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12 August 2025
 
 

Harold Fleming

Swindon Town FC

 11 appearances, 9 goals

P 11 W 9 D 1 L 1 F 33: A 13
86% successful
1909-14

captain: none
minutes played: 990

Timeline
  Harold John Fleming
Birth Saturday, 30 April 1887 in Duck Lane Cottage, Downton, Wiltshire
  registered in Alderbury April-June 1887
"Harold John Fleming, who was born on April 30, 1887, at Downton, near Salisbury, went with his parents to Swindon at the tender age of ten." - The Athletic News, Monday, 14 February 1910
Baptism Sunday, 21 August 1887 in Downton
Education







 Attended Sanford Street School and at St. Boniface theological College, both in Warminster.

According to the 1891 census, the three year old Harold is the youngest of three children to Frederick Henry and Jane (née Cove). They live at 14 Short Lane, Andover. His father is a grocer's assistant.

According to the 1901 census, Harold is now just one of two children living with their parents at 8 Market Street in Swindon. His father is now a pork butcher.
According to the Great Western Railway Employment Records, Fleming began working as a fifteen year-old clerk at The Engineer's Office, on 20 May 1902. He remained in their employment until 30 September 1907, when he also signed professional forms with Swindon Town FC.

According to the 1911 census, Harold, now a professional footballer, is the only one still living with his parents, now at 5 Durham Street in Swindon. His father is a dairyman. The census also reveals that Harold is one of seven children, three had tragically died.
According to Passenger Lists, Fleming was one of the Swindon Town team on board the LH Vandyke leaving Buenos Aires bound for Southampton on 3 August 1912. Fleming was injured and acted as the after-dinner speaker.
"ATONING FOR HIS 'SLACKNESS.'
—♦—
 "'SOCCER PLAYER'S MANLY LETTER TO A COLONEL.
 "WELL DONE, FLEMING!
"Confirmation of the rumour that Harold J. Fleming, Swindon Town's famous international forward, is about to enlist has reached the 'Daily Express.' 'As regards home defnce,' Fleming has written to Colonel R. H. Steward, in command of the Wilts Regimental Depot, 'I am quite prepared for foreign service for the duration of the war if necessary. One or two friends (clergy) are definite in their opinion that my joining the colours would help enlistment, and if that is so I feel quite anxious to obtain a commission quickly in order to mitigate one's slackness in the past. I think there are probably many, like myself, who are only just beginning to realise the responsibilities of citizenship.' Fleming, who has had an interview with the colonel, has been recommended for a commison." - Daily Express, Friday, 11 December 1914
"LOCAL COMMISSIONS.  FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE.
WAR OFFICE, March 27.
"INFANTRY
"THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S (WILTSHIRE REGIMENT).
"4th Battalion.
"Harold J. Fleming, to be second lieutenant; dated March 28, 1915." - The Guardian, Friday, 2 April 1915
