A NEW book telling the official history of Heybridge Swifts will be launched next week.

The book, called Heybridge Swifts FC - the Club that Refused to Die, is being launched at the Aspen Waite Arena, in Scraley Road, on Saturday, September 1 from noon to 2pm.

The title harks back to the Sixties, when the club had to battle for survival after being evicted from its ground at short notice.

The book was jointly written by former Maldon mayor and Heybridge councillor David Scott and ex-Swifts club secretary Chris Daines.

They will both be at the launch to sign books, along with former players and managers.

The book, which contains 28 team photos and interviews with more than 60 former managers, players and supporters, tells about the club’s history, going back to 1880.

Mr Scott said: “Last November, the Swifts invited me to be their guest when they played at Exeter City in the first round of the FA Cup.

“While walking back to my car at the end of the game I had a flash of inspiration and realised there was a great story that needed telling in book form.

“I contacted Chris Daines, who said he had been working on such a project for nearly 20 years but his other work for the Swifts had stopped him making progress.

“Once I started, I could not stop writing, often working 12 hours a day, researching, archiving, interviewing and writing.

“I began making regular trips from my home in Torquay to Maldon to work with Chris, who had done a lot of research and obtained some remarkable records.

“I put out an appeal through the Standard for people to contact us and we were delighted when a good number came forward with scrapbooks, photographs and other memorabilia.”

Fans can read about club legends such as Fred Perry, Evelyn Last and Bertie Powell, the four Gill brothers who played in the same side, “Stumpy” Moss, Mick Gibson, “Quaf” Gill and Dennis Fenn, and from Joe Sullivan to Garry Hill.

Mr Scott added: “I am delighted with how the book has turned out.”

Profits from the book, which costs £10, will go back into the club.