Thetownend.com

For the past few weeks I've been posting a video of the week over on my site.... they aren't getting all that many views, so I thought I'd shamelessly plug them on here.

As it's the first round of the Cup this weekend, this week's footage is from the 1981 tie against Taunton Town:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fXKjya6hck

Enjoy...

I was at that game behind the goal in the Town End. Not one of our better seasons.

Think I was there also, as I remember Pritchards debut, but not the game for some reason. Excellent video BTW.

We  were actually drawn away,but the game was switched to the CG,hence the reason why
we were wearing our away kit.

As to the match,we were a dreadful struggling team and lucky to get through.I remember their
goal and Peach's awful backpass.First time i had seen Pritchard and his strong running caught
the eye.

We were very,very lucky that day.Fortunately,i don't think David Peach ever played for us again.

Who did we get next round..was at that match....worse than i remembered it.

Just looked it up because i had also forgotten!

2nd Round we beat Sutton 2-1 at home.

3rd Round lost at Luton.

The year before we were lucky to beat Weymouth at home.

Went to Luton i think,heavy snow and Rideout had a good goal ruled out....think Horton scored the winner for them.

I didn't go against Sutton but went to Luton where we were very unlucky. You're right about the snow as we were throwing snowballs at the Luton fans and ripping the piss out of them - which quickly became less funny when 3 of us walked bang smack into the middle of their lads and had to run like fuck to get away from them.

This week's video.... fourteen years ago this week - three goals in fifteen second half minutes, including a rare header from Mark Walters and a great strike by Ty Gooden, hands Swindon a 3-0 win over Barnsley.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qA2tduJTkw

Crackerjack!  That Gooden strike is a bloody strike.  Town looked a pretty decent team back in the heady days of 1996.

Excellent. Love watching the videos between 95-2000 seasons.

A good watch. We had a good team back then it's a shame that Steve Mac decided to do his best to ruin it.

Forgot how good Finney was that season....theres only one Stevie Finney!

Happy days.

And the cunt succeeded, although Rikkki Hunt deserves some of the 'credit' as well. The McMahon years post-promotion in 95-96 are probably the worst and most depressing of my STFC supporting life. Our record in the last 10 games of that 96-97 season when we looked so good against Barnsley was..P10 W1 D2 L7 F 2 A 24 Pts 5...needless to say our early season form kept us up :suicide:

To me, the McMahon/Hunt years ripped the heart and soul out of the club and it's only just starting to recover. When you think of what Diamond Mike and his cronies did in the ensuing years, it's absolutely amazing that there's a club left at all.

Looked pretty packed that afternoon!

You'll like this week's video then.

It’s almost sixteen years since Steve McMahon took over the reins at STFC – this week’s video gives you the chance to cringe once again at Macca’s shifty interview technique - Swindon Cable reviewing his time as Town boss with “The Steve McMahon Story”, aired on the day he resigned in 1998.

There’s a lot of waffle, but particular highlights are McMahon claiming that he left the club “in a better position” than when he joined (10:40), and Rikki Hunt firstly banning all the fans who took part in the on-pitch protest, then predicting that McMahon will become the best manager that Swindon have produced.

But... if you can’t bring yourself to watch all that.... just watch the last few minutes (starting around 26:00) – if only to see the look on Andy Rowland’s face when McMahon explains the reasons for selling Jan Fjortoft. Gulp.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5520365/1998_09_the_steve_mcmahon_story/

For those of you who thought last night was a bad result....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwGIUuZTfxs

"The London born Italian!" GEEZER.

:)

That was a great result. I had money on us losing at 8/1 (I think).

This week... Sheffield Wednesday on the first day of the 2003/04 season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCJn99U1Nxk

Griemink wasn't a great keeper was he...

His positioning for their second is unbelievable!

As bad as we were in the first 30 mins I actually came away thinking we should have won the game. Really hot that day as well. Think it was 32c or something like that. Crazy. Great game though.

...and that was the day poor Jimmy Davis was killed to. A sad day.

That was the day Jimmy Davis died (RIP).

The ref was Barry Knight, and despite all the stoppages for water as it was so hot, he only added a couple of minutes, and one of the Wednesday goals were offside.

Anyway, I'd rather remember the game against Wednesday a few years later when we were 2-0 down with less than 10 mins to go and we won 3-2.

Same old story..they had four shots on target,three went in...not a lot changes really.

That just brings home how shit he was.

This week.... Oldham in our first Premiership home game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9psV5Z9Vn1U

I was there. In fact I was at the front of the Stratton Bank in line with Gunnar Halle as he crossed in the winner.

We deserved something out of that game.

