Mexborough and Swinton Times September 28, 1928
A Denaby Team Maker
Former Aston Villa Back.
Tom Swinburne.
Mr. Thomas Charles Swinburne, of 45, Warmsworth Road, Denaby, has spent his life in football.
“It is like a disease; I can’t get away from it,” he says.
He started football as a boy at school in Birmingham. He joined the Army, and soon proved his ability there as a player. He later went to Aston Villa, and as a back he played for nearly two seasons. He joined Worcester City, and in 19{08 went to Denaby. He played for Denaby till an injury to his arm received in the war made him give up the game. He later took over the secretary-manager’s position of the club, and held it for several years. During his term of office the club transferred such players as Froggatt, Bussey, Wilson, Striven, Briggs, Barker, and Crook.
He recalls the time he took over at Denaby. He went straight from hospital after the war and found Denaby had only eight players signed by the first Saturday in September, and they were in the Midland League competition. He got a team and it finished at the bottom of the table. The club were re-elected, and have since done well.
His work with Denaby has been largely of the kind known as spade work; and his practical experience of players and the game make him this season, on his return to his old office, the right man in the right place.
Up to last year he was on the Midland League list of referees, and officiated regularly