Death of Galway great Stockwell

GALWAY FOOTBALL is mourning the loss of one of their greatest players following the death yesterday of Frank Stockwell.

The 80-year-old passed away after a long illness. He was predeceased in 2005 by his Tuam Stars and Galway colleague Seán Purcell.

The two, both from Bishop Street in Tuam, became known as the “Terrible Twins” as they inspired a golden era for Galway football with the capturing of the 1956 All-Ireland final.

Stockwell, lining out at full forward, scored 2-5, as Galway defeated Cork by 2-13 to 3-7 in that final – a scoring record by a player which was never surpassed in a 60-minute final.

Stockwell also had an “advisory” role on the sideline as Galway captured three All-Ireland titles in a row in 1964, ’65 and ’66.

He made his debut for Galway at the age of 19 in 1948 and won every major honour in an inter-county career that lasted until they were defeated by Kerry in the 1960 All-Ireland semi-final.

Purcell and Stockwell led Tuam Stars to a record seven Galway senior football titles in a row from 1954-60.

He continued to stay involved at club and county football and in 1999 a new road in Tuam was named after Stockwell and Purcell.

“He was an iconic figure during what turned out to be a glorious period for Galway football,” said Galway football board chairman John Joe Holleran.

“Galway football had gone through some lean times in the 1940s and into the ’50s but it was people like Stockwell and Purcell who led the way and Galway has never looked back.

“Generations have grown up in Galway hearing about their exploits and it was a privilege for us to see them in action,” he said.

Holleran said that Stockwell played a key role in the three-in-a-row success, long before team managers, selectors and coaches were involved.

“I suppose you could say he was the technical man behind the team. If things were not going well you’d see Frankie racing out and having a few words with a player. A switch would be made or some change would happen and usually it would lead to something positive.

“Those men of that era brought the bar to a new high and they set a standard for everyone to follow. But one of the most remarkable things about them all was how humble each of those men were.

“The death of Frank Stockwell is undoubtedly the end of an era and Galway football is all the poorer for his passing.”