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SWINDON TOWN, like the Hatters, have won the League Cup, lifting the trophy in 1968-69, and they have also enjoyed one season in the Premiership, before two successive relegations saw the club slide down the pyramid... 

The Club and The Ground

SWINDON TOWN have had some famous managers and players down the years, such as Ossie Ardiles, Glenn Hoddle and Jan Aarge Fjortoft, but they have yo-yoed between the Divisions and haven't had too much to cheer about in terms of trophies won in the past few years.

At one end of The County Ground is the Stratton Bank Stand. This is a former terrace, that has had rows of seats bolted on to it. This area is uncovered and has a clock above it as well as a small electric scoreboard. Opposite is the small, covered Town End, which has several supporting pillars across the front of it. One unusual aspect of this stand, is that the supporting legs of one of the floodlight pylons are actually in one side of the stand, there are even some seats situated behind them! The sides of the ground are larger, two-tiered covered stands, which tower above the two ends. The newest of these is the attractive Nationwide Stand, while on the other side is the older Arkells Stand. The latter has windshields on either side of the stand and a few supporting pillars.

The ground also benefits by a striking set of four floodlight pylons. Once a main stay feature of many grounds across the country, floodlights are slowly but surely disappearing from the landscape, to be replaced by rows of lights, running across the tops of stands. Its a shame really, as if nothing else, the floodlight pylons made it a lot easier to locate a ground in a town or city and were always synonymous with a football ground.

Hatters fans are normally are located in the Arkells Stand at one side of the pitch, where up to 1,200 fans can be housed. This is an older stand and the facilities are showing their age, but at least you are under cover. If you are at the back of this stand there is one supporting pillar which may impair your view of one goal otherwise it is fine. You even get a view of some of the rolling Marlborough Hills beyond one corner of the ground! There is a small kiosk at the back of stand serving, amongst other  refreshments, the delicious 'Football's Famous Chicken Balti Pie' (£2.20), but be careful when taking them back to your seat. The entrances to the seating areas are through large doors, which you can't see through to the other side and to compound matters they open out towards you!  

Teams with a larger away following can also be allocated the Stratton Bank End if required. A further 2,100 fans can be accommodated in this area, but the end has no cover and is open to the elements. Fine on a nice sunny day, but on a cold wet, winters day, it can be grim. I found Swindon to be a relaxed and fairly friendly day out, although the size of police presence on my last visit seemed excessive.

The Club have formally announced their intention to leave the County Ground, their home for over 100 years and move to a new purpose built stadium at Shaw Tip, in the West area of Swindon. It is hoped that the new 23,000 capacity stadium, will be open for the start of the 2007-08 season. 

Ground Guide courtesy of the excellent Internet Football Ground Guide.

History - Swindon Town Football Club

IN 1894 Swindon Town Football Club, founded by Rev. Williams Pitt, took on professionals and became a founder member of the Southern League Division One. The team struggled in the early part of the 18th century and subsequently finished fourth. Financial problems would dictate the direction of the club from an early stage.

Before World War I the club enjoyed prosperous times winning the Southern League Championship twice and reaching the FA Cup semi-final on two separate occasions.

Swindon Town moved into the Football League Div 3 (S) in 1920 and achieved their first League victory - ironically, against Luton Town.

Town, having earned their league status, nearly lost it in 1933, 1956 and 1957 and had to apply for re-election to the league. World War II brought more troubled times for the club and during the war the County Ground was used by the war office as a POW cap.

After the conflict the club slowly got back on its feet although finances were hard. October 1956 saw the arrival of Bert Head. The following season saw a change in fortunes as the club finished in the top half of Division 3 (S), earning entrance to the national Third Division. Head developed the side and young talent began to come through. 

When they travelled to Swindon on Good Friday 1963, many Peterborough fans were distinctly unhappy. Earlier in the season, a 3-2 win at Watford had taken them to the top of the table - only for manager Jimmy Hagan to be sacked a few days later. Trainer Jonny Anderson took over as caretaker and they raced into a five point lead at the top of the Division Three table, only for him to be replaced by Jack Fairbrother who returned to Peterborough for a second spell. The Posh had slipped down the table and in the eyes of the supporters, had committed the unpardonable sin of selling George Hudson (their star striker) to rivals Northampton Town. Despite this (and going a goal behind after 45 seconds) they came back to defeat Swindon 3-2 and just three days later completed the double over Swindon with a 3-1 victory on their own ground. John Turley scored two more goals to add to the decider he had scored in the first match.