This week.... Sheffield United away from 97/98.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2USVQO0f5wM

Went to that match...should have been three up before they scored.
If anything typifies a Swindon away performance this one does..Digby was brilliant that day though he cost us the equaliser.

anyone got any videos of the actual pitch invasions around the mcmahon/hunt era and possibly vs notts county pre-match? (Jimmy Davis tribute)

This week's video is from Boxing Day 1989 - the 4-3 win over Blackburn. I was at this game, and remember not being able to see Steve Foley's winner because of the fog!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8_bJPEWzwI

The fog came down so quickly in that game, i'm still amazed it kept going as i still struggle to see Steve Foley's winner now and i've watched it many times!

Ty gooden had no right to shoot in that barnsley game, what a strike...ahh the glory days :D

With the Town playing Charlton this week, it reminded me of the Coca-Cola Cup run of 1994/95, so..... as a bit of a New Year special (well, special until the end, anyway), this week I've posted ten videos, including all of the matches and a couple of preview programmes before the semi-finals:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=3AF4D16FCB863326

Happy New Year all.

Good watch that. Nice to see some things never change, dodgy refs and crap defending..

This week - Yeovil in 2007/08..... things could be worse!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGlsInR-P64

Bristol Rovers (Away) 1995/96

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0TPhTgq_fw

Was in the Rovers end for this one - as were quite a lot of other Town I recognised

Two videos this week....

The first - Exeter from March 1985, and despite Leigh Barnard being on loan to Exeter from the Town, he is allowed to play against Swindon at the County Ground, and though he ended up on the losing side, he did manage to get some form of revenge by injuring Town boss Lou Macari:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw42vlZLDy0

The second is from transfer deadline day in 1995, when Jan Fjortoft was sold to Middlesbrough.... hang on, didn't we replace him with a left-sided defender as well?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36B4CI8Y8Jk

I'm surprised (pleasantly) to see a clip from 1985. I had been under the impression that there was absolutely no TV coverage at this time due to some contractual dispute. Or is it because that clip was from 84/85 and the dispute was in 85/86?

Is there any footage from the Sunderland or Sheffield Wed Cup games from 85/86? I'd love it if there was.

The site of Steve McMahon as Manager of STFC makes my blood run cold. The word 'cunt' doesn't even begin to do him justice.

Some good videos posted...enjoy watching them.

Keep up the good work.

That Exeter clip is brilliant, what a truely awful second goal, real Sunday league stuff - and what a terrible attendance - although I'm pretty sure I was one of those 2696 hardy souls.

Ha Attendance for the Exeter game 2800 odd.  I was at that game and that was when it was just coming out of being really bad, the perceived problems now are nothing, compared to back then. Good work btw, much appreciated.

Just seen your's Arch. I was on the bank, bet you were in the exec...err seats.

Yep, I was indeed in the plush exec area - I had a series of buxom serving wenches hand feeding me grapes whilst I supped champagne...

Except I was only 12 and was in the Town End. Strangely enough I was only thinking the other day about that massive anti-riot grill that covered the centre part, ground to roof - totally prehistoric.

We live in a different age now Sutton, on and off the pitch.

You're right - this clip was 84/85 and the TV ban was in 85/86, which is a great shame - the only match footage I have of that season is the Chester match which the TV companies got special dispensation for.  I've got clips like this for nearly all of the 84/85 home matches - HTV didn't seem to have covered away games (unless they were against a Bristol club).

I do have a couple of minutes of HTV news coverage about the Sheffield Wednesday game - no match footage though - will post it up at some point.  That was one of the early games that really got me hooked on STFC - I was eight years old and sat up in the old South Stand wooden seats with all the old dears drinking soup from their flasks.

If anyone has any requests of games they would like me to post up, let me know.

I'd love to see Oxford (away) when we were 2 down and came back to win 4-2. Not sure when it was, perhaps late 80's early 90's - I've got the highlights on VHS somewhere, but I'm currently between video players.

This one?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t5beCIGwfU

That'll be the one! Cheers

Was that Roger Malone (the perennial Swindon hater) commentating? I like the way he made sure that everyone knew that Oxfords keeper was carrying an injury.

As I get older its amazing how the Swindon Town timeline gets muddled in my brain, I never would've said that Stigger played in the same Town team as Fitz, I thought he was long gone by then! Great ball from Bodin for the fourth, I almost broke my foot falling down that Cuckoo Lane Terrace when that went in!

Great post

Two videos this week - first, a Paul Rideout hat-trick handing STFC a 4-1 win over Rochdale in 1983:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muDXUf3SXb8

... and secondly, as requested, the HTV news footage after the Sheffield Wednesday Milk Cup match in 1985:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofua-tgi86c

Cheers for this, that Wednesday news footage was great. Peter Coynes famous mane is quite hypnotic to watch whilst being blown about in that interview..

