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{{short description|Association football club in England}} {{redirect|Swindon Town|the town itself|Swindon}} {{About|the men's football club based in England|the women's team|Swindon Town W.F.C.}} {{Use British English|date=May 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Swindon Town | image = Swindon Town FC.svg | image_size = 190px | fullname = Swindon Town Football Club | nickname = The Robins | founded = {{start date and age|df=yes|1879}}<ref name = "founded"/> | ground = [[County Ground (Swindon)|The County Ground]] | capacity = 15,728 | owner = [[Clem Morfuni]], Hollie Kiely & Bethany Parlodorio<ref name="Ownership Confirmation Statement">{{cite web |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08462753/filing-history |website=Companies House |publisher=GOV UK |access-date=15 October 2024 |title=Swinton Reds 20 Limited β filing history β Find and update company information }}</ref> | chairman = Clem Morfuni | manager = [[Ian Holloway]] | current = 2024β25 Swindon Town F.C. season | league = {{English football updater|SwindonT}} | season = {{English football updater|SwindonT2}} | position = {{English football updater|SwindonT3}} | pattern_la1 = _adidascampeon23r | pattern_b1 = _adidascampeon23r | pattern_ra1 = _adidascampeon23r | pattern_sh1 = _adidaswhite | pattern_so1 = _3_stripes_white | leftarm1 = FF0000 | body1 = FF0000 | rightarm1 = FF0000 | shorts1 = FF0000 | socks1 = FF0000 | pattern_la2 = | pattern_b2 = _adidasicon23cm | pattern_ra2 = | pattern_sh2 = | pattern_so2 = _3_stripes_white | leftarm2 = 7FFED1 | body2 = 7FFED1 | rightarm2 = 7FFED1 | shorts2 = 7FFED1 | socks2 = 000000 | pattern_la3 = | pattern_b3 = | pattern_ra3 = | pattern_sh3 = | pattern_so3 = | leftarm3 = | body3 = | rightarm3 = | shorts3 = | socks3 = | website = {{URL|https://swindontownfc.co.uk}} }} '''Swindon Town Football Club''' is a professional [[association football]] club based in [[Swindon]], [[Wiltshire]], England. The team, known as the "Robins", currently compete in {{English football updater|SwindonT}}, the fourth level of the [[English football league system]]. Founded as '''Swindon AFC''' in 1879, the club became '''Spartans''' the next year, before finally settling on the name '''Swindon Town''' in 1883. It became professional in 1894 as a founding member of the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]], later also entering the [[Western Football League|Western League]] between 1897 and 1902. The club was crowned Western League champion in 1898β99 and Southern League champion in 1910β11 and 1913β14, before being elected into the [[English Football League|Football League]] in 1920. It remained in the third tier for 43 years until finally securing promotion into the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] in 1962β63, where it remained for just two seasons. The team lifted the [[EFL Cup|League Cup]] after beating [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] 3β1 in the [[1969 Football League Cup Final|1969 final]], and went on to secure promotion at the end of the 1968β69 season with the help of talismanic winger [[Don Rogers (footballer)|Don Rogers]]. Relegated again in 1973β74, the club dropped into the fourth tier for the first time at the end of the 1981β82 season. Swindon won the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] title in 1985β86 and secured a second successive promotion the following season under the stewardship of [[Lou Macari]]. They went on to claim victory in the [[1990 Football League Second Division play-off final|1990 Second Division play-off final]] under [[Osvaldo Ardiles]], but were denied promotion into the top-flight after admitting to breaching Football League regulations. [[Glenn Hoddle]] coached the team to victory in the [[1993 Football League First Division play-off final|1993 play-off final]] to finally secure a place in the top-flight for the first time in [[History of Swindon Town F.C.|the club's history]]. However they were relegated out of the [[Premier League]] at the end of the 1993β94 season and dropped into the third tier with a second consecutive relegation. Promoted again as champions to avoid an FA expulsion and a hat-trick of relegations in 1995β96, they remained in the second tier for four seasons until relegation in the 1999β2000 season. They dropped into the fourth tier [[EFL League Two|League Two]] in the 2005β06 for the first time since 1986. Since then, Swindon have spent their time between the third and fourth tiers; earning promotion from League Two on three occasions. Their home colours are red and white. Since 1896 the club has played home matches at the [[County Ground, Swindon|County Ground]], which now has a capacity of 15,547. Hall of Fame inductee [[John Trollope (footballer)|John Trollope]] played 770 league games for the club between 1960 and 1980, a [[Football records and statistics in England|professional record in English football]] until it was broken in 2023 by [[Dean Lewington]]. ==History== {{main|History of Swindon Town F.C.}} ===Early history=== Swindon Town Football Club was founded by Reverend William Pitt of [[Liddington]] in 1879.<ref name = "founded"/> The team turned professional in 1894 and joined the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]] which was founded in the same year.<ref name = "founded"/> During this period [[Septimus Atterbury]] played for the club. [[File:STFCSquad1909-1910.jpg|thumb|200px|The Swindon Town team for the 1909β10 season]] Swindon reached the [[FA Cup]] semi-finals for the first time in the [[1909β10 in English football|1909β10]] season, losing to eventual winners [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]. [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]] and Swindon were invited to compete for the [[Dubonnet Cup]] in 1910 at the [[Parc des Princes]] Stadium in [[Paris]]. The result was a 2β1 victory for Swindon with [[Harold John Fleming|Harold Fleming]] scoring both of the club's goals. The following season, [[1910β11 in English football|1910β11]], Swindon Town won the Southern League championship, earning them a [[FA Community Shield|Charity Shield]] match with the [[Football League]] champions [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]. This, the highest-scoring Charity Shield game to date, was played on 25 September 1911 at [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]] with Manchester United winning 8β4. Some of the proceeds of this game were later donated to the survivors of the [[RMS Titanic|''Titanic'']].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.salisburyjournal.co.uk/2005/4/20/88666.html |title=Medals to be sold |work=[[Salisbury Journal]] |date=20 April 1999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927073205/https://archive.salisburyjournal.co.uk/2005/4/20/88666.html |archive-date=27 September 2007 }}</ref> In 1912 Swindon Town reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup for a second time in 3 years, losing to Barnsley after a replay 1β0. Swindon's exploits at this time owed a lot to the skilful forward [[Harold Fleming (footballer)|H.J. Fleming]] who was capped by [[England national football team|England]] 11 times between 1909 and 1914 despite playing outside the Football League. Fleming remained with Swindon throughout a playing career spanning 1907 and 1924 and went on to live in the town for his entire life. Swindon entered [[the Football League]] in 1920 as a founding member of [[Football League Third Division|Division Three]] and defeated [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]] 9β1 in their first game of the season. This result stands as a record for the club in League matches. After the outbreak of [[World War II]], the War Department took over the [[County Ground (Swindon)|County Ground]] in 1940, where for a while POWs ([[Prisoners of War]]) were housed in huts placed on the pitch; for this the club received compensation of Β£4,570 in 1945. World War II affected Swindon Town more than most other football clubs and the club was almost disbanded; the club needed a large amount of time to recover and for this reason it failed to make any real impression in the league and would not climb into the second division until 1963 when they finished runners up to [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]]. The club was relegated back into Division Three in 1965, but it was about to create a sensation. ===1969β2000=== [[File:1970 Anglo-Italian Cup - Juventus v Swindon Town - Coin toss.jpg|thumb|left|The coin toss before the away game in [[Turin]] versus [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] in the victorious [[1970 Anglo-Italian Cup]]]] In 1969, Swindon beat [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] [[1969 Football League Cup Final|3β1]] to win the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] for the only time in the club's history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football-england.com/arsenal_1_v_swindon_3_league_cup_final_1969.html |title=League Cup Final 1969 Match Report |publisher=football-England.com |access-date=16 November 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070110010028/http://www.football-england.com/arsenal_1_v_swindon_3_league_cup_final_1969.html |archive-date=10 January 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2005/12/13/pwaod_swindon_feature.shtml| title=Swindon Town 1969 TV Archive|publisher=BBC |access-date=16 November 2006}}</ref> As winners of the League Cup, Swindon were assured of a place in their first European competition: the [[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]]. However, [[the Football Association]] had previously agreed to inclusion criteria with the organizers which mandated that only League Cup winners from [[Football League First Division|Division One]] would be able to take part. As the team were not eligible, the short-lived Anglo-Italian competitions were created to give teams from lower divisions experience in Europe. The first of these, the [[1969 Anglo-Italian League Cup]], was contested over two legs against [[Coppa Italia]] winners [[A.S. Roma]]. Swindon won 5β2, with the scorer of two goals in the League Cup final β [[Don Rogers (footballer)|Don Rogers]] β scoring once and new acquisition [[Arthur Horsfield]] acquiring his first [[hat-trick]] for the club.<ref name="angloleaguecupwin">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Achievements/1970AngloItalianLCWCWinners.asp |title=Anglo-Italian League Cup Winners' Cup Winners 1969/1970 |access-date=14 January 2007 |publisher=swindon-town-fc.co.uk |work=Achievements |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105095644/http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Achievements/1970AngloItalianLCWCWinners.asp |archive-date= 5 January 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The team then went on to win the [[1970 Anglo-Italian Cup]] competition in a tournament beset by [[Football (soccer) hooliganism|hooliganism]]. The final against [[S.S.C. Napoli]] was abandoned after 79 minutes following pitch invasions and a missile barrage, with [[teargas]] being employed to allow the teams to return to the dressing room.