However, at the end of the season it was Swindon who had more to smile about. In between the two Swindon defeats, The Robins had defeated Colchester 6-1, a result that kept them in the promotion chase. Five points from three home matches against Bournemouth (2-1), Carlisle (2-0) and Halifax (1-1) put Swindon back in the race and a 2-0 win at Colchester meant a victory at home to Shrewsbury would be enough to ensure promotion. With 89 minutes gone, it looked as though they would fail, before Roger Smart crashed in the goal that gave Swindon Town their first promotion in fifty years and ensured the champagne corks were popping. The squad (who were to be given the nickname Bart's Babes) had more to be proud of than their promotion success. They were a team that had confidence of youth that attempted to win games by scoring more goals than opposition rather than conceding fewer. This was illustrated by the fact that during the season they notched 87 goals and scored at least one goal every game at the County Ground.   Ernie Hunt was the leading league scorer with 24 while Jack Smith (19) and Cliff Jackson (14) also made notable contributions. Virtually the whole team was homegrown and of the eleven that clinched promotion, only Owen Dawson from Portsmouth and Ken McPherson had come from other clubs. Perhaps the saddest note of the season was that young full back, Terry Wollen sustained a broken leg in the home match with Notts County from which he never fully recovered. The happiest was that of Maurice Owen who, since 1946 had clocked up over five hundred appearances - he was able to bow out on a high note. The average gate of today's teams makes interesting reading. Swindon had an average gate of 13,530 while Peterborough, who finished the season in sixth position was only a little lower at 12,011. What could be done with gate figures like those today?

The following campaign, Swindon enjoyed a dream start to the season, winning their first six League games to shoot to the top of the table. To be playing (never mind beating) the likes of Manchester City and Sunderland was something that Swindon Town fans would never have dreamed of three seasons previous. Their League form manifested itself in the League Cup as First Division side Chelsea were confidently swept aside 3-0. For good measure, Swindon Town now had its own weekly newspaper, The Swindon Echo that featured colour photographs and gave away full-page posters of the players. 'Swinging Swindon' had become a common piece of alliteration for headline writers. Their impressive run eventually came to a halt at Elland Road where they drew 0-0 with Leeds, followed swiftly by a 0-4 thumping at the hands of Northampton Town who, the season before, had handed Swindon the Division Three title. As a result, Swindon sadly began to slide down the table. Jack Smith was sold to Brighton for £6,000 and Norman Oakley, a goalkeeper from Hartlepool, was purchased for a similar amount. Bert Head's request to the board for £35,000 to strengthen the squad was met to a limited extent of £15,000. Seeing that it was unlikely that top level football would be obtainable at Swindon, Bobby Woodruff asked for, and was granted (by a majority boardroom vote) a transfer to Wolves - the same day that Frank Large was signed from QPR for £10,000.

Swindon finished the season in fourteenth position; quite why a slide had developed after such a promising start was a mystery. The absence of Ernie Hunt with tonsillitis was a factor, as was Bert Head's apparent inability to spot (and groom) young talent (although his capacity to buy more established players was second to none). A home tie with West Ham produced a new crowd record of 25,582. The Hammers won the game 3-1 and went on to win the cup. Ever present in the Town squad that season were Keith Morgan (captain) and John Trollope. The leading scorer was Ernie Hunt with 12; Bill Atkins (with 10) was the only other player to reach double figures. 

The club maintained their status over the next few seasons and then reached Wembley in the League Cup final in 1968-69.  Swindon could have endured an ignominious exit in Round Two when they trailed Fourth Division Bradford City at the County Ground, only to come back and win 4-3. In Round Four, Town were four minutes away from a 2-0 victory against Coventry. Coventry came back to earn a replay that saw them defeated 3-0 at the County Ground with first half goals from Don Rogers, Roger Smart and Willie Penman. The toughest opposition came from Derby County. After a hundred and eighty minutes of football against Brian Clough’s team, the two sides were separated by a single goal that followed a cruel deflection.

