Editing Swindon Town F.C. (section)

==Supporters==
[[File:Swindon Town home attendances since 1889.PNG|thumb|right|200px|Average home attendances since 1889. In more recent years, attendances have gone up, giving Swindon Town one of the highest attendances in League One]]
As an expanding railway town, the club had attendances of up to 32,000 on match days until the early 1970s. Due to Swindon's low unemployment rate (one of the lowest in the United Kingdom),<ref name="unemploy">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/567.stm|title=Swindon North|access-date=15 February 2007|publisher=BBC News  |year=2001|work=Vote 2001: Results & Constituencies}}</ref> more people work in the town than live there and so are unlikely to support the team.<ref name="unemploy2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.culture.gov.uk/cap/proposals/Swindon.pdf|title=Response to the Call for Proposals – Introduction to Swindon – 1.3|access-date=15 February 2007|publisher=[[Borough of Swindon|Swindon Borough Council]]|year=2006|work=Vote 2001: Results & Constituencies|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205172951/http://www.culture.gov.uk/cap/proposals/Swindon.pdf|archive-date=5 February 2007}}</ref> 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.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}}

With an all-seated capacity of 15,728 at the County Ground, Swindon averaged a home attendance of 5,839 for the 2004–05 season.<ref name="attendanceavg">{{Cite web|url=http://www.soccerstats.com/2khcrowd.asp?league=england3_2005&homeaway=3 |title=2004–2005 Division 2 Attendances |access-date=19 July 2007 |publisher=soccerstats.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928064144/http://www.soccerstats.com/2khcrowd.asp?league=england3_2005&homeaway=3 |archive-date=28 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Only 37% of the grounds seats were occupied at a game on average.<ref>Calculation – (5,839/15,728)*100=37.125</ref>
This rose to 5,950<ref name="attendanceavg06">{{Cite web|url=http://www.soccerstats.com/2khcrowd.asp?league=england3_2006&homeaway=3 |title=2005–2006 Division 2 Attendances |access-date=19 July 2007 |publisher=soccerstats.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928064158/http://www.soccerstats.com/2khcrowd.asp?league=england3_2006&homeaway=3 |archive-date=28 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (37.8%)<ref>Calculation – (5,950/15,728)*100=37.83</ref> in 2005–06 and was reported as 7,109 (45.2%)<ref>Calculation – (7,109/15,728)*100=45.1996</ref> for the 2006–07 season.<ref name="attendanceavg07">{{Cite web|url=http://www.soccerstats.com/2khcrowd.asp?league=england4_2007&homeaway=3 |title=2006–2007 Division 3 Attendances |access-date=19 July 2007 |publisher=soccerstats.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928064151/http://www.soccerstats.com/2khcrowd.asp?league=england4_2007&homeaway=3 |archive-date=28 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

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''<ref name="magicfanzine">{{Cite web|url=http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2000/9/11/235806.html|title=New fanzine a good read|access-date=7 February 2007|work=[[Swindon Advertiser]]|year=2000|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060305212728/http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2000/9/11/235806.html|archive-date=5 March 2006}}</ref> amongst others. Supporters call the team The Town, The Reds, STFC and also the Red and White Army, the latter being a term the supporters use to identify themselves as well. The Junior Robins is the children's supporters club which operates to provide lower ticket prices, away game activities and transport to young fans.<ref name="juniorrobins">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindontownfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/JuniorRobinsIndex/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102005523/http://www.swindontownfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/JuniorRobinsIndex/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 January 2008|title=Junior Robins|access-date=7 February 2007|publisher=Swindon Town Football Club}}</ref> Membership of the club also allows them to be nominated as game mascot and gives them the opportunity to train in one of the many Football Schools run by the club.

