Darlington’s cup draw taking them to Swindon feels similar to twelve months ago. Then it was an away trip to League 1 Walsall, who I’ve a feeling were in better form than Town are now. The Robins, promoted from League 2 after lockdown brought last season to an early conclusion, sit in the bottom 4.
I have a nostalgic feeling towards Swindon Town. The early 90s was the moment I began to take a proper interest in football and, in the same way that memories of early gigs and cinema trips linger clearer and longer than those enjoyed (or endured) more recently, so too does the novelty of listening to football on the radio nearly thirty years ago. The bright lights of the Premier League was marking a new era for English club football and for the first time in their history, Swindon Town had a place at the top table. Victory over Leicester in the Division 1 play off final saw Glenn Hoddle’s team promoted, but Hoddle departed for Chelsea before a ball of the 1993/1994 season was kicked, and Swindon’s time amongst the big boys was short-lived. They became the first top division team in thirty years to concede 100 goals and after recording just five victories they were relegated. With many Manchester United fans at our school, I can still clearly remember the impact Swindon’s 2-2 draw with the champions made.
Their reaching the Premier League was followed by a number of bumpy years both on and off the pitch, something which is all too familiar now. Twice in administration and facing winding up orders in the 2000s, in 2006 they became the first team to have played in the Premier League to drop to the lowest division of the football league. Bradford, Portsmouth, Oldham and Bolton are among those who have joined them in this not very esteemed club. The short-lived Denis Wise era followed, with the former Chelsea midfielder appointed as manager in May 2006, leaving to join Leeds in October.
Swindon’s other moment in the football spotlight, on the pitch at least, came in the 1969 League Cup Final. This feels like a throwback to a different time, when teams in the third division (League 1, the level Swindon currently find themselves at) can not only reach major finals, but take the prize home with them. Even though opponents Arsenal had lost the previous year’s final to Leeds, Swindon were regarded as underdogs. Their victory is described vividly and colourfully by Nick Hornby in ‘Fever Pitch’, childhood betrayal as the team he’d fallen for, arsenal, dared to lose such a high profile match. Whilst the fans around him had been confident, the young Hornby had already discovered the feeling of deep-rooted pessimism which can follow fans of even the most successful sides.
“I sat shivering until Swindon scored just before half time,” he wrote, “and then the fear turned to misery. The goal was one of the most calamitously stupid ever given away by a team of professionals” – hands up anyone who is now thinking of a contender to rival that title from their own team. Google Brentford v Doncaster Rovers for my contribution. The Bees spectacular failure to miss automatic promotion that day in 2013 meant yet another doomed play off campaign, however it did give us one of my favourite Brentford matches. A 1-1 draw at Swindon brought the sides back to Griffin Park for the semi final second leg with all to play for. A brilliant 2-2 draw saw the Bees win on penalties, an irony since it was a cock up with one of those against Donny which had put us through all that in the first place. I’ve already mentioned the Yeovil disappointment of the League 1 Play Off final in a previous post and we don’t need to go over that again. From Swindon’s point of view, this was the season Paolo Di Canio resigned because of, in his words, “a number of broken promises”. The Robins had been riding high in the table and pushing for a second consecutive promotion when he left.
Around this time Brentford matches against Swindon were often memorable. The Robins relationship with Spurs meant loanees added considerable flare to their play. However I’d like to end this post with a Youtube clip of one of the classic Brentford goals, scored against Swindon in a 3-2 victory on Boxing Day 2013. The greatest free kick routine ever?
Glory Hunting 