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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

APPLEGATE Walter Hayward FB 
Born : Trowbridge, Wilts. 26 January 1883 Died : Swindon 7 January 1951, aged 67
PLAYING CAREER
Trowbridge Town - SWINDON TOWN (am Dec 1902)

A right-back, Walter played in goal in his second outing for Town - a friendly against Reading. A railway clerk by profession, he played in around thirty reserve games, his last being in November 1903.


AYLIFFE Jimmy (James) William Thomas  
Born : Bethnal Green, London 9 March 1886 Died : Highworth 28 February 1980, aged 93
PLAYING CAREER
Swindon St Johns - Whitehead Torpedo Works - SWINDON TOWN (Jan 1907) -
Hastings & St Leonards United (cs 1908)

Jimmy played in the same schools side as Harold Fleming - at Sanford Street before venturing south to Wyke Regis near Weymouth. He quit playing in 1909 to take up an engineering job for Panhard cars and was later landlord at The Trout PH in Lechlade.


BATHE (formerly Butler) George WH 
Born : Shrivenham 22 July 1890 Died : Belgium 20 February 1915, aged 24
PLAYING CAREER
SWINDON TOWN (am Sep 1913)

George was a product of the junior side at the County Ground. He made just one reserve appearance - against Watford in October 1914 - before going off to War, where he was killed in action aged just 24. George is buried at Kemmel Chateau.


BEALES Joe (Joseph) Henry WH 
Born : Nottingham 8 April 1876 Died : Swindon 18 March 1930, aged 53
PLAYING CAREER
Lincoln City (Sep 1899) - SWINDON TOWN (5 Nov 1902)

An engine fitter by trade, Joe spent three-and-a-half years with Town, but secretary-manager Sam Allen could not be persuaded to hand him a first team slot during that time. Joe made around 60 reserve appearances. His premature death was due to colon cancer.


FOX Harry (Henry) William WH 
Born : Swindon 10 November 1881 Died : Trowbridge 26 November 1954, aged 73
PLAYING CAREER
Even Swindon United - SWINDON TOWN ( Apr 1903) - Whitehead Torpedo Works

Harry was a consistent performer for a season-and-a-half in the reserve side. He moved to Weymouth late in 1904 and played in the same Whiteheads side as former Town men Archie Bown and Dave McKendrick.


HAYWARD Ernie (Ernest) Edward IF 
Born : Milbourne, Wilts. 25 April 1883 Died : Woking 24 June 1960, aged 77
PLAYING CAREER
SWINDON TOWN (Sep 1906) - Croydon Common (Sep 1907) - Haydon Street Workmens FC (Jan 1910) -
Swindon Athletic (Oct 1911)

Ernie made only three League appearances for Town's reserve side, failing to find the target. However, in the Wilts Cup and miscellaneous friendlies, he netted five in nine games. After leaving the County Ground for a two-year stint in south London, he was second top scorer in 1908/09 with 32 goals in only 48 games !


JONES Gordon Peace WF 
Born : Talgarth, Brecknockshire 23 October 1886 Died : Llandrindod Wells, Powys 6 March 1977, aged 90
PLAYING CAREER
Builth Town - SWINDON TOWN (trial Apr 1904) - Wellington Town (cs 1904) -
Wrexham (May 1906) - Shrewsbury Town (May 1907) - Wellington Town (Sep 1908) -
Accrington Stanley (Jul 1910) - Shrewsbury Town ( Jul 1912) - Ebbw Vale (Aug 1914)

Gordon came on trial for the closing games of Town's reserves programme in 1903/04 but was not retained. Three years later he gained two full Welsh caps !


MARTIN Frank F 
Born : Birmingham 27 June 1887 Died : Birmingham Jan-Mar 1965, aged 77
PLAYING CAREER
Veritys Athletic - SWINDON TOWN (am 2 Feb 1906) - Dudley (Apr 1908) -
Aston Villa (am May 1908) - Hastings & St Leonards United (Nov 1908) -
Reading (May 1909) - Ton Pentre (Sep 1910) - Llanelly (Aug 1912)

Frank had an outstanding scoring record for the reserves during his two-year stay at the County Ground - 20 goals in only 45 appearances - earning him a chance to impress back in his home city, at Villa Park.


PADFIELD Billy (William) Albert FB 
Born : Bedminster, Glos. 8 March 1885 Died : Bristol 28 December 1962, aged 77
PLAYING CAREER
Paulton Rovers - Bristol City (Nov 1908) - SWINDON TOWN (trial 1 Sep 1911) -
Treharris (21 Dec 1911) - Bath City ( Sep 1912)

In an extended three month trial at the County Ground, Billy squeezed in 15 reserve appearances. He later recommended Jack Johnson - then playing local football in Bristol - to Sam Allen.


STANLEY Jack (John) Allen F 
Born : Colwall, Herefs. 27 March 1880 Died : Swindon 29 December 1945, aged 65
PLAYING CAREER
West End United - SWINDON TOWN (cs 1902) - Swindon Athletic (Mar 1903)

A goalmaker rather than taker, Jack helped guide Town to the Wiltshire League title in 1902/03.


STRANGER Harry Easterbrook Knollys F 
Born : St Sampson,Guernsey 4 April 1892 Died : Guernsey 11 May 1918, aged 26
PLAYING CAREER
Marlow - Andover - SWINDON TOWN (am Sep 1914)

A bank clerk by profession, Harry scored in his only Town game - a 3-3 draw with West Ham reserves at the end of September 1914. While serving on the western front with the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry he was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry. Sadly, he died from his injuries after returning to his home in the Channel Islands. Harry was buried at Sangatte in France.


STRUGNELL Herbert Henry IF 
Born : Devizes, Wilts. 23 May 1888 Died : Melksham, Wilts. 18 March 1956, aged 67
PLAYING CAREER
Devizes Rangers - Devizes Town (cs 1906) - SWINDON TOWN (am 1 Feb 1909) -
Devizes Town (Mar 1909) - Mardy (Aug 1910) - Treharris (Aug 1912) - Aston Villa (Oct 1912) -
Queens Park Rangers (May 1913) - Hartlepool United (May 1914) - Redditch (cs 1919) -
Stafford Rangers (cs 1921) - Spencers Melksham (cs 1922) - Devizes Town (1923) -
Spencers Melksham (cs 1924) - Melksham Town (cs 1926)

An 'emergency' signing to cover for a suspended George Rushton, Herbert scored twice in five reserve appearances. Four years later, he made his debut for Rangers in a 0-3 defeat at the County Ground.