[[File:Red army loud yeovil27.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Swindon Town supporters with banners provided by Red Army Loud and Proud]]
The [[supporters' trust]], TrustSTFC, was established in 2000. This organisation is a democratically elected group of fans who raise funds for the club and aim to give supporters access and input into decisions made by the club's board.<ref name="trustaims">{{Cite web|url=http://www.truststfc.co.uk/aims.php |title=Aims of the Trust |access-date=14 February 2007 |publisher=TrustSTFC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927224122/http://www.truststfc.co.uk/aims.php |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The group run a number of schemes including the Loan Note Scheme, the aim of which is to buy shares in the club and assist with investment.<ref name="trustloan">{{Cite web|url=http://www.truststfc.co.uk/loan_notes.php |title=Loan Note Scheme |access-date=14 February 2007 |publisher=TrustSTFC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103182306/http://www.truststfc.co.uk/loan_notes.php |archive-date= 3 January 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Another scheme is the Red Army Fund; the money raised by this fund is given to the club to contribute towards the purchase and wages of new players.<ref name="trustredarmyfund">{{Cite web|url=http://www.truststfc.co.uk/RAF_main.php |title=Red Army Fund |access-date=14 February 2007 |publisher=TrustSTFC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103182807/http://www.truststfc.co.uk/RAF_main.php |archive-date= 3 January 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> TrustSTFC also take part in the Fans' Consortium, which aims to place a supporter with a large stake-holding in the club onto the board of directors.<ref name="trustfansconsort">{{Cite web|url=http://www.truststfc.co.uk/fc_manifesto.php |title=Swindon Town Fans' Consortium |access-date=14 February 2007 |publisher=TrustSTFC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927224103/http://www.truststfc.co.uk/fc_manifesto.php |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The trust is also currently campaigning with the club for the re-development of the County Ground.

The ''Football Fever Report'' published by statisticians of the [[Littlewoods Pools|Littlewoods Football Pools]] was released in January 2007. It researched those teams that were the most stressful to support. Swindon Town was placed fifth out of all 92 League clubs,<ref name = "footballfever"/> with the report stating –
{{clear left}}
<blockquote>"It's only just over a decade ago that Swindon were a Premier League side, but the past 10 years have been tough going for fans at the County Ground. Relegation from the top flight in 1994 was followed by a second successive drop, and although promotion from Division Two was secured a year later, the team struggled in Division One in the next three seasons, finishing 19th, 18th and 17th. In 2000 came relegation, and a year later Swindon avoided another 'double relegation' by just one point. A glimmer of hope came when the play-offs were reached in 2004 – ending in a semi-final loss to Brighton – but last term Town became the first club to drop into the bottom tier of the Football League having once been in the Premier League. We bet Robins' fans can hardly believe it."<ref name="footballfever">{{Cite web|url=http://www.footballpools.com/thepools/new/football-fever/topten.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108115134/http://www.footballpools.com/thepools/new/football-fever/topten.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 January 2007|title=Top Ten Clubs|access-date=7 February 2007|publisher=[[Littlewoods Pools|Littlewoods Football Pools]]|year=2007|work=Football Fever Report}}</ref></blockquote>

With the dwindling support during matches in the 2004–05 season, another fans' group, Red Army Loud and Proud was formed.<ref name = "redarmyabout"/> It is a small group of fans attempting to bring back the atmosphere and fun to match days. With the stated aim of being "the 12th man on the pitch",<ref name="redarmyabout">{{Cite web|url=http://www.redarmyloudnproud.org.uk/aboutus.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008064808/http://www.redarmyloudnproud.org.uk/aboutus.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 October 2007|title=About Us|access-date=14 February 2007|publisher=Red Army Loud and Proud}}</ref> the group sponsors players and also provides large colourful flags to the matches.

However, in more recent years 2010–11 Swindon has rapidly increasing attendances with an 8,400 average attendance for the 2010–11 season despite relegation.

===Hooliganism===
Swindon Town has had problems with [[Football hooliganism|hooliganism]] since the 1970s, with the first known group being called the Swindon Town Aggro Boys (STAB).<ref name="hooligans1">{{Cite web|url=http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2006/6/21/269467.html|title=Not so beautiful|access-date=4 April 2007|work=[[Swindon Advertiser]]|date=21 June 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015450/http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2006/6/21/269467.html|archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref> In a home game against [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]] in March 1978, STAB were responsible for pelting the opposing goalkeeper with darts, stones and a golf ball.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/801549.not_so_beautiful |title=Not so beautiful |first=Kevin |last=Burchall |date=21 June 2006 |newspaper=Swindon Advertiser |access-date=12 September 2016}}</ref> Club chairman Cecil Green later said: "We intend to stamp out this thuggery. The incidents were diabolical."<ref name="hooligans1"/> A new hooligan gang emerged in the 1980s, the Swindon Southside Firm (SSF), who were named after the area of terracing they occupied.<ref name="hooligans1"/> In a match at [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]], then manager [[Lou Macari]] walked straight into a group of more than 100 SSF members chasing Northampton fans up the street. Macari said the incident was "worse than a [[Old Firm|Celtic–Rangers game]]".<ref name="hooligans1"/>

