Swindlehurst came up through the ranks at Crystal Palace, playing youth football in the early 1970s with future West Ham United teammate Alan Devonshire.
Swindlehurst first joined Derby County as a loan player, two months before his transfer was made permanent in April 1980.
[2][5] After a spell in Cyprus with Anorthosis Famagusta, Swindlehurst returned to London to play for Wimbledon, but he managed just two appearances in the season they won the 1988 FA Cup Final, beating Liverpool.
[2] After spells playing and managing at non-League Bromley and Molesey, he rejoined his former club Crystal Palace to take up a coaching role within the youth academy.
[9] He took the manager's job at Isthmian League Division One South side Whyteleafe in December 2006, and remained there until the end of the following season.