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{{Orphan|date=September 2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football club |

{{Football club infobox |
| clubname = Swindon Spitfires
| clubname = Swindon Spitfires
| image = [[Image:Spitfires-thumb-702188.jpg|300px]]
| image = Swindon Spitfires logo.jpg
| fullname = Swindon Spitfires Football Club (Women, Girls' and Men)
| fullname = Swindon Spitfires Football Club
| nickname = Spits
| nickname = Spits
| founded = [[1967]] [[Men's section 2011]]
| founded = {{start date and age|1967}}
| ground = [[Watchfield|Watchfield Sports Pavilion]], [[Vale of White Horse]]<ref>{{cite news |title=New venue proves to be a good host for Spitfires' tournament |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/13333714.new-venue-proves-to-be-a-good-host-for-spitfires-tournament/ |accessdate=7 December 2019 |publisher=[[Swindon Advertiser]] |date=16 June 2015}}</ref>
| ground = [[South Marston (Swindon)|South Marston Rec]], [[Wiltshire]]
| capacity =
| capacity =
| club president = Chris Maull
| owntitle = President
| chairperson = Diane George
| owner = Chris Maull
| chrtitle = Chairperson
| league = [[FA Women's South West Divsion 1 East|FA Women's South West League<br/>Divsion1 East]] [[Wiltshire County League]] [[Swindon and District League]]
| season = 2010–11
| chairman = Diane George
| league = [[South West Regional Women's Football League|South West Regional Women's League Division 1 East]]
| kit_alt1 = Red jersey with black trim on shoulders and sides, red shorts with black trim, red socks with black band
| season = 2018–19
| pattern_b1 = _blackcollar
| kit_alt1 = Red jersey with black shoulders and sleeves, black shorts and socks
| pattern_la1 = _redborder
| pattern_b1 = _black_chest
| pattern_ra1 = _redborder
| pattern_la1 =
| pattern_ra1 =
| pattern_so1 =
| pattern_so1 =
| leftarm1 = CC0000
| leftarm1 = 000000
| body1 = EE0000
| body1 = CC0000
| rightarm1 = CC0000
| rightarm1 = 000000
| shorts1 = CC0000
| shorts1 = 000000
| socks1 = CC0000
| socks1 = 000000
| kit_alt2 = Blue jersey, blue shorts, blue socks
<!--| kit_alt2 = Blue jersey, blue shorts, blue socks
| pattern_b2 =
| pattern_b2 =
| pattern_la2 =
| pattern_la2 =
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| rightarm3 = FFFF00
| rightarm3 = FFFF00
| shorts3 = 000000
| shorts3 = 000000
| socks3 = FFFF00
| socks3 = FFFF00-->
}}
}}
'''Swindon Spitfires Football Club''' is an English [[Association football|football]] club from [[Swindon]], [[Wiltshire]]. The women's first team are members of the [[South West Regional Women's Football League]] Division One East, train at [[New College, Swindon]] and play their home matches in nearby [[Watchfield]], [[Vale of White Horse]]. Founded in 1967, they are one of the oldest extant women's and girls' football clubs in England.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |title=Swindon duo's girls' football revolution |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/get-inspired/30148730 |accessdate=7 December 2019 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=21 November 2014}}</ref> The club also runs a [[reserve team]] and several age-group teams in its [[youth system]]. In 2011 the club launched an associated men's team, who compete in the local Swindon & District League.
'''Swindon Spitfires''' is an [[English women's, girls' and mens football club]]. They are currently made up of two senior teams and nine junior teams, with a men's team created in 2011. The First team play in the [[South West Women's Football League Division One East]] the Reserve team play in the [[Women's Wiltshire League]] and the men's team play in the [[Swindon and District League]]. They play their home matches at South Marston, Swindon, Wiltshire.

==Swindon Spitfires Women's, Girls' and Men's Football Club==

Swindon Spitfires founded in 1967 is one of the oldest Women's and Girls' Football Club in the country and the first in Wiltshire to receive the [[FA Charter Standard]]. Spitfires is the first and original women's and girls' football club in Swindon and has achieved the Regional Charter Standard Award in 2005 and the County Charter Standard Award in 2004, 05 and 2009.
In the 2011/12 season '''Swindon Spitfires''' created a men's team which have joined the [[Swindon and District League]]. The men's team also received [[FA Charter Standard]] Status in August 2011.