In the 1990s, the Swindon Active Service (SAS) came to prominence and it is believed they were at the centre of several hostilities with fans of local rivals [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]] and [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] .<ref name="hooligans1"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/7399424.12-arrests-as-town-lose-to-reading/ | title=12 arrests as Town lose to Reading | date=21 August 2000 }}</ref> In September 1998, 19 SAS members were arrested at the home match with Oxford.<ref name="hooligans1"/> A fracas at an away game versus [[AFC Bournemouth]] on 18 December 2004 resulted in the arrest of seventeen and the imposition of banning orders on those found to be guilty.<ref name = "hooligans2"/><ref name="hooligans4">{{Cite web|url=http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2005/11/23/254729.html|title=He could have caused a riot|access-date=3 August 2007|work=[[Swindon Advertiser]]|date=25 November 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20070803145013/http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2005/11/23/254729.html|archive-date=3 August 2007}}</ref> The fighting, involving more than forty supporters, occurred in a busy shopping centre before the game. "District Judge Roger House said it had been a 'frightening and terrifying' experience for scores of Christmas shoppers who witnessed the scenes."<ref name="hooligans2">{{Cite web|url=http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2005/4/13/89161.html|title=Swindon fans up in court|access-date=4 August 2007|work=[[Swindon Advertiser]]|date=13 April 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015225/http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2005/4/13/89161.html|archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref>
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."<ref name="hooligans3">{{Cite web|url=http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2005/3/26/90407.html|title=17 arrests made after soccer fight|access-date=4 August 2007|work=[[Swindon Advertiser]]|date=26 May 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015237/http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2005/3/26/90407.html|archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref>

On 16 December 2006, Swindon recorded one of their highest attendances of the season: 10,010 at a home win against rivals [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]].<ref name="2006highattendance">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/6164443.stm|title=Swindon 2–1 Bristol Rovers|access-date=8 February 2007|work=BBC Sport   | date=16 December 2006}}</ref> The game was marred by supporter trouble which resulted in 11 arrests and saw an area of seating in the Arkell's Stand damaged,<ref name="bbcseatsfight">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/6187849.stm|title=Probe after fans ripped up seats|access-date=8 February 2007|work=BBC Sport | date=18 December 2006}}</ref><ref name="ttseatsfight">{{Cite web|url=http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/18122006/1/starnes-vows-severe-action.html|title=Starnes vows 'severe' action|access-date=8 February 2007|publisher=[[TEAMtalk]]}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> with the ''[[Western Daily Press]]'' reporting that "the incident [...] ended with damage to 60 seats after they were used as missiles between opposing fans".<ref name="wdpseatsvbristol">{{Cite web|url=http://www.westpress.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145786&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145786&contentPK=16224108&folderPk=76224|title=Swindon set to ban thugs|access-date=8 February 2007|publisher=[[Western Daily Press]]}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On the day of the return game in Bristol, 20 Rovers fans attacked a number of Swindon supporters with baseball bats at a local pub.<ref name="hooligans6">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/search/display.var.1363159.0.thugs_baseball_attack_on_town_fans.php|title=Thugs' baseball attack on Town fans|access-date=4 August 2007|work=[[Swindon Advertiser]]|author=Kevin Burchall|date=30 April 2007}}</ref>

Nick Lowles, author of ''Hooligans 2: The M–Z of Britain's Football Hooligan Gangs'', said:{{when|date=April 2024}} "If you look at Swindon, the police have been very proactive in the last five years in terms of stopping hooliganism".<ref name="hooligans1"/>

