Nottingham Swifts Football Club, usually referred to as Notts Swifts, was an Englishfootball club, founded in or before 1876 under the name Mansfield Road. They became Nottingham Swifts in 1880.[2]
History
The earliest reference to a match played by the club is in 1876, losing to North Nottingham Youth.[3]
By 1887, the club was entering the Nottingham Junior Cup, without success; in 1887-88, it lost to Sneinton Rovers in the first round.[7] Nevertheless, the same year, the club entered the FA Cup. Being drawn away at Nottingham Forest meant that many thought the tie a "foregone conclusion", but Swifts played above themselves and held Forest to a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes, thanks to a header by C.F. Daft, brother of England international Harry Daft, from a corner by Warburton. The game went to extra-time, and although the Swifts dominated the first period, Forest won after Swifts goalkeeper (and club captain) Whyatt was charged through the goal while holding the ball.[8]
The introduction of the Football League and Football Alliance dealt a mortal blow to many of the Nottingham town sides which were not part of either set-up. The club joined the Notts League, but struggled. The club recruited players from Jardines and Basford Pioneers before the start of the 1888-89 season,[9] but once the season was underway the Swifts lost "no fewer than five of their best men"[10] and an 8-1 lost to Notts Olympic in the first round of the Senior Cup,[11] despite taking the lead, appears to have removed any enthusiasm for the club; the last senior fixture reported for the club is an 8-1 defeat to Boston in 1891,[12] and the club's last reported match was a second-round defeat in the Nottingham Junior Cup, to Keyworth in 1892.[13]
Successor club
From 1892 a club called Nottingham Forest Swifts appears in the Midland League. This is the Nottingham Forest reserve side rather than a continuation of the Swifts.
