Stourport Swifts

History

In the year 1882 the first recorded club was established in the town, the members meeting for practice in a field near the Station Hotel (now the Brindley Arms). The name of 'SWIFTS' was given to it by the promoters, the colours being dark blue jersey's with a white swallow on the chest and white knickerbockers. After practicing for a considerable time near the Station Hotel, the club moved to Bewdley Road near the New Inn, where the first matches were played.

The Swifts changed their ground several times, before in 1906 moving to Olive Grove. The 1912-13 season saw the team capture their first honours, winning both the Worcester and Bromsgrove Charity Cups. Just before the outbreak of the First World War the Swifts reached their first County Cup Final, but were beaten 3-1 by the then powerful Badsey Rangers. After the war the Swifts came back with a vengeance and between 1925 and 1927 produced a historic hat-trick of County Cup wins. Twenty years passed before the Swifts lifted the trophy again, and another 35 years in 1982 reached the final again, but lost 2-0 to Metal Box. During this time Swifts moved to their present ground at the Walshes Meadow. The 1970-71 season saw the return of Stourport Swifts to the First Division of the Worcester League after an absence of many years.

In 1979, after eight seasons in the Worcester League, the Swifts were elected to Division Two of the West Midlands (Regional) League. After consolidating their position for half a dozen season, they gained promotion to Division One in 1986, after finishing fourth in the league.

The Swifts first year in Division One saw the come last but one, just avoiding relegation, but the following campaign saw them finish runners-up to Rocester and earn promotion to the Premier Division. After a struggle in the initial season, the Swifts have gradually improved each year, and in the 1991-92 season they finished 3rd after heading the division for most of the season.

Following this in 1992-93, they won the Premier Division Cup and the Worcester Senior Urn.

The 1993-94 season was another successful season which saw the club finish runners-up in the Premier Division and pull off another cup double again winning the Worcester Senior Urn as well as the Worcester Infirmary Cup, beating Bromsgrove Rovers on both occasions.

Despite finishing runners-up in the Premier Division, they failed to be elected to the newly formed Midland Football Alliance.

In 1994-95 Swifts finished in 3rd place and successfully defended the Worcester Senior Urn for the 3rd year running and the Worcester Infirmary Cup for the 2nd year running.

1995-96 saw them finish in 5th place and the league and retain the Worcester Infirmary Cup.

In 1996-97 they again finished runners-up in the West Midlands League Premier Division but 1997-98 was probably their best season in their 116 year history when after finishing runners-up for the 3rd time, they were promoted to the Midland Football Alliance and also added the Worcester Senior Urn and Worcester Infirmary Cup.

For the last 3 seasons Swifts have been playing at their highest ever level in the Dr Martens Western Division and due to non league reorganisation for the 2004/05 season we are now in the Southern League Division 1 West.

Recent Honours

West Midlands League
Division Two-Cup Runners Up 1982-83
Division One Runners Up 1987-88
Premier Division Runners Up 1993-94, 96-97, 97-98
Cup Winners 1992-93
Worcester Senior Urn Winners 92-93, 93-94, 94-95, 97-98
Worcester Infirmary Cup Winners 93-94, 94-95, 95-96, 97-98
Midland Football Alliance Winners 2000-2001