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How I met General Eisenhower
How I met General Eisenhower
By Len Emmanuel
By Len Emmanuel
Born in Treboeth, Swansea in 1917, Len Emmanuel played for Swansea Town football Team, at Left-half and Full-back from 1937, where he and his brother Tom, also Full-back, were the third pair of siblings to play together for the team.
The advent of the Second World War postponed Len's footballing career, as he joined the RAF, serving as a Physical Training Instructor.
Physical Training Instructor Sleeve Badge.
Len recalled, 'An event I will always remember, was when General Dwight D. Eisenhower, dressed in a British Officers' Uniform, made a presentation of a wristwatch to me, after a football match near Florence, Italy, in 1945. I kept this photo as a treasured souvenir.'
The General's aide de camp can be seen in the background, in his American uniform. In addition, there is a British Officer on the right of the photo.
After the war, Len returned to the Swans and married Vena. Later he played for Newport and Kidderminster. Unfortunately after 75 years, the wristwatch has been misplaced, but his Physical Training Instructor Sleeve Badge, is still cared for by Gary's brother, Michael.
Len passed away in 2010
Len Emmanuel, while playing for Kidderminster v Merthyr Tydfil at Penydarren Park, 1949-50
Len Emmanuel, around 1935 - 36
Len Emmanuel is in the back row, 3rd from the right, 19 April, 1939. West Bromwich Albion v Swansea Town
Stadia Artemis Franchi in Florence (known as the "Stadio Comunale"in 1945)
The Swansea City website records : https://www.swanseacity.com/news/brothers-arms
'Brothers in Arms'
Tom and Len were brothers who were born in Treboeth before turning out for the Swans in the 1930s and 1940s. Older brother Tom, who operated at Full-back, made 52 appearances at the Vetch before joining Southampton in 1938. Len, also a Full-back, turned out for the Swans on 54 occasions before leaving for Newport County in 1947. Len’s son Gary also played in SA1 during the mid-1980s, appearing almost 150 times in the later stages of his career.
'Players of the Past'
Left-half Len Emmanuel played for Swansea either side of the Second World War. Locally born, he signed professional at the Vetch Field in April 1936 and appeared in the same team as his older brother Tom. He guested for several clubs during the war, scoring once in 49 Second Division games for Swansea prior to joining Newport County in May 1947. Moving to Kidderminster Harriers in July 1948, he then spent four seasons with Llanelly before becoming Carmarthen player-manager in July 1954.
General Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1945
The ‘Five Star’ General was later to be the President of The United States of America
General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Notes:
U.S. Army aides-de-camp wear a special device in place of the branch-of-service insignia (e.g., infantry, artillery, quartermaster) that they would otherwise wear on the lapels of their service uniforms.
The rank of the General Officer being served is indicated on the device worn by the aide-de-camp, as illustrated here -
The rank of the Aide to a General could be a Lieutenant Colonel
Stadia Artemis Franchi in Florence (known as the "Stadio Comunale"in 1945) hosted the Spaghetti Bowl for American service football teams. Research is taking place concerning the possibility of the British Football Game being played here in 1945.
The Stadio Artemio Franchi is currently the home of ACF Fiorentina. The stadium was called the "Stadio Comunale" from 1945 to 1991, when it was renamed after the former FIGC president, Artemio Franchi.
'Avant-garde stadium built in Florence by engineer-architect Pier Luigi Nervi, praised for its modern constructive techniques and sophisticated aesthetic principles''. Acknowledgement: School of Arts, Languages & Culture, University of Manchester
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