Former Swansea City player and coach Roy Saunders has passed away at the age of 78.
A statement on the club’s official site read as follows:
Swansea City Football Club is sad to announce the death of former player Roy Saunders.
Roy, an ex-England youth wing-half and father of current Wrexham manager Dean Saunders, played in Swansea’s 1961 Welsh Cup final triumph.
Initially a Hull City amateur, he joined Liverpool in May 1948 at just 17 and featured in consecutive promotion near-misses.
He moved to the Vetch Field in an exchange deal involving Des Palmer in March 1959.
He netted three goals in 94 Second division games before a knee injury ended his League career, becoming Ammanford’s player-manager in July 1964.
He joined the Swans’ coaching staff under his friend Harry Griffiths and continued to live locally on his retirement.
He has been described as a strong, hard – working and tenacious tackler who always gave 100 per cent.
During his time at Anfield, he came on as a substitute for Stanley Matthews for a Great Britain XI against the Rest of the World.
Roy continued his involvement with the club when they moved to the Liberty Stadium, helping Alan Curtis as a matchday hospitality host in the Morfa ‘Legends’ Lounge.
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