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Players Index Page Last Updated
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
Baptism Sunday, 21 August 1887 in Downton
Education

 Attended Sanford Street School and at theological College, 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
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 1 The Knoll, Croft Road in Swindon, Wiltshire.
aged 68 years 115 days registered in Swindon July-September 1955
Obituary
 
Funeral  
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, with St. Mark's FC, before having a trial with the town's professional team, and then signed for, Swindon Town FC, after impressing the secretary, Sam Allen, on 30 September 1907. Fleming settled to become club captain and to be an integral part of the team seeking election to the Football League. He missed most of 1912 after an FA Cup semi-final injury at Stamford Bridge, in what was a bruising encounter with Barnsley FC on March 30. After being constantly fouled, he was kicked in the groin and had to leave the field, he did not return for ten months. He returned to fitness, and 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, including 224 Southern League appearances, 149 goals, until he 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;
Individual honours Southern League (6ᵃ 5ᵍ)

Distinctions		 Fleming was a man of religious principle, he made a religious commitment to never play on a Good Friday or Christmas Day.
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].
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 FA Tour of South Africa 1910 (including the two tests)
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. - 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

Harold Fleming - Match History
 Club: Swindon Town F.C. - 11 full appearances

F.A. International Select Committee - 11 full capsx

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 HW reserve
1 101 3 April 1909 - England 2 Scotland 0, Sports Arena, Crystal Palace HW   ir
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
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 AW ir
- 107 2 April 1910 - Scotland 2 England 0, Hampden Park, Glasgow 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
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 HW   ir
 
Age 24
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 AW withdrawn
 
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 HW   ir
 
Age 26
11 119 4 April 1914 - Scotland 3 England 1, Hampden Park, Glasgow BC AL   18 ir
 


     

 
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