I remember going to the game, I'm sure it was the first time I'd ever sat in the North Stand after years in the Town End and the condemned Shrivenham Road top tier... I was amazed by the plush modern facilities.

Shame no actual goal footage, my recall is Coyne went to head it in missed with the mullet, but shouldered it in.

That's exactly what happened Reg - What a night. One of the all time classics :nod:

Just to cheer everyone up....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiHR8qWwPkg

I was just a youngster at that game with my Villa supporting mate in the Trinity Road End for that one! Don't remind me! His neighbour, a props manager for Byker Grove, got us tickets. Total humiliation. Also went to the home fixture where we were unlucky to lose 2-1.

Was there..great support,think Sheffield the keeper came in very late......remember Summerbee played well that day especially first half.

Yeh, remember looking over enviously wishing I was among our ranks. Filled the whole lower tier of the North Stand behind the goal and then part way around the lower tier of the Doug Ellis Stand. My Villa supporting pals along that day said they were truly astonished by our turn out, as good as any they'd seen in 93/94  :clap:

Met some random Norwegians in a pub under a flyover (it was a building on it's own, we had to go upstairs), they were a good bunch.

Could be Norway Red who posts on here? He likes a drink.

That was a great turnout from Town that day. Despite losing 5-0 we were very vocal. Saunders is a Scum cunt. 

Hmmmm...I don't think I'll even bother clicking on that video. That was about the one point in the season where we looked like we just might, might have been turning the corner. We'd just beaten Spurs and Coventry in consecutive home games and I was hopeful of getting a point a Villa. That game just killed it though in my opinion. I don't think they were that special that season but we absolutely capitulated second half and I suspect I probably left with all of 20 minutes to go :no:

This week - Carlisle home from 95/96:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZjfTlWuIeU

The pitch looks a lot better now a days

[obvious]We had a bloody good side that season[/obvious], Tony Grant never quite reached the heights that I thought he would. Neither did Peter Thorne for that matter. :hmmm:

Oh, didn't realise this was a specific thing, just saw the title...

Don't get me wrong, I find people running into walls as hilarious as the next man and time and space should always be made avaialble for such pursuits but this isn't quite the right place for it. This is where we say things like..."oooh, we were quite good once" and "ooooh, he used to be good at scoring goals", and so on and so forth 8)

it's generally a good idea to read at least some of a thread before you jump in.

Southampton 1989/90:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV1UQUbd5U0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCYwspgyZFQ

Was at the bottom cup match...real great game that with us having massive support.

Another one that got away.....Alan Macs performance here and that goal got him his big move.

This week, Walsall from 1988/89:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQkKQTQojgA

We all need a bit of cheering up....

This week is the anniversary of the League Cup win over Arsenal - back in 1989, HTV ran a commemorative episode of "Flashback for the Fans", with the cup winning team in the studio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioRcuCxIIpY

Love the theme music...brings back memories....also the hush of over 90,000 as Rogers breaks clear for the third......then the loud cheer as he wins it.

Keep em coming.

Sixteen years ago today, a struggling Town side travelled to a team playing in blue and white stripes and thumped them 5-2.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AQktJy_K9Q

Peter Thorne  :notworthy:

Fjortoft's last goal for Swindon too.

I missed this game as I was playing for Warminster Boys that Sunday.

Typical.

Tomorrow's game sees Swindon and Brighton in exactly reversed positions as when the sides met in 1995/96... we were top of Division Two and Brighton were second from bottom, when two goals from Steve Finney and a Kevin Horlock volley gave the Town a 3-1 win.

Anyone else remember their full back shouting "Junior!!" in his poshest voice to Junior McDougald who was playing up front, and the Town fans taking the piss for the rest of the half??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uidakbh6Og

And still got relegated  :(

Hartlepool 2003/04:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mo-6UWAJx0

Another great upload. I kinda miss Andy King.

Great away trip from 1995:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5pI53z0L9I

Was there,can't believe that was 16 years ago!
Shay Given in goal and Forster up front for Brentford,oh for a chief to lead the line these days.

I missed that one because I had to go to the The Great Dorset Steam Fair, again.

Thanks dad.

In April 1994, Wimbledon came to the County Ground, won 4-2, and with it hit the final nail into the Town's relegation coffin.

Will their bastard offspring hit another nail in tomorrow?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x73mJ3ELx3A

I remember Vinny Jones climbing on to a roof of a hut to get the ball.

We were powder puff in midfield and overwhelmed by most.