==Honours==

Charter Standard Award - 2011 (Men's team)

Thames Valley Women's Football League - Division 3 Runners Up 2010-11 (Reserves)

Regional Charter Standard Award winners - 2005

County Charter Standard Award winners - 2004, 2005 and 2009

South West Women's Football League - Division 1 Runners Up
2006-07

Southern Regional League - Champions
1995-96

==First team Seasons Records==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Season
! Division
! Position
|-
| 2005-06
| South West Division 1
| 2nd
|-
| 2006-07
| South West Premier Division
| 9th
|-
| 2007-08
| South West Division 1
| 9th
|-
| 2008-09
| South West Division 1
| 5th
|-
| 2009-10
| South West Division 1
| 6th
|-
| 2010-11
| South West Division 1
| 6th
|-
| 2011-12
| South West Division 1
|
|}

==Current first team squad==
:''As of August 2011 (including Reserve team players).''<ref name="Ladies Players">{{cite web
| url=http://www.swindonspitfiresfc.co.uk/15173/the_squad.pl
| title=Ladies Players
| work=swindonspitfiresfc.co.uk
| accessdate=2008-12-26 }}</ref><ref name="Ladies Statistics">{{cite web | url=http://www.swindonspitfiresfc.co.uk/15173/the_squad.pl| title=Ladies Statistics | work=swindonspitfiresfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-12-26 }}</ref>

{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player | no=1 | nat=England | pos=GK | name=Julia Caton }}
{{Fs player | no=2 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Emma Blackwell}}
{{Fs player | no=3 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Debbie Rose}}
{{Fs player | no=4 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Jess Dent}}
{{Fs player | no=5 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Jenna Blake}}
{{Fs player | no=6 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Laura Mason}}
{{Fs player | no=7 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Kayleigh Reeves}}
{{Fs player | no=8 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Catt Baird}}
{{Fs player | no=9 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Cara Costello}}
{{Fs player | no=10 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Jenny Gray}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player | no=11 | nat=England | pos=FW | name=Vicky Wilkes}}
{{Fs player | no=12 | nat=England | pos=FW | name=Lyndsey Ball}}
{{Fs player | no=13 | nat=England | pos=GK | name=Ellie Rickeard}}
{{Fs player | no=14 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Emma Pinkney}}
{{Fs player | no=15 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Laura Ball}}
{{Fs player | no=16 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Emily Sparks}}
{{Fs player | no=17 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Lyndsey Welsh}}
{{Fs player | no=18 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Rachel Eley}}
{{Fs player | no=19 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Diane George}}
{{Fs player | no=20 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Jenny Galvin}}
{{Fs player | no=21 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Sophie Tyla Jones}}

{{Fs end}}

==First team 2011/12 Fixtures and Results==

{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Opponents
!Home/Away
!Type
!Score
!Goalscorers
|-
| St Nicolas
| Home
| Friendly
| 0-3
|
|-
| Banbury United
| Away
| Friendly
| 3-3
| Julia Caton, Kayleigh Reeves, Vicky Wilkes
|-
| Wootton Bassett Town
| Home
| Friendly
| 5-2
| Cara Costello (5)
|-
| Nailsea United
| Away
| League
| 3-1
| Kayleigh Reeves
|-
| Cirencester Town
| Home
| League
| 0-3
|
|-
| Swindon Supermarine
| Away
| League
| 8-0
|
|-
| Blandford United
| Home
| League
| 1-2
| Cara Costello
|-
| Poole Town
| Away
| League
| 0-0
|
|-
| Bridgewater Town
| Home
| League
| 2-1
| Emily Sparks (2)
|-
| Bridgewater Town
| Home
| FA Cup
| 0-1 (AET)
|
|-
| Cam Bulldog
| Away
| League
| 3-1
| Laura Ball
|-
| Forest Green Rovers Reserves
| Home
| League
| 1-0
| Cara Costello
|-
| Cleeve West Town
| Away
| League
| 7-0
|
|-
| Bishop's Lydeard
| Home
| League
| 1-2
| Lyndsey Ball
|-
| Downend Flyers
| Away
| League
| 0-0
|
|-
| Blandford United
| Away
| League
| 1-0
|
|-
| Alderbury
| Home
| Wiltshire Cup
| 7-0
| Debbie Rose (3), Emily Sparkes (2), Kayleigh Reeves
|-
| Downend Flyers
| Away
| Bristol Soccerworld Cup
| 2-1
| Emily Sparkes
|-
| Cirencester Town
| Away
| League
| 3-0
|
|-
| Cleeve West Town
| Home
| League
| 2-3
| Cara Costello, Og.
|}

