Swifts F.C.
| Full name | Swifts Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1869 | |
| Dissolved | 1890 | |
|
| ||
Swifts Football Club were a football team based in Slough, England.
The club was founded in 1869 and played home matches on a ground near The Dolphin public house, Slough. The club was originally a rugby union club but by 1873 had changed to the association code. The club colours were originally white with a black swift on the shirt and black stockings,[1] and by 1877 it changed to black shirts with a white swift, white knickerbockers, and black stockings in 1877.[2] During the late-19th century the club produced several England players, most notable of whom was Charles Bambridge who made 18 appearances for the national team.
The club had some success in the FA Cup, reaching the semi-finals in 1874, 1876 and 1886. In the 1873-74 FA Cup Swifts F.C lost 2–0 at home to the Royal Engineers in the Semi-Final, 2 years later they would make the Semi-Final again this time losing 2–1 to eventual Champions Wanderers. It would be another ten years before Swifts would reach the FA Cup Semi-Finals again, this time against defending Champions Blackburn Rovers. Rovers would go on to win 2–1 on the 13 March 1886, a month later Blackburn would retain the FA Cup beating West Bromwich Albion.
In 1890, Swifts merged with Slough Albion & Young Men's Friendly Society, to form a new club, Slough, who later became Slough Town.
England international players[]
The following eight players played for England whilst on the books of Swifts F.C. (with the number of caps received whilst registered with Swifts F.C.):[3]
- Arthur Bambridge (3 caps)
- Charles Bambridge (18 caps)
- Ernest Bambridge (1 cap)
- George Brann (3 caps)
- Edward Haygarth (1 cap)
- Francis Pawson (1 cap)
- William Rose (3 caps)
- Frank Saunders (1 cap)
Scotland international players[]
- Andrew Watson (3 caps)
References[]
- ^ The Football Annual 1873, ed. Charles Alcock
- ^ The Football Annual 1877, ed. Charles Alcock
- ^ Club Affiliations – Swifts
External links[]
- Swifts at the Football Club History Database
- Slough Town F.C.
- Defunct football clubs in England
- Association football clubs established in 1868
- Association football clubs disestablished in 1890
- Sport in Slough
- 1868 establishments in England
- 1890 disestablishments in England
- Defunct football clubs in Berkshire
- Defunct English football club stubs