<ref name="anglocupriot">{{Cite web|url=http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2000/5/30/244253.html |title=Cup Glory in Europe |access-date=26 February 2007 |work=[[Swindon Advertiser]] |year=2000 |author=Wheeler, Sam |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015343/http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2000/5/30/244253.html |archive-date=30 September 2007 }}</ref> Following management changes, Swindon had a long unsuccessful period culminating in them being relegated in 1982 to the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]], the lowest professional Football League at the time. They were eventually promoted as champions in 1986 with the club achieving a Football League record of 102 points, the second club to score over 100 points in a season, [[York City F.C.|York City]] having totalled 101 two years earlier.<ref name="div4champs">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Achievements/1986DivFourChamps.asp |title=Division Four Champions 1985/1986 |access-date=14 January 2007 |publisher=swindon-town-fc.co.uk |work=Achievements |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050427072908/http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Achievements/1986DivFourChamps.asp |archive-date=27 April 2005 }}</ref> A year later they won the Third Division play-offs to achieve a second successive promotion.<ref name="div3playwin">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Achievements/1987DivThreePlayOffWinners.asp |title=Division Three Play-off Winners 1986/1987 |access-date=14 January 2007 |publisher=swindon-town-fc.co.uk |work=Achievements |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105095654/http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Achievements/1987DivThreePlayOffWinners.asp |archive-date= 5 January 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Promotion campaign Manager [[Lou Macari]] left in 1989 to take charge of [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] with veteran midfielder, and former [[Argentina national football team|Argentine international]], [[Osvaldo Ardiles|Ossie Ardiles]] replacing him. In his first season, Swindon were [[1990 Football League Second Division play-off Final|Second Division play-off]] winners,<ref name="1990playoffwin">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Achievements/1990DivTwoPlayOffWinners.asp |title=Division Two Play-off Winners 1989/1990 |access-date=14 January 2007 |publisher=swindon-town-fc.co.uk |work=Achievements |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105095659/http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Achievements/1990DivTwoPlayOffWinners.asp |archive-date= 5 January 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> but the club later admitted 36 charges of breaching league rules, 35 due to illegal payments made to players, and were relegated to the Third Division β giving [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] promotion to the First Division and [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] to the Second Division. The scandal saw then-chairman [[Brian Hillier]] being given a six-month prison sentence and chief accountant Vince Farrar being put on probation. A later appeal saw Swindon Town being allowed to stay in the Second Division.<ref name="1990fiasco">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Seasons.asp?Decade=1990|title=Season 1989β1990|access-date=14 January 2007|publisher=swindon-town-fc.co.uk|work=Archive}}</ref> Ardiles remained in charge until March 1991, when he departed for [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] and was succeeded by new player-manager [[Glenn Hoddle]]. Swindon progressed well during the [[1991β92 Football League Second Division|1991β92 season]], Hoddle's first full season as manager, and just missed out on the Second Division play-offs, having briefly led the table in the autumn. A year later they beat Leicester City 4β3 in the new [[Football League Championship play-offs#1993|Division One play-off]] final to achieve promotion to the [[Premier League]] β bringing top-division football to the club for the first time.<ref name="div1playoffwin">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Achievements/1993DivOnePlayOffWinners.asp |title=Division One Play-off Winners 1992/1993 |access-date=14 January 2007 |publisher=swindon-town-fc.co.uk |work=Achievements |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105095704/http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Achievements/1993DivOnePlayOffWinners.asp |archive-date= 5 January 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Hoddle moved to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] before the [[1993β94 FA Premier League]] season began, and was replaced by assistant [[John Gorman (footballer)|John Gorman]], but Swindon never adjusted to the pace of Premier League football.<ref name="season1993">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Seasons.asp?Decade=1990|title=Season 1993β94|access-date=14 January 2007|publisher=swindon-town-fc.co.uk|work=Archive}}</ref> They were relegated after recording only five wins and conceding 100 goals β the latter record stood until Sheffield United broke it in 2024 β and have never returned to the top flight. One of the few successes of the season was a 2β2 draw against champions Manchester United in the league.<ref name="MU 1993-94 scores">{{Cite web|url=http://www.aboutmanutd.com/man-u-seasons/1993-1994.html|title=Manchester United season 1993β94|publisher=aboutmanutd.com|work=Archive|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007131544/http://www.aboutmanutd.com/man-u-seasons/1993-1994.html|archive-date=7 October 2011}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/ibTgrnh7AHc Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20120825073739/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibTgrnh7AHc&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibTgrnh7AHc|title=1994-03-19 Swindon Town vs Manchester United |date=7 June 2008 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=10 January 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The [[1994β95 Football League First Division|following year]], Swindon were relegated for the second consecutive time and slipped into Division Two. Gorman had been sacked as manager in November 1994, and although his successor, player-manager [[Steve McMahon (footballer)|Steve McMahon]], was unable to avoid relegation, he did take Swindon to the semi-finals of the League Cup.<ref name="season1995">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Seasons.asp?Decade=1990|title=Season 1995β96|access-date=14 January 2007|publisher=swindon-town-fc.co.uk|work=Archive}}</ref> McMahon then succeeded in getting Swindon back into Division One on his first attempt, winning the Division Two championship in [[1995β96 Football League Second Division|1995β96]].<ref name="div2champs95">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Achievements/1996DivTwoChamps.asp |title=Division Two Champions 1995/1996 |access-date=14 January 2007 |publisher=swindon-town-fc.co.uk |work=Achievements |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105095709/http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Achievements/1996DivTwoChamps.asp |archive-date= 5 January 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> McMahon remained as manager until September 1998, when he left by mutual consent after Swindon lost five of their nine opening games of the [[1998β99 Football League First Division|1998β99 season]]. ===2000β2020=== The club then went through five managers in five years ([[Andy King (footballer born 1956)|Andy King]] was appointed twice), during which time they were again relegated into Division Two. The highlight of the next few seasons was a fifth-place finish in [[2003β04 Football League Second Division|2003β04]] as financial troubles persisted. A first-round [[Football League One play-offs#2004|playoff]] loss to [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]] on penalties meant Swindon extended their stay in the third tier, now renamed [[Football League One|League One]]. The club has been beset by financial difficulties throughout its recent history, having been placed into administration twice<ref name="administrationout2">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/2204022.stm|title=Swindon out of administration|access-date=15 February 2007|work=BBC Sport | date=19 August 2002}}</ref> and also twice fought off winding-up orders from [[Her Majesty's Customs and Excise]] over unpaid tax.<ref name="taxbilloopsagain">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/4357432.stm|title=Club is saved after paying bill|access-date=8 February 2007|work=BBC News | date=19 October 2005}}</ref> The board was paying Β£100,000 to creditors annually (2% of the annual turnover),<ref name = "diamandisinterview"/> and only managed to begin the [[2006β07 Football League Two|2006β07 season]] after sourcing Β£500,000 to pay for players' wages.<ref name="diamandisinterview">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2006/12/19/mike_diamandis_feature.shtml|title=Interview with Mike Diamandis|access-date=8 February 2007|publisher=BBC News |work=Where I Live β Swindon}}</ref> In 2006, caretaker manager (and former player) [[Iffy Onuora]] was unable to save Swindon from relegation to [[Football League Two|League Two]]<ref name="2006relegation">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thisisstfc.co.uk/news_headlines_Story.asp?NewsID=5491 |title=Β£200,000 β That's the price of relegation as Town take drop at Ashton Gate |date=1 May 2006 |access-date=15 January 2007 |work=[[Swindon Advertiser]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060505051859/http://www.thisisstfc.co.uk/news_headlines_Story.asp?NewsID=5491 |archive-date=5 May 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> meaning they became the first ever former [[FA Premier League|Premier League]] team to be relegated to the lowest [[Football League]] division. [[File:STFC promotion2007.jpg|thumb|left|Town fans celebrating promotion on the county ground pitch after the draw with Walsall 2006β07 season]] [[Dennis Wise]] agreed to become the new Swindon manager in May 2006 following the relegation, with [[Gustavo Poyet]] joining the coaching staff.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/4989058.stm |title=Swindon confirm Wise as Manager |work=BBC Sport |date=22 May 2006}}</ref> After a good start to the season, the pair moved to [[Leeds United A.F.C.|Leeds United]] in October. Veteran defender [[Ady Williams]] and [[Barry Hunter (footballer)|Barry Hunter]] took temporary charge until [[Paul Sturrock]] was appointed on 7 November. Sturrock guided Swindon to promotion back to [[Football League One]] in his first season with the club, earning the third automatic promotion place in a 1β1 draw with [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] in the last game of the 2006β07 season.