==Reserve team Seasons Records==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Season
! Division
! Position
|-
| 2004-05
| Wiltshire County
| 4th
|-
| 2005-06
| Wiltshire County
| 2nd
|-
| 2006-07
| South West Division 1
| 7th
|-
| 2008-09
| Thames Valley Division 3
| 12th
|-
| 2009-10
| Thames Valley Division 3 South
| 3rd
|-
| 2010-11
| Thames Valley Division 3
| 2nd
|-
| 2011-12
| Wiltshire County
|
|}


==History==
==Current reserve team squad==
===Early years===
:''As of August 2011 (including First Team players).''<ref name="Ladies Players"/><ref name="Ladies Statistics"/>
In 1967 the club was formed by female [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] supporters, who had been in the club's [[marching band]] but decided that they wanted to play football. When they watched Swindon Town playing at [[Watford F.C.|Watford]], they were invited to the chairman's lounge at [[Vicarage Road]]. It was the Watford chairman who suggested that they call themselves '''Swindon Spitfires''', in honour of their home town's links to the iconic [[Supermarine Spitfire]] aircraft.<ref name="history">{{cite web |last1=Maull |first1=Bev |last2=Maull |first2=Steven |title=History Of the Spitfires |url=http://www.swindonspitfiresfc.co.uk/club/History |publisher=Swindon Spitfires FC |accessdate=7 December 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101012834/http://www.swindonspitfiresfc.co.uk/club/History |archivedate=1 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="fifty">{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Matthew |title=Swindon Spitfires marking 50 years of existence |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/15398326.swindon-spitfires-marking-50-years-of-existence/ |accessdate=7 December 2019 |publisher=[[Swindon Advertiser]] |date=8 July 2017}}</ref><ref group="note">In 1940 Spitfire production switched to Swindon after the factory in Southampton was bombed by the [[Luftwaffe]].</ref>


Ron Hyde, whose daughter was a player, served as the team's first [[Manager (association football)|manager]]. The team debuted in June 1967, losing 10–5 to Calne. Two goals from Jo Swinden and a Sylvia Carson [[hat-trick]] completed the Spitfires' scoring. Another Carson hat-trick and one from club [[Captain (association football)|captain]] Dee Allison secured a 6–6 draw with Calne in the rematch. The Spitfires secured their first win in their ninth match, when they beat Cheltenham 4–1.<ref name="history"/><ref name="fifty"/>
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player | no=1 | nat=England | pos=GK | name=Ellie Rickeard }}
{{Fs player | no=2 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Bev Maull}}
{{Fs player | no=3 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Diane George}}
{{Fs player | no=4 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Elizabeth Coles}}
{{Fs player | no=5 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Michelle Maull-Hutfield}}
{{Fs player | no=6 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Zoe Gleaves}}
{{Fs player | no=7 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Lyndsey Welsh}}
{{Fs player | no=8 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Zofie Stepien}}
{{Fs player | no=9 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Emma Pinkney}}
{{Fs player | no=10 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Naomi Bell}}
{{Fs player | no=11 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Caroline Hook}}
{{Fs player | no=12 | nat=England | pos=FW | name=Lisa Curtis}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player | no=13 | nat=England | pos=FW | name=Amanda Cook}}
{{Fs player | no=14 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Jenny Galvin}}
{{Fs player | no=15 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Laura Ball}}
{{Fs player | no=16 | nat=England | pos=FW | name=Kristina Digweed}}
{{Fs player | no=17 | nat=England | pos=GK | name=Rachel 'Gazza' Eley}}
{{Fs player | no=18 | nat=England | pos=FW | name=Victoria 'Maggie' Robinson}}
{{Fs player | no=19 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Chloe Titcombe}}
{{Fs player | no=20 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Diane Rogers}}
{{Fs player | no=21 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Pippa Greenwood}}
{{Fs player | no=22 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Victoria Parry}}
{{Fs player | no=23 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Kimberley Sharp}}
{{Fs player | no=24 | nat=England | pos=GK | name=Shona Hanlon}}
{{Fs end}}


