Swindin: George Hedley (George)

WW2 Guest: 1939-1940 (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

Goalkeeper

Born: Campsall: 04-12-1914

Debut: Bradford City (h): 28-10-1939

Height & Weight: Unknown

Swindin, a talented goalkeeper, played for Rotherham Y.M.C.A. and New Stubbin Colliery before joining Rotherham United as an amateur in 1932. He joined Bradford City in February 1933 and played only twenty-six League and three F.A. Cup games in two seasons for the club before being signed by George Allison, the Arsenal Manager, for £4,000 in April 1936. He made his League debut the following season against Brentford on 3rd September 1936, replacing the injured Frank Moss. In his first season Swindin played in nineteen games. But at this early stage of his career he was inconsistent and excitable, nervous and highly strung. He was also hesitant and lacked confidence and his kicking was poor, an Arsenal historian remarked. After the retirement of Frank Moss, Swindin became the first-choice goalkeeper. He joined a team that included such household names as Cliff Bastin, Eddie Hapgood, George Male, Ted Drake, Leslie Jones, George Hunt, Bernard Joy, Alf Kirchen, Leslie Compton and Denis Compton. In the 1937-38 season Swindin was in good form only letting in thirteen goals in seventeen games. Most of the Arsenal playing staff joined the RAF on the outbreak of the Second World War. This included Swindin, Ted Drake, Jack Crayston, Eddie Hapgood, Leslie Jones, Bernard Joy, Alf Kirchen and Laurie Scott. Swindin worked as a P.T. instructor and did not see action. He had played fifty-seven League and one F.A. Cup games before the Second World War. During the War Swindin guested for Leeds United, whose two keepers Jim Twomey and Norman Wharton were on War duty, and made his debut in the first game on 28th October 1939 in a 3-0 win over Bradford City at Elland Road. He played the first nine games for them in the 1939-40 Regional League North-East Division, but never played after that. After the war Swindin returned to Arsenal and played in all forty-two League games in Arsenal's championship winning team in the 1947-48 season. He conceded only thirty-two League goals that season, at the time a new First Division defensive record. The following season he was a member of the Arsenal team that beat Liverpool to win the 1950 FA Cup Final and was a member of the Arsenal team that beat Leeds 1-0 at Highbury in the hard fought Sixth Round tie. In the 1950-51 season Swindin was replaced by Ted Platt. However, the following season he was ever-present and was a member of the team that played Newcastle United in the 1952 FA Cup Final. Swindin played fourteen games in the 1952-53 season and therefore qualified for a third League championship medal. By the time he joined Peterborough United as Player/Manager in February 1954 he had played in two hundred and ninety-four games for Arsenal. Swindin was appointed Manager of Arsenal in August 1958. He only had moderate success with Arsenal finishing third (1958-59), thirteenth (1959-60), eleventh (1960-61) and tenth (1961-62). Swindin resigned in May 1962. He also managed Norwich City (1962), Cardiff City (1962-64), Kettering Town (1965) and Corby Town (1969-70). He died on 26th October, 2003.