<ref name="2007 promotion">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/6602935.stm|title=Swindon 1β1 Walsall|access-date=5 May 2007|date=5 May 2007|publisher=BBC News |work=Football}}</ref> In 2008, Swindon Town was taken over by a consortium, fronted by local businessman [[Andrew Fitton]], with plans to clear all club debts by the end of the [[2007β08 Football League Two|2007β08 season]]. Paul Sturrock having departed for [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|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 (footballer born 1987)|Simon Cox]]. However, the [[2008β09 Football League One|2008β09 campaign]] started badly and Malpas was sacked on 14 November 2008, with [[David Byrne (footballer born 1961)|David Byrne]] taking over temporarily. [[Danny Wilson (footballer, born 1960)|Danny Wilson]] was unveiled as the new manager on 26 December 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/7800303.stm|title=Wilson appointed Swindon manager|work=BBC Sport |access-date=29 April 2009 | date=26 December 2008}}</ref> Wilson helped maintain Swindon's League One status and finished in 15th position, though only four points from the relegation zone, in his first season in charge. The [[2009β10 Football League One|2009β10 season]] would prove a vast improvement, despite the sale of League One top-scorer Simon Cox. The club maintained a play-off position going into the new year, and were at one point in second place with automatic promotion in their own hands. However, a slight slip in form towards the end of the season saw Swindon finish fifth, entering the play-offs against [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]. Swindon won the tie on penalties and went on to play in the [[Football League One play-offs]] final against [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] at [[Wembley Stadium]] for a place in the [[Football League Championship]]. However, they lost 1β0 in what was their first defeat in four appearances at Wembley. 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]]. Still, many bookmakers had Swindon as one of the favourites for promotion to the Championship going into the [[2010β11 Football League One|2010β11 season]]. Inconsistent form left Swindon in mid-table for much of the season; however, a 4β2 win at [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] in January left fans hoping for a late-season surge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://twohundredpercent.net/match-of-the-week-charlton-athletic-2-4-swindon-town/|title=Match of the Week: Charlton Athletic 2-4 Swindon Town - Twohundredpercent|access-date=31 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028151648/http://twohundredpercent.net/match-of-the-week-charlton-athletic-2-4-swindon-town/|archive-date=28 October 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Instead, top-scorer [[Charlie Austin]] was sold to [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] and the team did not win again for 19 matches. 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 3β1 to [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]]. Paul Hart was replaced for the last two games of the season by former player and current reserve and youth team coach [[Paul Bodin]].<ref name=BBC9469955>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/9469955.stm|title=Swindon bring in Paul Bodin as manager for Paul Hart|work=BBC Sport |date=28 April 2011|access-date=28 April 2011}}</ref> [[File:SwindonTownFC League Performance.svg|thumb|Chart of yearly table positions of Swindon Town in the League.]] Soon after the season ended, the board revealed that high-profile former player [[Paolo Di Canio]] would take his first management position at the club.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13466915.stm | work=BBC News | title=Di Canio appointed Swindon boss | date=20 May 2011}}</ref> After losing seven of his first 13 games in charge, Swindon went on a 15-match unbeaten run which put them into promotion contention by the midpoint of the [[2011β12 Football League Two|2011β12 season]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16240613.stm | work=BBC News | title=Torquay 1β0 Swindon | date=26 December 2011}}</ref> After a defeat on Boxing Day 2011 to [[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]], Swindon broke a club record by winning 10 consecutive league games, and by March they were well clear of the chasing pack at the top of League Two. They also enjoyed success in both the [[FA Cup]], beating Premiership side [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] in the third round before losing to Championship side [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] in the fourth round, and the Football League Trophy, reaching the [[2012 Football League Trophy Final|final]] at Wembley, where they were runners-up to League One side [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]]. On 28 April 2012, Swindon, already promoted, guaranteed their championship of League Two on 28 April after a 5β0 drubbing of [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]] at the County Ground.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17795329 | work=BBC News | title=Swindon 5β0 Port Vale | date=28 April 2012}}</ref> 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. In his place came [[Kevin MacDonald (footballer)|Kevin MacDonald]] who had previously held caretaker roles at [[Leicester City]] and Aston Villa.<ref>{{cite web | title = Kevin MacDonald Appointed Swindon Town Manager | date =14 May 2021| url =http://www.thesackrace.com/news/1st-march-2013/kevin-macdonald-appointed-swindon-town-manager/}}</ref> MacDonald guided Swindon to the League One play-offs; however, they were knocked out after a penalty shoot-out defeat to [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]]. On 13 July 2013, MacDonald left Swindon Town by mutual consent, only three weeks before the start of the [[2013β14 Swindon Town F.C. season|2013β14]] season and only five months after taking the Swindon job. In the [[2014β15 Swindon Town F.C. season|2014β15]] season, Swindon reached the League One Play-off final again where they lost 4β0 to [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston]]<ref>{{cite news | title = Preston 4β0 Swindon | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32770740 |work=BBC Sport |date=24 May 2015 |access-date=12 July 2015}}</ref> after a season in which they were competing for automatic promotion. They went top of the league after a 3β0 win away to [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry]];<ref>{{cite news | title = Coventry 0β3 Swindon | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30677416 |work=BBC Sport |date=12 January 2015 |access-date=12 July 2015}}</ref> however, a 2β0 defeat to [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]]<ref>{{cite news | title = Sheffield United 2β0 Swindon | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30963163 |work=BBC Sport |date=31 January 2015 |access-date=12 July 2015}}</ref> was the first of a series of results that saw Swindon's form dip, and a 1β0 defeat to bottom club [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]]<ref>{{cite news | title = Swindon 0β1 Yeovil | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32261966 |work=BBC Sport |date=18 April 2015 |access-date=12 July 2015}}</ref> meant that Swindon were consigned to finish in the play-offs. They reached [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]] after a record-breaking 5β5 draw (winning 7β6 on aggregate) against Sheffield United, the highest-scoring EFL play-off match in history.<ref>{{cite news | title = Swindon 5β5 Sheffield United | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32579316 |work=BBC Sport |date=11 May 2015 |access-date=12 July 2015}}</ref> In the [[2016β17 Swindon Town F.C. season|2016β17]] season, Swindon were relegated to League Two for a third time; they finished third from bottom on 22 April 2017 after losing 2β1 to [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]] with only one more fixture on the road in hand. Following this relegation, manager [[Luke Williams (footballer, born 1981)|Luke Williams]] was sacked after Swindon lost 3β0 at [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]. ===2020βpresent=== On 9 June 2020, Swindon were crowned League Two champions on the basis of average points per game, matches in the [[2019β20 Swindon Town F.C. season|2019β20]] season having been suspended from March due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom]].<ref name="BBC-09Jun2020">{{cite news |title=League One & League Two clubs vote to end seasons early |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52705124 |access-date=9 June 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=9 June 2020}}</ref> However, in the [[2020β21 Swindon Town F.C. season|following season]], the pandemic created financial difficulties for the club, with the chairman, [[Lee Power]], warning in February 2021 of potential bankruptcy,<ref name="BBC-05Feb2021">{{cite news |title=Swindon Town finances 'on the brink', says chairman Lee Power |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55947454 |access-date=5 February 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=5 February 2021}}</ref> and then, in April 2021, being charged with breaching FA regulations concerning the club's ownership and/or funding.<ref name="BBC-07Apr2021">{{cite news |title=Swindon Town and owner Lee Power charged by FA over ownership/funding |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56666046 |access-date=8 April 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=7 April 2021}}</ref> On 18 April, manager [[John Sheridan (footballer)|John Sheridan]] resigned after winning just eight of 33 matches, with the club seven points from safety with four matches to play.<ref name="BBC-18Apr2021">{{cite news |title=John Sheridan: Swindon Town boss leaves League One strugglers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56792247 |access-date=19 April 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=18 April 2021}}</ref> The club's relegation to League Two was confirmed following a 5β0 defeat by [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]] on 24 April 2021.<ref name="BBC-24Apr2021">{{cite news |title=Milton Keynes Dons 5β0 Swindon Town |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56781901 |access-date=26 April 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=24 April 2021}}</ref> On 26 May 2021, [[John McGreal]] was appointed Swindon manager<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57256020|title=John McGreal: Swindon Town appoint ex-Colchester boss as manager|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 May 2021}}</ref> but, on 25 June 2021, after less than a month in the job, he left Swindon by mutual consent,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2021/june/club-statement-john-mcgreal-and-rene-gilmartin/|title=CLUB STATEMENT: JOHN MCGREAL AND RENE GILMARTIN|publisher=Swindon Town F.C.|date=25 June 2021}}</ref> citing ownership uncertainty which was preventing him signing new players.<ref name="BBC-25Jun2021">{{cite news |title=John McGreal: Swindon Town manager and assistant Rene Gilmartin leave after a month |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57612788 |access-date=25 June 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=25 June 2021}}</ref> Chief executive Steve Anderson also left the club on the same day,<ref>{{cite web |title=CLUB STATEMENT: STEVE ANDERSON |url=https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2021/june/club-statement-steve-anderson/|publisher=Swindon Town F.C.|access-date= 25 June 2021}}</ref> followed by director of football [[Paul Jewell]].