  "The undermentioned officer is seconded for duty with a provisional battalion:—Second-Lieutenant Harold J. Fleming, dated 19th April;" - The Western Daily Press, Wednesday, 6 October 1915
  "Sec. Lieut. Harold J. Fleming, of Swindon, is with the Provisional Battalion of the Wilts Regiment in the North of England. He is making excellent progress, Aand has been appointed physical drill instructor to his battalion." - The Daily Chronicle, Tuesday, 24 August 1915
"FOOTBALL NUGGETS  Harold Fleming, of Swindon, is now a captain, and quartered at Cambridge University as a teaching officer of Swedish and other physical drills." - The Barnsley Independent, Saturday, 9 November 1918
Marriage to Grace Haskins, in late-1918 in Cambridge
  registered in Cambridge October-December 1918
Children Harold and Grace Fleming had one daughter together. Merial (b.23 April 1920).
  According to the North Wiltshire directory's, as well as Kelly's Directory and the BT Phone Book's, F.H. was still living at 5 Durham Street in 1920, whereas H.J. was now in Wroughton Road.
However, at the time of Merial's baptism, 5 August 1920, Harold is a boot manufacturer, and they live at 1 The Knoll on Croft Road in Swindon. His mother died shortly after.
According to the 1921 census, Harold John, a boot manufacturer, is now married to Grace, and they have one daughter, Merial, and with his new wife's father, Walter Haskins, they live at 1 The Knoll, Wroughton Road in Swindon.
His father died in early-1926.
"EXPIRED LICENCES  Motorists Fined at Swindon.
"A fine of 10s. was imposed by the Swindon county magistrates on Monday on Harold John Fleming. The Knoll, Swindon, for driving a motor-car without a licence, at Chiseldon, on 5 November. When stopped by Constable Young, he produced a driving licence which expired on 30 September. The magistrates were Lord Banbury (chairman), Messrs. H. E. Smith, W. H. Lawson, F. A. Blake, A. W. Deacon, and W. E. Morse." - North Wilts Herald, Friday, 2 December 1932
According to the North Wiltshire directory's, as well as Kelly's Directory and the BT Phone Book's, F.H. was at 40 Croft Road, while his bootmaking and sports outfitters shop was based at 7 Fleet Street, Tel No. Swindon 284. From 1937, he was still living at Croft Street, whilst his shop was now at 24 Regent Circus.
According to the 1939 register, Harold J., an athletic outfitter and owner of a boot factory, and Grace remain married, and they live at 40 Croft Road in Swindon, with their daughter Merial.
By 1940, he was living at The Knoll (tel no. Swi 2971), and still in his shop and Regents Circus (tel no. Swi 2813). Still available in 1959 edition.
Death Tuesday, 23 August 1955 at his home at 1 The Knoll, Croft Road in Swindon, Wiltshire.
aged 68 years 115 days registered in Swindon July-September 1955
Obituary
"Harold Fleming dies
 "One of the greatest footballers of his day, Mr. Harold Fleming, who was capped nine times for England died yesterday at his home The Knoll, Swindon, He was 68. An inside forward, Mr. Fleming played for Swindon Town FC. At one time he planned to enter the Church and he refused to play football on Christmas Day and Good Friday." - The Yorkshire Post, Wednedsay, 24 August 1955

