Frank Swift

FRANK SWIFT d1958. English goal-keeper for Manchester City and England. After starting his career with local clubs near his home town of Blackpool, he was signed in 1932 by First Division Manchester City and subsequently played for them for his whole professional career. He played in the team that won the 1934 FA Cup Final (beating Portsmouth 2-1). Three years later he won a League Championship medal after playing in every match of Manchester City's championship-winning season. World War 2 denied him of several years of playing in his prime, though during wartime he was still chosen to represent his country in international matches. After the war he made his competitive international debut (playing 19 internationals between 1946-1949). He retired in 1949 and took up a career in journalism as a football correspondent for the News of the World. He died aged just 44 in the Munich Air Disaster, after reporting on Manchester United's European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade in Yugoslavia. On 6th February 1958, the flight back to Manchester carrying the Manchester United team and journalists made a refuelling stop at Munich-Riem Airport in poor weather. Two take-off attempts were abandoned due to engine problems and with the weather continuing to deteriorate. On the third attempt, slush on the runway prevented the aircraft from reaching the required speed for take-off. The plane veered off the runway and crashed into a house. One of 23 victims of the disaster, he was one of two journalists pulled alive from the wreckage, but then later died on his way to hospital. Frank Swift is widely regarded as one of the best English goalkeepers of all time (along with Gordon Banks and Peter Shilton) and is frequently noted as one of the best players to have graced the English football league. His replacement in the Manchester City team was Bert Trautmann.