<ref name="FLW-26Jun2020">{{cite news |last1=Holmes |first1=Ned |title=Exclusive: Paul Jewell set to leave Swindon Town as exodus continues |url=https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/exclusive-paul-jewell-set-to-leave-swindon-town-as-exodus-continues/ |access-date=28 June 2021 |work=Football League World |date=26 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="SA-26Jun2021">{{cite news |last1=Leighfield |first1=Jonathan |title=Paul Jewell leaves Director of Football role at Swindon Town - reports |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/19401434.paul-jewell-leaves-director-football-role-swindon-town---reports/ |access-date=28 June 2021 |work=Swindon Advertiser |date=26 June 2021}}</ref> 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.<ref name="BBC-25Jun2021"/> On 30 June 2021, the Official Supporters Club was told that a deal to transfer ownership to Australian businessman Clem Morfuni's Axis group would be completed "in the next couple of weeks",<ref name="McCallister-30Jun2021">{{cite news |last1=McCallister |first1=Robson |title=Town takeover to be 'completed within weeks', says Trust |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/19406830.town-takeover-completed-within-weeks-says-trust/ |access-date=30 June 2021 |work=Swindon Advertiser |date=30 June 2021}}</ref> though the club later complained that the Axis group was delaying payment.<ref name="Angelini-04Jul2021">{{cite news |last1=Angelini |first1=Daniel |title=Swindon Town claims Clem Morfuni's Axis holding up progress of club's sale |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/19418578.swindon-town-claims-clem-morfunis-axis-holding-progress-clubs-sale/ |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=Swindon Advertiser |date=4 July 2021}}</ref> In early July 2021, it emerged that players and staff had not received their June wages,<ref name="BBC-01Jul2021">{{cite news |title=Swindon Town players and staff go unpaid amid takeover wrangle |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57678740 |access-date=3 July 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=1 July 2021}}</ref> and that the County Ground's owner, [[Swindon Borough Council]], was taking legal action after receiving no rent since April 2020.<ref name="BBC-02Jul2021">{{cite news |title=Swindon Town face court action over unpaid rent on County Ground |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57693793 |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=2 July 2021}}</ref> The EFL described the ownership wrangle as "concerning"<ref name="Stone-07Jul2021">{{cite news |last1=Stone |first1=Simon |title=Swindon: Ownership legal battle and developments 'concerning' for English Football League |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57750678 |access-date=7 July 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=7 July 2021}}</ref> and imposed a transfer embargo on the club.<ref name="BBC-08Jul2021">{{cite news |title=Derby County, Reading & Hull City among eight clubs under EFL transfer embargoes |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57760968 |access-date=8 July 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=8 July 2021}}</ref> In pre-season friendlies at [[Melksham Town F.C.|Melksham Town]] and [[Hungerford Town F.C.|Hungerford Town]], Swindon fielded sides featuring just a few experienced first-team players,<ref name="Fisher-16Jul2021">{{cite news |last1=Fisher |first1=Ben |title=No manager, not enough players: how Swindon Town were left to fall apart |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/16/no-manager-not-enough-players-how-swindon-town-were-left-to-fall-apart |access-date=19 July 2021 |work=Guardian |date=16 July 2021}}</ref> with the rest of the squads being composed of youngsters and trialists.<ref name="BBC-15Jul2021">{{cite news |title=Swindon Town: Players and staff get 60% of outstanding wages |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57851140 |access-date=15 July 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=15 July 2021}}</ref> The club then cancelled its planned pre-season friendly with [[Swansea City F.C.|Swansea City]] at the County Ground on 17 July 2021,<ref name="BBC-12Jul2021">{{cite news |title=Swindon Town call off Swansea City as takeover problems continue |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57806382 |access-date=12 July 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=12 July 2021}}</ref> citing "ongoing logistical and operational issues".<ref name="Swansea Friendly Cancelled">{{cite web |title=PRE-SEASON FIXTURE AGAINST SWANSEA CITY CANCELLED|url=https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2021/july/pre-season-fixture-against-swansea-city-cancelled/|publisher=Swindon Town|access-date=12 July 2021}}</ref> On 15 July 2021, it was reported that the club had paid 60% of the outstanding wages due in June.<ref name="BBC-15Jul2021"/><ref name="Fisher-16Jul2021"/> On 21 July 2021, it was reported that Power had transferred ownership of his shares in the club, and that the EFL had granted Morfuni consent to acquire additional shares, having passed its owners' and directors' test.<ref name="BBC-20Jul2021">{{cite news |title=Swindon Town takeover: Chairman Lee Power transfers shares as deal nears completion |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57903056 |access-date=20 July 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=20 July 2021}}</ref> Morfuni appointed [[Ben Garner]] as head coach and [[Ben Chorley]] as director of football<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2021/july/new-director-of-football-and-head-coach-appointed/|title=New Director of Football and Head Coach Appointed|website=www.swindontownfc.co.uk|date=21 July 2021}}</ref> plus Rob Angus (a former [[Nationwide Building Society|Nationwide]] director) appointed as CEO and, on 26 July 2021, the new management announced their first signing, with midfielder [[Ben Gladwin]] returning for a fourth spell at Swindon.<ref name="BBC-26Jul2021">{{cite news |title=Ben Gladwin: Swindon Town sign ex-Blackburn, QPR & MK Dons midfielder for fourth time |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57976218 |access-date=26 July 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=26 July 2021}}</ref> On 16 September 2021, Swindon Town was given a suspended three-point deduction by the EFL, relating to the non-payment of player wages in June.<ref name="BBC-16Sep2021">{{cite news |title=Swindon Town: League Two club given suspended three-point deduction |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58589077 |access-date=17 September 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=16 September 2021}}</ref> Garner led Swindon to a sixth-place finish in the [[2021β22 Swindon Town F.C. season|2021β22 season]] with the club beaten on penalties by [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]] in the play-off semi-finals.<ref name="Long-20May2022">{{cite news |last1=Long |first1=Dan |title=Port Vale 1-0 Swindon (Agg 2-2) AET: Darrell Clarke's Valiants reach League Two play-off final after 6-5 shootout win |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/port-vale-vs-swindon/463588 |access-date=2 May 2023 |work=Sky Sports |date=20 May 2022}}</ref> The manager then left Swindon to join [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] in June 2022, being replaced by his former assistant [[Scott Lindsey]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Scott Lindsey appointed as Town's new Head Coach/ |url=https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2022/june/breaking-scott-lindsey-appointed-as-towns-new-head-coach/|publisher=Swindon Town F.C.|access-date= 20 June 2022}}</ref> who spent half a season in the role before moving to [[Crawley Town F.C.|Crawley Town]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crawleytownfc.com/news/2023/january/scott-lindsey-appointed-as-manager/|title=SCOTT LINDSEY APPOINTED AS MANAGER|website=www.crawleytownfc.com|date=11 January 2023|accessdate=11 January 2023}}</ref> On 31 January 2023, [[Jody Morris]] was appointed manager; he was sacked on 1 May 2023 after just four wins from 18 games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CLUB STATEMENT: Town part company with Jody Morris and Ed Brand |url=https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2023/may/club-statement-town-part-company-with-jody-morris-and-ed-brand/ |access-date=1 May 2023 |website=www.swindontownfc.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref> The side finished the season in 10th place.<ref name="BBC-08May2023">{{cite news |title=Swindon Town 2β1 Crawley Town |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65445725 |access-date=9 May 2023 |work=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2023}}</ref> On 8 May 2023, [[Michael Flynn (footballer)|Michael Flynn]] was appointed team manager on a two-year contract, officially taking charge following the last match of the season that same day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2023/may/club-statement-a-message-from-clem-morfuni-on-the-manager-front/|title=CLUB STATEMENT: A message from Clem Morfuni on Town's next manager|website=www.swindontownfc.co.uk|date=8 May 2023|accessdate=8 May 2023}}</ref> Rob Angus stood down as CEO in September 2023.<ref name="BBC-12Sep2023">{{cite news |title=Rob Angus: Swindon Town chief executive to leave for personal reasons |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66791401 |access-date=13 September 2023 |work=BBC Sport |date=12 September 2023}}</ref> In January 2024, a 2β1 defeat at [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe]] meant Swindon had lost ten of their last 15 matches, and Flynn was sacked as manager after just over eight months in charge.<ref name="BBC-15Jan2024">{{cite news |title=Michael Flynn: Swindon Town manager departs after eight months in charge |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67981867 |access-date=15 January 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=15 January 2024}}</ref> 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.<ref name="BBC-13Mar2024">{{cite news |title=Gavin Gunning: Swindon interim boss criticises intensity after 'dreadful' loss |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68555618 |access-date=15 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=13 March 2024}}</ref> Ultimately, the club finished the [[2023β24 Swindon Town F.C. season|2023β2024]] season in 19th place and Swindon supporters called for a change in the club's ownership.<ref name="BBC-15May2024">{{cite news |title=Swindon Town fans call for change of ownership |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpdgdzjmj2mo |access-date=15 May 2024 |work=BBC News |date=15 May 2024}}</ref> Morfuni did not "fully agree" with the fans but acknowledged the last season had not been "up to our club's standards".<ref name="BBC-16May2024">{{cite news |title=Morfuni does 'not fully agree' with fan concerns |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cl5k5qnglyyo |access-date=16 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=16 May 2024}}</ref> <!--Note to editors - The above section is intended to give a short overview of the MAJOR EVENTS in the Club's history. Please add big things here and any detailed historical information to the article [[History of Swindon Town F.C.]] --> ==Kit and badge== ===Crest=== [[File:Swindon town fc badge 1970.PNG|thumb|left|The 1970 "steam train" crest]] [[File:STFCtrafficsignbadge.jpg|thumb|right|The "traffic sign" badge used from the mid-1970s until 1986]] [[File:Swindon town fc badge choice 2007.PNG|thumb|right|The three designs which were voted on by supporters in 2007]] Swindon Town have used at least five different kit badges since their inception.