The team then enjoyed sustained local success, often attracting three to four hundred supporters to home matches staged at the [[W.D. & H.O. Wills]] factory sports grounds in Swindon.<ref name="history" /> In May 1969 they beat Emgals of Leicester 2–1 at [[Bedworth United F.C.|Bedworth Oval]] to win the first Midland Ladies Football League Cystic Fibrosis Cup.<ref>{{cite news |title=Spitfires roar to cup win |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19690503/586/0051 |accessdate=7 December 2019 |publisher=[[Coventry Telegraph|Coventry Evening Telegraph]] |date=3 May 1969 |page=15}}</ref> A controversial 5–0 win over Newbury Golden Eagles in September 1969 saw one player from each team [[Ejection (sports)|shown the red card]] for trading [[Punch (combat)|punches]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Fists fly - and soccer girls are sent off |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19690909/010/0001 |accessdate=7 December 2019 |publisher=[[Reading Post|Reading Evening Post]] |date=9 September 1969 |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Dirty play? Not us say soccer girls |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19690912/018/0001 |accessdate=7 December 2019 |publisher=[[Reading Post|Reading Evening Post]] |date=12 September 1969 |page=1}}</ref> In June 1970 Swindon Spitfires were one of the 44 clubs to be represented at the [[Women's Football Association]]'s (WFA) inaugural [[annual general meeting]] at [[Caxton Hall]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gregory |first1=Patricia |title=Founder Clubs |url=https://wfahistory.wordpress.com/early-years/founder-clubs/ |website=History of the Women's Football Association |date=29 April 2017 |accessdate=23 November 2019}}</ref> They affiliated to the [[Home Counties League]], which also contained [[Southampton Women's F.C.|Southampton WFC]], the dominant team of the era.<ref name="history" /><ref group="note">There was no national women's football league in England until 1991.</ref>
==Reserve team 2011/12 Fixtures==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Opponents
!Home/Away
!Type
!Score
!Goalscorers
|-
| Carterton
| Home
| Friendly
| 4-0
| Amanda Cook, Emma Pinkney (2), Lisa Curtis
|-
| Stanford
| Away
| Friendly
| 4-2
| Lisa Curtis, og
|-
| Bracknell Town Reserves
| Home
| Friendly
| 2-0
| Lisa Curtis, Rachel Eley
|-
| Melksham United
| Away
| League
| 0-5
| Caroline Hook, Diane George, Kristina Digweed, Lisa Curtis, Victoria Parry
|-
| FC Chippenham Town
| Home
| League
| 1-0
| Diane George
|-
| Marlborough Town
| Away
| League
| 0-0
|
|-
| Cirencester Town Reserves
| Home
| Friendly
| 5-4
| Lisa Curtis (3), Zofie Stepien (2)
|-
| Larkhall Athletic Youth
| Away
| League
| 1-4
| Caroline Hook (2), Emma Pinkney, Zofie Stepien
|-
| Highworth Town
| Away
| League
| 2-1
| Emma Pinkney
|-
| Highworth Town
| Home
| League
| 3-4
| Caroline Hook, Emma Pinkney, Zofie Stepien
|-
| Melksham United
| Home
| League
| 3-2
| Caroline Hook (2), Emma Pinkney
|-
| FC Chippenham
| Away
| League
| 3-0
|
|-
| Marlborough Town
| Home
| League
|
|
|-
| Larkhall Athletic Youth
| Home
| League
|
|
|-
| Larkhall Athletic Youth
| Away
| Cup
|
|
|-
| Melksham United
| Home
| Cup
|
|
|-
|}


Nuneaton Wanderers beat the Spitfires 5–2 in the Heart of England Open Cup final in May 1971 at Cheltenham.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wanderers clinch Open Cup |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19710507/340/0036 |accessdate=7 December 2019 |publisher=[[Coventry Telegraph|Coventry Evening Telegraph]] |date=7 May 1971 |page=36}}</ref> In 1973–74 Swindon Spitfires reached the semi-final of the national [[FA Women's Cup]] (then known as the Mitre Challenge Trophy).<ref name="ptone">{{cite AV media
==Mens team Seasons Records==
| people =
| date = 30 November 2015
| title = Swindon Spitfires Chris & Bev Maull Part One
| trans-title =
| medium =
| language =
| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxJpmmafCzU
| access-date = 7 December 2019
| archive-url =
| archive-date =
| format =
| time =
| location =
| publisher = Your Sport Swindon
| id =
| isbn =
| oclc =
| quote =
}}</ref> In the quarter-final the Spitfires beat [[Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C.|Brighton GPO]] 1–0.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mitre Challenge Trophy 1973-74 |url=https://www.facebook.com/SwindonSpitfires67/photos/a.1432916173417596/1472729156102964/?type=3&theater |publisher=Swindon Spitfires FC |accessdate=7 December 2019 |date=8 March 1974}}</ref> They lost the semi-final 2–0 to eventual Cup winners Foden's. In the third place play-off, staged as a [[curtain raiser]] to the final at [[Bedford Town F.C.|Bedford Town]], Swindon Spitfires faced a [[Westthorn United]] team containing [[Rose Reilly]] and [[Edna Neillis]].


