the Tuesday, November 2, at Ninian Park. For football fans it is a fascinating read as Derek talks about the highs and lows of a successful career in football.

Derek's career is full of stories about the footballing greats he played against and in the same team.

Tappy is available in Dolphins of Barry and other bookshops. It is priced £10.99.