Horace Blew

Horace Blew was a pioneering Welsh footballer who played in the first Welsh Amateur Football team, but also gained 22 full Welsh International Caps. He helped Wales win the Home International title for the first time in the 1906-07 season. He played at full back for Grove Park Old Boys, Rhostyllen and joined Wrexham at the start of the 1897-88 season, going on to win two Welsh Cups with the. He played once for Manchester United and once for Manchester City in 1906. He also appeared for Druids, Brymbo and Bury.

This is how the Evening Express described him ahead of an international in 1908 when he lined up alongside Billy Meredith:

HORACE BLEW, WREXHAM. Horace Blew is the famous Wrexham amateur, whose position is left back. He is one of the most popular members of the team, and has in his time rendered yeoman service to Wales at Soccer. He played for the Welsh Amateurs against the Englishmen recently. He has played for the national team several times.

His only game for Manchester United came against Chelsea in April 1906 after the club had won promotion to the First Division. He was given a gold medal to mark the success despite only appearing once for the first team. He went on to write match reports for the Daily Dispatch, joined the board of Wrexham in the 1920’s, worked for the agents of the Erddig Estate and later opened a hotel.

He was elected to Wrexham council in 1919, became mayor in 1924, an alderman three years later and in 1948 was given the freedom of the Borough. His son, Frank, went on to play for Wrexham and the Wales amateur team.

Horace Elford Blew (Footballer) Born in Esclusham in 1878; Died in Wrexham in February, 1957.