George Swindin
| 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, Northants, England | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Rotherham YMCA | |||
| – | New Stubbin Colliery | ||
| – | Rotherham United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1934–1936 | Bradford City | 26 | (0) |
| 1936–1954 | Arsenal | 297 | (0) |
| 1954–1955 | Peterborough United | ? | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1954–1958 | Peterborough United | ||
| 1958–1962 | Arsenal | ||
| 1962 | Norwich City | ||
| 1962–1964 | Cardiff City | ||
| 1965 | Kettering Town | ||
| 1969–1970 | Corby Town | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
|||
George Hedley Swindin (4 December 1914 – 26 October 2005) was an English football player and manager.
A Goalkeeper, Swindin was born in Campsall, Doncaster, Yorkshire. He played as an amateur for various local clubs, including Rotherham United, before turning professional in 1934 with Bradford City. He played 26 times for Bradford City, before being signed by Arsenal in 1936 for £4,000. He made his debut against Brentford on 3 September 1936, and played nineteen games in his first season. To begin with, his time at Arsenal was characterised by nervous and erratic displays, and he was made to share the goalkeeping spot with Alex Wilson and Frank Boulton. However, he played seventeen games in 1937–38, the most of Arsenal's three keepers, and won a First Division medal.
The Second World War interrupted his career somewhat, but Swindin continued to play through the war for Arsenal, whilst acting as a PT instructor for the Army. In 1945, he made a guest appearance for Southampton.
By the time first-class football had resumed after the war, he became Arsenal's undisputed No. 1, and stayed there for the next six seasons. By now, he had put his erracticness behind him, and he was a commanding keeper who was especially known for his aerial ability and assured handling of crosses, as well as his strong physical resilience. He won his second League title in 1947–48. After the arrival of Ted Platt in 1950, Swindin was forced to share the goalkeeper's spot for 1949–50, but kept his place to play in the 1950 and 1952 FA Cup finals; Arsenal won the former against Liverpool, but lost to Newcastle United in the latter.
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