look up offer - Professional Footballers 1888-1939

[Dannemois]

Thanks Gadget
I have just e-mailed Himalaya with a PM.  Having re-read his post on the cemtery query he simple did not ask for the name of the cemetery and I in my haste thought he was asking for the stone location.  This I hope as now been sorted in my PM.

Best wishes, Roy 

[jds1949]

Gadget,

I have found two other references to Michael Swarbrick. The first is this:

Extract from the 1910 Land Tax Returns
181, Skeffington Road
Occupied by Michael Swarbrick
Owned by Daniel Sumner, 1 Albert Road, Preston
Rented at £11 14s 0d p.a. paid weekly.
BB&S 2up and 2 down in good condition.
Valuation: £145

The second is this:
National Football Museum
Lancashire Evening Post article - Tuesday 12th December 2006     Written by Peter Evans

By the end of the war PNE first teamers John Barbour and John Ford and reserve players Tom Saul and Michael Swarbrick had been killed. “They gave their all in a sterner battle for England”.

The first one would seem to suggest that a man named Michael Swarbrick was living in Preston in 1910 - even though he does not seem to be listed in the 1911 census. The second would seem to suggest that Peter Evans had access to some record which had Michael Swarbrick listed as a PNE player.

I'm now going to see if I can find a birth record for him. Any further suggestions welcomed,

jds1949

[jds1949]

Update,

No record on Free bmd [national] and Lancashire bmd for any birth of a Michael Swarbrick between 1880 and 1900.

James b. 1881, [Robert] Lewis b. 1881 and George William Swarbrick b. 1888 were brothers, all three the sons of Robert and Elizabeth [Lewis] Swarbrick.

Now the interesting bit:

Information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
Robert Lewis Swarbrick, private, 306411, 2nd/8th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment, who died on Friday 26th October 1917, aged 37.
He was the son of Elizabeth Swarbrick of 23, Thorburn Grove, St John’s Estate, Blackpool, Lancashire, and the late Robert Swarbrick.
Commemorated at Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Grave reference: Panel 31 to 34 and 162 and 162A and 163A.

However  - the dates don't match Lewis was killed in October 1917 and Michael was reported as killed in April 1917.

This just gets stranger and stranger.

jds1949

[aghadowey]

Possibly Michael Swarbrick was reported missing presumed dead but survived.

[jds1949]

I have also checked to see if there is a medal card for any man named Michael Swarbrick - there isn't. I have been researching Swarbrick families for 25 years and I have data on 60+ Swarbrick families - I don't have anything on a Michael Swarbrick that would fit.

Curiouser and curiouser.

jds1949

[Gadget]

Hi jds

Simon has already said that .....................

The only Swarbrick to play first team football for Preston North End was William, born 1890, Preston.  He played 3 games for the club in 1912 before being released.  One of the games he played was against Manchester United and he put two past them 

He doesn't appear to have played for any other professional clubs

Simon

Simon still works for PNE and has access to their records.

The George William in the 1901 census  that I referred to,  later became a professional footballer.

There doesn't appear to be a birth registration for a Michael Swarbrick (variations) and he doesn't appear in any censuses 

Gadget

[Duck]

jds1949

A quote from the book, Loud & Proud, The Complete History of the Lilywhites

"North Enders, John Barbour and John Ford were killed in the early stages of the war as were North End reserve players Tom Saul and Michael Swarbrick"

I will contact the Club Historian later today

Michael Swarbrick, who was a reserve outside left for Preston North End a year or two ago.

The same position William Swarbrick played 

[jds1949]

Duck,

the other brother, James, was also an outside left - obviously ran in the family!

I look forward to whatever you can find out.

jds1949

[Matt R]

Hi Gadget,

What a great offer, thankyou!

Looking for info on my gt grandfather George Thompson Reay, born 1900 in Chirton near Wallsend, Northumberland. He played for Kettering Town in the 1920's, aswell as Raithrovers, Burton we believe, and Blyth Spartans. He is believed to have started his career playing for Percy Main Colliery in Howden. Any info on him would be great, thankyou.

We do not know ALL the clubs he played for, but there were about five or six.

I hope this is enough info. Thanks again for this kind offer

Matt