look up offer - Professional Footballers 1888-1939

[Gadget]

Hi Matt 

I'm ever so sorry but he's not in my book.

The book only covers players who played in the first teams for clubs that were in the English/Welsh League 1888-39.

I don't think any of the clubs that you mentioned were in the League at that time 

It might be worth contacting one of the clubs that he played for.


Gadget

[Matt R]

Gadget,

Doh! Sorry your search was unsuccessful. Think I'll have to grill my gt uncles again lol.

Thanks very much for taking the time to look him up for me

Matt

[Duck]

I have spoken to the PNE Club Historian and he says that Michael and William Swarbrick are definately two different players

[jds1949]

Duck,

Thanks for confirming that - so we now know that Michael Swarbrick played for PNE, possibly lived at 181, Skeffington Road, Preston in 1910 and was reported killed in April 1917.

He doesn't appear to have any birth record
he doesn't appear in the 1901 or 1911 census - or at least he has not been found
he doesn't have a service record or a medal card

A bit of a mystery!

jds1949

[Gadget]

I've checked the Scottish births for him and looked at the BMDs to see if any of them had M as a middle name, etc. Were there Swarbricks in Ireland 

Is there any chance that it was a nickname or he took it as a professionals name because he might have shared a first name with one of the other Swarbricks.


Gadget

[Ginge28]

Can you find any record for Arthur Starkey playing for Leicester Fosse?  He was born in 1888, so I guess he would have played around 1908 - 1918.
Many thanks

[Duck]

Duck,

- so we now know that Michael Swarbrick played for PNE, possibly lived at 181, Skeffington Road, Preston in 1910

181 Skeffington Road is very close to the ground (200yards), I've just been to have a look, at that time it was the road that led to the east side of the ground

[jds1949]

Gadget,

There was at least one Swarbrick family in Scotland - I shall check them - there may have been some in Ireland, there was one family at least there in the mid-19th Century.

What's really bothering me is the lack of any medal card. Even if he had been Scottish or Irish - if he served in the British Army he should have had a medal card.

jds1949

[Gadget]

Can you find any record for Arthur Starkey playing for Leicester Fosse?  He was born in 1888, so I guess he would have played around 1908 - 1918.
Many thanks

Just bringing this up as I nearly missed it amidst the Swarbricks - will check later - was this Leicester City? If not, he won't be in my book 


Gadget