<ref name="badges1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/images/Title/TitleBadgeHistoryWhite.jpg|title=Badge History|access-date=15 January 2007|publisher=swindon-town-fc.co.uk|format=jpg|archive-date=13 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113020410/http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/images/Title/TitleBadgeHistoryWhite.jpg|url-status=dead}}</ref> The original badge depicted a robin inside a shield with the letters STFC in the four corners, this changed to the "steam train" badge which was a coat of arms for the club based heavily on the coat of arms used by the local council.<ref name = "crest"/> The "steam train" badge was in the form of a traditional shield, bisected with the club's name, a GWR steam locomotive (as Swindon is a [[railway town]]), a football and with a [[European robin|robin]] sitting on top. Beneath the shield was a motto on a scroll β "''Salubritas et Industria''" β meaning "health and industry".<ref name = "crest"/> This motto is also that of the town of [[Swindon]] itself.<ref name="coatofarms">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindon.gov.uk/heritage-coatofarms|title=Borough of Swindon Coat of Arms|access-date=7 February 2007|publisher=[[Borough of Swindon|Swindon Borough Council]]|work=Heritage|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029215412/http://www.swindon.gov.uk/heritage-coatofarms|archive-date=29 October 2007}}</ref> During the 1970s the club changed the badge to one referred to as the "ST arrow" or "traffic sign" badge.<ref name="programme">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=1019&p=2&stid=7962086 |title=STFC programmes 1985 |access-date=15 January 2007 |publisher=My Only Swindon |year=2000 |author=Dave Hanley |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050227221418/http://www.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=1019&p=2&stid=7962086 |archive-date=27 February 2005 }}</ref> This was circular and had the letters ''S'' and ''T'' interlocked, which both ends of the letter ''S'' being made into an arrow. Also shown was a simple football and the club name.<ref name = "crest"/> Following the 1985β86 season, the "steam train" badge was re-introduced onto the kits. The crest was re-styled and the text "Division Four Champions 1985/1986" replaced the motto.<ref name = "crest"/> A diamond shaped crest for Swindon Town was introduced at the beginning of the 1991β92 season following a series of financial problems for the club. The idea behind the new crest was to give the club a new fresh image. [[File:Swindon Town FC logo (1991-2007).svg|thumb|100px|left|The "diamond" crest unveiled in 1991]] :"The 'travelling' football represents the club that is looking to the future with successful progress. The diamond shape clearly has the letter ''S'' (for Swindon) running through it, while a green section was also introduced to match a new 'green trim' on the team's home (red and white) shirts."<ref name="crest">{{Cite web|url=http://www.footballcrests.com/swindontownfc.htm|title=Swindon Town FC|access-date=15 January 2007|publisher=footballcrests.com}}</ref> On 5 April 2007, the club unveiled plans to change the badge, claiming the diamond badge was correct for the time, but did not represent or show any of the club's heritage or history.<ref name="new badge choose announced">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thisisstfc.co.uk/news_headlines_Story.asp?NewsID=6528 |title=Swindon's crest set to change |access-date=1 May 2007 |date=5 April 2007 |publisher=[[Swindon Advertiser]] }}{{dead link|date=May 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Swindon offered fans the chance to vote on-line for the three new choices, which were all similar to the original steam train design, and a fourth option of keeping the 1991 design. On 23 April 2007, it was announced that option three of the logo vote was the winner of the poll (it can be seen on the far right of the picture).<ref name="new badge">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thisisstfc.co.uk/news_headlines_Story.asp?NewsID=6587 |title=Town decide on new badge |access-date=1 May 2007 |date=23 April 2007 |publisher=[[Swindon Advertiser]] }}{{dead link|date=May 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Winning the vote with 68% in favour, the new badge includes the club name, a robin, a GWR steam locomotive β the rail industry being an important part of the Town's heritage β a football, and re-introduces the town's motto β 'Salubritas et Industria'. It has been in use since the beginning of the 2007β08 season. {{Clear}} {{Football kit box | pattern_la = | pattern_b = | pattern_ra = | leftarm = ffffff | body = ffffff | rightarm = ffffff | shorts = 000000 | socks = 000000 | title = Original home kit from 1879/80β1893/94 }} {{Football kit box | pattern_la = | pattern_b = _redquarters23 | pattern_ra = | leftarm = 000000 | body = 000000 | rightarm = ff0000 | shorts = 000000 | socks = 000000 | title = 1894/95β1896/97 home kit }} {{Football kit box | pattern_la = | pattern_b = | pattern_ra = | leftarm = ffffff | body = 008000 | rightarm = ffffff | shorts = 000000 | socks = 008000 | title = 1897/98β1900/01 home kit }} {{Football kit box | pattern_la = | pattern_b = | pattern_ra = | leftarm = 8B0000 | body = 8B0000 | rightarm = 8B0000 | shorts = FFFFFF | socks = 000000 | title = 1901/02 home kit }} {{Football kit box | pattern_la = | pattern_b = | pattern_ra = | leftarm = FF0000 | body = ff0000 | rightarm = FF0000 | shorts = FFFFFF | socks = 000000 | title = 1902/03 home kit }} ===Home kit=== Originally playing in black and white with the addition of blue [[sash]] for away games,<ref name = "founded"/> the club changed to black and red quarters on entry to the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]] in 1894.<ref name = "founded"/> The club changed again in 1897 with the ''[[Swindon Advertiser]]'' reporting: :"The new colours of the Swindon Town F.C. are to be green shirts, with white sleeves. Good-bye to the old well known red and black."<ref name = "founded"/> With problems obtaining green dyes, the kit was short-lived and Swindon Town changed their shirts to the more familiar red in 1901.<ref name = "founded"/> Initially a dark maroon, a lighter shade was chosen for the start of the 1902β03 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.<ref name="robins">{{cite book | title=The Robins β The Story of Swindon Town Football Club | last=Mattick | first=Dick | year=1989 | publisher=Sporting and Leisure press | location=Buckingham | isbn=0-86023-460-6 }}</ref> The nickname is a reference to the former name of the [[European robin]] β "redbreast". Swindon Town have played their home games in variations on the red and white theme since then, wearing a red shirt with white collars and white or red shorts for much of their history which has led to the team being known as the "Red and White Army". For example; the kit worn during the 1985β86 Division Four Champions season consisted of a red shirt with white pinstripes, white shorts and red socks and chants of "[[Lou Macari]]'s Red and White Army" were heard from the supporters at the final stages of the season. Following the rebranding of the club in 1991, green elements were re-introduced onto the home strip and badge to represent the team's short-lived kit from the turn of the century. These were removed in 2007.<ref name="2007kit">{{Cite web|url=http://www.footballshirtculture.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=168&Itemid=26|title=Swindon Town in Lotto until 2009|access-date=8 August 2007|publisher=footballshirtculture.com}}</ref> ===Away kit=== The club's [[away kit]]s have only begun to change since the 1990s and the advent of the lucrative replica kit market. Swindon's first away kit (that was entirely separate to the home kit) consisted of an all-blue strip; this was not used for the club's [[Football League Cup Final 1969|1969 League Cup Final]] victory where they elected to wear an all-white strip. For a period in the 1980s the club changed their away kit to white shirts and black shorts and introduced a new third kit of yellow shirts and blue shorts.<ref name="away kits">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Kits.asp?Season=1984-1985|title=Season 1984β1985|access-date=15 January 2007|publisher=swindon-town-fc.co.uk|work=Kits}}</ref> The club alternated between these two schemes as its away kit for the 1980s. When the club re-branded in the 1991 close season, it introduced a new away strip: the white and green "potato print" shirt with dark blue shorts.<ref name="away kits2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Kits.asp?Season=1991-1992|title=Season 1991β1992|access-date=15 January 2007|publisher=swindon-town-fc.co.uk|work=Kits}}</ref> This remained in use until its replacement in 1993 with another yellow and blue strip, integrating the new colour scheme by adding a green collar.<ref name="away kits3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Kits.asp?Season=1993-1994|title=Season 1993β1994|access-date=15 January 2007|publisher=swindon-town-fc.co.uk|work=Kits}}</ref> A special third kit was added for the 1996β97 season and was coloured "petrol green" in honour of sponsors [[Castrol]]. Swindon wore black and gold striped away shirts for the 2003β04 season with an all-white third kit, following this with variants on the blue theme until returning to all-white in 2007.<ref name="2007kit"/> In 2008β09 they returned to the dark blue away kit that was used previously for the 2006β07 season but this time they had white shorts instead of a whole dark blue strip. In 2009β10 they returned once again to the all-white kit, but unlike the home kit, which showed ''[[FourFourTwo]]'' on the front, this showed ''[[FIFA 10|FIFA10]]'' on the front as a part of sponsorship with [[Electronic Arts|EA]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Coca Cola League One 2009 β 2010|work=Historical Football Kits |url=http://historicalkits.co.uk/English_Football_League/season/2009-2010/league-one.html |access-date=21 January 2013}}</ref> They also this year had an all-blue third kit which was featured for the FA Cup and also the play-off away game to Charlton. In 2010β11 they had an all-black third kit.<ref>{{cite web|title=Npower League One 2010 β 2011|work=Historical Football Kits|url=http://historicalkits.co.uk/English_Football_League/season/2010-2011/league-one.html|access-date=21 January 2013}}</ref> The all-black kit became the club's away kit for the 2011β12 season with an all-white kit as a third kit used for the FA Cup run. This kit caused controversy among some fans, because it had the sponsors ''[[The People (newspaper)|The People]]'' printed on the shirts. For 2012β13 they had a blue and yellow away kit, again controversial as these are the colours of Swindon's close rivals [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]]. For the 2021β22 season, they released a checkered gold and green kit. The colours of the [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] national team, paying homage to the new Australian owner Clem Morfuni. Later in the season they also released a special all black third kit. This included a darkened club badge, intended to signify the club coming "out of the darkness" following the take over of the new owner.