Frank Swift

Lore & Background

Swift broke into the Manchester City first team in 1933, taking part in the club's run to the 1934 FA Cup Final, where they triumphed 2–1 against Portsmouth. Three years later he won a League Championship medal, though he did not play in every match of that season. War denied Swift several years of playing in his prime, but he represented England in wartime internationals and later made 19 competitive appearances between 1946 and 1949. He retired in 1949 and became a football correspondent for the News of the World. He died aged 44 in the Munich air disaster.

Reader's Guide

Swift's early career included stints at Blackpool Gas Works and Fleetwood. He made his Manchester City debut on 25 December 1933 against Derby County, and soon became a regular. He played in the 1934 FA Cup Final, keeping a clean sheet in the second half after a nervous start. In the 1936–37 season, City won the league title, though Swift did not play every match. During World War II, he served in the British Army and guested for several clubs. After the war, he helped City win the Second Division title in 1945–46, setting a club record of 17 clean sheets. He retired in 1949.

Did You Know?

• He did not play in every match of Manchester City's 1936–37 championship-winning season.
• Swift fainted after the 1934 FA Cup Final and received a telegram from King George V inquiring about his health.
• He kept a club record 17 clean sheets in the 1945–46 season, a mark that stood for nearly 40 years.