Swifts F.C.
Swifts Football Club were a football team based in Slough, England.
The club was founded c.1868 and played home matches on a ground near The Dolphin public house, Slough. The club colours were white with a black swift on the shirt and black stockings in 1873, and black shirts with a white swift, white knickerbockers, and black stockings in 1877. During the late-19th century the club produced several England players, most notable of whom was Charles Bambridge who made 18 appearances for the national team.
The club had some success in the FA Cup, reaching the semi-finals in 1874, 1876 and 1886.
In the 1873-74 FA Cup Swifts F.C lost 2-0 at home to the Royal Engineers in the Semi-Final, 2 years later they would make the Semi-Final again this time losing 2-1 to eventual Champions Wanderers. It would be another ten years before Swifts would reach the FA Cup Semi-Finals again, this time against defending Champions Blackburn Rovers. Rovers would go on to win 2-1 on the 13 March 1886, a month later Blackburn would retain the FA Cup beating West Bromwich Albion.
In 1890, Swifts merged with Slough Albion & Young Men's Friendly Society, to form a new club, Slough, who later became Slough Town.The following eight players played for England whilst on the books of Swifts F.C. :
- Arthur Bambridge
- Charles Bambridge
- Ernest Bambridge
- George Brann
- Edward Haygarth
- Francis Pawson
- William Rose
- Frank Saunders
- Andrew Watson
