Club and leagues stalwart passes away

Stafford Rangers are mourning the passing of former vice-chairman Gordon Swinton who was also a member of the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League's management committee.

Mr Swinton, a former Boro director and vice chairman, died peacefully aged 98 following a short illness at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. The father of four had seven grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife Edith and is pictured last year at their home in Liskeard in Cornwall where they'd moved to during the 1980s. Mr Swinton worked for GEC, formerly English Electric, for most of his working life and was still working part-time until he finally retired aged 89.

A Football League referee in the 1950s, the club stalwart was a key figure at Marston Road during the 1970s, one of the most successful periods in the First Division South club's history when they won the FA Trophy three times and reached the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Mr Swinton was also well known throughout football for his work as an administrator.

Appointed as secretary of the Mid Staffordshire Football League in 1951, he stepped up to become chairman of the league in 1961 for nine years and was then president from 1974 to 1985.

As a Rangers director from their time in the Cheshire League, he was also a founder member of the management committee to establish the Alliance Premier League, now the Football Conference, in 1979.

During his final years as an administrator, he was presented with a silver salver by the Football Conference to mark his 50 years of service to the game which also included promoting amateur Sunday League football in Stafford and teaching referees.

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