Roy Swinbourne
English footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Royston Harry Swinbourne (25 August 1929 – 27 December 2015) was an English footballer who played as a centre forward in the Football League for Wolverhampton Wanderers.[1] He was capped once by England B.[2]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Royston Harry Swinbourne | ||
| Date of birth | 25 August 1929 | ||
| Place of birth | Denaby Main, England | ||
| Date of death | 27 December 2015 (aged 86) | ||
| Place of death | Kidderminster, England | ||
| Position | Centre-forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Wath Wanderers | |||
| 1944–1945 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1945–1957 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 211 | (107) |
| International career | |||
| 1955 | England B | 1 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
Swinbourne began his career at Wath Wanderers, the Yorkshire-based nursery club of Wolverhampton Wanderers. He moved south to join Wolves in 1944[3] and signed as a professional the following year.
After proving himself in the reserve ranks, he made his debut on 17 December 1949 in a 1–1 draw with Fulham.[4] He came to the fore during the 1950–51 season, replacing Jesse Pye in the attack, and finished as top goalscorer with 22 goals.[5] Injuries waylaid him the following year, but in the next campaign, forming what was described as "a potent dual spearhead" with Dennis Wilshaw,[6] he was once again the club's leading scorer with 21 goals.[7]
His tally of 24 in the 1953–54 season was a career best and helped Wolves capture their first ever league championship. It was Swinbourne himself who scored twice in the final game, a 2–0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur that confirmed the title.[8] The following season brought another strong return, including two goals in Wolves' famous floodlit victory over Honved of Hungary.[9][10]
In 1955 he scored for England B in a 1–1 draw against their German counterparts:
Swinbourne too, in spite of limited support, showed that he is a dashing centre-forward who knows where the goal lies. He scored his side's goal and but for three really great diving saves by Kubsch would have snatched the victory himself.[11]
His career was halted when he damaged his knee while hurdling over a posse of cameramen on the pitchside at Luton Town's Kenilworth Road ground in November 1955.[12][13] After trying to return just weeks later,[14] He was forced to undergo surgery on the injury, but was never able to resume his playing career and retired in May 1957.[12]
Later life
In later life, Swinbourne lived in Kinver before moving to a nursing home in Kidderminster.[15] He died on 27 December 2015, aged 86, following a long battle with vascular dementia.[16] He was survived by his wife, Betty, and daughters Jayne and Helen.[15]