===Split===
{| class="wikitable"
{{main|Swindon Town W.F.C.}}
|-
! Season
! Division
! Position
|-
| 2011-12
| Swindon and District League
|
|-
|}


During the 1992–93 season, Swindon Spitfires had been in protracted negotiations with Swindon Town over a merger with the men's [[English Football League]] club. The Spitfires' first team manager Kerri Garwood unexpectedly made a unilateral agreement with Swindon Town to form their new women's team, taking most of the Spitfires' squad with her. This left Swindon Spitfires with only five players. Although they managed to attract new players and survive, a degree of enmity remained and developed into a longstanding [[List of association football rivalries|rivalry]] between the clubs.<ref name="history"/>
==Current mens team squad==
:''As of August 2011.''<ref name="Mens Players">{{cite web
| url=http://www.swindonspitfiresfc.co.uk/159128/the_squad.pl | title=Mens Players
| work=swindonspitfiresfc.co.uk
| accessdate=2008-12-26 }}</ref><ref name="Mens Statistics">{{cite web | url=http://www.swindonspitfiresfc.co.uk/159128/the_squad.pl| title=Mens Statistics | work=swindonspitfiresfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-12-26 }}</ref>


===Later years===
{{Fs start}}
In 1995–96 Swindon Spitfires won the [[Southern Region Women's Football League]]. They were defeated by [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Women|Tottenham Hotspur]] in a play-off for [[Promotion and relegation|promotion]] to the [[FA Women's Premier League Southern Division]].<ref name="history"/>
{{Fs player | no=1 | nat=England | pos=GK | name=Stuart Hutfield }}
{{Fs player | no=2 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=James Culley }}
{{Fs player | no=3 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Mike Skinner }}
{{Fs player | no=4 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Wayne Hearne }}
{{Fs player | no=5 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Steven Maull }}
{{Fs player | no=6 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Marc Cowan }}
{{Fs player | no=7 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Luke Burroughs }}
{{Fs player | no=8 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Barry Winslow}}
{{Fs player | no=9 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Neil Coles}}
{{Fs player | no=10 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Tom Saunders}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player | no=11 | nat=England | pos=FW | name=Adam Wood }}
{{Fs player | no=12 | nat=England | pos=FW | name=Aron Simmonds }}
{{Fs player | no=13 | nat=England | pos=FW | name=Shane Johnson }}
{{Fs player | no=14 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Matthew Gale }}
{{Fs player | no=15 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Peter Cox}}
{{Fs player | no=16 | nat=England | pos=FW | name=Matthew Robinson}}
{{Fs player | no=17 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Colin Nunn}}
{{Fs player | no=18 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=Shaun Martin}}
{{Fs player | no=19 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=Michael Warren}}
{{Fs player | no=20 | nat=England | pos=FW | name=Michael Cox}}
{{Fs player | no=21 | nat=England | pos=GK | name=Ryan Doberty-Clarke}}
{{Fs player | no=22 | nat=England | pos=FW | name=Ewan Williams}}
{{Fs player | no=23 | nat=England | pos=FW | name=Chris Horne}}


A runners-up position in the 2014–15 [[South West Regional Women's Football League]] Premier Division secured promotion to the [[FA Women's National League|FA Women's Premier League]] Division One South West.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Edwards |first1=Matthew |title=Women's Football: Spitfires are aiming to build on World Cup fervour |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/13356427.womens-football-spitfires-are-aiming-to-build-on-world-cup-fervour/ |accessdate=23 November 2019 |publisher=[[Swindon Advertiser]] |date=25 June 2015}}</ref> During the subsequent [[2015–16 FA Women's Premier League]] season the club withdrew from the league after a series of heavy defeats, planning to regroup at a lower level.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bassam |first1=Tom |title=FA Women's Premier League: Spitfires make reluctant withdrawal |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/13877674.fa-womens-premier-league-spitfires-make-reluctant-withdrawal/ |accessdate=23 November 2019 |publisher=[[Swindon Advertiser]] |date=19 October 2015}}</ref>