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Swindon launch all-black third kit in nod to takeover journey|url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/19745854.swindon-town-launch-all-black-third-kit-rest-2021-22-league-two-season/|access-date=10 December 2021|website=Swindon Advertiser|date=27 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref> ===Shirt sponsors=== The current manufacturer is Adidas, restarting in 2024. From 2015 - 2024 Swindon's kit had been manufactured by [[Puma AG|Puma]]. Previous manufacturers include Umbro, Admiral, Adidas, Coffer Sports, Spall, Diamond Leisure, Loki, Mizuno, Lotto, Xara, DGI, Strikeforce, and Lonsdale. The club's shirt sponsors have included ISIS, Lowndes Lambert Group, GWR FM, Burmah, Castrol, Nationwide, Kingswood Group, FourFourTwo, Samsung, EA Sports FIFA, C&D, Imagine Cruising, Bartercard, First City Nursing & Care and MiPermit.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.footballshirtculture.com/Sponsorship/swindon-town-in-lotto-until-2009.html| title= Swindon Town in Lotto until 2009| publisher=Football Shirt Culture| date=31 January 2007| access-date=14 September 2016}}</ref> ==Stadium== {{Main|County Ground (Swindon)}} [[File:Swindon Town Football Club ground at The County Ground - geograph.org.uk - 1619541.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|225x225px|The [[County Ground (Swindon)|County Ground]], taken from the Town End.]] Swindon Town's original pitch was located south of Bath Road, in the region of Bradford Road, adjacent to the [[Okus Quarry]].<ref name = "ground"/> After a young spectator fell into the quarry the team decided to move first to Lansdown Road and then to a pitch near The Croft where they were to remain for the next 11 years.<ref name = "founded"/> Swindon Town have been playing at the [[County Ground (Swindon)|County Ground]] since 1896. They played their games on the site of the adjacent cricket pitch also called the County Ground from 1893 until the ground opened.<ref name="founded">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/InTheBeginning.asp|title=In the beginning...|access-date=14 January 2007|publisher=swindon-town-fc.co.uk}}</ref> Thomas Arkell of [[Arkell's Brewery]] donated Β£300 to finance the construction of a stand on what was then known as the 'Wiltshire County Ground', this investment was enough to begin development of a purpose-built football ground. Since its original construction, the ground has been periodically updated with new features or fittings. A cover on the Shrivenham Road side was erected in 1932, followed by the current roof at the Town End. This cost Β£4,300, which was raised by the Supporters' Club, and was opened on 27 August 1938 by local [[Member of Parliament#United Kingdom|MP]], [[Wavell Wakefield, 1st Baron Wakefield of Kendal|W.W. Wakefield]].<ref name = "ground"/> The War Department took over the ground in 1940, where for a while [[Prisoner of war|POW]]s were housed in huts placed on the pitch. For this the club received compensation of Β£4,570 in 1945.<ref name = "ground"/> The addition of [[floodlights (sport)|floodlights]] in 1951 at a cost of Β£350, gave Swindon the honour of being the first League club to do so. These were first tried out ''v.'' Bristol City on 2 April 1951 beating [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] by six months. These original set of lights were supplemented by lights on both side stand roofs, which were sufficient for the [[County Ground, Swindon|County Ground]] to stage its first floodlit league match on 29 February 1956 ''v.'' [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]. (seven days after [[Fratton Park]] became the first ground to stage a floodlit league fixture). The present pylons date from 1960.<ref name="ground">Inglis, Simon: "Football Grounds of Britain.", page 358. CollinsWillow, 1996.</ref> The ground currently contains elements constructed between 1950 and 1995, with the latest addition being the large sponsored stand on the south side. 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.<ref name="swindonwebfacts">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindonweb.com/stfc/facts&fig.htm|title=STFC Facts & Figures|access-date=15 January 2007|publisher=swindonweb.com|work=Swindon Town Football Club|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061231091511/http://www.swindonweb.com/stfc/facts%26fig.htm|archive-date=31 December 2006}}</ref> The ground itself was on land owned by [[Borough of Swindon|Swindon Borough Council]] to which the club pays rent. Swindon had in the past considered a move to a club owned stadium to generate more revenue, but did not have the financial backing to do so. In 2006 a redevelopment campaign for the County Ground began,<ref name="stadium development">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindontownfc.premiumtv.co.uk/staticFiles/19/12/0,,10341~4633,00.pdf|title=Stadium Development|access-date=15 January 2007|publisher=Swindon Town Football Club}}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref> with the club and TrustSTFC (the [[supporters' trust]]) raising a petition to 'Save Our Home' urging the Borough Council to "facilitate the redevelopment of the stadium and do everything they can to keep the club within the Borough"<ref name="stadium development2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindontownfc.premiumtv.co.uk/staticFiles/19/12/0,,10341~4633,00.pdf|title=Keep It Up!|access-date=15 January 2007|publisher=Swindon Town Football Club|work=Stadium Development}}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref> including the proposed upgrading of the adjacent Cricket Club to County standard and Athletic Club to Olympic standard. On 24 March 2023, Swindon Town bought the County Ground for Β£2.3 million, as part of a joint venture with TrustSTFC, giving fans the opportunity to own a percentage of the Ground.<ref name="stadium purchase">{{Cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2023-03-24/swindon-town-buy-county-ground-in-23m-deal|title=Swindon Town FC buy County Ground in Β£2.3m deal|access-date=14 August 2023|publisher=ITV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714204627/https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2023-03-24/swindon-town-buy-county-ground-in-23m-deal|archive-date=14 July 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> ==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 β Introduction to Swindon β 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 2004β05 season.<ref name="attendanceavg">{{Cite web|url=http://www.soccerstats.com/2khcrowd.asp?league=england3_2005&homeaway=3 |title=2004β2005 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 β (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=2005β2006 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 β (5,950/15,728)*100=37.83</ref> in 2005β06 and was reported as 7,109 (45.2%)<ref>Calculation β (7,109/15,728)*100=45.1996</ref> for the 2006β07 season.<ref name="attendanceavg07">{{Cite web|url=http://www.soccerstats.com/2khcrowd.asp?league=england4_2007&homeaway=3 |title=2006β2007 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 β {{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 β ending in a semi-final loss to Brighton β 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 2004β05 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 2010β11 Swindon has rapidly increasing attendances with an 8,400 average attendance for the 2010β11 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|CelticβRangers 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 2β1 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 MβZ 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 β 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 2005β06 compared to 39 arrests in 2004β05.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/football-arrests-0506?view=Binary |title = Football related arrests β 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 β Season 2005β06 |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 2005β06; 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 β League One 2005/6 season |access-date = 25 July 2007 |date = 21 October 2006 |format = PDF |work = Statistics on Football related arrests & Banning Orders β Season 2005β06 |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 [[2014β15 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 [[2021β22 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 [[1978β79 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. ==Swindon Town Women F.C.== {{main|Swindon Town W.F.C.}} Swindon Town Ladies FC were established on 28 September 1993, after breaking away from the established Swindon Spitfires Women's and Girls' Football Club, while they rebranded to Swindon Town Women in July 2019. The current Swindon Town Women Football Club (STWFC) first team play in the [[FA Women's National League]] South West Division 1. Swindon Town Women currently play their home games at Foundation Park and the County Ground. In April 2023 the club officially came under the main Club umbrella with their first actions to replace the management team of the First and Development sides, while folding their U18s. ==Players== ===First team squad=== {{updated|4 April 2025}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2023/august/202324-squad-numbers-confirmed/|title=2023/24 SQUAD NUMBERS CONFIRMED|publisher=[[Swindon Town|Swindon Town F.C.]]|date=4 August 2023 |access-date=4 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = SQUAD PROFILES |url = https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/teams/first-team/ |publisher = Swindon Town F.C. |access-date = 26 August 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150810125524/http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/team/ |archive-date = 10 August 2015 |url-status = dead |df = dmy-all }}</ref> <!-- Do NOT add new players before their signing is officially announced by the club, including medical--> <!----------------------------- READ THIS NOTICE FIRST BEFORE EDITING ---------------------------------- β Do NOT remove players before their exit is officially announced by the club β Only add numberless players that are likely to become part of the first team β This is Wikipedia, not a football gazette. Anything unconfirmed and unsourced will be removed on sight ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=1|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Jack Bycroft]]|other=}} {{fs player|no=2|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=[[Tunmise Sobowale]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=3|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Pharrell Johnson]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=4|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=[[Ryan Delaney]]|other=}} {{fs player|no=5|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Will Wright (footballer)|Will Wright]]}} {{Fs player|no=6|nat=NGR|pos=MF|name=[[Nnamdi Ofoborh]]|other=}} {{fs player|no=7|nat=WAL|pos=MF|name=[[Joel Cotterill]]|other=on loan from [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]]}} {{fs player|no=8|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Ollie Clarke]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}} {{Fs player|no=9|nat=GER|pos=FW|name=[[Paul Glatzel]]|other=}} {{fs player|no=10|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Harry Smith (footballer, born 1995)|Harry Smith]]}} {{fs player|no=13|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Connor Ripley]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=16|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Jake Cain]]|other=}} {{fs player|no=17|nat=ENG |pos=FW |name= [[Tom Nichols (footballer)|Tom Nichols]]|other=on loan from [[Mansfield Town F.C.