Harold Fleming (footballer)

Harold John Fleming (30 April 1887 – 23 August 1955) was an English footballer who played as an inside forward for Swindon Town and the England national team. He is the only Swindon Town player to have featured for England.

Harold Fleming

Personal information
Full name	Harold John Fleming
Date of birth	30 April 1887
Place of birth	Downton, Wiltshire, England
Date of death	23 August 1955(1955-08-23) (aged 68)
Position(s)	Inside forward
Youth career
	St. Marks
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1907–1924	Swindon Town	293	(183)
International career
1909–1914	England	11	(9)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Fleming began his career at St. Marks before being invited for a trial at Swindon Town by manager Sam Allen.^[1] He joined the club in 1907.^[2] Fleming scored a brace in a 4–0 win over Salisbury and was swiftly signed on a full-time basis.^[1]

Fleming became a Swindon Town legend scoring 203 times in 332 games in 17 years at the club.^[2] If not for World War I his career may have been more successful. He worked as a physical education instructor during the conflict.^[2]

During his career, Fleming had a style of football boot named after him.^{[citation needed]}

International career

Fleming remains the only Swindon player to have represented England at senior level while playing for the club^[3] - gaining 11 caps between 1909 and 1914.

Legacy

Swindon Heritage Blue Plaque on the house lived in by Harold Fleming in Durham Street, Swindon.

Fleming Way in Swindon, close to the County Ground, is named after him and a statue of him stands inside the foyer of Swindon Town at the County Ground. In 2019 Swindon Heritage unveiled a blue plaque to Fleming on his former home in Durham Street.^[4]

Around 2009 video footage of Fleming's playing was discovered.^[2]

Family

Harold Fleming was the son of Fredrick Henry Fleming (born 19 May 1850), and had one brother (Fredrick Edwin) and two sisters (Ella and Edith). All four went on to have children, including a daughter (Meriel) for Harold.^{[citation needed]}

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition^[1]

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Swindon Town	1907–08		28	17	4	0	0	0	32	17
	1908–09		34	29	1	0	0	0	35	29
	1909–10		33	19	5	5	3	1	41	25
	1910–11		30	19	4	2	2	0	36	21
	1911–12		20	16	6	5	1	0	27	21
	1912–13		12	9	2	1	0	0	14	10
	1913–14		24	18	1	1	0	0	25	19
	1914–15		23	12	2	0	0	0	25	12
	1919–20		20	10	2	0	0	0	22	10
	1920–21		26	16	1	1	0	0	27	17
	1921–22		24	11	2	2	0	0	26	13
	1922–23		14	4	1	0	0	0	15	4
	1923–24		5	3	5	2	0	0	10	5
Career total			293	183	36	19	6	1	335	203

International

Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Fleming goal.

List of international goals scored by Harold Fleming^[5]

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	29 May 1909	Millenáris Sporttelep, Budapest, Hungary	Hungary	3–0	4–2	Friendly
2	31 May 1909	Millenáris Sporttelep, Budapest, Hungary	Scotland	1–0	8–2	Friendly
3				5–0
4	12 February 1910	Solitude, Belfast, Ireland	Ireland	1–1	1–1	Friendly
5	10 February 1912	Dalymount Park, Dublin, Ireland	Ireland	1–0	6–1	Friendly
6				3–1
7				5–1
8	17 March 1913	Ashton Gate, Bristol, England	Wales	1–1	4–3	Friendly
9	4 April 1914	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland	Scotland	1–1	1–3	Friendly