Wales XI Tour of Asia and Oceania 1971

The tour consisted of nine matches played in four different countries. The first match was in Tahiti where the home team sprang a surprise by beating the Welshmen. All six matches in New Zealand were won but the next game played, this time in Australia, was lost. This was perhaps a little less of a surprise when you consider that the tourists had been playing New Zealand in Auckland just the previous day. The tour ended with a draw in Kuala Lumpur.

The Wales XI had three full internationals in Arfon Griffiths, Wayne Jones and Ray Mielczarek. A further five went on to play for Wales in future years. These were Cyril Davies, Gareth Davis, Brian Evans, Brian Lloyd and Phil Roberts. The entire squad at one time or another appeared for the Welsh Under-23 side, with the exception of Clive Slattery. For the Swansea City man this was to be his sole representative honour at senior level.

Team Manager Dave Bowen and Trainer Terry Medwin were former Welsh international players. Tour Manager Trevor Morris had at one time been the Manager of Swansea Town. Arfon Griffiths was the tourist's captain, but after he was injured at Christchurch, Gareth Davis took over as leader. The matches played by this team are not considered to be full internationals by the Football Association of Wales.

Summary

DATE   VENUE           OPPOSITION                 RESULT
22- 6  Papeete         Tahiti                     1-2  L
27- 6  Auckland        Auckland                   1-0  W
30- 6  Wellington      Wellington                 2-0  W
 3- 7  Christchurch    Canterbury                 3-1  W
 4- 7  Dunedin         Otago                      6-1  W
 7- 7  Napier          Central League XI          3-0  W
10- 7  Auckland        New Zealand                1-0  W
11- 7  Melbourne       Victoria                   1-2  L
13- 7  Kuala Lumpur    Malaysia                   2-2  D

Details

22/06/1971, Papeete          
TAHITI              2
WALES XI            1 (Wayne Jones)
Tahiti:
Wales XI:           Mike Walker, Phil Roberts, Nigel Edwards, Gareth Davis, Ray Mielczarek, Geoff Thomas, 
                    Arfon Griffiths [c], Wayne Jones, Dave Gwyther, Jeff Thomas (Cyril Davies), Brian Evans.
                    Unused Substitutes: Frank Prince, Clive Slattery, Colin Randell.

27/06/1971, Auckland, Newmarket Park
AUCKLAND            0
WALES XI            1 (Dave Gwyther)
Auckland:           John Morris, Gary Lake, Colin Latimour, John Staines, Ron Armstrong, Bill de Graaf, 
                    George Lamont, Malcolm Bland, Earle Thomas, John Houghton, Iain Ormond.
Wales XI:           Mike Walker, Phil Roberts, Frank Prince, Gareth Davis, Ray Mielczarek, Geoff Thomas, 
                    Arfon Griffiths [c], Cyril Davies, Dave Gwyther, Wayne Jones, Brian Evans.
                    Unused Substitutes: Nigel Edwards, Jeff Thomas, Clive Slattery, Colin Randell.
Referee:            L Coffman (Auckland)
Note:               Auckland is a regional selection from New Zealand.

30/06/1971, Wellington, Basin Reserve
WELLINGTON          0
WALES XI            2 (Jeff Thomas, Arfon Griffiths)
Wellington:         Jack Nathu, Keith Barton, Mike Jones, Grahame Bilby, Paul Cameron, Dave Wallace, 
                    Bryce Wilkinson (Lotsy Polyanszky), Steven Bruce, Geoff Brand, Ian Charlton, 
                    Steve Boyland (Bruce Baker).
Wales XI:           Mike Walker, Phil Roberts, Nigel Edwards, Gareth Davis, Ray Mielczarek, Frank Prince, 
                    Arfon Griffiths [c], Geoff Thomas (Wayne Jones), Dave Gwyther, Jeff Thomas 
                    (Colin Randell), Brian Evans.
                    Unused Substitutes: Cyril Davies, Clive Slattery.
Referee:            E Saker (Hawke's Bay)
Notes:              Mike Walker saved a penalty from Ian Charlton.
                    The half-time score was 0-1.
                    C Kraamwinkel was Wellington's selector-coach. 
                    Wellington is a regional selection from New Zealand.

03/07/1971, Christchurch, English Park
CANTERBURY          1 (Warren Quirke 67')
WALES XI            3 (Cyril Davies, Brian Evans, Dave Gwyther)
Canterbury:         Tony Fleming (Phil Straw), Graham Davis, Trevor Blake, Graham Griffiths, Ken France, 
                    Brian Hardman, Alan Marley, Vic Pollard, Warren Quirke, Tom Randles, Kees Doornenbal 
                    (Graham Dacombe).
Wales XI:           Mike Walker, Phil Roberts, Nigel Edwards, Frank Prince, Gareth Davis (Ray Mielczarek), 
                    Wayne Jones, Arfon Griffiths [c] (Geoff Thomas), Cyril Davies, Dave Gwyther, 
                    Clive Slattery, Brian Evans.
                    Unused Substitutes: Jeff Thomas, Colin Randell.
Referee:            N de Meyer (Canterbury).
Notes:              The half-time score was 0-2.
                    Canterbury is a regional selection from New Zealand.

