Bolehall Swifts F.C.
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| Full name | Bolehall Swifts Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Swifts | ||
| Founded | 1953 | ||
| Ground | Rene Road Ground, Tamworth | ||
| Capacity | 2,000 (500 seated) | ||
| Chairman |
 Les Fitzpatrick | ||
| Manager |
Dave Haywood | ||
| League |
Midland Football Combination Premier Division | ||
| 2012–13 |
Midland Football Combination Premier Division, 8th | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
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Bolehall Swifts Football Club are a football club based in Tamworth suburb of Bolehall, Staffordshire, England. They were established in 1953 and joined the Midland Combination in 1980, currently playing in that league's Premier Division, having spent two years in the Midland Football Alliance in the mid-1990s.
Local rivals include Tamworth and Atherstone Town. The team are currently managed by Dave Haywood, and the current club captain is Nick Heath.
History
Bolehall Swifts were founded in 1953, and took their name from its estate, and that of two local teams who were successful in the area, and the birds which by coincidence came every summer to fly high above its original headquarters "The Amington Inn". The first dressing rooms was an old double-decker bus which was a feature at the rear of the Jolly Sailor public house where the Swifts first played their games in the Tamworth & Trent Valley League, winning the League Shield and the Agnes Durham Cup in 1953/54. It was 1956 before the Swifts won their next major trophy and that was the Coleshill Charity Cup, and then went on to win a number of local charity competitions, but not until 1976 did they first win the Fazeley Charity Cup which is traditionally played on Good Friday. The late Mick Hill was the Manager who brought them the first victory in that most sort after local competition.
After leaving the Jolly Sailor ground, which is near the Castle Grounds in Tamworth, the Swifts played their home games on Morrows field, behind the Gate Inn Amington. But in 1959 purchased the old allotments from a local farmer, just over seven acres, in Rene Road Bolehall, for the princely sum of £350. Two pitches were established there, a tea bar and dressing rooms were built, with most of the work being done by locals. It was August 1961 when the first competitive match was played on the Rene Road Ground and that was against Tamworth WMC It was developed as a sports and social club in l975/76 and has never looked back. From the T&TV League the Swifts moved on to the Sutton District League, the City & Suburban League, the Mercian League and the Staffs County before joining the Midland Football Combination in 1980/81.
An excellent season was l984/85 when Swifts became Champions of the Midland Football Combination Division 2, and won the Challenge Vase and the Fazeley Charity Cup again. In 85/86 came promotion to the Midland Football Combination Premier Division. In 1994/95 Swifts became Founder Members of the Midland Alliance, but had two struggling seasons before finding themselves back in the Midland Combination. Ron Tranter took charge 1996/97, With John Capaldi at his side they brought success in season 1997/98. Swifts finished third, sharing 83 points with second placed Southam United and also won the League Challenge Cup. In 2001/02 they brought the Walsall Senior Cup to the Swifts beating Tividale on penalties at the Bescot Stadium home of Walsall.
Season 2002/03 saw John Capaldi and Tony Edmead, Manage and Coach as Swifts finished 4th in the Premier Division with Nine wins in succession (86 points from 42 games). Swifts were also Team of the month in March 2003, and reached the division on 25 March 2003 for seven days. Ron Tranter along with coach Paul Barnes took the reins of Management for the 50 years anniversary season 2003/04. Season 2004/05 saw Rob Masefield take control and the following season Rob appointed Paul Barnes as his second in command and together they reached 6th in the Premier Division, scoring 90 League Goals equalling club record in the Premier Division. The club have had a number of managers since then, including Peter Frain, who was in charge from 30, January 2010 until end of the season. The current manager is Daren Fulford, the former Atherstone Town Manager took over from the start of 2010/11 season.
Marc Albrighton of Aston Villa used to watch Bolehall Swifts as a youngster, and decided to help the club out, by putting some of his own money into improving the club, he organised for the first team squad to have brand new Nike tracksuits and polo shirts. Albrighton also decided to support Bolehall's man of the match award, providing the monthly winner with top-of-the-range pair all boots, he said his decision came as he wanted to put something back into the community. [1]
On 17 August 2012, manager Daren Fulford named former Kidderminster Harriers player Nick Heath as the captain, for the forthcoming season, following the decision for Michael Swann to step down for family commitments, with Jamie Abbott taking the vice-captain role. [2]
Stadium
The club plays at the Rene Road Ground, the pitch facilities boast an all seated "WELCOME TO BOLEHALL SWIFTS STAND" and the "FOUNDED 1953 STAND" opposite the dressing rooms. Metal fencing, replaced roped off areas and season 2008/09 the Football Committee raised funds to concrete entrance and standing areas all around the ground. The Floodlights were officially opened some years ago by Mark Hughes then of Manchester United. New dressing rooms were built nearer the pitch with other social facilities enclosed. These too have been vastly improved in recent seasons by the Foothall Club.
Players
- As of 25 August 2013
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Officials and coaching staff
- As of 6 April 2013
Club officials
| Position | Name | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| President | Jim Latham | |||||||
| Chairman | Les Fitzpatrick |
Vice Chairman | Chris Mellors |
Treasurer | Colin Jeffrey |
Club Secretary | Phil Crowley | |
| Programme Editor | - | Committee/Dressing Room Steward | Matthew Fitzpatick | |||||
| Committee | Dave Crump | |||||||
| Committee | Maruchi Lilburne | |||||||
| Committee | John Rhodes | |||||||
| Committee | Geoff Smith |
Committee Wayne Grant Committee Ade Caulwell
Current staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Player-Manager | Dave Haywood |
| Player-Assistant Manager | Craig Haywood |
| First Team Coach | Rob Masefield |
| Sports Therapist | Kim Wood |
| Physio | John Cole |
| Fitness Coach | Tony Fulford |
Managerial history
See Bolehall Swifts F.C. Managers
| Manager | Period |
|---|---|
| Mick Hill | |
| Roger Brown | 1993–1994 |
| Ron Tranter | 1996–2002 |
 John Capaldi | 2002–2003 |
| Ron Tranter | 2003–2004 |
| Rob Masefield | 2004–2007 |
| Paul Barnes | 2007–2008 |
| Gary Walker | 2009–2010 |
| Peter Frain | 2010 [3] |
| Daren Fulford | 2010–2013 [4] |
| Dave Haywood | 2013–present |
Honours
- Walsall Senior Cup
- Winners: 2001-02
- Midland Combination Division Two
- Winners 1984-85
Records
- Longest Serving Player: Ryan Allmark 387 appearances 212 goals
References
- ↑ "Villa ace Marc puts his money into team he watched as a boy". ThisIsTamworth.co.uk. 5 December 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
- ↑ "Heath named Bolehall skipper as Swan takes time out". ThisIsTamworth.co.uk. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "Former West Brom man in as it's all change at Bolehall Swifts". ThisIsTamworth.co.uk. 28 January 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
- ↑ "Ambitious new Bolehall boss vows to win swift promotion". ThisIsTamworth.co.uk. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
External links
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