Royston Harry Swinbourne (25 August 1929 – 27 December 2015) was an English footballer who played as a centre forward in the Football League for Wolverhampton Wanderers.^[1] He was capped once by England B.^[2]

Swinbourne began his career at Wath Wanderers, the Yorkshire-based nursery club of Wolverhampton Wanderers. He moved south to join Wolves in 1944^[3] and signed as a professional the following year.

After proving himself in the reserve ranks, he made his debut on 17 December 1949 in a 1–1 draw with Fulham.^[4] He came to the fore during the 1950–51 season, replacing Jesse Pye in the attack, and finished as top goalscorer with 22 goals.^[5] Injuries waylaid him the following year, but in the next campaign, forming what was described as "a potent dual spearhead" with Dennis Wilshaw,^[6] he was once again the club's leading scorer with 21 goals.^[7]

His tally of 24 in the 1953–54 season was a career best and helped Wolves capture their first ever league championship. It was Swinbourne himself who scored twice in the final game, a 2–0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur that confirmed the title.^[8] The following season brought another strong return, including two goals in Wolves' famous floodlit victory over Honved of Hungary.^[9][10]

In 1955 he scored for England B in a 1–1 draw against their German counterparts:

Swinbourne too, in spite of limited support, showed that he is a dashing centre-forward who knows where the goal lies. He scored his side's goal and but for three really great diving saves by Kubsch would have snatched the victory himself.^[11]

His career was halted when he damaged his knee while hurdling over a posse of cameramen on the pitchside at Luton Town's Kenilworth Road ground in November 1955.^[12][13] After trying to return just weeks later,^[14] He was forced to undergo surgery on the injury, but was never able to resume his playing career and retired in May 1957.^[12]

In later life, Swinbourne lived in Kinver before moving to a nursing home in Kidderminster.^[15] He died on 27 December 2015, aged 86, following a long battle with vascular dementia.^[16] He was survived by his wife, Betty, and daughters Jayne and Helen.^[15]