The semi-final saw both Swindon and their opponents make a nonsense of home advantage, losing 2-1 on their own grounds to take the tie to a decider at Hawthorns. In this match a fierce rising shot by John Smith gave Swindon an early lead. However, with just 25 seconds of normal time remaining, a free-kick found David Thomas who sidestepped the packed Swindon defence to fire home. Many Swindon fans were convinced that their Wembley dream was over when Burnley’s Casper found the ball at his feet and made no mistake. Swindon recovered from the double blow and increasing pressure caused Bellamy to put through his own goal. Minutes into the second period of extra-time, Noble met a headed clearance to finish what was to be the goal that took Swindon to Wembley. In the final, Roger Smart’s first-half goal had given Swindon a narrow lead that, thanks to the brilliance of Downsborough in goal, they held minutes from time. Then the Swindon keeper hacked clear, only for the ball to rebound over his head from the chest of Bobby Gould, who followed up to score. Don Rogers finished ended game with two brilliant goals, the first following a corner, the second saw his dramatic run from the half way rounded off when he took the ball round Wilson in the Arsenal goal.  

The following season, Swindon, by way of compensation for not being in the top division, were entered into the Anglo Italian Cup Winners Cup, which they won by defeating AS Roma 5-2 over two legs, Arthur Horsefield getting a hat-trick in the home leg.

In 1986-97, manager Lou Macari refused to be complacent despite having seen his side achieve a record points total in Division Four the previous season. He realised that some experience would be needed to add to the fitness and endeavour that characterised his side the previous season.  Shrewdly, the sale of Colin Gordon to Wimbledon financed three new signings. Although Jimmy Gilligan failed to establish a regular place, central defender, Tim Parkin, and striker, Steve White, were to play major roles in another season of success. When goalkeeper, Kenny Allen twisted an ankle in a Littlewoods Cup match at Southampton, Lou returned to his former club Manchester United to borrow Fraser Digby. The signing was later made permanent and the young ‘keeper was to prove his worth in this, and many other seasons. Although the season began brightly with a 2-1 win at Bolton, Town suffered two home defeats in quick succession. The second saw an absolute drubbing at the hands of Blackpool. Despite this the fans did their best to raise spirits by chanting "Lou Macari’s red and white army" which was to be the war cry of the period. Mark Jones was another player who came on loan and when he scored twice in a 3-1 win at York his signing was made permanent. As a second successive promotion became a real possibility the Board came up with £60,000 to allow Digby’s signing to be made permanent and also for Jimmy Quinn to be brought back to the County Ground.  A home tie against Leeds United ended in defeat in the F A Cup but the run to the Fourth Round generated much needed finance.  A 3-0 home win over Newport County was to spark a run of 10 games in which the only points Swindon dropped were in a 1-1 draw at Blackpool. On April 11 a 4-3 win at Ashton Gate against Bristol Rovers (they were playing on City’s ground at the time) lifted Town to second spot in the table. However, by the season’s end they dropped back to third and would have to battle for the final promotion place with Wigan and Gillingham, who both finished below them and Sunderland from Division Two.

The first leg of the Play-off semi-final at Wigan saw the home side get off to a flying start. A goal in only the second minute was followed by a second thirteen minutes later, the ball bouncing off the body of Fraser Digby to allow Bobby Campbell to score. With just 20 minutes remaining it looked as though Swindon would be facing an uphill task in the second leg. Then Peter Coyne's pass found Jimmy Quinn and although his shot was blocked, it broke loose to Dave Bamber who made no mistake. Quinn himself got on the score sheet with a header as Town's fitness (a hallmark of the Macari era) began to tell. Then Coyne, rejected by Wigan as a teenager, put Swindon 3-2 up in the closing minutes, heading in a mark Jones cross. A 0-0 draw in the second leg saw Swindon through to the final. 

