The Thistle Archive

In late 1877, he was born at 334 Scotland Street, Glasgow, the son of a Master Mariner, John Swan, and Amelia Swan. Although many football history records have him named as Swann, his certified family name is Swan. He grew up in Dalbeattie, but returned to Partick when he was 9 or 10 years of age, where he learned to play football at school. He then moved back to Dalbeattie at the age of 16, where his football began to get serious.

When he eventually joined Thistle in the late spring of 1905 he was a seasoned pro, and the Glasgow Evening Post published a player profile:

Popularly known as Andy, this player is perhaps the most notable addition to the Partick Thistle team this season, and occupies the inside forward positions. Swan is a South of Scotland footballer, being a native of Dalbeattie, where he learned his football in a junior team, and afterwards played for the 6th G.R.V. His qualities as a player early attracted the English agents, and he was induced to cross the border, where he saw service in the south with New Brompton and Barnsley. In season 1902 we was induced to come to Paisley, where in the St Mirren eleven he did excellent work at inside-right, centre-forward, and inside-left. Swan is a close dribbler and if he has a fault it is that he is inclined to play too closely. His idea of the inside game, however, is well-night perfect, and he never parts with a ball injudiciously. Last season he played for Tottenham Hotspur. Much is expected of him at Meadowside – where he fills the position vacated by Wilkie – and the Partick officials are not likely to be disappointed. Swan made his debut for his new club in the Rangers five-a-side tourney.

One season at Meadowside was enough for Andy's restless legs and in the summer of 1906 he headed for the North West of England, joining Blackpool of the Second Division. He settled there for a few seasons, playing around 30 games for the first team, before moving to finish his career with Lancashire Combination side Workington in 1909.

He emigrated to Australia on the 20th June, 1911, disembarking in Melbourne. He took up farming in the Gippsland District, at Athlone in Victoria, after marrying Margret Hannah from Gourock, Scotland. They had 4 children together. Victoria was his home state, and it was there, in Warragul, where he passed away in the mid 1960s, at the grand old age of 86.