Swindon Town has imposed banning orders on those supporters who cause disruption, criminal damage or are violent when attending games. There were 29 banning orders in place in 2006, which was an increase from a total of 11 in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/football-arrests-0506?view=Binary |title = Football Banning Orders by club supported (10 October 2006) |access-date = 25 July 2007 |date = 21 October 2006 |format = PDF |work = Statistics on Football related arrests & Banning Orders – Season 2005-6 |publisher = [[Home Office]] |pages = 4 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070223075859/http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/football-arrests-0506?view=Binary |archive-date = 23 February 2007 }}</ref> The increase in banning orders has resulted in a reduction of arrests at games, with only 22 people being arrested attending games in 2005–06 compared to 39 arrests in 2004–05.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/football-arrests-0506?view=Binary |title = Football related arrests – 2005/06 season, Arrests of supporters of Football League Division One and Two clubs |access-date = 25 July 2007 |date = 21 October 2006 |format = PDF |work = Statistics on Football related arrests & Banning Orders – Season 2005–06 |publisher = [[Home Office]] |pages = 8 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070223075859/http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/football-arrests-0506?view=Binary |archive-date = 23 February 2007 }}</ref> Of the 22 arrests in 2005–06; 11 were for Public Disorder, five for [[violent disorder]] and the rest were made up of offences relating to missile throwing, racist chanting, pitch invasion, alcohol-related offences and one incident of being in possession of an offensive weapon.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/football-arrests-0506?view=Binary |title = Arrests by club supported & type of offence – League One 2005/6 season |access-date = 25 July 2007 |date = 21 October 2006 |format = PDF |work = Statistics on Football related arrests & Banning Orders – Season 2005–06 |publisher = [[Home Office]] |pages = 11 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070223075859/http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/football-arrests-0506?view=Binary |archive-date = 23 February 2007 }}</ref> 33 Swindon fans were also banned from travelling to the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]].<ref name="hooligans5">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/search/display.var.748248.0.cup_ban_for_fans.php|title=Cup ban for 'fans'|access-date=4 August 2007|work=[[Swindon Advertiser]]|author=Gareth Bethell & Mark Hookham|date=3 May 2006 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brentfordtw8.com/default.asp?section=info&page=crime187.htm |title=Swindon Football supporters charged with violent disorder |publisher=BrentfordTW8.com |access-date=12 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/10633005.Thugs_could_face_a_World_Cup_ban/ |title=Thugs could face a World Cup ban |first=Scott |last=D'Arcy |newspaper=Swindon Advertiser |date=24 August 2013 |access-date=12 October 2015}}</ref>

On 23 November 2013 a Swindon fan was arrested after running onto the pitch and punching [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]]'s goalkeeper, [[Jamie Jones (footballer)|Jamie Jones]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25072417 |title=Leyton Orient: Arrest made after attack on goalkeeper Jamie Jones |work=BBC Sport |date=23 November 2013 |access-date=2 December 2013}}</ref>

On 10 October 2023, Swindon Town met rivals [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] in an [[EFL Trophy]] game for their first competitive fixture in over 21 years. After the game, fighting broke out between the two sets of fans, leading to four arrests by the [[Thames Valley Police]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/23914049.reading-v-swindon-town-teen-arrested-fan-clashes/#:~:text=A%2026%2Dyear%2Dold%20man,at%20players%20during%20the%20game. | title=Teen arrested for 'violent disorder' after clashes at Swindon derby match | date=10 November 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/23851038.reading-v-swindon-town-derby-match-marred-fan-violence/ | title=Ugly scenes as fan violence mars Swindon Town's clash with old rivals | date=12 October 2023 }}</ref>

===Rivalries===
Many clubs share either minor or more major rivalries with Swindon. In 2013 a poll of supporters of all Football League clubs to find out which teams they see as their main rivals was conducted by the [[Football Fans Census]], the results of which put Swindon in joint 4th place on the list of teams with the most rivals. This result was calculated by ranking clubs on how many supporters of other clubs viewed others as first, second, and third rivals.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=chrisrwhiting |date=2012-08-28 |title=2012-13 Football Rivalry Survey Results |url=https://thechriswhitingshow.wordpress.com/2012/08/28/2012-football-rivalry-census-results/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=The Chris Whiting Show |language=en}}</ref>

Swindon Town's fiercest rivals are [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]], with whom they contest the [[A420 derby]]. This bitterly contested fixture has been marred with controversial and violent events both on and off the pitch over the years and the hatred has also been known to extend to other sports including [[Motorcycle speedway|speedway]], with both riders and fans getting into regular scuffles over the years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spafford |first=Nathan |date=2021-12-02 |title=Why do Oxford United and Swindon Town hate each other? |url=https://www.football365.com/news/oxford-swindon-odd-rivalries#:~:text=The%201970s%20saw%20the%20two,for%20a%20number%20of%20years. |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Football365 |language=en}}</ref> As of 2025 the sides have met 62 times in all competitions, with Swindon winning 25, Oxford winning 17, and 20 games ending in a tie.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Swindon Town football club: record v Oxford United |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/swindon-town/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Oxford%20United/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=www.11v11.com}}</ref> 