At this time the final was not played at Wembley but over two legs instead and Town faced Gillingham in the final. Swindon’s third place finish meant that the first leg was played at Gillingham and the only goal of the game came from the home side with just eight minutes remaining. A debatable free kick was awarded against Mark Jones for handball and David Smith drove the resultant shot through the Town wall. One goal is not too much to pull back but when Karl Elstrey volleyed home in the 17th minute of the second leg; Swindon’s task began to look daunting. When a Steve White header struck the bar with Kite beaten, it began to seem as though it would not be Town’s night. However, after 61 minutes, Peter Coyne wriggled through to shoot home and with just 10 minutes remaining, a left footer from 20 yards by Charlie Henry took the tie to a decider at Selhurst Park. Two goals by 'Chalkie' White were to take Town back to Division Two after 13 years. Steve’s first came after just two minutes when he raced on to Phil King’s free-kick. The second came just after the hour; a looping ball from Dave Bamber was chested down by White who rode two tackles before striking a beautiful reverse angle shot. In the words of the Adver,  "White lightning sends Town up."  

Two seasons later, before their second season back in the old Division Two, Swindon lost the services of two key strikers in Dave Bamber and Jimmy Quinn who moved to Watford and Leicester respectively. However, with the help of funding from the directors, Town were able to purchase Duncan Shearer from Huddersfield and Ross MacLaren from Shrewsbury. They proved good investments and Swindon reached the play-offs. 'Big Dunc' was leading scorer with 14 in the League; none more valuable than the two he scored in the last home match of the season, a 3-0 victory over Stoke City which made sure of a play-off place. Fraser Digby, with 17 clean sheets, was ever present in goal and Steve White contributed 13 League goals. But it was Steve 'stigger' Foley who won the Adver 'Player of the Year Award'.  The Robins managed a 1-0 victory in the first leg of the play off semi-final thanks to a Hopkins own-goal, but the combination of Wright and Bright, all pace and elbows, proved to big a problem in the second and Selhurst Park saw the hopes of First Division football ended by Steve Coppell’s Crystal Palace.

It was Crystal Palace who put Town out of the League Cup in Round Two while the FA Cup saw Portsmouth defeated 2-0 in a Third Round replay thanks to goals from Foley and Shearer. This earned Town a Fourth Round draw with West Ham, who knocked Swindon out scoring the only goal of the tie at Upton Park in a replay.

The Palace play-off match was to be Lou’s last in charge of Swindon before moving to West Ham United. He had been the personification of Swindon Town, with countless commentators talking about Lou Macari’s Swindon. While his approach to the game (based on super fitness and getting the ball in the opponents’ box) did not please some purists it moved Swindon from Division Four to the edge of Division One. Long after his departure the benefits of his shrewd signings were still benefiting the club.  

The Swindon Board had deliberated long and hard before appointing a successor to Lou Macari.  Eventually they went for a high profile player/manager in Ossie Ardiles. Ossie, like Lou, made little impact on the pitch, where he made just two substitute appearances, but off it he transformed the teams' style of play to one involving lots of passing triangles. Such was the transformation, often with the use of a 'diamond' formation, that Alan McLoughlin won international honours for Eire and was voted Swindon’s 'Player of the Season'.  It was two goals from McLoughlin that helped Town to a 2-0 away win over Watford that took them into the top six where they stayed to the season’s end. Although the following weekend saw a 2-1 FA Cup defeat against Bristol City, in the League Swindon continued to prosper. The goal scoring exploits of Duncan Shearer and Steve White, with 20 and 18 respectively helped Swindon to a total of 79 League goals. Dave Kerslake came as a midfield player from QPR but was later transformed into an attacking right-back and whose crosses set up many goals, as did those of left back Paul Bodin. Colin Calderwood and Ross MacLaren kept clear of injury and, along with Maclaren (playing just in front of the back four), were a major factor in the club’s success. The last game of the league programme saw Swindon visit Stoke, who had already been relegated. A point was enough to earn Swindon the advantage of being at home in the play-offs and the last few minutes of this match were played after a crowd invasion. Perhaps, realising that a further goal could spark trouble, both sides seemed content to play the ball about and settle for a 1-1 score line.

