Don Dearson
Donald John Dearson (13 May 1914 – 24 December 1990) was a Welsh footballer who won three caps for his country and played in the Football League for Birmingham (renamed Birmingham Cty in 1943), Coventry City and Walsall. Life and career
Dearson was born in Ynysybwl, Glamorgan. He began his football career as an inside forward with Barry and moved to First Division Birmingham in 1934. By 1936–37 he had established himself as a first-team player. The following season, he was joint top goalscorer, sharing the honour with Welsh international colleague Wilson Jones. In the last full season played before the Second World War, he moved to half-back. He won three full caps for Wales in their last three pre-war internationals. A qualified electrical engineer, he was in a reserved occupation during the war, and was available to represent his country in 15 wartime and victory international matches. Chosen to play against England at Birmingham's home ground, St Andrew's, in 1941, Dearson missed a penalty; Wales lost 2–1. He also made 166 appearances for Birmingham in wartime football, including helping the club to the championship of the 1945–46 Football League South. By the time the Football League proper resumed after the war, Dearson was past his best. He played another half-season for Birmingham as a full back before moving to Second Division Coventry City and then to Walsall of the Third Division South, before finally giving up League football at the age of 37. He still played another couple of years of non-league football with Birmingham Combination side Nuneaton Borough and Bilston. After retiring from the game he worked for BSA and British Leyland, and died in Sheldon, Birmingham at the age of 76. Honours
Birmingham City
 Football League South champions 1946

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1914 births
People from Ynysybwl
Footballers from Rhondda Cynon Taf
People from Sheldon
1990 deaths
Welsh men's footballers
Wales men's international footballers
Barry Town United F.C. players
Birmingham City F.C. players
Coventry City F.C. players
Walsall F.C. players
Nuneaton Borough F.C. players
English Football League players
Men's association football utility players
Men's association football inside forwards
Men's association football wing halves