04/07/1971, Dunedin, Caledonian Ground
OTAGO               1 (Dennis Tindall)
WALES XI            6 (Dave Gwyther 2, Cyril Davies 2, Brian Evans, Jeff Thomas) 
Otago:              Neil MacKenzie, Bill Gordon, Brian Boomer, Bill Kennedy, Lindsay Roberts, Derek Daniels, 
                    Robby Neilson, Peter Wilson, Jan Flyvbjerg (Mitchell Goodall), Malcolm Ferguson, 
                    Dennis Tindall. 
Wales XI:           Mike Walker, Phil Roberts, Nigel Edwards, Frank Prince, Gareth Davis [c], Wayne Jones 
                    (Colin Randell), Clive Slattery, Cyril Davies (Jeff Thomas), Dave Gwyther, Geoff Thomas, 
                    Brian Evans.
Referee:            R McDonald (Otago).
Note:               Otago is a regional selection from New Zealand.

07/07/1971, Napier, McLean Park
CENTRAL LEAGUE XI   0
WALES XI            3 (Brian Evans, Geoff Thomas, Gareth Davis)
Central League XI:  Peter Whiting, Keith Barton, Grahame Bilby, Maurice Tillotson, Paul Cameron, 
                    Peter Eliadis, Phil Balcombe (Danny Birnie), Alan Vest, Geoff Brand, Ian Charlton, 
                    Paddy Breslin.
Wales XI:           Brian Lloyd, Phil Roberts, Nigel Edwards, Gareth Davis [c] (Wayne Jones), Ray Mielczarek, 
                    Frank Prince, Clive Slattery, Cyril Davies, Dave Gwyther, Geoff Thomas, Brian Evans.
Referee:            R Harries (Wellington).
Note:               Central League XI was a selection based on the clubs from the central and southern 
                    parts of the North Island that participate either in the Central League itself, or 
                    in the National League.

10/07/1971, Auckland, Newmarket Park         
NEW ZEALAND         0
WALES XI            1 (Gareth Davis)
New Zealand:        John Morris, Gary Lake, Ron Armstrong, Grahame Bilby [c], John Staines, Peter Eliadis, 
                    Malcolm Bland, Vic Pollard, Geoff Brand, George Lamont (Bill de Graaf), Earle Thomas.
Wales XI:           Mike Walker, Phil Roberts, Nigel Edwards, Gareth Davis [c], Ray Mielczarek, Frank Prince, 
                    Clive Slattery (Wayne Jones), Cyril Davies, Dave Gwyther, Geoff Thomas, Brian Evans.
Referee:            Tom Delahunty (New Zealand). 
Note:               New Zealand was coached by Barrie Truman. 

11/07/1971, Melbourne
VICTORIA            2
WALES XI            1 (Cyril Davies)
Victoria:
Wales XI:           Mike Walker, Nigel Edwards, Frank Prince, Gareth Davis [c], Ray Mielczarek, Wayne Jones, 
                    Clive Slattery (Jeff Thomas), Geoff Thomas, Dave Gwyther, Cyril Davies, Brian Evans.
Note:               Victoria is a regional selection from Australia.

13/07/1971, Kuala Lumpur     
MALAYSIA            2 (Salleh Ibraham, Wong Choon Wah)
WALES XI            2 (Dave Gwyther, Jeff Thomas)
Malaysia:
Wales XI:           Mike Walker, Phil Roberts, Nigel Edwards, Gareth Davis [c], Ray Mielczarek (Wayne Jones), 
                    Frank Prince, Clive Slattery (Jeff Thomas), Geoff Thomas, Dave Gwyther, Cyril Davies, 
                    Brian Evans.

Wales XI Appearances / Goals
----------------------------

Cyril Davies       7 (1)   4
Gareth Davis       9       2
Nigel Edwards      8       -
Brian Evans        9       3
Arfon Griffiths    4       1
Dave Gwyther       9       5
Wayne Jones        5 (4)   1
Brian Lloyd        1       -
Ray Mielczarek     7 (1)   -
Frank Prince       8       -
Colin Randell      - (2)   -
Phil Roberts       8       -
Clive Slattery     6       -
Geoff Thomas       8 (1)   1
Jeff Thomas        2 (3)   3
Mike Walker        8       -


Wales XI Touring Squad
----------------------

Cyril Davies                       (Charlton Athletic)
Gareth Davis                       (Wrexham)
Nigel Steven Edwards               (Chester)
Brian Clifford Evans               (Swansea City)
Arfon Trevor Griffiths             (Wrexham)
David Jeffrey Andrew Gwyther       (Swansea City)
Philip Wayne Jones                 (Bristol Rovers)
Brian William Lloyd                (Southend United)
Raymond Mielczarek                 (Rotherham United)
Francis Anthony Prince             (Bristol Rovers)
Colin William Randell              (Coventry City)
Philip Stanley Roberts             (Bristol Rovers)
James Clive Slattery               (Swansea City)
Geoffrey Thomas                    (Swansea City)
Jeffrey Thomas                     (Newport County)
Michael Stewart Gordon Walker      (Watford)

David (Dave) Lloyd Bowen           Team Manager
Terence (Terry) Cameron Medwin     Trainer
Trevor Morris                      Tour Manager

About this document

Source: [Smi 72]

Prepared and maintained by Stephen Bell and Andre Zlotkowski for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation

Authors: Stephen Bell (StephenAndrewBell@talktalk.net) and Andre Zlotkowski (nzfooty@hotmail.com)
Last updated: 3 Jan 2008

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