Swindon made an excellent start in the play-offs, winning away from home in the first leg of the semi-final. A surging run by Dave Kerslake led to a cross that Steve White shot home on the turn. Town increased their lead in the second-half thanks to a long shot by Steve Foley before substitute Kennedy pulled one back for Blackburn Rovers. The return match at Swindon saw some end-to-end play before Duncan Shearer showed great anticipation to seize on a return pass at a throw in and curled a shot past Gennoe. The ball struck the inside of the post and before the Blackburn keeper could flap it away the linesman signalled a goal. Just three minutes later Steve White got on to the end of a cross by Shearer and a cruel deflection off Mail took the ball into the visitors goal. The second half saw an aerial bombardment by the Lancashire side with Simon Garner brought on alongside Frank Stapleton. Fraser Digby was in great form in the Town goal and although he could do nothing about Howard Gayle’s deflected shot in the 66th minute, Town ran out clear winners 4-2 on aggregate.

A crowd of 72,873 turned up for the Bank Holiday match as Ossie’s team went to Wembley.  Gabbiadini threatened in the early minutes for Sunderland but Swindon soon began to dominate the play. Swindon’s goal had a touch of fortune about it as it deflected off Gary Bennett.  Swindon might have had several more goals but for the excellence of Tony Norman in goal. Steve White might have had two, but one volley produced a flying save before he later rounded the keeper and hit his shot past the post. The final minutes were agony for the Town fans, but John Martin’s final whistle sparked joyous celebrations. These continued on the team’s return to Swindon, but were soon replaced by angry protests when The Football League demoted Swindon for irregular payments. A two-division relegation was reduced to one by the Football Association, but it would be three seasons before Swindon won the Premiership place that had been so cruelly snatched from them. 

In 1991-92, the season started well both on and off the field for Swindon; a three-year sponsorship deal with Burmah brought much needed revenue to the club while on the field, after 10 games, Swindon were in second position.

The club also made good progress in the Rumbelows Cup. Round Three saw a notable 4-1 away win with Shearer (2) Nicky Summerbee and ‘ooh Shaun Taylor’ getting the goals be fore Town were defeated at home to Crystal Palace in the Fourth Round. After a victory over Newcastle United, who were managed by former Swindon boss Ossie Ardiles, a slide down the table began. Part of this could probably be attributed to an injury to player/manager Glenn Hoddle, but a Cup run also provided distraction. In the end it was in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup that Swindon made their exit when they lost out 2-1 to Aston Villa.

Fitzroy Simpson was sold to Manchester City for £550,000 before leading scorer, Duncan Shearer was also released, a move that would knock the heart out of the club’s Premiership challenge. The worst thing about it was that Shearer was sold to promotion rivals Blackburn Rovers, a cunning move by 'canny Kenny', who brought the Scot at a reasonable fee reported to be £850,000. As it was the Town finished in eighth position with Blackburn clinching the last play-off spot, going on to win promotion at Wembley. Terry Gibson, now assistant manager at Wycombe, was signed as a replacement but could only manage one goal in eight games. Too many games were drawn to enable Swindon to reach the play offs. Colin Calderwood was a pillar of strength in defence, appearing in every League match and scoring five goals. There was hope for the future when Craig Maskell signed from Reading, with Paul Bodin establishing himself as the regular left-back. On the other flank, Nicky Summerbee was showing the pace and crossing ability his father had shown thirty years before.

The following season, the 1992-3 season, saw what many fans consider some of the finest football ever played by a Swindon team. The club's player manager, Glenn Hoddle got the club off to a flying start scoring the only goal in a home win over Sunderland. There followed an exciting 4-3 win against Bristol Rovers. Swindon overcame the loss of Duncan Shearer transferred the previous season with no fewer than four players reaching double figures. Craig Maskell, signed from Reading led the way with 19 while three players contributed 11 goals each. Shaun Taylor was not only a rock in defence but also a potent attacker, many of his 11 coming from headers at corners. Paul Bodin hit a golden run of scoring form as the season neared its climax while Australian international Dave Mitchell scored a hat trick in one of Town’s finest comebacks when they overturned a three goal lead to beat Birmingham at St Andrews by 6-4. Another game that sticks in the memory was the away match at Brentford, which was a tactical triumph by Hoddle. Reduced to nine men by sendings off early in the game, a footballing version of basketball’s half court press saw Shaun Close left to run around in the opponents half while the eight remaining players defended to good enough effect to take a point in a 0-0 draw. Captain Colin Calderwood and Shaun Taylor were ever present at the heart of the defence while the later part of the season saw the emergence of Nicky Summerbee as a marauding wingback. The other defensive flank was occupied by 'Zippy' Bodin who was not as fast but who crosses possessed a pin point accuracy. In midfield there were the contrasting styles of Martin Ling and Mickey Hazard, while John Moncur and Kevin Horlock gave the first flashes of talents that would shine more brightly in the following season. Despite a dip in form at the season’s end when only two points were taken from the last four matches the Robins earlier efforts were enough to earn them fifth position and a play-off place. What happened in those matches will be dealt with next time.    

