CITY 0 ARSENAL 3
League Division 1
27th April 1949
attendance 38,155
scorers Leishman 2, Roper
Ref F Milner
City Swift, Sproston, Westwood, Walsh, Fagan, Emptage, Hogan, Black, Jones, Linacre, ClarkeArsenal Swindon, Barnes, Smith, Macauley, Compton, Mercer, MacPherson, Logie, Roper, Leishman, Vallance
There were lots of cheers and back-slaps on this nostalgic occasion for big-hearted, big-framed Frank Swift for what was scheduled as his last home game for City prior to his retirement.
‘Swifty’, one of the greatest characters the game has ever known, was given a tremendous reception. But there was no story book ending for the gentle giant. The game did not provide enough scope for Swift to display his exceptional talents and the fans were denied the finish they had hoped for as a tribute to their favourite.
Unhappily the ‘Big Fella’ was beaten three times and didn’t have any chance of saving two of the goals, and only a fifty-fifty hope with the third.
As captain for the night, Swift started the game with a warm handshake from the Arsenal skipper Joe Mercer. But that was the end of goodwill from the “Gunners’.
The only typical Swift save came on the half hour when Don Roper blasted in a half-volley on the turn and the City ‘keeper finger-tipped the ball for a corner.
From the corner Doug Leishman rocketed a powerful header into the roof of the net. lt would have beaten any goalkeeper in the land. Then a miscalculation by Eric Westwood let in Roper who had the time and space to pick his spot and slot home ArsenaI’s second goal from close range. ln the last minute of the match Leishman scored his second goal when he beat the fists of the advancing Swift.
Although this should have been Swift’s final home game he came back at the start of the following season to help City out of a dilemma when his successor, Ronnie Powell, was unable to play. Swift was chaired off the field and afterwards said he had enjoyed his 17 years at City, and added: “l think l have been a very lucky man to belong to such a club”. Chairman Robert Smith announced that Swift would receive his accrued share of benefit, £600! A far cry from today’s astronomical figures.
ADAPTED FROM AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE CITY PROGRAMME 15TH MARCH 1980