SWINDON Spitfires are urging former players to get in touch as the club aim to celebrate their 50th anniversary this summer.

Former player and organiser and current club secretary Bev Maull wants to hear from as many former players as possible as they plan the celebrations.

So far the club are aiming to host a veterans’ match, as well as their annual six-a-side tournament in June, plus a meal at the County Ground on Friday July 7 in which former players can share their memories.

“Our biggest problem at the moment is trying to engage with players who were there from the beginning in 1967,” said Maull.

“We want to get to those as much as possible so we can get their history of what they did when we first started.

“We are trying to engage with as many of the former players as we can, so we can have a whole month of celebrating.

“I didn’t start playing myself until 1970 so for the first three years I want to get as much information as I can.”

Leicester City Ladies FC were first female team to be formed in May 1966 and they were then at the first Women’s Football Association meeting in 1970.

Shortly after, the Spitfires joined the Home Counties League, which saw them come up against teams from all over the Midlands.

“It’s about engaging with the older players, getting their history and experiences because they’re the ones we really want at the meal,” she added. “It will be nice to have those older players there to celebrate it all really, we are going to have a memory book on the night so they can write some moments down.

“We don’t just want the newer players, we want the older ones too so we can tell us their stories.

“We are looking to hear from lots of the older players, because there are still some details that I would like to know.

“I’m trying to write a book but, we are putting information in there and I don’t want it to be wrong.”

For those who would like to get in touch with the club ahead of their celebrations, contact Maull on bevmaull@hotmail.com.