Swindon couldn’t have wished for a better start against Tranmere at the County Ground. Within two minutes Vickers headed a near post cross by Nicky Summerbee into his own net and a minute later, Ross McClaren’s shot was too hot to handle and Dave Mitchell followed up to score. Mitchell slipped a pass through to Craig Maskell who beat the offside trap and he ran through to add a third on 27 minutes – it looked as though the whole tie was over. This wasn’t to be the case. Swindon struck the bar early in the second half, but Kenny Irons – who scored against Town the previous weekend, set up John Morrisey 13 minutes from time to give Rovers hope. John Moncur returned to Town’s team after a three-month lay-off through injury in the first leg, and he looked to have sealed the tie in the second, opening the scoring on 29 minutes. Proctor scored for Tranmere just before half-time to level the scores and Pat Nevin reduced the deficit still further when he scored just after the hour. When Maskell converted a Mitchell cross after 83 minutes Swindon looked home and dry, but a Kenny Irons penalty left Town fans on Merseyside sweating right up until the final whistle.

Glenn Hoddle nonchalantly stroked home the first goal of the final on 41 minutes, but not one person inside the packed Wembley Stadium could have predicted what was to follow. Maskell doubled Town’s advantage from Moncur’s pass on 47 minutes before Shaun Taylor bravely headed home six minutes later. Julian Joachim gave Brian Little’s side a glimmer of hope before two goals in as many minutes from Steve Walsh and Steve Thomas wiped out Town’s advantage. There were six minutes on the clock when Steve White latched on to Hoddle’s pin-point pass, the former Hereford man beat Kevin Poole to the ball before the ‘keeper was adjudged to have brought White down. Paul Bodin stepped up to take the penalty and, despite facing immense pressure, he slotted home to erase the memory of Town’s demotion two years earlier.

The following campaign, no League victory until November, one hundred goals conceded and relegation hardly seems a season to remember; yet Swindon Town fans look back nostalgically to what has been the club’s only season in the top flight. Glenn Hoddle had departed to Chelsea and his Assistant John Gorman had taken over the reins. Jan-Aage Fjortoft had become the club’s record signing, but in the early months failed to find the scoring form that would later endear him to Swindon Town fans. Narrow defeats at Bramall Lane and at home to Oldham were followed by a heavy home defeat by Liverpool – unfortunately this form would imbibe Town’s season.

Keith Scott, who had been purchased from Wycombe Wanderers, was brought in to get on the end of the crosses of Nicky Summerbee and Paul Bodin. It worked to a degree in the first of his two games which saw a Scott goal and a Bodin penalty earn a home point against Ipswich, and another goal from Scott bring the elusive first win, remarkably after being reduced to ten men against QPR.

If there were too many defeats (22), there were also many happy memories as Swindon’s style of football during the season won friends if not points. Draws at Tottenham and Liverpool, where only a late goal denied the Robins, were great performances. Swindon was the only side to put four League goals past Manchester United and who will ever forget John Moncur’s tussles with Eric Cantona. Brian Kilcline and his ponytail arrived a bit too late to make a difference and the killer blow was at Maine Road where a one goal lead, which should have been two but for a harsh ruling on Fjortoft, was surrendered. Swindon fans accepted their fate with good humour. If opposition fans chanted "Going down Going down", then Town’s faithful would reply with "so are we so are we". The last away match at QPR, which was to produce the first away victory, was turned in to a celebratory wake as fans sought to drain the last drops of enjoyment from their season in the sun.

