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THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT - AT SWINDON

A multitude of players have signed for Swindon Town but have not progressed to the first team.

This database - which was developed by fellow historian ALAN HARDING will hopefully list some 2,000 names of all those who have played at reserve team level for the club or as trialists for the first team. Thanks to MIKE SKINNER for providing many previously missing first names.

Do you have any additional info on a player listed here or any on a player not yet listed here?

If so, please e-mail me: paul@swindonfc1879.com.

FIND PLAYER BY SURNAME: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | V | W | Y | Z

FIND PLAYER BY YEARS:
Pre-WW1 | 1919-1939 | 1940s | 1950s | 1960-1965 | 1965-1970 | 1970-1975 | 1975-1980 | 1980-1985 | 1985-1990 | 1990-1995 | 1995-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 | 2010-2015 | 2015-Date

CALVIN PAY Jamie (James) Alexander F 
Born : Watford 8 October 1995  
PLAYING CAREER
Watford (scs 2012) - Oxford United (scs Mar 2013) - Daventry Town (Jul 2014) -
Hampton & Richmond Borough (Feb 2015) - Oxford United (nc Oct 2015) -
SWINDON TOWN (27 Nov 2015) - Kings Langley (cs 2016) -
Kidlington (Jul 2018) - Leverstock Green (Oct 2020)

Martin Ling's first capture, Jamie signed a one-year deal. But a seat on the bench for the final fixture of the season against Shrewsbury was the nearest he came to first team action and his contract was terminated three days later.


CAMM Christopher Glen G 
Born : Sleaford, Lincs. Oct-Dec 1934 Died : Southend-on-Sea 5 October 2018, aged 83
PLAYING CAREER
Moredon YC - Gorse Hill United - SWINDON TOWN (am Oct 1954)

Glen made 15 Combination appearances, sharing goalkeeping duties with Scotsman John Kyle.


CAMPBELL John Terence F 
Born : Newcastle-upon-Tyne 23 November 1988  
PLAYING CAREER
Newcastle United (sb ) - Manchester City (sb ) - West Allotment Celtic (cs 2009) -
Newcastle Benfield (cs 2010) - SWINDON TOWN (trial 25 Oct 2010) -
Leyton Orient (trial Dec 2010) - Scunthorpe United (trial Jan 2011) -
Darlington (Jan 2011) - Bedlington Terriers (Nov 2011) - West Auckland Town (Jan 2012) -
Jarrow Roofing BCA (cs 2014) - Oxford United (nc Nov 2014) - Torquay United (loan Feb 2015) -
Jarrow Roofing BCA (cs 2015) - Newton Ayliffe (Oct 2015) - Newcastle Benfield (Mar 2017) -
Whitby Town (Sep 2017) - Jarrow Roofing BCA (Jan 2018)

After netting 18 goals for Newcastle Benfield, John was given a trial against Bournemouth reserves. On 14 December he bagged a hat-trick in a 5-5 draw with League leaders Torquay.


CARAYOL Mustapha Soon M 
Born : Banjul, Gambia 10 June 1989  
PLAYING CAREER
Woking (sb ) - SWINDON TOWN (scs 14 Oct 2006) - Macclesfield Town (scs Jan 2007) -
Milton Keynes Dons (Aug 2007) - Crawley Town (loan Oct 2007) - Torquay United (Jul 2008) -
Kettering Town (loan Sep 2009) - Lincoln City ( Jul 2010) - Bristol Rovers (Jun 2011) -
Middlesbrough (Aug 2012) - Brighton & Hove Albion (loan Mar 2015) - Huddersfield Town (loan Aug 2015) -
Leeds United (loan Jan 2016) - Nottinghan Forest (Aug 2016) - Ipswich Town (Jan 2018) -
Apollon Limassol (Cyp) (Aug 2018) - Adana Demirspor (Tur) (Jul 2019) - Gillingham (Aug 2021) -
Burton Albion (Sep 2022)

Mustapha was just two months into his scholarship with Town when player-coach Paul Ince left, taking him with him to Moss Rose. Ten years later, he had made more than 200 League appearances and gained four caps for Gambia.


CARMICHAEL Jack D 
Born : Newcastle-upon-Tyne 11 November 1948  
PLAYING CAREER
Possilpark YMCA - Arsenal (Nov 1966) - Peterborough United (Jan 1971) - New England Tea Men (US) (Apr 1980) -
SWINDON TOWN (25 Sep 1980) - Jacksonville Tea Men (US) (16 Mar 1981) -
Peterborough United (nc Jan 1983)

Jack arrived from North American Soccer League football along with Chris Turner. But unlike his fellow defender, Jack signed a contract to keep him at the County Ground until the summer season in the USA started again. He made 16 Combination appearances, netting once.


