In creating this web site I have found it extremely difficult to recall events / dates / names and I therefore apologise in advance. I’m hoping that the site will outreach to the many many people who’ve been part of this microcosm in history and as such they in turn can contribute their recollections / images / words back to the site for its continued evolution.

Why SWIFTS? – From the age of 13 I started playing basketball. I was encouraged to hurtle up and down the famed boards at Crystal Palace as a youngster and found I had a fantastic time playing for school and Club up until the age of 18. Upon leaving school there was no ready outlet to play basketball – this left a huge void in my life. I teamed up with a couple of former school buddies and approached my old school – Purley High School For Boys – and hired their sportshall on a Friday evening. We quickly cobbled together 10 players, mainly through school friend ships and word of mouth. Within 3 months we were allowed to enter a tournament for the Surrey Basketball League at Woking Sports Centre. We borrowed kit from our Coach George Darke and turned up at Woking for our first outing. We lost every game but all thoroughly enjoyed the day. We agreed to play more and enter a league the following season. Having just left school finances were not easy to come by so my employee at the time agree to sponsor our kit! His Company colours were green and his logo was a swift. We therefore became The Purley Swifts – it was 1985 and the adventure started.

Through this web site you’ll hopefully be able to identify the history of the teams / players and the clubs deep set interaction with other basketballing communities. The time lines are as best as can be gleaned from memory / press cutting and friends input. If you can aid further please contact us.

From Surrey League Division Three through to Divisions Two and One the club grew in depth and strength. Venue restrictions required we move to Croydon and in the early 1990’s The Club (now the Croydon Swifts) embarked on to its foray into The National Leagues. With the senior mens team at the helm The Club generated ladies teams; National League Div 4 mens team; Surrey and London league mens teams; U18s; U16s; U14s and U12s cadets. Playing membership totals were over 250 and The Club was massive.

Once again the venue issue reared its head. To advance to National League Division One we had to have a venue capable of seating 1000 plus people. With Crystal Palace off limits we had no option but to move out of South East London and were invited to be the first occupants at the stunning Guildford Spectrum. A third name change – The Guildford Swifts – and the National League adventure continued to the heights of Division One.

Later in the nineties Guildford continue in its capacity with The Swifts moving back to South East London in becoming The Tandridge Swifts. At the newly created De Stafford Centre The Swifts successfully ran mens, ladies and cadet teams. Family interruptions paused The Swifts activities until 2002/03 it re-emerged – The Tunbridge Wells Swifts. Two seasons in The Sussex League found many news and older players combining in the latter stages of their playing careers. The core founders felt that perhaps the time had come to gracefully bow out.

The Swifts name has meandered across the South East since 1985 and today (2011) it’s rejuvenated in the form of SWIFTS MAGIC – a veteran team with an average age circa 50 and comprising some of the very first members. Our aim – to play on and enjoy......