In their 50th anniversary year the club won the Wiltshire League and were admitted to an enlarged [[South West Regional Women's Football League]] for 2017–18.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Frith |first1=Wilf |title=Ten Promoted To South West League |url=https://shekicks.net/ten-teams-promoted-south-west-league/ |accessdate=23 November 2019 |publisher=[[She Kicks]] |date=7 July 2017}}</ref> In September 2018 [[New College, Swindon]] officially opened a new [[artificial turf]] pitch, with Swindon Spitfires among the listed partner clubs permitted to train at the facility.<ref>{{cite news |title=Swindon Town FC manager opens all weather pitch |url=http://www.wiltshirefa.com/news/2018/sep/26/swindon-town-fc-manager-opens-all-weather-pitch |accessdate=7 December 2019 |publisher=[[Wiltshire Football Association]] |date=26 September 2018}}</ref> Also that month the club agreed a [[English football sponsorship|sponsorship]] deal with Swindon-based [[Magic (illusion)|magician]] Mark Burford.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Angelini |first1=Daniel |title=Magic entertainer and carer for children with brain injuries sponsors Swindon Spitfires |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/17882380.magic-entertainer-carer-children-brain-injuries-sponsors-swindon-spitfires/ |accessdate=7 December 2019 |publisher=[[Swindon Advertiser]] |date=5 September 2018}}</ref>
{{Fs end}}


==The Maulls==
==Mens team 2011/12 Fixtures and Results==
Chris Maull helped Ron Hyde to found Swindon Spitfires and after a period of absence returned to the club in 1974. In 1976 he married Bev Maull (née Thompson), who had joined the club as a player in 1970 after a successful trial.<ref name="ptone"/> The couple became "instrumental" in fulfilling a series of different roles at the club over the following decades.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Edwards |first1=Matthew |title=Spitfires' Maulls are left stunned by FA nomination |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/13407606.spitfires-maulls-are-left-stunned-by-fa-nomination/ |accessdate=7 December 2019 |publisher=[[Swindon Advertiser]] |date=11 July 2015}}</ref><ref name="bbc" /> They attended [[Wembley Stadium]] in August 2015 after being nominated for a national [[The Football Association|Football Association]] (FA) award and were praised by [[Geoff Hurst]], who described their dedication as: "absolutely astonishing".<ref>{{cite news |title=World Cup Winner Pays Tribute To Local Couple |url=https://www.samfm.co.uk/southcoast/news/local-news/wolrd-cup-winner-pays-tribute-to-local-couple/ |accessdate=7 December 2019 |publisher=[[Sam FM (South Coast)]] |date=8 July 2015}}</ref> In 2015–16 Bev remained an active player at the club despite celebrating her 60th birthday during the season. She intended to take up [[walking football]] from 2016–17.<ref name="ptone"/> Chris Maull died in April 2022.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=SwindonSpits67|number=1510864615172935685|date=4 April 2022|title=It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Club President Christopher Maull, who had been suffering from a rare brain disease. Having been a stalwart of the club since its founding in 1967, Chris will be fondly missed. Our condolences to his family all at Spitfires.}}</ref>


==Notes==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
<references group="note" />
!Opponents
!Home/Away
!Type
!Score
!Goalscorers
|-
| Dorcan Old Boys
| Home
| Friendly
| 3-5
| Adam Wood, Aron Simmonds, Shane Johnson
|-
| AFC Swindon United
| Home
| Friendly
| 2-4
| Adam Wood, Shane Johnson
|-
| Spectrum
| Home
| Friendly
| 0-5
|
|-
| Queensfield United
| Home
| League
| 0-18
|
|-
| Old Town United
| Away
| League
| 3-9
| Luke Burroughs, Peter Cox, Shane Johnson
|-
| Korr Services
| Home
| League
| 0-5
|
|-
| DJC Marlborough
| Home
| League
| 0-14
|
|-
| VBA Rangers
| Home
| League
| 1-12
| Aron Simmonds
|-
| Chiseldon Reserves
| Away
| League
| 11-0
|
|-
| Lower Stratton
| Home
| League
| 1-7
| Colin Nunn
|-
| Ramsbury
| Away
| League
| 4-1
| Marc Cowan
|-
| Marshall FC
| Away
| Cup
| 8-0
|
|-
| Auto Engine Tune Harlequin
| Away
| League
| 6-0
|
|-
| Highworth Town A
| Home
| League
| 1-8
| Luke Burroughs
|-
| Seend United
| Away
| Cup
| 12-0
|
|-
| Korr Services
| Away
| Cup
|
|
|-
| Fratellos
| Home
| League
|
|
|-
| Pembroke
| Away
| League
|
|
|-
| Marshall FC
| Home
| League
|
|
|-
| Village Inn FC
| Away
| League
|
|
|-
| Village Inn FC
| Home
| League
|
|
|-
| Queensfield United
| Away
| League
|
|
|-
| Old Town United
| Home
| League
|
|
|-
| Korr Services
| Away
| League
|
|
|-
| DJC Marlborough
| Away
| League
|
|
|-
| VBA Rangers
| Away
| League
|
|
|-
| Chiseldon Reserves
| Home
| League
|
|
|-
| Lower Stratton
| Away
| League
|
|
|-
| Ramsbury
| Home
| League
|
|
|-
| Auto Engine Tune Harlequin
| Home
| League
|
|
|-
| Highworth Town A
| Away
| League
|
|
|-
| Spectrum
| Home
| League
|
|
|-
| Fratellos
| Away
| League
|
|
|-
| Pembroke
| Home
| League
|
|
|-
| Marshall FC
| Away
| League
|
|
|-
| Spectrum
| Away
| League
|
|
|-
|}