CHIANESE Joel Joseph F 
Born : Sydney NSW 15 February 1990  
PLAYING CAREER
Blacktown City (Aus) (2009) - Sydney FC (Aug 2011) - Sydney United 58 (Jun 2014) - SWINDON TOWN (trial 14 Aug 2014) -
Sydney United (Sep 2014) - Bonnyrigg White Eagles (Mar 2015) - Auckland City (NZ) (Mar 2015) -
Sabah FA (Mly) (Mar 2015) - Negeri Sembilan (Dec 2015) - Perth Glory (Aus) (Aug 2016) -
Hyderabad (Ind) (Sep 2020)

A fortnight into his trial, Joel grabbed two goals in a Development fixture at Cheltenham. But he returned to Australia without having secured a contract.


CHIEDOZIE John Okay WF 
Born : Owerri, Nigeria 18 April 1960  
PLAYING CAREER
Orient (Apr 1977) - Notts County (Aug 1981) - Tottenham Hotspur (Aug 1984) - Derby County (Aug 1988) -
Notts County (nc Jan 1990) - Chesterfield (nc Mar 1990) - AFC Bournemouth (nc 1990) -
SWINDON TOWN (trial 1 Aug 1990) - Bashley (trial Oct 1991) -
Barking (Dec 1991) - Bashley (cs Jan 1992)

After being released midway through 1989/90, John was given a pre-season trial by Town - scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win for the reserves at Hungerford. He gained 9 full caps for Nigeria.


CHURCHWARD Alan John G 
Born : Swindon 10 August 1968  
PLAYING CAREER
SWINDON TOWN (sb 25 Mar 1983 pro 23 Aug 1986) - Cheltenham Town (nc Jan 1987) -
Bath City (Sep 1990) - Gloucester City (cs 1992) - Cheltenham Town -
Trowbridge Town (cs 1993) - Cirencester Town - Clevedon Town - Highworth Town

Alan made his debut for the Combination side at 16 - only three months into his apprenticeship. But during the 'keeper crisis' a year later he was not deemed experienced enough to be given a first team outing by Lou Macari.


CLARK David IF 
Born : Wootton Bassett 2 December 1946  
PLAYING CAREER
SWINDON TOWN (app 29 Apr 1963 pro 29 Nov 1965)

David was a regular in the Combination side's number ten shirt between 1965 and 1967, netting nine goals in fifty appearances. But he was then played a little deeper at left-half in his third season as a pro before being released at the end of it.


CLARKE Tony (Anthony) D 
Born : Leamington Spa 21 September 1970  
PLAYING CAREER
Mansfield Town - Eastwood Town - SWINDON TOWN (trial 22 Jan 1990 pro 16 Aug 1990) -
V S Rugby (Oct 1990) - R C Warwick (cs 1992) - Nuneaton Borough - Tamworth -
Bedworth United - Rushall Olympic - Blakenall

Tony made five Combination appearances - four of which were away but which all resulted in wins ! He moved on just two months after signing on as a pro.


CLAYPOLE Darryl S FB / WF 
Born : Market Bosworth, Leics. March 1952  
PLAYING CAREER
Leicester City (trial ) - SWINDON TOWN (app 30 Aug 1967 pro 17 Mar 1970)

Darryl first broke into the reserve side in August 1967, at just 15. He started on the left-wing but by 1970/71 he was a regular at left-back. Darryl had made almost 70 Combination appearances when he was released in May 1971.


CLAYTON Ronnie (Ronald) F 
Born : Kingston-upon-Hull 18 January 1937  
PLAYING CAREER
Doncaster Rovers (am ) - SWINDON TOWN (am 12 Mar 1956) -
Hereford United (cs 1956) - Arsenal (Jan 1958) - Brighton & Hove Albion (Sep 1958) -
Hastings United (May 1960) - Rugby Town - Hinckley Athletic (cs 1962) -
Hereford United - Worcester City (cs 1964)

Ronnie was one of two amateurs signed on the same day, the other being Terry Moss. But unlike the winger, Ronnie did not get a first team opportunity. He netted just once in six reserve appearances and later joined the Gunners along with another winger - Freddie Jones - who went on to join Town. (pic courtesy BHACHS)


CLIFFORD John IF 
Born : Swindon 24 September 1929 Died : Swindon Apr-Jun 1981, aged 51
PLAYING CAREER
SWINDON TOWN (13 Jan 1950) - Pinehurst YC (cs 1951)

John made his debut for the reserves against Brighton a fortnight before signing a pro contract. He netted just one goal - also against Brighton - in around twenty appearances.