I remember watching the match and thinking 'jesus - even john fucking fashanu is scoring world class goals against us, its just so wrong'!

I was at this game and they rodgered us. I think the scoreline flaterred us

Two videos this week:

Exactly 20 years ago tomorrow, a struggling Swindon side faced Notts County at the CG:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0GSU4Tvei0


In April 2000, Terry Brady offered to take over at STFC - but only if the Town moved to a new stadium:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PUaKeLmGBg

I remember that Notts County game well, can't believe that's 20 years ago.

I was really depressed after that game, thought we were going down. Thank you Steve Foley for the hat trick against Leicester the following Saturday which kept us up, that was a good game.

Three videos this week - first off, footage from the Oldham home game in 1995:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ325n4K85I

And, in the week that Andrew Fitton stood down as chairman, I've posted some news clips from around the time of his takeover:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZVt03gZnrM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79NkbMGrILg

Cheers...keep them coming!

Haha i'm in the bottom video at about 1:50. That was the Cheltenham JPT game protest. Some good and bad memories in there. That game at home to Brighton was awful. 

thank fuck it wasn't my interview.

Happier times... when producer Carl Ross chose to document Swindon Town during the 1992/93 season, he originally intended to look beyond the glamour of football at an unfashionable club - instead he ended up documenting a behind the scenes view of one of the most successful seasons in the club's history in this superb programme, as STFC were promoted to the Premier League.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwnrenHu7gc

And a year later, Swindon sign off from their only Premier season in style - conceding five goals at home to Leeds, they become the first team for thirty years to concede 100 goals in a top flight season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-agsZDuGSY4

Many thanks for that doc clip......I never have seen it before!!

Thought it would be fitting to have a West Ham video this week....

On my twelfth birthday, this was my first 'real' away game (having only been to Selhurst Park previously for the play-off final in 1987) - and it was a real eye-opener. After having travelled to London on a 'Football Special' train, someone slipped into the contingent of Town fans marching to the ground just behind me - I heard a policeman shout "search him out", and as my dad lifted me in front of him, I turned and caught a glimpse of a knife as the police wrestled him away. At the stadium, I was lifted over the turnstiles to get in, and took my position at the front - and though Swindon gave a decent account of themselves, a Leroy Rosenior goal just past the hour send the Hammers through. I was still chuffed the next day though - my mum had taped Sportsnight so we could see the game again, and I spotted myself in the crowd!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihJKkI408RQ

Carl Ross = gold

Just watched this all the way through - happy days indeed.

Interestingly enough, the tie at the County ground was the thing that put me off going again. I didn't like the fact that we were turfed out of the Stratton Bank and forced into the away corner. Had a crap view of a dire game.

By God though, watching that reminded me what a good battling team we had!

i remember west ham fans got on the shrivvy road roof in the home match.big crowd.i was a ball boy that season and got a few autographs that day.

Posted a few requests this week:

November 1983 - Swindon vs Hereford
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekgVO7_5lBU

January 1984 - Swindon vs Blackburn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFxlEhcGkE0

November 1990 - Swindon vs Port Vale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKVpt-UeRXM

November 2002 - Wycombe vs Swindon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXvpW0f6Bdc

Another three this week:

April 1991 - Swindon vs Watford (Glenn Hoddle's first match in charge)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2KgwNZxv5w

March 2004 - Port Vale vs Swindon (comeback from 3-0 down)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRFiA1ZxHDQ


1988 Success in the Making (New College documentary)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHliwo-3Fkw

As we drew City in the cup this week, thought it was a good opportunity to post this one from 1981: hooligans clash on the terraces - causing the match to be held up for eighteen minutes - on the pitch, the relegation threatened local rivals play out a goalless draw.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O35TxIPScTE

Edit:  why don't these YouTube links work anymore?

Was there,think i was actually seated that day because i couldn't get a ticket for the terraces...mayhem that day.

I had the pleasure of being behind the goal in the Town End that day. That was a rough old day.

And this is the match where the ref took the players off because of trouble with a minute of so left of the first half, when they came back on they played the remainder of the first half and then turned straight back round for the 2nd half.

The biggest attendance ever at the County Ground - 32,000 people cram in to see the Gunners gain some sort of revenge for their defeat at Wembley two-and-a-half years previously.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtogvAX2Wbg

Cheers....crowd like sardines.

i was in the old Shrivvy Road seats that day - they were rocking, literally.