[[Reading F.C.|Reading]] are also seen by many Swindon fans as a major rival, however this rivalry has become less intense over the years with both teams being in different divisions and not playing each other for a period of over 21 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-09 |title=Swindon Town and Reading: what happened to the rivalry? |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/23843083.swindon-town-reading-happened-rivalry/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Swindon Advertiser |language=en}}</ref> The rivalries between Swindon, Reading, and Oxford were labelled as the "Didcot Triangle" (owing to the train station which lies at the centre of the 3 cities) when the sides shared the same division in 2001,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-10-24 |title=1871 - Didcot Triangle / Wallingford Quadrangle |url=http://www.btinternet.com/~rfc1871/players/triangle200001.htm |access-date=2025-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024165323/http://www.btinternet.com/~rfc1871/players/triangle200001.htm |archive-date=24 October 2012 }}</ref> however the rivalry between Swindon Town and Oxford United is generally regarded as being by far the most intense, with both teams fans viewing each other as main rivals in the most recent polls.<ref name=":0" /> This is because Swindon and Oxford have spent most of their history in higher divisions than Reading, and recently in lower divisions than Reading, and Reading's traditional biggest rivalry is with [[Aldershot F.C.|Aldershot]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The rivalries that fuel Reading FC's passionate fanbase - Hob Nob Anyone? - Reading FC News |url=https://hobnob.royals.org/news/1134/The_rivalries_that_fuel_Reading_FC_s_passionate_fanbase |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=hobnob.royals.org}}</ref>

Additionally, Swindon share historical rivalries with [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] and [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=betrescue |date=2010-10-10 |title=Go For Goals In M4 Derby {{!}} Betrescue |url=https://www.betrescue.com/2010/10/go-for-goals-in-m4-derby/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=www.betrescue.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-30 |title=Report: Swindon Town 1-0 Bristol City |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/report-swindon-town-1-0-bristol-city/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Bristol City FC |language=en-ZA}}</ref> The rivalry with Bristol City was most recently relevant in the [[2014–15 Football League One|2014/15 season]] where both clubs were fighting for promotion to the [[EFL Championship|Championship]], with former Swindon defender [[Aden Flint]] causing outrage via an interview conducted after Bristol City's decisive 3-0 win over Swindon at [[Ashton Gate (stadium)|Ashton Gate]] in the closing part of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Philippa |date=2017-09-12 |title=Bristol City fans relive moment when Aden Flint said 'no, no, no' |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-city-fans-relive-moment-464708 |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Bristol Live |language=en}}</ref> Swindon last shared a division with Bristol Rovers in the [[2021–22 EFL League Two|2021/22 season]], with Swindon playing under Bristol Rovers' former manager [[Ben Garner]]. The rivalries with the [[Bristol]] clubs tend to be felt more strongly by people in areas of [[West Wiltshire]], where the catchment for the club's fanbases overlaps.

Other more minor rivalries exist with multiple clubs, the most notable of which being with [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]]. This rivalry stems from an ill tempered match in the [[1978–79 Football League|1978/79 season]] where both teams were vying for promotion from the old [[Third Division (English Football)|Third Division]], during which the referee was assaulted by a fan, multiple players ended up in court after a fight in the tunnel, and fan violence erupted on the terraces.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spafford |first=Nathan |date=2021-09-03 |title=How one dreadful tackle stoked a dormant 42-year Football League rivalry |url=https://www.football365.com/news/odd-rivalries-gillingham-swindon-danny-westwood-football-league |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Football365 |language=en}}</ref> [[Newport County A.F.C.|Newport County]] have also emerged as a minor rivalry during Swindon's recent stay in League 2, with occasional trouble occurring whenever the two teams meet.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-13 |title=Police issue message ahead of Swindon Town v Newport County |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/23854663.wiltshire-police-issue-message-ahead-swindon-town-v-newport-county/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Swindon Advertiser |language=en}}</ref> [[Gloucestershire]] teams [[Cheltenham Town F.C.|Cheltenham Town]] and [[Forest Green Rovers F.C.|Forest Green Rovers]] also consider Swindon a local rival, however this is not very often reciprocated as strongly by Swindon fans, due to the clubs not historically playing competitively at the same level.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Jason |date=2020-10-18 |title=The top five rivals of English football's top 92 clubs revealed |url=https://fanbanter.co.uk/the-top-five-rivals-of-english-footballs-top-92-clubs-revealed/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Fan Banter |language=en-GB}}</ref> Other [[West Country]] clubs including [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]] and [[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]] have also been labelled as [[West Country derby|derbies]] by fans and the media.