Chris Swailes

Christopher William Swailes (born October 19, 1970, Gateshead, County Durham) is a Association footballerer, currently playing for Hamilton Academical. He previously played for Ipswich Town F.C. under the current Scotland national football team manager, George Burley.

Career

Early days

Swailes was a trainee at Ipswich Town from 1989 to 1991, eventually moving to Peterborough United F.C. on March 28, 1991 for a fee of £10,000, after turning down a contract offered by the Ipswich manager at the time, John Lyall. Five months later, he moved on to Boston United F.C. of the Alliance Premier League on a free transfer, after feeling homesick for the North East England. He played only part-time for them, going out on loan to Kettering Town F.C. and Football League Third Division Birmingham City F.C. for a while, before signing for Bridlington Town F.C., again for free. After a short spell on loan to Guisborough Town F.C., he followed the Bridlington chairman Ken Richardson to Doncaster Rovers F.C., then in the Third Division, for no fee (once again).

In 54 appearances for Doncaster over the next 17 months, he scored one Football League Cup goal in a first round, second leg, away fixture at Wrexham F.C. on August 23, 1994.

Hitting the big time

However, in March 1995, the new Ipswich Town F.C. manager George Burley paid £150,000 for Swailes to return to his former club. he scored an own goal in stoppage time at the end of the match, to confirm a 1–0 defeat.

Moving on

On November 13, 1997, Stan Ternent, the manager of Bury F.C., also in the First Division at that time, paid a club record fee of £200,000 Although Swailes subsequently found it hard to maintain a run of appearances in the first team under Ternent, his fortunes looked up a little after Neil Warnock took over as manager in 1998, and he missed only three games through Suspension (punishment) during the 1998-99 in English football season. Despite this, Bury were relegated at the end of that term. Swailes was quoted as saying: "Probably Stan cracked the whip more than Neil did which in the end may have been the difference of gaining the extra couple of points we needed, but as professionals we must all share the blame".

"I like to think the fans can relate to me," he added. "I know I'm of limited ability but I always give 100 per cent on the pitch and I think the supporters appreciate that. But I'd gladly sacrifice the award for First Division survival."

Whilst with Bury, Swailes lived in Ramsbottom with his wife Louise and their recent addition to the family, a daughter. However, the good fortune which had blessed him around that period was about to disappear.

During the following season, in a match at home to Millwall F.C. on January 4, 2000 (his last game before a three-match ban was due to commence for getting sent off at Burnley F.C. on Boxing Day 1999), Swailes suffered a double hernia, but played on to the end of the match, and ended up in hospital. He was not fit enough to play for the reserves until mid-April, and did not taste first team football again until completing ninety minutes in the home Football League Second Division fixture against Blackpool F.C. on April 22, 2000, which they won 3–2.

By this time, Andy Preece had taken over as player/manager at Gigg Lane, and things were never the same for Swailes after this period. In all, he made 148 appearances for them, scoring on 11 occasions.

Although he was offered a new one, in June 2001 Chris Swailes' contract with Bury expired, and he was then able to move on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling. In reaction to an enquiry towards the end of May that year from Ronnie Moore of Rotherham United F.C., Bury had asked for a £100,000 fee – however, they refused to pay this. On June 19, 2001, Swailes signed a contract with newly-promoted Rotherham, and looked forward to a new season playing in the Football League First Division.

A regular for Rotherham

Throughout season 2001-02 in English football, Swailes was an ever-present, making 44 League appearances and scoring 6 League goals. However, the club exited both the FA Cup and the League Cup early, and avoided Promotion and relegation only by having a better goal difference than Crewe Alexandra F.C., who went down occupying the third-from-bottom position in the First Division.

In the 2002-03 in English football season, Swailes was sent off by referee Graham Laws shortly before half-time in a First Division match at home to Portsmouth F.C. on October 5, 2002. His manager, Ronnie Moore, bemoaned the referee's contribution to the game, saying: "One man has spoiled the game. It would have been a game, a hell of a game." The incident which led to Swailes' sending-off was described by The Guardian thus:
"...Chris Swailes, running side by side with Svetoslav Todorov, nudged his hip into the Portsmouth forward with as much menace as a ballroom partner. But Todorov went down and sent the referee Graham Laws reaching for red."
Regarding the sending-off, Moore would only say: "If he Todorov could have scored from there, I'm a Dutchman".

Swailes and Rotherham finished the season just below mid-table. Much the same happened in the following season, although they were involved in a "sensational Penalty shootout (football)" following a 1–1 draw, after extra time, at Arsenal F.C. in the League Cup third round on October 28, 2003. Arsenal won the penalty competition 9–8, after Swailes had missed his "Sudden death (sport)" spot-kick, leaving Sylvain Wiltord to claim victory by converting his. This was to be a significant occurrence regarding the future of Chris Swailes.

Swailes reunited with Moore

Swailes followed his Rotherham teammates Paul Warne and Rob Scott to Boundary Park in July 2005 on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract for Ronnie Moore. However, he was immediately injured in training, suffering a damaged heel. He would not make his debut for Oldham until the 0–0 home draw against Southend United F.C. on January 7, 2006, coming on as a substitute in the 51st minute. He then aggravated the problem in a training session before the game at Blackpool on January 10, 2006.

He struggled on, "taking pills just to get through games", and played in only 15 matches that season, between his debut and April 15, 2006, when he had to be substituted in the 51st minute in a 3–0 loss at home to Barnsley F.C.. However, despite surgery in the summer, which enabled him to play four times at the beginning of the 2006-07 in English football season, Swailes had to undergo a further operation, about which he said: "I am again in a lot of pain and it has just got worse. I had a feeling I might need more surgery and I just have to hope for the best". and Swailes was released.

Off to Scotland

Swailes made his recovery on schedule in February 2007, and then went on trial to Scottish Football League First Division Hamilton Academical F.C., registering in time to come on as a 23rd minute substitute in their away match at Clyde F.C. on March 10, 2007. By April, manager Billy Reid (football) was so impressed, he offered Swailes a contract extension. "We’re going to sign Chris Swailes up on a pay-as-you-play contract. I think he’s been brilliant for us at the back and adds a wealth of experience," he said. "If Chris can get a pre-season under his belt, and we can get him, Mark McLaughlin and David Elebert playing together then we’re in healthy hands in defence."

In July 2007, he signed a further one-year deal, as a part-time player, allowing him to travel up for games from his base in the North East of England.

Since then, he has been an integral part of the team, making regular appearances in defence, scoring the second goal in a 2–0 win at Partick Thistle F.C. in November 2007, but getting sent off in a Scottish Cup tie away to Brechin City F.C. in January 2008.

Honours

Hamilton Academical
- Scottish Football League First Division: Scottish First Division 2007-08 champions