In the fourth tier, Swindon turn to a big-name rookie manager with an Italian background as their new boss, and he rings in the changes - promising a more professional outfit, with high fitness levels and commitment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-y7Kk0w4KA

... then, five years later (22 years ago this weekend) - after back-to-back promotions and leading the Town to the brink of the top flight, said manager leaves the club to join..... West Ham.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSUBoJnFoa0

This week, a look at a different manager - two videos covering the appointment of Ossie Ardiles, and his pre-season preparations:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWfBz9ptaiU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2VGhlp792c

Tony Galvin, slower than a week in prison!

And Flash would know. He was Galvin cell mate/ lover

"... if we bought someone for £300,000, we'd have to put the tickets up to £10!"  Heaven forbid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=357to8Jzao0

You never cease to disappoint me...you cunt!

As I've missed a couple of weeks, I've uploaded four videos this week to help whet your appetite for the new season:

Swindon vs Crewe - Division Two - 1995/96
A Crewe side that includes future Town players Ashley Westwood and Gareth Whalley - plus future Premiership stars Danny Murphy, Robbie Savage and Neil Lennon - travel to the County Ground for a top-of-the-table clash, and they look to have grabbed a point when Steve Garvey equalises with just twelve minutes remaining. Ten minutes later though, a fortunate Steve Finney penalty puts the Town seven points clear at the top of Division Two.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLFrOQ317Wc

Swindon vs Bristol City - League Cup - 1987/88
A Jimmy Quinn hat-trick gives the Town a commanding lead over their local rivals in this Littlewoods Cup First Round tie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL7LimrW0pk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL7LimrW0pk)

In the second leg, City threaten to come back with two goals in the first quarter of an hour. Dave Bamber soon restores a two goal advantage, but just a minute later, City score again - and they look like they might equalise before a Steve Berry penalty wraps the tie up for the Town.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLsRIzusfZs

Swindon vs Coventry - 1993/94
A hat-trick from Jan Fjørtoft, including two penalties, wraps up a second successive win for the Town - and the aeroplane celebration is born.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By4ufkIpXZM

Was on the Bank v Coventry...packed in like Sardines.

Yeah, and in my world, Jan was looking right at me when he did his three finger celebration.

I'm sure you could have guessed what this week's VOTW would be....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBEPA3ObFfU

How good was Mark Walters with both feet!! Incredible

Lovely.

This is the classic Joey Wingebag match, where the Town players gave him a good kicking. Look out for Mark Walters 'accidentally' giving Joey a kick in the head about 2:20 in and Gurnam Singh's greatest refereeing performance...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3Z9M7I7Ilk&feature=related

And Seagraves politely asking him to return to his feet :)

watching bumchum get kicked all over the park makes me laugh every time,  :rof

I see what he meant when he thrived under it

:D

Signing that cunt was a truly shameful episode in the clubs history

Cowe in the starting line up over Thorne, McMahon really was a twat.

It did make sense at the time though. What tends to get forgotten is that Beauchamp had the potential to be a fantastic player. He had the ability to play in the Premier League but flushed it all down the toilet. In hindsight of course we shouldn't have signed him but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

The concept of signing players from Oxford does not bother me as such if they're any good. We get a good player, they lose one. It's a win win situation. The other way round is a different matter of course.

Watched that before but still, every time Walters catches him in the face, I cheer.

No footage of the last 2 league wins over the scum knocking about?

Walters was a genius........sell by date passed in the end but i loved him...

There are a few players - a very select few - who I would say it was a privilege to gave seen them in a Town shirt. Hoddle and Fjortoft are two, Walters is another. As you say, he was clearly past his best when he got to Swindon but he was still a joy to watch.

Swindon vs Portsmouth in the Littlewoods Cup in 1987/88....

First leg:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThUFB0Qkm2o

Second leg - contrast the recent coverage of Paolo di Canio versus Leon Clarke with this of Lou Macari versus Steve Foley!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeGpsnUfIns

I remember going to both of those games.

The weather for the second leg was fucking awful, got a right soaking but after winning really didn't give a shit.

Odd thing is, as Lou said in his interview I think as fans we went down there almost expecting to win even though they were a First Division team. We had spent the last couple of seasons winning most weeks.

I wetn to both as well. I went to Millwall either the Saturday before or after. Those two away games were two of the dodgiest away days back then. Since then Pompey have gone gay and Millwall are no longer hard just wankers giving civilians a kicking.

Petes coming again saturday CS

It must have been the result against the Scum that got him hooked again. I bumped into him that game and said hello. It was good to see him again after about 20 years. Good lad is Pete. 

Eighteen years ago today, Swindon are punished for two misses by Paul Bodin - one from the penalty spot - as Newcastle take a 2-0 half-time lead at the County Ground... but two goals in a minute on the hour from Martin Ling and Andy Mutch sees the Town snatch a 2-2 draw, prompting *that* celebration by Mutch, that went on to appear on the credits of Match of the Day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69EpfP5xk7Y

18 years ago!  Fuck, I feel old.