In the following campaign, if the League was to provide a huge disappointment, this season would once again see Swindon come within ninety minutes of Wembley in the Coca-Cola Cup. Swindon's run, which saw them enter the competition in Round Two, appeared to have ended before it had begun when they lost 3-1 at home to Charlton, with old boy Gary Nelson scoring two and making one for the Haddicks. The 'Adver' proclaimed "Hoping for a Miracle" when Town travelled to Charlton for the second leg, yet their hopes were realised thanks to Jan Aage Fjortoft. Just before half time he volleyed home a Bodin cross to complete his hat trick and although a second half goal for the Londoners took the tie to extra time, a Joey Beauchamp shot rebounded off the post and off the back of Patterson.

The Third Round saw Brighton despatched in a more orthodox fashion. Andy Thomson scored his only senior goal at the Goldstone Ground, while Keith Scott and Fjortoft notched a brace each in the 4-1 win at the County Ground. The following Round saw Swindon under the direction of Andy Rowland as John Gorman had been sacked. He decided to play a flat back four with Martin Ling brought in place of Brian Kilcline. Fjortoft volleyed Town in front and although Derby equalised before half time, 'Jan the Man' got his second in the dying minutes - a sharp turn before shooting home. Fjortoft continued his record of scoring in every round and in round five, his 30-yard effort caught Keller off his line and encapsulated a 3-1 win.

Town faced Bolton Wanderers in the semi-finals and an early blow from Alan Stubbs put the visitors ahead. Fortunately, Peter Thorne, who had been rejected by Bolton earlier on in his career, scored two goals to give Swindon a narrow lead to take to the Second Leg. The Second Leg was due to be played on February 22 but was postponed and it was over a month after the first match that the Second leg took place. Swindon were without Mark Robinson (suspended) and Ian Culverhouse (injured) but some good keeping by Fraser Digby saw them hold on to a 0-0 draw at half-time. Things looked good when Fjortoft extended Town's aggregate lead, but the Robins Wembley dreams died as goals by McAteer, Patalienen and McKinlay made it 3-1 on the night, and 4-3 on aggregate to the Lancashire club.

However, a year later, Swindon made up for the previous disappointments of the last two years in a campaign in which they were rarely knocked off top spot. Seven wins in the first nine games saw them storm to the top of the table with Steve Finney, a signing from Manchester City, prominent among the scorers. There was a slight stutter in November and December, yet despite winning just the one game Town only lost one too. The Robins also made excellent progress in the Cup, reaching Round Five with victories over Cambridge, Cardiff, Woking and Oldham with only one goal conceded.  Southampton were held to a draw at the County Ground before Town bowed out 2-0 at the Dell.

Promotion was eventually clinched at Blackpool; a twelfth minute shot by Kevin Horlock enough to earn the point that clinched promotion. Three days later the Second Division Championship was clinched at Chesterfield. Steve Cowe marked his first start for the Robins by curling in a right-footed shot with Peter Thorne and Wayne Allison adding further goals after the home side had equalised. It was a good season for the Town strikers with no fewer than four players reaching double figures.   Wayne Allison led the way with 17 while Kevin Horlock, who notched the only hat-trick of the campaign against Bristol Rovers scored 12. Steve Finney also scored 12 and it would have been more but for an unfortunate leg fracture sustained at Burnley. Peter Thorne was averaging just under a goal every other game with 10 from 22 starts.  Ian Culverhouse and Mark Robinson were ever present in defence and although Shay Given joined the club on loan, whilst Frank Talia made a more permanent move, Fraser Digby was in possession of the keeper’s jersey at the season’s end.   

The club, however, were to remain in Division Two (now known as League One) for the next few years, a play-off semi-final penalty defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion during the 2003-04 season a major disappointment for the club, now managed by former Hatters player Andy King.

History courtesy of: www.swindontownfc.co.uk.

Luton Town v Swindon Town...

A full rundown of all of the past meetings

Home Matches   Apr 8 1997 ND2 D 0 0 8117   Mar 7 1998 ND2 D 0 0 6114   Jan 9 1999 ND2 W 3 1 5063   Oct 19 1999 ND2 D 1 1 5820   Jan 12 2001 ND2 L 1 2 4551 Report Jan 25 2002 ND2 W 1 0 7351 Report Oct 11 2003 ND2 W 3 1 5695 Report Statto's Corner

Away Matches   Sep 7 1996 ND2 W 1 0 6471   Nov 1 1997 ND2 D 2 2 6219   Aug 8 1998 ND2 W 1 0 5