A token of appreciation presented by the Army Football Association to Frank Swift, in the form of wirework and cloth emblem, framed and glazed with p

A token of appreciation presented by the Army Football Association to Frank Swift, in the form of wirework and cloth emblem, framed and glazed with plaque inscribed F.V. Swift, sold together with a quantity of original press photographs all featuring Swift, including war time subjects as well as wedding photographs and other subjects Frank Swift (Manchester City & England and later a sports journalist) Lots 917 to 919 Frank Victor Swift (British, 1913 - 1958), an English footballer, having played for Manchester City and England. Having played with local clubs near Blackpool he signed professionally to First Division team Manchester City in 1932 and continued until 1949. Having played in the 1934 FA Cup Final against Portsmouth at Wembley, London, winning 2 - 1 with the young nervous Swift playing in goal and fainting in relief at the final whistle. During WWII Swift played with City making 134 wartime league appearances and also joined the British Army enlisting at the Army School of Physical Training based near Aldershot FC, making guest appearances with Matt Busby, Jimmy Hagan, Joe Mercer, Stan Cullis, Cliff Britton and Tommy Lawton. In April 1944 he played for British Army XI in Edinburgh against a Royal Air Force XI wining 4 - 0 and in September 1944 he played for a Combined Services XI (Great Britain XI) against Ireland at Windsor Park wining 8 - 4. In 1944 he represented the FA Services XI in matches against France and Belgium and in 1945 with the British Army XI on a European Tour. After WWII Manchester won the 2nd division championship and making his first Official England International appearance in September 1946 against Ireland in a 7 - 2 victory, going on to make 33 wartime and international appearances for England. After which he worked in journalism most notably for the News of the World and being the president of the Manchester City Supporters Club. Swift died aged 44 in the Munich Air Disaster on the 6th February 1958, after reporting on Manchester United's European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade in Belgrade, Yugoslavia for the News of the World. He was one of the twenty three victims of the disaster and died on his way to hospital after being pulled alive from the wreckage. Swift has been regarded as one of the best English goalkeepers along with Gordon Banks and Peter Shilton and was named as one of the Football League 100 Legends in 1998 celebrating 100 seasons of the league football in England and has been inducted into the Manchester City Hall of Fame.