Stourport Swifts F.C.
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| Full name | Stourport Swifts Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Swifts | ||
| Founded | 1882 | ||
| Ground | Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn Worcestershire (Capacity: 2,000 (250 seated)) |
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| Chairman | Chris Reynolds | ||
| Manager | Rod Brown | ||
| League | Southern League Division One South & West |
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| 2010–11 | Southern League Division One South & West, 17th |
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Stourport Swifts are a football team from Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire and one of the oldest non-league teams in the country. The Swifts gained promotion to the Southern League Division One West in 2001 from the Midland Alliance, and currently play at Walshes Meadow in the town.
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[edit] History
In the year 1882 the first recorded club was established in the town, the members meeting for practice in a field near the Station Hotel. The name of 'SWIFTS' was given to it by the promoters, the colours being dark blue jerseys with a white swallow on the chest. After practicing for a considerable time near the Station Hotel, the club moved to Bewdley Road near the New Inn, where the first matches were played.
The Swifts have changed their ground several times, before in 1906 moving to Olive Grove. The 1912–13 season saw the team win their first honours, winning both the Worcester and Bromsgrove Charity Cups. Just before the outbreak of the First World War the Swifts reached their first County Cup Final, but were beaten 3–1 by Badsey Rangers. After the war the Swifts came back with a vengeance and between 1925 and 1927 produced a hat-trick of County Cup wins. Twenty years passed before the Swifts lifted the trophy again, and another 35 years in 1982 they reached the final again, but lost 2–0 to Metal Box. During this time Swifts moved to their present ground at the Walshes Meadow. The 1970–71 season saw the return of Stourport Swifts to the First Division of the Worcester League after an absence of many years.
In 1979, after eight seasons in the Worcester League, the Swifts were elected to Division Two of the West Midlands League. In 1986 they gained promotion to Division One, after finishing fourth in the league.
Their first year in Division One saw them just avoiding relegation after finishing last but one, but the following campaign saw them finish runners-up to Rocester and earn promotion to the Premier Division. After a struggle in the initial season, the Swifts gradually improved each year, and in the 1991–92 season they finished 3rd after heading the division for most of the season. Following this in 1992–93, they won the Premier Division Cup and the Worcester Senior Urn.
The 1993–94 season was another successful season which saw the club finish runners-up in the Premier Division and pull off another cup double again winning the Worcester Senior Urn as well as the Worcester Infirmary Cup, beating Bromsgrove Rovers on both occasions. But despite finishing runners-up in the Premier Division, they failed to be elected to the newly formed Midland Football Alliance.
In 1994–95 Swifts finished in 3rd place and successfully defended the Worcester Senior Urn for the 3rd year running and the Worcester Infirmary Cup for the 2nd year running.
1995–96 saw them finish in 5th place and the league and retain the Worcester Infirmary Cup. In 1996–97 they again finished runners-up in the West Midlands League Premier Division.
The 1997–98 season was one of their best season in their history when after finishing runners-up for a 3rd time, they were promoted to the Midland Football Alliance and also added the Worcester Senior Urn and Worcester Infirmary Cup.
Swifts have been playing at their highest ever level in the Southern League. Their best finish has been 8th in their first campaign and have since finished 17th, 18th, 14th, 20th, 22nd, 17th, 16th, and 17th over time.
[edit] Honours
1930–31 – Joined Worcestershire Combination
1932 – Left Worcestershire Combination
1937–38 – Rejoined Worcestershire Combination
1979–80 – Joined West Midlands (Regional) League Division Two
1985–86 – Promoted to Division One
1987–88 – West Midlands Regional League Division One runners-up
1996–97 – West Midlands Regional League Premier Division runner-up
1997–98 – West Midlands Regional League Premier Division runner-up
1998–99 – Joined Midland Alliance
2000–01 – Midland Alliance Champions
2001–02 – Joined Southern League Western Division
[edit] Club records
- Best league performance: 8th in Southern League Division One West, 2001/02
- Best FA Cup performance: 3rd qualifying round, 2000/01 and 2001/02
- Best FA Trophy performance: 3rd round, 2001/02
- Best FA Vase performance: 5th round, 2000/01
[edit] Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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[edit] Sources
- Stourport Swifts at the Football Club History Database
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 52°20′07.54″N 2°16′50.61″W / 52.3354278°N 2.280725°W
