FRANK SWIFT Born in Blackpool on 24th December 1913, Frank Victor Swift played for Blackpool Gasworks and Fleetwood before joining Manchester City as an amateur in 1931/32. He turned professional in October 1932 and helped City to their F.A.Cup win in 1933-34. In season 1936-37 City won their first-ever Division 1 Championship with Swift in goal's for them. An immensely popular and cheerful figure, Swift lost his best footballing years due to W.W.2 during which he was a guest player for Hamilton Academicals. When play was resumed after the war, Swift helped City to the Division 2 Championship in season 1946-47, before retiring from playing in the close season of 1949. Between 1947 and 1949 Swift made 19 full International appearances for England, two of which were as captain. Fourteen of these matches were won by England and only two were lost. There is no doubt that Swift would have added considerably to this total if it were not for W.W.2. He briefly returned to City in season 1949-50 to play 4 League matches before finally hanging up his boots. He later enjoyed a career as a football journalist but sadly lost his life whilst in this capacity, in the Munich disaster, 6th February 1958. The following three lots were awarded to FRANK SWIFT
A 14ct gold medal, the reverse inscribed The Football Association, Manchester City, English Cup Winners, F.V.Swift, 1934, with ring suspension, in original fitted case

Details
A 14ct gold medal, the reverse inscribed The Football Association, Manchester City, English Cup Winners, F.V.Swift, 1934, with ring suspension, in original fitted case

Lot Essay

In the 1933-34 F.A.Cup final played at Wembley before 93,000 spectators Manchester City defeated Portsmouth 2-1.
The 1934 F.A.Cup final will always be remembered for the incident which took place when the final whistle was blown. Frank Swift, City's 19-year-old goalkeeper, was so overcome at the end of the match that he fainted on his goal line and had to be helped to the Royal Box to collect his winners medal. Swift had blamed himself for the Portsmouth goal which gave them the half-time lead and was disconsolate in the dressing-room during the break. The City striker Fred Tilson told the young 'keeper not to worry as he would score a couple of goals in the second-half. Tilson kept to his word and scored both goals to bring the cup to Maine Road
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