Swanny is back at the Turf

Last updated : 05 April 2002 By Tony Scholes

It is former central defender Peter Swan who we twice signed in the 1990s. He was a Jimmy Mullen signing during the pre-season training in 1995 and arrived from Plymouth for £200,000 as a replacement for Steve Davis who had gone to Luton for a tribunal fixed £750,000.

Swanny quickly became a popular player with the fans and he made 32 league appearances in his first season. However his first team opportunities were restricted once Mullen had been replaced by Adrian Heath, it was well known that the new manager and he didn't see eye to eye.

Eventually Heath had to play him and he made seventeen appearances during the 1996/97 season and had some excellent games. There were always rumours that Heath was trying to sell him with Bury considered to be the favourites. In fact Chris Waddle had been installed when the transfer went through and he signed for Bury and Stan Ternent.

A year later and Stan was at Burnley but when asked about Swanny coming back he told a packed Centre Spot forum, "I don't want Peter Swan". Shortly afterwards Swanny duly arrived back at the Turf, along with Gordon Armstrong, and made his second debut in a 3-1 defeat at Walsall.

This was to be the third time he had played for Stan. He was employed as a striker in the early 90s in Stan's Hull City side alongside Andy Payton.

He picked up a very bad injury at Wycombe at a time when our place in the Second Division was looking none too secure and although we escaped the drop he played no further part. In the following season he made just two substitute appearances, the last was in a 2-2 draw at Stoke, before joining York on a free transfer.

He was given the captaincy at Bootham Crescent but stayed just a short time before being forced to retire having never fully recovered from the knee injury sustained at Wycombe. Swanny is still in the game and is now first team coach at Osset Town.

His two spells at the Turf weren't the longest but there is no doubt he was a very popular player and will receive an excellent reception from the crowd on Saturday.