This term Arash Soleimani, left, steps into the sizeable boots vacated by our long-standing Head of Football, David Swindlehurst, right, who is leaving the role after 25 years. We look back and forward at Harrodian football
The early weeks of the Autumn Term have been exciting and satisfying ones for on the sports front for Harrodian staff, pupils and parents. After all the frustrations of lockdown, it feels as if we’re turning a positive new page. At last we’ve all been able to get out on the playing fields, the courts and the ‘asphalt’ and to really 'put a shift in'.
Curricular football for all ability levels, clubs for boys and girls (in the 8-12s, see pics below, with a new 13s girls club planned) and competitive fixtures are all back on the agenda. Across the school no fewer than 37 Harrodian football teams in age groups ranging from 7-18 have turned out for Harrodian so far this term. Local rivalries have been renewed with new foes and old familiars (such as the First XI football game versus Kew House, below) on our regular fixtures lists.
After all the frustrations of lockdown, at last we’ve all been able to get out on the playing fields and really "put a shift in"
Tournaments are back in our calendar too: we’re pleased to report success for our Under 13s who reached the third round of the Independent Schools Football Association cup with a hard-fought and entertaining 4-2 victory over Cothill House at Harrodian on 5th October (below).
In our next blog we will be giving our netballers the space they deserve but we have a special reason for focusing on football in this first instalment of the term. We celebrate the special contribution of Mr David Swindlehurst who, after more than 25 years service, is giving up his role as our Head of Football (though he will still be keeping his eye in as a part-time coach in cricket and rugby as well as football ).
His successor as Head of Football, Arash Soleimani, has worked closely with ‘Swindy’ for over a decade and is in no doubt of his predecessor’s achievements. ‘It’s a demanding job but Swindy has achieved so much since he came to the school in 1995 (below),’ he says. ‘I’ve worked closely with him as we’ve built a coaching structure and a fixture list which enables four teams in every age group from 8 to 18 play regular competitive matches’ he says. ‘The approach has always been about building a sporting culture that fits the Harrodian ethos, putting the emphasis on skill, hard work and fair play and providing all pupils with the chance to take part.’
The approach has always been about building a sporting culture that that fits the Harrodian ethos, putting the emphasis on skill, hard work and fair play and providing all pupils with the chance to take part
Arash Soleimani, Harrodian Head of Football
Mr Swindlehurst’s coaching philosophy has its roots in his distinguished career as a classy centre forward with Derby, West Ham and, most memorably, with Crystal Palace where he began his career under the tutelage of coaching great, Malcolm Allison and in a team (once dubbed ‘the team of the 1980s’) then managed by future England Manager Terry Venables. ‘Malcolm and Terry were great advocates of what the Dutch then called ‘total football”: Keeping possession, playing out from the back and working hard to get the ball back,’ he says, adding wryly. ‘Though it was hard to play like that in the early years at Harrodian when we only had 15 boys to choose a team from!’
To view pictures of David Swindlehurst's great moments and see some of his best goals follow this link
Harrodian headmaster Mr Hooke who helped recruit Swindy to Harrodian back in 1995, has great memories of his passing skills. ‘When the teachers played the First XI back in the day his pinpoint long balls to the forwards were key to our remaining unbeaten for years,’ he laughs. He believes Mr Swindlehurst and Mr Soleimani (whose playing credentials were demonstrated by an appearance at Wembley earlier this year, below) share similar key qualities. ‘However good the player is, they are always calm and patient. They’re great nurturers of talent’ he says, citing in evidence the career success enjoyed by Harrodian alumni such as Jack Winter (now a successful soccer coach in the US) and Hadi Ghandour (currently a budding professional with Charlton Athletic).
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However good the player, Mr Swindlehurst and Mr Soleimani are always calm and patient. They are great nurturers of talent
James Hooke, Headmaster
Plenty of parents past and present will be familiar with Mr Swindlehurst’s qualities as a coach. Rather fewer will be old enough to remember his distinguished playing career in the 1970s as a rangy, skilful and exceptionally fast centre forward. That’s why we have included a special gallery with some of Swindy’s favourite career snaps and a Youtube link to a celebration of that legendary Crystal Palace side of the 1980s. To find out just how good he was, please do take a look.
