Mark Swainston

Mark Swainston
Swainston playing for Eastern
Personal information
Full name Mark Francis Mercenes Swainston
Date of birth (1999-11-13) 13 November 1999 (age 26)
Place of birth Tacloban City, Philippines
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Crowborough Athletic
Youth career
2013–2014 KCC
2014–2016 Kitchee
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2021 Kitchee 10 (0)
2018–2019 → Hoi King (loan) 13 (0)
2022–2023 Eastern 7 (1)
2023–2025 Kaya F.C.–Iloilo 11 (1)
2025 Lewes 3 (0)
2025 Hastings United 8 (0)
2025– Crowborough Athletic 12 (1)
International career‡
2017 Philippines U18 4 (0)
2024 Philippines 2 (0)
Medal record
Kitchee SC
WinnerHong Kong Premier League2016–17
WinnerHong Kong Community Cup2017
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15 April 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 24 December 2025

Mark Francis Mercenes Swainston (Chinese: 史雲斯頓; born 13 November 1999) is a Filipino professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Isthmian League South East Division club Crowborough Athletic.

Early life

Mark moved to Hong Kong before his first birthday. He studied in Island School along with professional footballers Rory Lonergan and Barak Braunshtain.

Club career

Kitchee

Swainston joined Kitchee in 2014 and was promoted to their senior squad in July 2016. However, in December 2016 FIFA enforced a ban on numerous foreign players in Hong Kong, including Swainston, as he did not have a Hong Kong passport, thus making him a foreign player. This ruling was eventually overturned, and Swainston made his professional debut on 7 April 2017, coming on as a 69th-minute substitute for Hélio in a 10–0 victory against HKFC.

Loan to Hoi King

On 24 July 2018, following a preseason friendly, Hoi King confirmed that they had acquired Swainston on loan.

On 25 August 2021, Swainston left Kitchee.

Eastern

On 24 November 2022, Swainston joined Eastern. Mark made his debut in the 3–0 victory over HKFC in the Hong Kong FA Cup quarter-finals, coming on as a substitute for Leon Jones.

Move to England

Ahead of the 2025–26 season, Swainston moved to England, joining Isthmian League Premier Division club Lewes before signing for Hastings United in September 2025. In December 2025, he joined fellow Isthmian League South East Division side Crowborough Athletic.

International career

Swainston made his debut for the senior Philippines national team on 26 March 2024 in a World Cup qualifier against Iraq.

Career statistics

Club

As of 29 March 2019.
Club Season League National Cup Other Cups Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kitchee 2016–17 Hong Kong Premier League 100000000010
2017–18 000020001030
2018–19 000000000000
2019–20 5000500000100
Total 6000700010140
Hoi King (loan) 2018–19 Hong Kong Premier League 13010200010170
Career total 19010700010310
Notes
  1. 1 2 Appearances in the Sapling Cup
  2. ↑ Appearances in the Hong Kong Community Cup
  3. ↑ Appearances in the Hong Kong FA Cup
  4. ↑ Appearances in the Hong Kong Senior Shield

Honours

Club

Kitchee

Kaya–Iloilo

References

  1. 1 2 "傑志簽下銳兵 放眼亞洲 誓要重奪聯賽冠軍". Kitchee SC (in Chinese). July 12, 2016. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Alumni and Students Make Premier League Debut". Island School. November 3, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  3. ↑ "【港超】傑志改朝換代 新季簽三援升四小將". 香港01 (in Chinese). July 12, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Hong Kong youth system crippled after 49 'foreign' youngsters are sidelined by Fifa ruling on minors". South China Morning Post. December 30, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  5. ↑ "港超聯 天堂與地獄！傑志10蛋贈港會". Oriental Daily News (in Chinese). April 7, 2017. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  6. ↑ Hseung, Ka Man. "組軍進度遜預期 凱景將洽商借用外援". Apple Daily. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018. (in Chinese)
  7. ↑ "香港足球總會". www.hkfa.com. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  8. ↑ @hastingsufc (September 13, 2025). "𝗢𝗙𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝑴𝑨𝑹𝑲 The 'U's welcome Philippines international Mark Swainston to The Pilot Field The midfielder joins from @LewesFCMen #COYU" (Tweet). Retrieved December 24, 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  9. ↑ @CrowboroughAFC (December 16, 2025). "We're pleased to welcome Mark Swainston to the club Mark brings experience from spells at Hastings Utd & Lewes FC, alongside an impressive international career with Kaya FC-Iloilo and Kitchee SC Great to have you with us! @IsthmianLeague" (Tweet). Retrieved December 24, 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  10. ↑ "Philippines v Iraq game report". ESPN. March 26, 2024.
  11. ↑ Mark Swainston at Soccerway. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  12. ↑ "Mark Swainston". HKFA. Retrieved April 17, 2018.