|Mansfield Town]]}} {{fs mid}} {{fs player|no=18|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=[[Gavin Kilkenny]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=20|nat=JAM|pos=DF|name=[[Miguel Freckleton]]|other=on loan from [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]]}} {{fs player|no=21|nat=COD|pos=FW|name=[[Kabongo Tshimanga]]|other=on loan from [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]]}} {{fs player|no=22|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Danny Butterworth]]|other=}} {{fs player|no=23|nat=IRL|pos=FW|name=[[Aaron Drinan]]|other=}} {{fs player|no=24|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Grant Hall]]|other=}} {{fs player|no=25|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Joe Westley]]|other=on loan from [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]}} {{fs player|no=27|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[George Cox (footballer)|George Cox]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=31|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Harrison Minturn]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=33|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Joel McGregor]]|other=}} {{fs player|no=34|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Billy Kirkman]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=36|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Sonny Hart]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=37|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Redman Evans]]|other=}} {{Fs end}} ''For recent transfers, see [[2024β25 Swindon Town F.C. season]].'' ===Out on loan=== {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=11|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Sean McGurk]]|other= on loan to [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]]}} {{fs player|no=19|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Tariq Uwakwe]]|other= on loan to [[Aldershot Town F.C.|Aldershot Town]]}} {{Fs player|no=26|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Anton Dworzak]]|other=on loan to [[Swindon Supermarine F.C.|Swindon Supermarine]]}} {{Fs player|no=28|nat=GMB|pos=MF|name=[[Saidou Khan]]|other=on loan to [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]]}} {{Fs player|no=35|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Jaxon Brown|other=on loan to [[Aveley F.C.|Aveley]]}} {{Fs player|no=39|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Dylan Mitchell]]|other=on loan to [[Hereford F.C.|Hereford]]}} {{fs end}} ===Reserves and Academy=== ''For further information: [[Swindon Town F.C. Reserves and Academy]]'' {{fs start}} {{Fs player|no=38|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Harry Chard|other=}} {{Fs player|no=42|nat=IRQ|pos=FW|name=[[Botan Ameen]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=46|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Owen Foye|other=}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Anton Robinson|other=}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Charlie Betts|other=}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Kian Larkins|other=}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Josh Terry|other=}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Harry Gray (footballer, born 2007)|Harry Gray]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Joseph Owiti|other=}} {{Fs end}} ===Out on loan=== {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=40|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Dani Gonzalez-Birchall|other=on loan to [[Weymouth F.C.|Weymouth]]}} {{Fs player|no=41|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Miles Obodo]]|other=on loan to [[Marlow F.C.|Marlow]]}} {{Fs player|no=43|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[George Alston]]|other=on loan to [[Swindon Supermarine F.C.|Swindon Supermarine]]}} {{Fs player|no=45|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Antony McCormick|other=on loan to [[Salisbury F.C.|Salisbury]]}} {{Fs player|no=47|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Lucas Myers|other=on loan to [[Melksham Town F.C.|Melksham Town]]}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Liam Hutt]]|other=on loan to [[Weymouth F.C.|Weymouth]]}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Conor Britchford-Stanley|other=on loan to [[Highworth Town F.C.|Highworth Town]]}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Alistair Stewart|other=on loan to [[Plymouth Parkway F.C.|Plymouth Parkway]]}} {{fs end}} ==Club management== ===Club officials=== {{updated|9 July 2024}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/club/whos-who/|title=Who's Who|publisher=Swindon Town F.C. |date=7 August 2021 |access-date=27 October 2024}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- ! Position !! Name |- |align="left"|'''Chairman''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Clem Morfuni]] |- |align="left"|'''"Person of Significant Interest"''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Christopher Kiely |- |align="left"|'''"Person of Significant Interest"''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Hollie Kiely |- |align="left"|'''Chief Executive''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Anthony Hall |- |'''Head of Football''' |align="left"| |- |align="left"|'''Manager''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ian Holloway]] |- |align="left"|'''Assistant Manager''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Marcus Bignot]] |- |align="left"|'''First Team Pathways Coach''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|IRL}} [[Gavin Gunning]] |- |align="left"|'''Goalkeeping Coach''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Mildenhall]] |- | align="left"|'''First-Team Physio''' | align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Jackson Bradley |- | align="left"|'''First-Team Head of Performance''' | align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Joseph Headley |- | align="left"|'''First-Team Lead Analyst''' | align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Bradley Hardy |- |'''Commercial Manager''' |{{flagicon|WAL}} James Watts |- | align="left"|'''Head of Media and Communications''' | align="left"| |- |'''Official Club Photographer''' |{{flagicon|ENG}} Callum Knowles |- | align="left"|'''Kit Man''' | align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Hooper |- |'''Kit Man''' |{{flagicon|ENG}} Jonah Isaacs |- |align="left"|'''Chief Scout ''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Les Caffery |- |'''Academy Manager''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Mark Moss |- |'''Assistant Academy Manager''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Kirk McGinn |- |'''Academy Head of Coaching''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[David Farrell (footballer, born 1971)|David Farrell]] |- |align="left"|'''Academy Professional Development Phase Coach''' |align="left"| |- |align="left"|'''Academy Youth Development Phase''' '''Coach''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Sean Wood |- |'''Academy Sports Scientist''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Sam Grose |- |'''Academy Head of Recruitment''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Martin Doyle |- |'''Senior Academy Physiotherapist''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Ryan Hankins |- |'''Club Ambassador''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Don Rogers (footballer)|Don Rogers]] |} === Managerial history === {{main|List of Swindon Town F.C. managers}} As of May 2023, 44 men have been appointed as a manager of Swindon Town Football Club, excluding caretaker managers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2519&teamTabs=managers|title=Swindon Town manager history|work=Soccerbase|access-date=28 April 2018}}</ref> [[Danny Williams (footballer, born 1924)|Danny Williams]] and [[Andy King (footballer, born 1956)|Andy King]] are the only men to have been given the job on a permanent basis twice. {{div col|colwidth=28em}} *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Sam Allen (football manager)|Sam Allen]] 1902β1933 *{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Ted Vizard]] 1933β1939 *{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Neil Harris (footballer, born 1894)|Neil Harris]] 1939β1940 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Louis Page]] 1945β1953 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Maurice Lindley]] 1953β1955 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Bert Head]] 1956β1965 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Danny Williams (footballer, born 1924)|Danny Williams]] 1965β1969 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Fred Ford (footballer)|Fred Ford]] 1969β1971 *{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Dave Mackay]] 1971β1972 (Player-Manager) *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Les Allen]] 1972β1974 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Danny Williams (footballer, born 1924)|Danny Williams]] 1974β1978 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Bobby Smith (footballer, born 1944)|Bobby Smith]] 1978β1980 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[John Trollope (footballer)|John Trollope]] 1980β1983 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ken Beamish]] 1983β1984 *{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Lou Macari]] 1984β1989 (Player-Manager) *{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Osvaldo Ardiles]] 1989β1991 (Player-Manager) *{{flagicon|IRL}} [[Tony Galvin]] 1991 (Caretaker) *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Glenn Hoddle]] 1991β1993 (Player-Manager) *{{flagicon|SCO}} [[John Gorman (footballer)|John Gorman]] 1993β1994 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Andy Rowland]] 1994 (Caretaker) *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve McMahon]] 1994β1998 (Player-Manager) *{{flagicon|IRL}} [[Mike Walsh (footballer)|Mike Walsh]] 1998 (Caretaker) *{{flagicon|NIR}} [[Jimmy Quinn (footballer, born 1959)|Jimmy Quinn]] 1998β2000 (Player-Manager) *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Colin Todd]] 2000 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Andy King (footballer, born 1956)|Andy King]] 2000β2001 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Roy Evans]] 2001 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Andy King (footballer, born 1956)|Andy King]] 2001β2005 *{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Iffy Onuora]] 2005β2006 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Dennis Wise]] 2006 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[David Tuttle]] 2006 (Caretaker) *{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Ady Williams]] 2006 (Caretaker) *{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Paul Sturrock]] 2006β2007 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[David Byrne (footballer, born 1961)|David Byrne]] 2007β2008 (Caretaker) *{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Maurice Malpas]] 2008 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[David