 "Harold Fleming
"News of the death of Mr. Harold Fleming will be heard with profound regret throughout Wiltshire and much further afield, particularly amongst sportsmen. Many of the older generation of Warminster people will recall the days when Harold Fleming commenced his footballing career in their midst. As a youth he was a student at St. Boniface Theological College, Warminster, and there he first learned to play football. So famous did Harold Fleming become as a footballer that he did not continue to stusy to be a missionary, the career he had first set out on. Harold's progress as a footballer was watched with admiring interest by all Wiltshire people and he brought honour to the county when he was selected to play for England. Fleming always played the game in life, and those of us who knew him personally will ever remember him for his wholesome character and charming manners." - The Wiltshire News, Friday, 26 August 1955
Funeral August 1955
Probate "FLEMING Harold John of 1 the Knoll Croft-road Swindon Wiltshire died 23 August 1955 Probate Oxford 9 November to Grace Fleming widow. Effects £13118 4s. 11d." [2025 equivalent: £298,948].
  His wife, Grace, died in autumn 1974
Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career

Club(s)		 Played junior football in Swindon at school and then with St. Mark's YMCA FC.
"From this seminary he passed into the works of the Great Western Railway Company at Swindonm but overgrowrth and overstudy brought a breakdown in health. The doctor ordered Fleming to follow an outdoor employment, and after a rest of nine months he dtermined to embrace football as a profession."
He had a trial with the town's professional team, and then signed for Swindon Town FC on 30 September 1907, after impressing the secretary, Sam Allen. Fleming became the club captain and became an integral part of the team seeking election to the Football League. He then returned to training in the December, after being inured in the 1911-12 FA Cup semi-final fixture against Barnsley. Despite an over-£3000 transfer to Newcastle United FC on 5 May 1914 failing to materialise, with agreements having been completed, he remained with Swindon, which also included 224 Southern League appearances, 149 goals, before they entred the Football League. Fleming announced his retirement on 5 August 1924.
League honours
69 appearances, 34 goals		 Swindon Town FC 1920-24 69 appearances, 34 goals
debut (division three south): 28 August 1920 Swindon Town FC 9 Luton Town FC 1.
last (division three south): 19 April 1924 Swindon Town 4 Brighton & Hove Albion FC 0.

Club honours		 Southern League Division One runners-up 1908-09 (34ᵃ 29ᵍ), 1909-10 (33ᵃ 19ᵍ), 1912-13 (12ᵃ 9ᵍ), winners 1910-11 (30ᵃ 19ᵍ), 1913-14 (24ᵃ 18ᵍ);
FA Cup semi-finalist 1909-10 (5ᵃ 5ᵍ), 1911-12 (6ᵃ 5ᵍ);
Dubonnet Cup winners 1910;
FA Charity Shield runners-up 1911, winners 1913;
Individual honours Southern League (6ᵃ 5ᵍ).

Distinctions		 Fleming "is the one professional footballer, so far as we knoe, who refuses to play on either Christmas Day or Good Friday, because of his strong religious convictions."
Fleming's statue (about left) was revealed on 2 May 1956, shortly after his death, scuplted by Carleton Attwood. It currently stands within the County Ground premises.
Fleming Way (SN1) runs from Swindon's town centre running eastward toward the town's County Ground stadium.
Height/Weight 5' 10", 11st. 7lbs [1909], 11st 0lbs. [1910].
Source Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

England Career
Player number 341st player to appear for England.
Position(s) Inside-right
First match No. 101, 3 April 1909, England 2 Scotland 0, a British Championship match at Sports Arena, Crystal Palace, Sydenham, London, aged 21 years 338 days.
Last match
5 years 1 day		 No. 119, 4 April 1914, Scotland 3 England 1, a British Championship match at Hampden Park, Mount Florida, Glasgow, aged 26 years 339 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1908-09, 1910-11, 1911-12, 1912-13, 1913-14;
Team honours British Championship winners 1908-09, 1910-11, 1912-13, shared 1911-12;

Individual honours		 The Whites (two appearances, 3ᵍ January 1910-January 1911 (withdrew in January 1912);
FA Tour of South Africa 1910 (including the two tests);
The Professionals (one appearance, 1ᵍ October 1913);
England Trial (two appearances, 1ᵍ November 1913-January 1914);
Goalscoring honours England's Joint-Top Goalscorer 1910 (one), 1912 (three), 1914 (one);
Distinctions The first Wiltshirian to represent England.
most appearanced Englishman at Swindon Town.
Died twelve days after Bert Freeman

Beyond England
Fleming became a successful businessman in Swindon. A proprietor of a football boot factory in the town. Became President of the Wiltshire Athletic Association in his latter days, being appointed on 23 March 1955, in place of the late Duke of Somerset. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.97/98.


The Numbers
parties Apps comp. apps minutes goals ave.min comp. goals captain
16 11 9 990 9 110 min 6 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
11 9 1 1 33 13 +20 0 4 3 1.182 86.4 +8

Venue Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 5 5 0 0 12 4 +8 0 3 2.40 0.80 100.0 +5 1
Away 6 4 1 1 21 9 +12 0 1 3.50 1.50 75.0 +3 8

Competition Record

Competition P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
British Championship 9 7 1 1 21 9 +12 0 4 2.333 1.00 83.3 +6 6
Friendly 2 2 0 0 12 4 +8 0 0 6.00 2.00 100.0 +2 3

