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Ex-editor writes history of football club that ‘refused to die’

A former regional daily editor has written a book on the history of “one of the oldest non-league football clubs”.

David Scott has co-authored ‘Heybridge Swifts – the club that refused to die’ after being inspired while leaving a game involving the club.

David, who lives in Torquay, retired from journalism this year after running his own journalism and law training company for 30 years.

Previously he was editor and managing director of the Birmingham Daily News, and also edited the Romford Observer and Banbury Guardian.

Heybridge

A former mayor of the Essex town of Maldon, near Heybridge, David was invited as a guest of the Swifts when they played an FA Cup match first round in Devon against Exeter City.

David said: “While walking back to my car I realised there was a fabulous story yet to be told about one of the oldest non-league football clubs.”

As a reuslt of his brainwave, David joined forces with the club’s former secretary Chris Daines to research the history of football in Heybridge.

He interviewed 61 people for the book, which is due to be launched at a Swifts home game next month.

David added: “The book tells the story of how six local families have been heavily involved for more than a century in keeping the club alive.

“And while is is a record of past championships and memorable games, it is also a history of the area including the story of the star midfield player and club secretary who died on the Somme in 1917, the full-back who headed the ball in a cup final in 1952 and died and the battle to survive after losing their ground in 1962.”