Dewis George Image 1 Leicester City 1938

Description

Burbage, Leicestershire born centre forward George Dewis began his football career playing as a junior for Stoke Golding. Dewis joined Birmingham Combination club Nuneaton Town in 1932 from where he was signed by First Division club Leicester City in October 1933, making his Football League debut against West Bromwich Albion the same December. He scored his first goal for The Foxes in his next match two weeks later in a home defeat to Middlesbrough and played only once more in his debut season. Indeed he was very much on the fringes for his first four seasons at Filbert Street, during which time they were both relegated and promoted back to the top flight as Second Division Champions in 1937, Dewis scoring twice in 8 matches during the successful campaign.

Dewis broke into the team with more regularity from November 1937 and in 1938-39 he was Leicester’s top scorer with 12 goals as Leicester were again relegated from the First Division in the last season before the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 forced the abandonment of peacetime football. Dewis lost much of his career to the Second World War, spending time in the army while playing for Leicester in the wartime football leagues, as well as guesting for Chesterfield, Leeds United, Sheffield United, Bury Town and Yeovil & Petters United.

Following the War Dewis returned to Filbert Street and resumed League football with Leicester, and was again their top scorer during the 1946-47 season with 19 goals. In April 1947 he hit a hat-trick for City in a game against Millwall, which was City’s first ever home game against The Lions. After 51 goals in 129 appearances for Leicester over nearly 17 years and with his best years now behind him, Dewis moved to Yeovil Town in the summer of 1950, for whom he had previously guested during the War, but stayed only a season before retiring in 1951.

Following his retirement, Dewis became part of the coaching staff at his former club, Leicester City, initially as a coach, then as a trainer for the youth and reserve teams before finally becoming the club’s kit man, a post he held until 1983. During his time as a coach, Dewis played a key role in the rise to prominence of Peter Shilton.