Opposition Record
Opposition P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Scotland 3 2 0 1 4 3 +1 0 2 1.333 1.00 66.7 +1 1
Wales 3 3 0 0 8 3 +5 0 2 2.667 1.00 100.0 +3 1
Ireland 3 2 1 0 9 3 +6 0 1 3.50 1.50 75.0 +3 4
Hungary 2 2 0 0 12 4 +8 0 0 6.00 6.00 100.0 +2 2

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1908-09 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 0 1 2.00 0.00 100.0 +1
BC 1909-10 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 0 1 1.00 0.50 75.0 +1
BC 1910-11 2 2 0 0 5 1 +4 0 1 2.50 0.50 100.0 +2
BC 1911-12 1 1 0 0 6 1 +5 0 0 6.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC 1912-13 2 2 0 0 5 3 +2 0 1 2.50 1.50 100.0 +2
BC 1913-14 1 0 0 1 1 3 -2 0 0 1.00 3.00 0.00 -1
BC All 9 7 1 1 21 9 +12 0 4 2.333 1.00 83.3 +6

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 9 7 1 1 21 9 +12 0 4 2.333 1.00 83.3 +6
9 7 1 1 21 9 +12 0 4 2.333 1 83.3 +6

Match History
 Club: Swindon Town F.C. - eleven full appearances (990 min) 9ᵍ F.A. International Select Committee - eleven full appearances (990 min) 9ᵍx

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos
Age 21
99 13 February 1909 - England 4 Ireland 0, Horton Park Avenue, Bradford BC HW reserve
100 15 March 1909 - England 2 Wales 0, City Ground, Nottingham BC HW reserve
1 101 3 April 1909 - England 2 Scotland 0
Sports Arena, Crystal Palace		 BC HW   ir

the 341st player to appear for England
the second Swindon Town FC player to represent England

Age 22
2 102 29 May 1909 - Hungary 2 England 4
Millenáris Sportpálya, Buda-Pesth
tour		 AW   42 ir
3 103 31 May 1909 - Hungary 2 England 8
Millenáris Sportpálya, Buda-Pesth		 AW  4 44 ir
104 1 June 1909 - Austria 1 England 8, Hohe Warte Stadion, Wien AW reserve

trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 31 January 1910;

4 105 12 February 1910 - Ireland 1 England 1
Solitude Ground, Belfast		 BC AD  51 ir
5 106 14 March 1910 - Wales 0 England 1
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff		 BC AW ir
107 2 April 1910 - Scotland 2 England 0, Hampden Park, Glasgow BC AL reserve

Age 23
FA Tour of South Africa 29 June 1910 - South Africa 0 England 3, Durban, Natal Province
tour		 AW reserve
23 July 1910 - South Africa 2 England 6, Wanderers Ground, Johannesburg AW  1 68 ir
30 July 1910 - South Africa 3 England 6, Cape Town, Cape Province AW  65 ir

trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 23 January 1911;

6 108 11 February 1911 - England 2 Ireland 1
Baseball Ground, Derby		 BC HW   ir
7 109 13 March 1911 - England 3 Wales 0
The Den, New Cross		 BC HW   ir
 

Age 24 trial  
withdrew - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 22 January 1912;

8 111 10 February 1912 - Ireland 1 England 6
Dalymount Park, Dublin		 BC AW 12
40
64		 ir
112 11 March 1912 - Wales 0 England 2, The Racecourse, Wrexham BC AW withdrew injured
 

Age 25
9 115 17 March 1913 - England 4 Wales 3
 Ashton Gate. Bedminster		 BC HW  27 ir
10 116 5 April 1913 - England 1 Scotland 0
Stamford Bridge, Fulham		 BC HW   ir
 

Age 26 trial  
three appearances - The Professionals vs. The Amateurs, October 1913; The South vs. England, November 1913;
The North vs. England, January 1914;

11 119 4 April 1914 - Scotland 3 England 1
Hampden Park, Glasgow		 BC AL  18 ir
 

the last Swindon Town FC player to represent England

     

 
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