==References==
==References==
Line 721: Line 98:


==External links==
==External links==
* {{Twitter|SwindonSpits67}}
* [http://www.swindonspitfiresfc.co.uk/ Official website]
* [http://www.swwfl.org.uk/ South West Women's Football League website]
* [http://full-time.thefa.com/Index.do?league=1552858 Wiltshire Women's and Girls' Football League]
* [http://full-time.thefa.com/Index.do?league=2799344 Swindon and District League]


[[Category:English women's football clubs]]
[[Category:Women's football clubs in England]]
[[Category:English men's football clubs]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1967]]
[[Category:Sport in Swindon]]
[[Category:1967 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Wiltshire]]

Latest revision as of 23:27, 24 June 2024

Swindon Spitfires
Full nameSwindon Spitfires Football Club
Nickname(s)Spits
Founded1967; 57 years ago (1967)
GroundWatchfield Sports Pavilion, Vale of White Horse[1]
PresidentChris Maull
ChairpersonDiane George
LeagueSouth West Regional Women's League Division 1 East

Swindon Spitfires Football Club is an English football club from Swindon, Wiltshire. The women's first team are members of the South West Regional Women's Football League Division One East, train at New College, Swindon and play their home matches in nearby Watchfield, Vale of White Horse. Founded in 1967, they are one of the oldest extant women's and girls' football clubs in England.[2] The club also runs a reserve team and several age-group teams in its youth system. In 2011 the club launched an associated men's team, who compete in the local Swindon & District League.

History

[edit]

Early years

[edit]

In 1967 the club was formed by female Swindon Town supporters, who had been in the club's marching band but decided that they wanted to play football. When they watched Swindon Town playing at Watford, they were invited to the chairman's lounge at Vicarage Road. It was the Watford chairman who suggested that they call themselves Swindon Spitfires, in honour of their home town's links to the iconic Supermarine Spitfire aircraft.[3][4][note 1]

Ron Hyde, whose daughter was a player, served as the team's first manager. The team debuted in June 1967, losing 10–5 to Calne. Two goals from Jo Swinden and a Sylvia Carson hat-trick completed the Spitfires' scoring. Another Carson hat-trick and one from club captain Dee Allison secured a 6–6 draw with Calne in the rematch. The Spitfires secured their first win in their ninth match, when they beat Cheltenham 4–1.[3][4]

The team then enjoyed sustained local success, often attracting three to four hundred supporters to home matches staged at the W.D. & H.O. Wills factory sports grounds in Swindon.[3] In May 1969 they beat Emgals of Leicester 2–1 at Bedworth Oval to win the first Midland Ladies Football League Cystic Fibrosis Cup.[5] A controversial 5–0 win over Newbury Golden Eagles in September 1969 saw one player from each team shown the red card for trading punches.[6][7] In June 1970 Swindon Spitfires were one of the 44 clubs to be represented at the Women's Football Association's (WFA) inaugural annual general meeting at Caxton Hall.[8] They affiliated to the Home Counties League, which also contained Southampton WFC, the dominant team of the era.[3][note 2]

Nuneaton Wanderers beat the Spitfires 5–2 in the Heart of England Open Cup final in May 1971 at Cheltenham.[9] In 1973–74 Swindon Spitfires reached the semi-final of the national FA Women's Cup (then known as the Mitre Challenge Trophy).[10] In the quarter-final the Spitfires beat Brighton GPO 1–0.[11] They lost the semi-final 2–0 to eventual Cup winners Foden's. In the third place play-off, staged as a curtain raiser to the final at Bedford Town, Swindon Spitfires faced a Westthorn United team containing Rose Reilly and Edna Neillis.