COFFEY Chris (Christopher) IF 
Born : 1925  
PLAYING CAREER
Glentoran - SWINDON TOWN (9 Aug 1948) - Yeovil Town (Mar 1949) - Crusaders (cs 1950) -
Kidderminster Harriers (cs 1951)

Known to his teammates as 'Kit', he netted five goals in 24 Combination appearances, but had left to join the 'giant-killers' of Somerset before the season was out.


COLLICUT Paul A CD 
Born : Shipston-on-Stour, Warks. 14 January 1959  
PLAYING CAREER
Bristol City (sb 1973) - Cheltenham Town (scs 1975) - SWINDON TOWN (14 Aug 1976) -
Trowbridge Town (Mar 1979) - Cheltenham Town (Aug 1983) - Gloucester City (trial Mar 1987) -
Forest Green Rovers (Mar 1987) - Newport AFC (cs 1988) - Cinderford Town -
Forest Green Rovers

Paul made 90 appearances for Town's Combination eleven, but with Steve Aizlewood, Colin Prophett and Russell Lewis in command at the centre of the defence he was unable to make the breakthrough into the League side.


COLLIER George James F 
Born : Wantage 22 July 1912 Died : Wantage 10 October 1977, aged 65
PLAYING CAREER
Wantage Town - SWINDON TOWN (am 12 Sep 1935) - Wantage Town (cs 1936)

A regular in the Western League championship winning side of 1935/36, George returned to Wantage after failing to secure a pro contract.


COLLINS Bob (Robert) Lionel G 
Born : Winchester 12 August 1939  
PLAYING CAREER


COLSELL Keith Lee IF 
Born : Swindon 12 October 1944 Died : Swindon 7 February 2016, aged 71
PLAYING CAREER
SWINDON TOWN (gsf Apr 1960 app Jun 1960, pro 4 Dec 1961) - Bath City (Nov 1964) -
Sanford YC (Nov 1965)

Keith came through the ranks and was probably one of the best not to have broken into the League side - 16 goals in 36 reserve appearances.


CONSTABLE James Ashley F 
Born : Malmesbury, Wilts. 4 October 1984  
PLAYING CAREER
Malmesbury Youth FC - Cirencester Town - Chippenham Town (Dec 2003) - SWINDON TOWN (trial 11 Jul 2005) -
Walsall (Nov 2005) - Kidderminster Harriers (Nov 2006) - Shrewsbury Town (Jan 2008) -
Oxford United (Jul 2008) - Eastleigh (May 2014) - Poole Town (loan Feb 2018) -
Hungerford Town (Jun 2019)

Andy King gave James a trial, seeing him come on as a substitute to score against his old club Cirencester. But no offer was made until after Iffy Onuora had taken over - and James turned him down in favour of the Saddlers. Six years later Paolo Di Canio was reported as having two offers for the striker rebuffed by Oxford.


COOK Shane Anthony G 
Born : Bristol Oct-Dec 1975  
PLAYING CAREER
Bristol City (sb ) - SWINDON TOWN (trn Jan 1992) -
Cheltenham Town (cs 1994) - Gloucester City (Feb 1996) - Witney Town (cs 1996)

Following Fraser Digby's injury at Hillsborough in the final game of 1993, Shane sat on the bench for the Premiership games against Chelsea and Coventry. While at Whaddon Road, he was still employed by Town - as Football in the Community Officer.


CORBETT Dave (David) John WH 
Born : Swindon 7 September 1947  
PLAYING CAREER
SWINDON TOWN (app 29 Apr 1963 pro 8 Sep 1965) - Cheltenham Town (Feb 1966) -
Oxford United (Sep 1966) - Bedford Town - Bletchley Town (cs 1967)

The son of 1940's forward Jim (q.v.), Dave made just a handful of reserve appearances after signing as a pro on his 18th birthday.


CORBETT Jim (James) Frederick F 
Born : Epsom, Surrey 29 May 1921 Died : Swindon 23 February 1988, aged 66
PLAYING CAREER
SWINDON TOWN (am 28 Jun 1947 pro 20 Aug 1948)

Jim hit nine goals on his Colts debut in a 17-0 victory over Thorneypits in May 1947. He then scored twice at Plymouth on his Combination debut four months later. But although he added another two in only six more appearances, he was given a free transfer in the summer of 1949.