Was on the bank for that one.

I thought it was Grandstand?

I flew back from spain that day, the flight was delayed and landed what I though was too late for kick off - but my dad twatted it down the M4, arrived home, picked up my season ticket and ran to the ground arriving with seconds to spare. Furthest I have ever travelled for a town match.

First off, forgot to post this here last week - eight years ago, *that* goal by Paul Robinson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLRG8t0Sux0

And 26 years ago today - whilst Scottish Premier side Hibernian show interest in Lou Macari, an Alan Mayes hat-trick gives the Town a 4-1 win over Blackpool, in front of only 2,500 fans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmmCCA65w40

Thanks for posting them...the Parkin goal at Leeds is one of my favourite all time town goals,brilliant build up and a top finish,a great away day as well with 5000 odd town fans there....Quality.

Steve White returns to the County Ground and nets a winner against the Town in the Auto Windscreens Shield - has an goal in such a close game ever got so much of a cheer from the opposition's support?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz1GzhPts9w

Seventeen years ago today - the Town lose 4-3 at Pompey:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swUkjx5Vmpk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKd9XajGol0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M311oHsgH0k

The Town race into a 3-0 lead over promotion chasing Bradford - but the certain victory, and Phil King's first ever Town goal, are wiped from the slate, when the match is abandoned due to fog with just eighteen minutes remaining.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n2bHR2ErVo

... and in the rematch, Roy Wegerle and Dave Bamber put the Town two up with two goals in a three minute spell early in the second half. Bradford come back though - pulling one back with just over twenty minutes remaining, before equalising in stoppage time to steal a point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ3UfrNT2J4

A great team move finished by George Ndah gives Swindon an early 1-0 lead at Port Vale, the Town then have to weather two storms - one the snow, the other an onslaught by the Vale attack - to hold on to the three points.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh-2SqhCI9o

I thought it was going to be calderwood's halfway line goal against them (think it was port vale)

I uploaded that one a while back.... here it is....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2yTfnqWe7k

I liked George Ndah...very exiting player to watch and his pace was scary.

A thunderbolt by Jimmy Quinn and two Steve Foley goals are added to Bobby Barnes' opener - the Huddersfield defence 'going all Russian' (?!) as Swindon record a 4-1 victory over the Terriers in 1987.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv9NDeqLD8o

I don't think that golden goal is on the 'top goals' clips on you tube.....stick it on the next lot Rich!

Quinny's should be in there somewhere!!

I've got 39 goals lined up for the next one.... still working through some of the old stuff before it'll be ready though

Nice cheeky back heel from Chalky for Stiggers first... 

Fifteen years ago this week - an early goal from Kevin Horlock is soon pegged back by Trevor Morley in this local derby - but Wayne Allison regains the lead for Swindon midway through the first half, before a late Mark Walters goal prompts a mass departure of the away support.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X0XgYrMMzE

My earliest memories of Town are Super Kev, Chief and Walters.

Ah, nostalgia.

All those Reading fans disappearing reminds me of our 3-1 victory at the MadStad.

Bodin playing for Reading...not right.

I think that was Warren Aspinall up front for Reading also....had his problems and is now attending the Sporting Chance clinic weekly.

Swindon go top of Division Three - two Andy Rowland goals helping the Town to a convincing 4-1 win over Rovers at Eastville in October 1981.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzN4AbpxZLo

Blimey. I went to that, this i think was the brick throwing from the dual carriageway bridge game.

I was also at this game. I think Terry Cooper got sacked afterwards. I think we went to Walsall on the Tuesday and got dicked 5-0 and we were shit for the rest of the season

Yep, and a very interesting return to the train station (Stapleton Road if I remember)

Except for thrashing Rovers at home as well. 5-2 and Animal got sent off if I recall..........I remember the 4-1 game vividly because it was one of the fisrt away games I went to. It peed down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSjRcS-LdhA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeuLxaDUGUs

Trip down memory lane for me. It was the August Bank Holiday weekend. I couldn't go to the match as I was in those days a retail shop worker in Old Town, however I took a late afternoon train down to Bournemouth to join my then girlfriend who was at the end of a weeks holiday with some mates. I had the misfortune to end up in a carriage stuffed full of Wombles fans until I got off at either Didcot or Reading. I felt sure I was going to get panned, even though I was in civvies, carried on a small case and kept my mouth shut.

I went to this one, am I right in saying that there was a bit of crowd trouble? Barriers ripped out of the Stratton Bank by Wimbledon fans?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVt7dNoEvhM

Only one Stephen Finney!

