Alan Boswell

Walsall

Boswell started his career with his hometown club Walsall, joining as an amateur in 1958 and turning professional in 1960. Walsall finished 14th in the Second Division in 1961–62, under the stewardship of Bill Moore. He remained the first-choice keeper at Fellows Park in 1962–63, as the "Saddlers" were relegated into the Third Division. He moved on to league rivals Shrewsbury Town.

Shrewsbury Town

In his first season at Gay Meadow1963–64Shrewsbury Townfinished mid-table in Third Division. Similar finishes followed in1964–65 and 1965–66, before missing out on promotion by four places and three points in 1966–67. The "Shrews" finished third in 1967–68, missing out on promotion by a single point. He was the first-choice stopper for Arthur Rowley's side throughout his five years at Gay Meadowand played in over 200 League matches for the club.

Wolves and Bolton

Boswell signed with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1968, but played just ten First Division games in 1968–69, including a 6–0 defeat to Liverpool at Molineux. He was sold to Bolton Wanderers at the end of the campaign, who were competing in the Second Division under the stewardship of Nat Lofthouse. The "Trotters" finished 16th in 1969–70, before suffering relegation in last place in 1970–71. In his last season at Burnden Park, 1971–72, Bolton finished seventh in the Third Division.

Port Vale

He moved to Gordon Lee's Third Division Port Vale in July 1972 and kept a clean sheet on…

Boswell was a goalkeeper ahead of his time, as his teammates castigated him for warming up outside the goal area before games, which became common practice after his retirement. He also bought his own kit and wore gloves, which few other goalkeepers did at the time.

After retiring from football, he ran a newsagent's shop in Shrewsbury and found success in the pool table industry. He married Rosalind and had twin daughters. Another daughter, Faye Turney, was one of the 15 British naval personnel seized by Iran in 2007. His death was reported on 24 August 2017.