LoAFRS 14 -Swift, Mannion, Lawton

Legends of Association Football Rookie Series 14 – Frank Swift, WIlf Mannion, and Tommy LAwton

37. Frank Swift – Football League Career 1933–1951

Spending an entire 18-year career with one club takes a special type of player, and even more special if that position is a goal keeper. Frank Swift shares the title of best goal keeper of the 1930s with Harry Hibbs from Birmingham.

Frank Swift got into the starting line up for City in 1933 and basically set up shop for the next 18 years. He also became a regular for England during and after the War earning 14 unofficial international appearances during the war and 19 official appearances after the War.

Noted for his large stature and in particular his huge hands, he became one the most popular all-time players for the Blues.

After his football ended, Swift worked as a football journalist, but unfortunately he died in the infamous Munich Air disaster of 1958. He is generally considered one of the greatest Man City players of all time.

Rookie Card: Year – 1934 – Manufacturer – J.A. Pattreiouex, Senior Service – Set – Footballers in Action – Card #33

Image Source: Personal Collection

Card Notes:
Frank Swift is one of those guys who its hard to imagine young, but in this card we see a svelte 21 year-old wearing a cap only one year after breaking into the Man City starter’s roster. Those huge hands would go on to make Swift a Man City legend.

38. Wilf Mannion Football League Career 1936–1956

Wilf Mannion, considered by some to be the best forward to put on a Boro jersey (not sure that George Camsell would agree), played inside forward making over 350 appearances for Middlesbrough between 1936 and 1954 scoring 99 goals. The “Golden Boy” also earned an impressive 26 caps for his country scoring 11 times.

He was selected for both the 100 Legends of Football League list as well as the English Football Hall of Fame.

Rookie Card: Year – 1938 – Manufacturer – Topical Times – Set – Famous Footballers- Card #Unnumbered

Image Source: Personal Collection

Card Notes:
This large panel portrait card is the same size dimensions as the Joe Mercer rookie card; however this issue from the publication Topical Times on October 15 1938 is part of a black and white series. A similar looking set was issued by Topical Times in 1935, but has the caption on the left whereas this 14 card set has the caption in the middle at the bottom. It is a relatively common card due to its high production in the 1930s. Mannion also had a card in the Churchman Association Footballers Series, but is found in the second series which was issued in 1939.

39. Tommy Lawton Football League Career 1935–1957

Imagine coming into the League and having to fill the goal-scoring shoes of Dixie Dean. That is exactly what happened to a young Tommy Lawton. Many would have cracked under that type of pressure, but Lawton went on to be one the most complete center forwards the Football League has ever seen.

Lawton started his career at Burnley in 1936, but was transferred a year later to Everton in 1937 for a record fee. Lawton’s strength and proficiency as a goal scorer quickly settled in by winning back-to-back scoring titles in 1937/38 and 38/39. He went on to have remarkable career and is widely regarded as one of the best center forwards the League has ever seen. He finished his career with 246 goals and an incredible 22 goals in 23 English International appearances.

Celebrating his accomplishments on the field, Lawton was an inaugural member inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2003.

Rookie Card: Year – 1938 – Manufacturer – W.A. & A.C Churchman – Set – Association Footballers 1st Series – Card #23

Image Source: Personal Collection

Card Notes:
Lawton is only 19-years old when this card was issued as the first part of this series in 1938. The name on the card says J. Lawton, both on the front and back despite him not having this initial in his name. However, this mistake was corrected for the 2nd series by Churchman released the following year in 1939.

Both the 1939 card and the rookie card were mass produced during the end of the 1930s and are relatively affordable to buy.

Lawton also was featured in the Topical Times panel portraits of 1937; however, these are in sets of three players and are basically pages as opposed to cards.