George Swindin facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | George Hedley Swindin | ||
| Date of birth | 4 December 1914 | ||
| Place of birth | Campsall, Yorkshire, England | ||
| Date of death | 26 October 2005 (aged 90) | ||
| Place of death | Kettering, Northamptonshire, England | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Rotherham YMCA | |||
| New Stubbin Colliery | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 193?–1934 | Rotherham United | 0 | (0) |
| 1934–1936 | Bradford City | 26 | (0) |
| 1936–1954 | Arsenal | 297 | (0) |
| 1954–1955 | Peterborough United | 18 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1954–1958 | Peterborough United | ||
| 1958–1962 | Arsenal | ||
| 1962 | Norwich City | ||
| 1962–1964 | Cardiff City | ||
| 1965 | Kettering Town | ||
| 1969–1970 | Corby Town | ||
|
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George Hedley Swindin (born December 4, 1914 – died October 26, 2005) was a famous English football player and manager. He was known for being a great goalkeeper.
Swindin played over 300 games in the Football League. He played for teams like Bradford City and Arsenal. His 18-year playing career was paused because of the Second World War.
After playing, he became a manager. He led Peterborough United to win three Midland League titles. Later, he managed Arsenal, but this time was not as successful. He also managed Norwich City, Cardiff City, and other non-league teams like Kettering Town and Corby Town.
Playing Career Highlights
George Swindin was born in Campsall, a town in Yorkshire, England. He went to school in Rotherham. When he was a schoolboy in 1929, he played in a special trial match for England. However, he was not chosen to play for the main schoolboy international team.
Starting as a Professional Player
Before becoming a professional, George played as an amateur for local clubs. He even played for Rotherham United's reserve team. In 1934, he became a professional player with Bradford City. He quickly became a regular player by the end of the 1933–34 season.
However, he got a serious knee injury in the last game of that season. This injury caused problems for his second season and he needed surgery. He played 26 games for Bradford City in the Second Division. In April 1936, Arsenal signed him for £4,000.
Time at Arsenal F.C.
George Swindin played his first game for Arsenal on September 3, 1936. In his first season, he played 19 games. At first, he was a bit nervous and made some mistakes. He shared the goalkeeper spot with Alex Wilson and Frank Boulton.
But in the 1937–38 season, he played 17 league matches. This was more than his rivals, and Arsenal won the League title that year.
Playing During World War II
The Second World War stopped many football careers. But George continued to play for Arsenal during the war. He also served in the Army as a Physical Training Instructor. During the war, he played as a guest player for other clubs. These included Leeds United, Clapton Orient, and Southampton.
Becoming Arsenal's Top Goalkeeper
After the war, George became Arsenal's main goalkeeper. He was known for being a strong and reliable keeper. He was especially good at catching crosses and handling the ball in the air. He won his second League title in 1947–48.
In 1950, another talented keeper named Ted Platt joined Arsenal. George had to share his spot for the 1949–50 season. He played in both the 1950 and 1952 FA Cup Finals. Arsenal won the 1950 final against Liverpool. But they lost to Newcastle United in the 1952 final.
Later Years and Achievements
By 1952–53, George was getting older. A new, talented Welsh keeper named Jack Kelsey started taking his place. Still, George played 14 games that season. Arsenal won the title again, giving him his third Championship medal.
Even though he was a great player for Arsenal, he never played for the England senior team. Other goalkeepers like Frank Swift and Bert Williams were chosen instead. In total, George played 297 official games for Arsenal.
Management Career
In 1954, George Swindin became a player-manager for Peterborough United. This team was in the Midland League.
Success at Peterborough United
He led Peterborough United to win three Midland League titles in a row. These wins were from 1955–56 to 1957–58. His team also reached the Fourth Round of the FA Cup in 1956–57. Peterborough United won the title two more times after George left. This helped them join the Football League in 1960. George's great work was recognized when he was added to the club's Hall of Fame.
Return to Arsenal as Manager
In 1958, George Swindin returned to Arsenal, this time as their manager. His team started well, finishing third in the 1958–59 season. However, the team's performance dropped, and they finished in the middle of the league table for the next three seasons.
Even though he signed good players like George Eastham and Tommy Docherty, George could not win any trophies for Arsenal. During this time, their rivals Tottenham Hotspur won the Double (both the league and cup) in 1960–61.
Managing Other Clubs
In March 1962, Arsenal's chairman said that George's contract would not be renewed. After leaving Arsenal, he managed Norwich City for five months. Then he managed Cardiff City from late 1962 to 1964.
At Cardiff, he signed the famous player John Charles. The team started well, but then their performance declined. George resigned after the team was moved down to the Second Division. After that, he managed Kettering Town and Corby Town before leaving football for good.
Final Years
After leaving football, George Swindin owned a garage in Corby. Later, he moved to Spain and lived there for several years. He then returned to England. In his later years, he suffered from Alzheimer's disease. He passed away in Kettering in October 2005, at the age of 90.
Honours
Player
Arsenal
- Football League First Division: 1937–38, 1947–48, 1952–53
- FA Cup: 1950
- FA Charity Shield: 1938, 1948
Managerial
Peterborough United
- Midland League: 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58
Individual
- Peterborough United Hall of Fame: 2013