Reminds me of Chris Hay a bit,like Hay just vanished after leaving the Town,injuries didn't help.

haha i forgot how fat mark robinson was

The days of 3 subs. Seems strange 5 seemed too few at the beginning of the season.

Eighteen years ago tomorrow....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK7k37PKDbM

Nicky Hammond was always good for a clanger

Nicky hammond was fucking shite.

Loving the mullet on Marshall.

Doesn't seem like 18 years ago

I remember Fjortoft's celebration, like a man with a weight lifted from his shoulders.  Not surprising really.

Couple of minutes earlier, a lot of Town fans were singing 'what a waste of money' at him when he missed another sitter.

Another match that got away,we hammered them.

Apart from away to QPR in our Premier League season. That day he was fucking awesome. Pulled of some blinding saves.

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/matchday/matches/1993-1994/epl.teams.html/qpr-vs-swindon

Swindon 1 - 0 Barnsley (1992?).  Best keeping performance ever, by anyone, ever.

Kid-a-Quid night game? I went to that and recall him doing alright then.

Nah, was a saturday.  Maskell scored a pen after Buzza got up ended after about 5 mins.  That was the end of our attacking threat that game.  Barnsley camped in our half for 85 mins.

Did he play in the away game against West Ham in the promotion year? I think we were clad in that potato print away strip and won 1-0 due a deflected free kick.

If he did, he was awesome that day, pulled off some cat-like saves.

But for every game like that though, there was always a Peterborough(?) away.

to be fair having Digby and Hammond as a 1st choice/2nd choice pairing was pretty effective. We 've had far worse.

great turn by Lingy to make the goal - sometimes you forget just how good some of the players we had were.

It's the game I'm thinking of... Are you sure it wasn't a midweek?

Off to www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk to check...

http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MatchCentre.asp?MatchID=19930114

Twas a saturday.

I was at the Peterborough game, which was televised as well - we were sat right at the front of the stand and can be clearly seen on the tv because my wife was wearing a bright purple coat (any chance of that one on video of the week....?). It's a game that will live forever in my memory. Swindon always looked like they would win it even though Peterborough twice took the lead. After finally going ahead and looking comfortable Hammond took over and gave away a really comical goal. What made it worse was that, after driving home, my wife discovered she'd lost her purse and we had to drive all the way back again to see if we could find it. Luckily we did - it was handed in at the police station.

He made one memorable double save in that game, nothing was going to beat him that day.

was that the game when he saved a sht with his chest outside the area?

Possibly.  He saved everything that day.

I was at that  match, remember it well.

Hammond was superman that day. Quite how West Ham didn't batter us is beyond me.

I seem to recall Chalkie having a hand in the free kick.

My mistake. I did go to that one though. I was thinking of Oldham in the Coca-Cola cup just before.

Me too. There was a flash of lightning and then we scored with a double deflected free kick. All very surreal.

Chalky put the ball through to Ling, and George Parris brought him down right at the edge of the area....

Something like that

And Chalky had just been bought off the bench.

Hammond's Swindon career for me consisted of those two games against Barnsley and West Ham on consecutive Saturdays when without doubt he won us 6 points. We were utterly, utterly battered in both games.

Sadly though, I will remember him more that abomination against Peterborough. And it wasn't a one off either. He did an almost identical thing against Torquay in the Cup. I for one was very please indeed when we finally got rid of him.

He also did this against Watford in 87, not as bad as the above two though....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlDaUc7TCAc&list=UUXnG5EoYURfRBs-lghHBTRg&index=3&feature=plcp

I saw a few good performances by Hammond.

I saw several dozen bad performances by Hammond.

Nowhere near as good as Digby. Glad when we got rid of him.

It was Ipswich (cup game)

That West Ham game is one of my favourite ever away games, thanks in no small measure to Hammond. Ironically, Peterborough would have also been one of my favourites had it not been ruined by Hammond.

Oh the irony ::)

Oh and one of the worst kickers I have ever seen as well.

Probably them as well, but he definitely did an 'air shot' against Torquay. He just could not kick to save his life.

It was Ipswich and Torquay where he air kicked, Torquay we were 9-0 or 9-1 up on aggregate at the time so didn't matter but Ipswich we were 1-1 in the cup replay. Amazing he was with us for 8 seasons....

I don't remember the Torquay one at all but I do very much remember Posh and Ipswich, terrible, cost us points and games with such poor kicking.

Jebus. I'd forgotten that one, that sums it up. Couldn't even kick it past the half way line out of his hands!

Ah right, can't remember that one. He did the Peterborough and Ipswich fuck ups within a week or so of each other.

