Background
Allchurch was born in Swansea, and was first spotted playing football at Cwm Level, in the Plasmarl area of Swansea, where he lived at the time.
Allchurch was born in Swansea, and was first spotted playing football at Cwm Level, in the Plasmarl area of Swansea, where he lived at the time.
Known as "The Golden Boy" of Welsh football, Allchurch played for Swansea Town, Newcastle United and Cardiff City, where he played 691 games and scored 249 goals. His record of 68 caps for Wales stood until 1986, when it was exceeded by Joey Jones. He also held the record number of goals scored for Wales, 23, which was eventually broken by Ian Rush.
His talents were more widely recognised after his performance for Wales during the 1958 World Cup, in which he helped them to reach the quarter finals.
Joe Sykes, a scout and former player of Swansea Town, who was there to watch another player, felt that in Allchurch he had "unearthed a gem of great quality". After gaining Allchurch"s father"s permission, Mr Sykes, as he was known by the players, took Ivor to meet the then manager of Swansea Town, Haydn Green.
Playing career Allchurch started his career at Swansea Town in 1947, although he did not make his league debut until the 1950-1951 season because of National Service. He went on to make 445 appearances and score 164 goals.
He joined Newcastle United in 1958 for a fee in the region of £28,000.
In August 1962, he moved on to Cardiff City, scoring on his debut in a 4–4 draw with his former club Newcastle United. He went on to finish as the club"s top scorer in the 1963-1964 and 1964-1965 seasons and later returned for a second spell at Swansea, at the age of 35. He was released by Swansea at the end of the 1967-1968 season and signed for Worcester City.
He later had a spell as player-manager of Haverfordwest County and ended his career at Pontardawe Athletic at the age of 50.
Allchurch played 691 league games and scored 249 goals in his professional career. He made his international debut against England in the Home Championships in November 1950 and played his final game for his country against Chile in 1966.
In all, Allchurch scored 23 goals for Wales (a record until 1986) in 68 appearances (also a record until 1986). Allchurch got his first cap for Wales when only 20 years old and thereafter he did not miss an international game for six years, a run of 27 consecutive appearances including the game against the Rest of the United Kingdom.
A similar player to Northern Ireland"s Peter Doherty, Allchurch was a talented football player, able to move past players with ease.
His overall game was unhurried, consisting of pinpoint passes. He had a strong left-foot shot that could also be very accurate, scoring most of his goals from outside of the box. On and off the pitch Allchurch has been described as "a gentleman", with a quiet unassuming manner.
Allchurch died in 1997, aged 67, at his home in his much loved City of Swansea.
His funeral service, held at the city"s Morriston crematorium, was attended by hundreds of people including many famous football players.
He is also a member of the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame.