Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Blackpool to honour Swift and Armfield
FRANK SWIFT and Jimmy Armfield, two of English football’s favourite sons, are to be honoured in their hometown of Blackpool this week.
The England internationals are being remembered with two murals in the playground of Revoe Learning Academy, the school they both attended when they were growing up in the seaside resort.
Armfield, the former England captain who spent his entire playing career with Blackpool before moving into management with Bolton and Leeds, passed away last year at the age of 82. He will also be remembered by a blue plaque that will be unveiled at the school.
Swift also captained his country, during a stellar goalkeeping career that began with Fleetwood and saw him win both the league title and FA Cup with Manchester City.
He moved into journalism when he finished playing and was tragically killed in the air crash that claimed the lives of eight Manchester United players at Munich in 1958.
Swift will also be honoured with a blue plaque that will be situated at Revoe Library.
Former Manchester United keeper Harry Gregg (above), a survivor from Munich, will attend the ceremonies on Thursday afternoon, as well as members of both men’s families, dignitaries from their former clubs and PFA chairman Gordon Taylor.
The murals of both players will be unveiled at Revoe Learning Academy at 12.15pm. The plaques remembering Armfield and Swift will then be unveiled at 1.15pm and 2pm respectively.