This piece starts with a non-apology to manager Gary McCann - you are not the all-time No.1 goalkeeper in the eyes of veteran Hendon fans. You have to give top-billing to possibly the greatest goalkeeper in English amateur football history, John Swannell, Hendon's goalkeeper from 1963-74 and briefly in 1980-81.

As a student, John played in two professional matches, both in the early years of the Football League Cup, for Stockport County and Crystal Palace, but was keener to pursue his career in engineering than turning professional. At Corinthian-Casuals, John got a grounding that would hold him in good stead throughout his career. Hendon, amongst other clubs, followed his progress with the Casuals and when they joined the Isthmian League in 1963, John signed up.

By modern standards, John would be considered small for a goalkeeper, and in those days he was merely a little below average in height, but he was well-built and able to look after himself. An outstanding shot-stopper, he was brilliant at organising his defence and rarely got his angles wrong. When it came to the hurly-burly of the six-yard box at set-pieces, John was not afraid to punch and his technique was excellent.

His first season at Claremont Road saw a great challenge for the League title, but Wimbledon pipped the Greens and there was no glory in the FA, Amateur or Middlesex Senior Cups. However, he kept a clean sheet in the London Senior Cup final, a 1-0 victory over Enfield. In 1964-65, Hendon carried all before them, winning the League - with a 4-1 victory over Enfield in a playoff - and the FA Amateur Cup, a 3-1 defeat of Whitby Town at Wembley, and Middlesex Senior Cup. Another highlight came at Highbury when Arsenal were beaten 4-3 in the London Challenge Cup. John was injured during the Amateur Cup run and missed a few matches, but still played 47 times during the season, including all the key finals, and made his England debut.

John's England career was outstanding and his total of 60 caps earned while at Hendon is the all-time one-club record - Rod Haider won 55 while at Hendon, having won 10 with Kingstonian. He also was also first choice for the Great Britain Olympic team in an era when eastern Europe dominated amateur football with their full internationals being eligible as amateurs, usually through serving in the military or police forces. He was one of four Hendon players who played against West Germany in a qualifying round match at Claremont Road in 1967.

Hendon slipped a little from their mid-decade perch as the very best in the Isthmian League in the second half of the 1960s, but were still a strong team. In the 1970s, however, the Greens returned to the top and Swannell played a massive part in the resurgence. After winning a second Amateur Cup in 1972, Hendon's defence in the next two seasons was exceptional. In the 1972-73 season, when the Greens were undefeated until the 39th match, Hendon conceded just 18 goals, none from set-pieces.

In 1973-74, Hendon reached the third round proper of the FA Cup and went out after a replay against finalists-to-be Newcastle United. Multiple cup runs meant the Rothmans Isthmian League campaign took a back-seat. A three-day working week and electricity rationing in February, saw Hendon have a very busy end-of-season schedule. The Greens finished two points behind Wycombe Wanderers in the league, having conceded just 20 goals. So in 84 League matches over two seasons, Hendon conceded just 38 goals, less than one every two games.

John left Hendon in the summer of 1974 to join Leatherhead and enjoyed another long FA Cup run with the Tanners, reaching the fourth round proper. After half a dozen seasons at Fetcham Grove, John returned for a last hurrah at Hendon. On Tuesday 16 December 1980, aged 41 (41 days short of his 42nd birthday), John played his last Hendon League match, a 3-2 win over Hitchin Town. In fact, he wasn't finished with football and continued to play, ending with veterans matches, until he was in his mid-50s.

Born: 26 January 1939
Joined Hendon: Summer 1963
Left Hendon: Summer 1974, rejoined 1980, left in season 1980–81
Appearances: 594
Winners' medals: FA Amateur Cup 1964-65, 1971-72; Isthmian League Champions 1964-65, 1972-73; Barassi Cup 1972-73; London Senior Cup 1963-64 1968-69, Middlesex Senior Cup 1964-65, 1966-67, 1971-72, 1972-73, 1973-74