Split

[edit]
Main article: Swindon Town W.F.C.

During the 1992–93 season, Swindon Spitfires had been in protracted negotiations with Swindon Town over a merger with the men's English Football League club. The Spitfires' first team manager Kerri Garwood unexpectedly made a unilateral agreement with Swindon Town to form their new women's team, taking most of the Spitfires' squad with her. This left Swindon Spitfires with only five players. Although they managed to attract new players and survive, a degree of enmity remained and developed into a longstanding rivalry between the clubs.[3]

Later years

[edit]

In 1995–96 Swindon Spitfires won the Southern Region Women's Football League. They were defeated by Tottenham Hotspur in a play-off for promotion to the FA Women's Premier League Southern Division.[3]

A runners-up position in the 2014–15 South West Regional Women's Football League Premier Division secured promotion to the FA Women's Premier League Division One South West.[12] During the subsequent 2015–16 FA Women's Premier League season the club withdrew from the league after a series of heavy defeats, planning to regroup at a lower level.[13]

In their 50th anniversary year the club won the Wiltshire League and were admitted to an enlarged South West Regional Women's Football League for 2017–18.[14] In September 2018 New College, Swindon officially opened a new artificial turf pitch, with Swindon Spitfires among the listed partner clubs permitted to train at the facility.[15] Also that month the club agreed a sponsorship deal with Swindon-based magician Mark Burford.[16]

The Maulls

[edit]

Chris Maull helped Ron Hyde to found Swindon Spitfires and after a period of absence returned to the club in 1974. In 1976 he married Bev Maull (née Thompson), who had joined the club as a player in 1970 after a successful trial.[10] The couple became "instrumental" in fulfilling a series of different roles at the club over the following decades.[17][2] They attended Wembley Stadium in August 2015 after being nominated for a national Football Association (FA) award and were praised by Geoff Hurst, who described their dedication as: "absolutely astonishing".[18] In 2015–16 Bev remained an active player at the club despite celebrating her 60th birthday during the season. She intended to take up walking football from 2016–17.[10] Chris Maull died in April 2022.[19]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ In 1940 Spitfire production switched to Swindon after the factory in Southampton was bombed by the Luftwaffe.
  2. ^ There was no national women's football league in England until 1991.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "New venue proves to be a good host for Spitfires' tournament". Swindon Advertiser. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Swindon duo's girls' football revolution". BBC Sport. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Maull, Bev; Maull, Steven. "History Of the Spitfires". Swindon Spitfires FC. Archived from the original on 1 January 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  4. ^ a b Davies, Matthew (8 July 2017). "Swindon Spitfires marking 50 years of existence". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Spitfires roar to cup win". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 3 May 1969. p. 15. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  6. ^ "Fists fly - and soccer girls are sent off". Reading Evening Post. 9 September 1969. p. 1. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  7. ^ "Dirty play? Not us say soccer girls". Reading Evening Post. 12 September 1969. p. 1. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  8. ^ Gregory, Patricia (29 April 2017). "Founder Clubs". History of the Women's Football Association. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  9. ^ "Wanderers clinch Open Cup". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 7 May 1971. p. 36. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  10. ^ a b c Swindon Spitfires Chris & Bev Maull Part One. Your Sport Swindon. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  11. ^ "Mitre Challenge Trophy 1973-74". Swindon Spitfires FC. 8 March 1974. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  12. ^ Edwards, Matthew (25 June 2015). "Women's Football: Spitfires are aiming to build on World Cup fervour". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  13. ^ Bassam, Tom (19 October 2015). "FA Women's Premier League: Spitfires make reluctant withdrawal". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  14. ^ Frith, Wilf (7 July 2017). "Ten Promoted To South West League". She Kicks. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  15. ^ "Swindon Town FC manager opens all weather pitch". Wiltshire Football Association. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  16. ^ Angelini, Daniel (5 September 2018). "Magic entertainer and carer for children with brain injuries sponsors Swindon Spitfires". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  17. ^ Edwards, Matthew (11 July 2015). "Spitfires' Maulls are left stunned by FA nomination". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  18. ^ "World Cup Winner Pays Tribute To Local Couple". Sam FM (South Coast). 8 July 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  19. ^ @SwindonSpits67 (4 April 2022). "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Club President Christopher Maull, who had been suffering from a rare brain disease. Having been a stalwart of the club since its founding in 1967, Chris will be fondly missed. Our condolences to his family all at Spitfires" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
[edit]
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