Byrne (footballer, born 1961)|David Byrne]] 2008 (Caretaker) *{{flagicon|NIR}} [[Danny Wilson (footballer, born 1960)|Danny Wilson]] 2008β2011 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Paul Hart]] 2011 *{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Paul Bodin]] 2011 (Caretaker) *{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Paolo Di Canio]] 2011β2013 *{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Fabrizio Piccareta]] 2013 (Caretaker) *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Tommy Miller]] & [[Darren Ward (footballer, born 1978)|Darren Ward]] 2013 (Joint Player-Caretakers) *{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Kevin MacDonald (footballer)|Kevin MacDonald]] 2013 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Mark Cooper (footballer, born 1968)|Mark Cooper]] 2013β2015 *{{flagicon|IRL}} [[Lee Power]] 2015 (Caretaker) *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Martin Ling]] 2015 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Luke Williams (football manager)|Luke Williams]] 2015β2017 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[David Flitcroft]] 2017β2018 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Matthew Taylor (footballer)|Matt Taylor]] 2018 (Player-Caretaker) *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Phil Brown (footballer, born 1959)|Phil Brown]] 2018 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Richie Wellens]] 2018β2020 *{{flagicon|IRL}} [[Noel Hunt]] 2020 (Caretaker) *{{flagicon|IRL}} [[John Sheridan (footballer)|John Sheridan]] 2020β2021 *{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Tommy Wright (footballer, born 1966)|Tommy Wright]] 2021 (Caretaker) *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[John McGreal]] 2021 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ben Garner]] 2021β2022 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Scott Lindsey]] 2022β2023 *{{flagicon|IRL}} [[Gavin Gunning]] & {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Mildenhall]] 2023 (Joint-Caretaker) *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jody Morris]] 2023 *{{flagicon|IRL}} [[Gavin Gunning]] & {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Mildenhall]] 2023 (Joint-Caretaker) *{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Michael Flynn (footballer)|Michael Flynn]] 2023β2024 *{{flagicon|IRL}} [[Gavin Gunning]] 2024 (Caretaker) *{{flagicon|IRL}} [[Mark Kennedy (footballer, born 1976)|Mark Kennedy]] 2024 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ian Holloway]] 2024β {{div col end}} ==Player awards and recognition== {{Main|List of Swindon Town F.C. players}} ===Swindon Town Hall of Fame ({{as of|2023|7|14|lc=y}})=== On 15 December 2011, local newspaper the ''[[Swindon Advertiser]]'' announced that the club were to launch the Swindon Town Hall of Fame. Former players [[Don Rogers (footballer)|Don Rogers]], [[John Trollope (footballer)|John Trollope]] and [[Paul Bodin]] were the first three confirmed inductees with the others announced during a [[BBC Radio Wiltshire|BBC Wiltshire]] radio broadcast on 30 December 2011.<ref name="Hall of Fame">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/9420081.The_Ultimate_Honour/|title=Hall of Fame|access-date=17 December 2011|publisher=Advertiser|work=The Ultimate Honour|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109064335/http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/9420081.The_Ultimate_Honour/|archive-date=9 January 2012}}</ref> ===Hall of Fame (in alphabetical order)=== * {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Paul Bodin]] ''(inducted 2011)'' * {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Don Rogers (footballer)|Don Rogers]] ''(inducted 2011)'' * {{flagicon|ENG}} [[John Trollope (footballer)|John Trollope]] ''(inducted 2011)'' ===English Football Hall of Fame=== ''The following have either played for or managed Swindon Town and have been inducted into the [[English Football Hall of Fame]]'' {| |- style="vertical-align: top;" | *'''Players''' * {{flagicon|England}} [[Herbert Chapman]] * {{flagicon|England}} [[Mike Summerbee]] | *'''Managers''' * {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Dave Mackay (footballer born 1934)|Dave Mackay]] * {{flagicon|England}} [[Glenn Hoddle]] * {{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Ossie Ardiles]] |} ==Statistics and records== {{Further|List of Swindon Town F.C. records and statistics}} [[John Trollope (footballer)|John Trollope]] holds the record for Swindon Town appearances, having played 889 first-team matches between 1960 and 1980. Trollope also holds the [[Football records in England|English Football League Record]] of most appearances by a player at one club, having played in 770 League games.<ref name="trollope">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindontownfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LegendsDetail/0,,10341~105163,00.html|title=John Trollope|access-date=15 February 2007|publisher=Swindon Town Football Club|work=Legends|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051202072545/http://www.swindontownfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LegendsDetail/0,,10341~105163,00.html|archive-date=2 December 2005}}</ref> Central defender [[Maurice Owen]] comes second, having played 601 times. The record for a goalkeeper is held by [[Sam Burton]], who is third with 509 appearances. [[Harry Morris (footballer, born 1897)|Harry Morris]] holds all of Swindon's goal records, having scored 229 goals for the club between 1926 and 1933.<ref name="swindonwebfacts"/> [[Harold John Fleming|Harold Fleming]] is second with 203, with [[Don Rogers (footballer)|Don Rogers]] third with 178. Morris scored the most goals in a season with 48 during 1926β27, 47 of which were in League games which is another club record. The most goals scored by an individual is also held by Morris and Keith East, who have both scored 5 against League opposition (Morris having achieved this in 1926 and 1930). The highest attendance at the County Ground of 32,000 was recorded on 15 January 1972 in a [[FA Cup|FA Cup third round]] match against [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]].<ref name="stadiuminfo">{{Cite web|url=http://www.swindontownfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/TheCountyGround/0,,10341,00.html|title=Stadium Info|access-date=1 February 2007|publisher=Swindon Town FC|work=Welcome to the County Ground|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014014022/http://www.swindontownfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/TheCountyGround/0,,10341,00.html|archive-date=14 October 2007}}</ref> The capacity of the ground is now 15,728 so it is unlikely that this record will be broken in the foreseeable future. Swindon Town have also set records in English football, being the second team (after York City in 1983β84) to score over 100 points in the League when they became [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] champions in [[1985β86 in English football|1985β86]]. The total of 102 that the club scored has since been beaten. They also hold the [[Football records in England#Team 2|Premier League record]] for most goals conceded in a season, 100 in [[1993β94 in English football|1993β94]], though several teams have finished with a lower points tally. On 20 February 2007 the club played in a landmark League game away to [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]], a 1β0 loss. The completion of this match meant that Swindon had, during their history, played a League game at home and away against every team who, in the [[2006β07 in English football|2006β07 season]], [[2011β12 in English football|2011β12 season]] and [[2019β20 in English football|2019β20 season]], were in the [[Premier League]], [[Football League Championship|Championship]], [[Football League One|League One]] and [[Football League Two|League Two]] but not the [[National League (English football)|National League]]. ==Honours== {{Further|List of Swindon Town F.C. seasons}} [[File:League Cup at Old Trafford.jpg|thumb|right|Swindon won the League Cup in 1969.]] '''League''' *[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] / [[Football League First Division|First Division]] (level 2) **Play-off winners: [[1990 Football League Second Division play-off final|1990]], [[1993 Football League First Division play-off final|1993]] *[[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] / [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] (level 3) **Champions: [[1995β96 Football League|1995β96]] **Runners-up: [[1962β63 Football League|1962β63]], [[1968β69 Football League|1968β69]] **Play-off winners: [[1987 Football League Third Division play-off final|1987]] *[[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] / [[EFL League Two|League Two]] (level 4) **Champions: [[1985β86 Football League|1985β86]], [[2011β12 Football League Two|2011β12]], [[2019β20 EFL League Two|2019β20]] **Promoted: [[2006β07 Football League Two|2006β07]] *[[Southern Football League|Southern League]] **Champions: [[1910β11 Southern Football League|1910β11]], [[1913β14 Southern Football League|1913β14]] *[[Western Football League|Western League]] **Champions: [[1898β99 Western Football League|1898β99]] '''Cup''' *[[EFL Cup|League Cup]] **Winners: [[1968β69 Football League Cup|1968β69]] *[[Football League Trophy]] **Runners-up: [[2011β12 Football League Trophy|2011β12]] *[[FA Community Shield|FA Charity Shield]] **Runners-up: [[1911 FA Charity Shield|1911]] *[[Anglo-Italian Cup]] **Winners: [[1970 Anglo-Italian Cup|1970]] *[[Anglo-Italian League Cup]] **Winners: [[1969 Anglo-Italian League Cup|1969]] *[[Wiltshire County FA Senior Cup]] **Winners: 1886β87, 1887β88, 1888β89, 1889β90, 1890β91, 1891β92, 1892β93, 1896β97, 1903β04, 1919β20 ==References== '''General''' *{{cite book | title=The Robins β The Story of Swindon Town Football Club | last=Mattick | first=Dick | year=1989 | publisher=Sporting and Leisure press | location=Buckingham | isbn=0-86023-460-6 }} *{{cite book |last=Mattick | first=Dick | title=Swindon Town Football Club 100 Greats | publisher=[[Tempus Publishing]] | year=2002 | isbn=0-7524-2714-8| title-link=Swindon Town Football Club 100 Greats }} *{{cite book | last=Mattick | first=Dick| title=Swindon Town F.C.: 50 Classic Matches | publisher=[[Tempus Publishing]] | year=2004 | isbn=0-7524-2866-7}} *{{cite book | last=Hayes| first=Dean| title=Swindon Town Football Club: An A-Z | publisher=Aureus | year=2001 | isbn=1-899750-06-1}} *{{cite book | last=Plowman | first=Paul | title=Swindon Town : 1879β2009 The Combined Volume | publisher=Footprint Publications | year=2009 | isbn=978-0-9562819-0-6 }} '''Specific''' {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{Official website|https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk}} {{Swindon Town F.C.}} {{EFL League One}} {{EFL League Two}} {{Premier League}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Swindon Town F.C.| ]] [[Category:1879 establishments in England]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 1879]] [[Category:Sport in Swindon]] [[Category:Football clubs in Wiltshire]] [[Category:Football clubs in England]] [[Category:Southern Football League clubs]] [[Category:English Football League clubs]] [[Category:Premier League clubs]] [[Category:EFL Cup winners]] [[Category:United League (football)]]
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