George Swindin

Swindin was born in Campsall in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and attended South Grove Central School in Rotherham. He played for England against The Rest as a final trial for a schoolboy international against Wales in 1929, but was not selected. He played as an amateur for various local clubs, including for Rotherham United's reserve team in the Midland League, before turning professional in 1934 with Bradford City. Swindin established himself in the first team towards the end of the 1933–34 season, but a serious knee injury sustained in the last match of that campaign caused ongoing problems that disrupted his second season and eventually required surgery to remove cartilage. He played 26 Second Division matches for Bradford City, before being signed by Arsenal in April 1936 for £4,000. He made his debut against Brentford on 3 September 1936, and played 19 games in his first season. His time at Arsenal was at first characterised by nervous and erratic displays, and he shared the goalkeeping spot with Alex Wilson and Frank Boulton. However, he played 17 league matches in 1937–38, more than either of his rivals, as Arsenal won the League title. The Second World War interrupted his career somewhat, but Swindin continued to play through the war for Arsenal, while serving as a Physical Training Instructor in the Army. He made wartime guest appearances for clubs including Leeds United, while serving as a policeman in the area, Clapton Orient, and in 1945, Southampton. By the…

Swindin moved to Midland League side Peterborough United as player-manager in 1954. He led them to three consecutive Midland League titles, from 1955–56 to 1957–58, and reached the Fourth Round of the FA Cup in 1956–57. Peterborough won the title twice more after Swindin left, enough to win election to the Football League in 1960. His contribution was recognised by his induction into the club's Hall of Fame. In the meantime, Swindin had returned to Arsenal in 1958 as manager, and his side initially started strongly, finishing third in 1958–59. However, the team soon flagged and spent the next three seasons in mid-table. Despite signing players such as George Eastham and Tommy Docherty, Swindin was unable to bring any silverware to the club, while the club's rivals Tottenham Hotspur won the Double in 1960–61. In March 1962, Arsenal chairman Denis Hill-Wood confirmed that Swindin's contract would not be renewed at the end of the season. He then became manager of Norwich City for five months, and then Cardiff City from late 1962 to 1964. At Cardiff, he signed John Charles from Roma, but after a bright start Cardiff soon faded and he resigned after the team were relegated to the Second Division. After that, he had spells as manager of Kettering Town and Corby Town before leaving the game for good.

Player

Arsenal

Football League First Division: 1937–38, 1947–48, 1952–53 FA Cup: 1949–50; runner-up: 1951–52 FA Charity Shield: 1938, 1948

Managerial

Peterborough United

Midland League: 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58

Individual

Peterborough United Hall of Fame: 2013