CORBIN Ron (Ronald) Arthur WH / IF 
Born : Treherbert, Glam. 30 June 1913 Died : Malvern, Worcs. 13 April 2013, aged 99
PLAYING CAREER
Milford United - SWINDON TOWN (28 Aug 1936)

Initially coming on trial, left footed Ron was handed a pro contract on the day before the 1936/37 season commenced. He scored for the reserves in the opening two Western League fixtures but quickly disappeared, joining the Royal Artillery in 1938. Ron missed reaching his 100th birthday by just eleven weeks.


COSTELLO Greg (Gregory) D 
Born : Dublin 5 April 1970  
PLAYING CAREER
Home Farm - Queens Park Rangers (app May 1986) - SWINDON TOWN (trial 19 Mar 1990 pro 16 Aug 1990) -
Shelbourne (Jan 1991) - Kilkenny City (cs 2000) - Athlone Town (Jan 2001) -
Shamrock Rovers (cs 2001)

Greg was first invited over from Dublin for a one-match trial and signed a pro deal five months later. He played in the first 14 reserve games before deciding to return to Ireland.


COUPE Matt (Matthew) William E D 
Born : St Asaph, Denbighs. 7 October 1978  
PLAYING CAREER
SWINDON TOWN (trn cs 1995) - Forest Green Rovers (Aug 1997) -
Gloucester City (cs 1999) - Clevedon Town (cs 2000) - Bath City (Jun 2001) -
Aberystwyth Town (Jun 2001) - Forest Green Rovers (Jan 2002) - Chippenham Town (loan Jan 2003) -
Bath City (Feb 2003) - Gloucester City (Sep 2010) - Chippenham Town (Jun 2014) -
Bath City (cs 2015) - Mangotsfield United (Nov 2016) - Cirencester Town (Feb 2017) -
Swindon Supermarine (Oct 2017)

Matt was released after completing his term as trainee at the County Ground, but went on to have a 20-year career in non-League football.


CRAWFORD Jimmy (James) M 
Born : Chicago, USA 1 May 1973  
PLAYING CAREER
Terenure College AFC - Bohemian (Aug 1991) - Newcastle United (Mar 1995) - Rotherham United (loan Sep 1996) -
SWINDON TOWN (trial 3 Feb 1997) - Dundee (loan Feb 1998) -
Reading (Mar 1998) - Shelbourne (Aug 2000) - Sporting Fingal (Feb 2008)

Jimmy came to the County Ground on a two-match trial - appearing in successive 2-2 draws with the Combination side.


CRITCHELL Kyle Andrew Ross D 
Born : Dorchester 18 January 1987  
PLAYING CAREER
Weymouth (sb ) - Southampton (Aug 2005) - Torquay United (loan Oct 2006) -
SWINDON TOWN (trial 8 Jan 2007) - Chesterfield (19 Jan 2007) -
Weymouth (May 2007) - Wrexham (Jun 2008) - York City (loan Jan 2009) -
Weymouth (Mar 2009) - Dorchester Town (Nov 2009) - Weymouth (Aug 2012) - Portland United (p/co cs 2015)

Kyle played as a trialist in a 3-0 win for the reserves at Yeovil, but signed for the Spireites just a week later.


CROSBY Neil Andrew F 
Born : York 14 July 1984  
PLAYING CAREER
Sheffield Wednesday (sb ) - Oxford United (trn 2000) - SWINDON TOWN ( Jan 2002) -
Oxford City (Sep 2003)

A regular in the Combination side in the 2002/03 season - although he only netted four goals - Neil was the son of Andy King's assistant Malcolm.


CULBERTSON Ricky (Richard) David James D 
Born : Ballymena, Co.Antrim 10 August 1980  
PLAYING CAREER
Cullybackey Blues - Ballykeel Red Star - Norwich City (sb 1996) - SWINDON TOWN (trn Jul 1997 pro 1 Sep 1999) -
Ballymena United (loan 3 Sep 1999) - Larne (loan 17 Dec 1999) -
Ballymena United (May 2000) - Ballyclare Comrades - Ballymena United (Feb 2002) -
Brantwood - Carrick Rangers (Jul 2004) - Army (2005) - Ballymena United (trial Jul 2008) -
Ballykeel - Chimney Corner (p/co Mar 2011) - Wakehurst (cs 2011) -
Ballykeel (cs 2014) - Carniny Rangers (cs 2015) - Wakehurst (cs 2016) -
Ballymena Town - Carniny Rangers (cs 2018) - Braid United (Aug 2019) -
Galgorm Blues (Nov 2019)

A former captain of Northern Ireland's under-15s, Ricky made his debut for the reserves in September 1998 when he came on at half-time against Queens Park Rangers with Town 0-4 down ! He helped his side stem the tide to just one more goal, but he saw an early bath following a clash with Vinny Jones !