Swindon Town F.C.
The team lifted the League Cup after beating Arsenal 3–1 in the 1969 final, and went on to secure promotion at the end of the 1968–69 season with the help of talismanic winger Don Rogers.They went on to claim victory in the 1990 Second Division play-off final under Osvaldo Ardiles, but were denied promotion into the top-flight after admitting to breaching Football League regulations.Hall of Fame inductee John Trollope played 770 league games for the club between 1960 and 1980, a professional record in English football until it was broken in 2023 by Dean Lewington.Swindon won 5–2, with the scorer of two goals in the League Cup final – Don Rogers – scoring once and new acquisition Arthur Horsfield acquiring his first hat-trick for the club.[7] Following management changes, Swindon had a long unsuccessful period culminating in them being relegated in 1982 to the Fourth Division, the lowest professional Football League at the time.[9] Promotion campaign Manager Lou Macari left in 1989 to take charge of West Ham United with veteran midfielder, and former Argentine international, Ossie Ardiles replacing him.A year later they beat Leicester City 4–3 in the new Division One play-off final to achieve promotion to the Premier League — bringing top-division football to the club for the first time.Gorman had been sacked as manager in November 1994, and although his successor, player-manager Steve McMahon, was unable to avoid relegation, he did take Swindon to the semi-finals of the League Cup.A first-round playoff loss to Brighton & Hove Albion on penalties meant Swindon extended their stay in the third tier, now renamed League One.The club has been beset by financial difficulties throughout its recent history, having been placed into administration twice[18] and also twice fought off winding-up orders from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise over unpaid tax.Paul Sturrock having departed for Plymouth Argyle, the consortium appointed Sturrock-recommended Maurice Malpas manager, and Swindon finished their first season back in League One in 13th, helped by 15-goal signing Simon Cox.After losing the final Swindon lost their top scorer Billy Paynter who joined Leeds United on a free transfer, and sold club captain Gordon Greer.When Danny Wilson resigned on 2 March, Paul Hart was brought in but failed to save the Robins, and on 25 April 2011 Swindon were relegated to League Two yet again after losing 3–1 to Sheffield Wednesday.[29] On 18 February 2013, with Swindon riding high in League One and in contention for a second consecutive promotion, Di Canio announced his resignation, alleging mistreatment by the board of directors, including the sale of Matt Ritchie behind his back, and the financial instability of the club at the time.On 9 June 2020, Swindon were crowned League Two champions on the basis of average points per game, matches in the 2019–20 season having been suspended from March due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.[45][46] Swindon supporter groups urged fans to boycott games until the ownership problems were resolved, with High Court hearings due to start on 6 September 2021.[54] The club then cancelled its planned pre-season friendly with Swansea City at the County Ground on 17 July 2021,[55] citing "ongoing logistical and operational issues".[61] The manager then left Swindon to join Charlton Athletic in June 2022, being replaced by his former assistant Scott Lindsey,[62] who spent half a season in the role before moving to Crawley Town.[68] Appointed caretaker manager to the end of the season, Gavin Gunning questioned his players' "heart" after they won only two from ten games and dropped to 18th place in mid-March.[1] Initially a dark maroon, a lighter shade was chosen for the start of the 1902–03 season and also resulted in the club's nickname "the Robins" appearing in print for the first time in programme notes for the first game.Previous manufacturers include Umbro, Admiral, Adidas, Coffer Sports, Spall, Diamond Leisure, Loki, Mizuno, Lotto, Xara, DGI, Strikeforce, and Lonsdale.The County Ground is also the only football stadium in the world with a Rolex watch acting as its timekeeper, the clock on the Stratton Bank stand featuring its name was erected to celebrate promotion in 1963.Due to Swindon's low unemployment rate (one of the lowest in the United Kingdom),[92] more people work in the town than live there and so are unlikely to support the team.[93] In addition; poor team performances, the financial instability in the club and the change to an all-seated stadium following the Taylor Report have led to attendances at the County Ground dropping.[99] A core group of fans has inhabited the Town End of the stadium since the 1980s, producing past fanzines such as The 69'er, Bring the Noise, Randy Robin and The Magic Roundabout[100] amongst others.The Junior Robins is the children's supporters club which operates to provide lower ticket prices, away game activities and transport to young fans."[111] The Swindon Advertiser reported that "The area was packed with Christmas shoppers, who watched in horror as pub windows were smashed and fans traded insults.[122] In 2013, 10 Swindon fans were charged with violent disorder following an incident outside the Royal Oak pub in Brentford before the club's League 1 play-off semi-final defeat.Former players Don Rogers, John Trollope and Paul Bodin were the first three confirmed inductees with the others announced during a BBC Wiltshire radio broadcast on 30 December 2011.Swindon Town have also set records in English football, being the second team (after York City in 1983–84) to score over 100 points in the League when they became Fourth Division champions in 1985–86.
SwindonSwindon_Town_W.F.C.The County GroundClem MorfuniIan HollowayEFL League Two2023–24Home coloursAway coloursCurrent seasonassociation footballWiltshireEnglish football league systemSouthern LeagueWestern LeagueFootball LeagueSecond DivisionLeague CupArsenal1969 finalDon RogersFourth DivisionLou Macari1990 Second Division play-off finalOsvaldo ArdilesGlenn Hoddle1993 play-off finalthe club's historyPremier LeagueLeague TwoCounty GroundJohn Trollopeprofessional record in English footballDean LewingtonHistory of Swindon Town F.C.LiddingtonSeptimus AtterburyFA Cup1909–10Newcastle UnitedBarnsleyDubonnet CupParc des PrincesHarold Fleming1910–11Charity ShieldManchester UnitedStamford BridgeTitanicH.J. FlemingEnglandthe Football LeagueDivision ThreeLuton TownWorld War IIPrisoners of WarNorthampton TownJuventus1970 Anglo-Italian CupInter-Cities Fairs Cupthe Football AssociationDivision One1969 Anglo-Italian League CupCoppa ItaliaA.S. RomaArthur Horsfieldhat-trickhooliganismS.S.C. NapoliteargasYork CityWest Ham UnitedArgentine internationalOssie ArdilesSecond Division play-offSunderlandTranmere RoversBrian Hillier1991–92 seasonChelsea1993–94 FA Premier LeagueJohn Gormanfollowing yearSteve McMahon1995–961998–99 seasonAndy King2003–04Brighton & Hove AlbionLeague OneHer Majesty's Customs and Excise2006–07 seasonIffy OnuoraDennis WiseGustavo PoyetLeeds UnitedAdy WilliamsBarry HunterPaul SturrockFootball League OneWalsallAndrew Fitton2007–08 seasonPlymouth ArgyleMaurice MalpasSimon Cox2008–09 campaignDavid ByrneDanny Wilson2009–10 seasonCharlton AthleticFootball League One play-offsMillwallWembley StadiumFootball League ChampionshipBilly PaynterGordon Greer2010–11 seasonCharlie AustinBurnleyPaul HartSheffield WednesdayPaul BodinPaolo Di Canio2011–12 seasonTorquay United