It was the second leg and we'd turned them over 6-0 down there. I think the second leg was 3-2. I'm sure I'm not dreaming it.

You're not OST, i've got it on video somewhere, i'll try and dig it out some time and pop it on here...

Now I remember. That was a great away day (apart from getting wet). We were expecting double figures in the second leg but Torquay actually played really well.

The last time we were in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MUHOP3jZ9A

20 years ago yesterday...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbDPSVlQKWY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWww54JsVjU

Blimey.  Remember the abuse Jimmy Hill was getting (and the stones being lobbed up against the temporary commentary box above the Stratton Bank) like it was yesterday!  That was my first experience of a big Cup tie.

...and big ron in his sheepskin coat.  :)

About 41 mins in Motson says, "I wonder what would happen if FIFA banned the back pass, we'd have some football then."

I quite liked that comment and no doubt in future we'll hear similar comments regarding goal line technology and the like. As soon as Blatter hurries up and dies that is.

24 years ago yesterday... Swindon beat First Division Norwich to get into the Simod Cup Semi Finals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_np28sUOUpI

23 years ago this week...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBfpynM_iJ0&

Could you not have put a warning note on that 'This video may contain roger malone'

Look at that pitch, what a mess compared to now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFZGjJd3i8I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpl2_DSJSVM

Never had the chance to see him play for Swindon, but growing up even before my first Swindon game my favourite (Only I knew probably) song was OOO SHAUN TAYLOR OOO SHAUN TAYLOR due to the Swindon VHS's that my dad let me watch, I was hooked before my first game and watched them over and over... Singing it this season at Torquay just before the second half when him and Ling walked across the pitch was awesome for me...

The second of three videos this week - Swindon seal the Division Two championship with victory at Chesterfield in 1996:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCBwSEbyWsM

Next one Friday!

A Saturday afternoon without a Town game?
Can't wait to see Swindon at Wembley?
Why not watch these extended highlights of the 1990 Play-Off Final against Sunderland...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPzPI6U2jqE

Ace,weird to think i watched it live and can hardly remember the game now.
Gates and Gabbiadini were there main men,with Gabi getting shit from us and i cannot remember the reason why.
Alan Mac ran the show...that much i do remember.

I was thinking the same, Leefer. I don't remember any of the game at all. I do remember the red and white flat caps though, they were crap.

I was thinking the same but thought i'd sound senile. The only thing i can remember is missing the goal as i was having a wazz.

For many of us our first time at Wembley,and typically for us i suppose ended in heartache in the end anyway.

I couldnt remember us being so dominant.  Should have scored quite a few that day.  Great day out I remember.  Cant wait till sunday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSkrDcG1yBs

this is my video of the week!!!

We battered them. Can't remember much either - I do remember the masses of people on the M4 bridges on the way home though

Really, I always remember it being the most one sided 1-0 thrashing I've ever seen.

Maybe, as I was so nervous, over the years it has become a tight match in my mind.

I spent a fortune flying back from A football tour ( piss up ) in Jersey for this game. I can only remember bits and pieces from the game, probably due to a few days of Drinking in St Helier.

Now that is something I do remember. The welcome home party was unbelievable. It bought the feeling of the final whistle back once more. The after parties in old town were pretty good too, and I was only 13

I remember my old man driving to the game, and when we hit a traffic jam near the stadium, a load of town supporters came flying out of a pub and gave my old man a pint after they saw our scarfs in the back window!

I remember most of the Sunderland fans being pretty decent as well....

We got let down by 2 friends so had a pair of spare tickets. We sold them on the way in to a pair of Sunderland fans who had to sit next to us and see their team loose. I guess they got the last laugh but they were nice enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=104VvPy6Ewc

Shaun Close, Fitzroy Simpson and Dave Byrne all sent off as Swindon beat Plymouth 3-0 in 1989:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efc1pWW1ais

happy fucking days indeed!

tommy tynan....fitzroy...bodin...and fuck face maloane we all loved to hate...

The 1987 play-off finals from a Gillingham perspective - includes rare footage of the first leg match:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpEISOWnHe0

Well that was weird.  

Weren't moustaches marvellous in those days.

That was a personally a wonderful time of my life and a time, as a Swindon fan, a time that has yet to be equalled.

I remember watching the 2nd leg from the Town End rather than my normal haunt under the clock on the Stratton Bank. It was one of those games where we absolutely battered them but just couldn't score. Add the fact that Gills scored a screamer and it was looking like a really frustratingly crap night! I remember Coyne scoring a soft goal to give us a little hope but it wasn't until Charlie Henry's screamer hit the back of the net that we all started to believe! I remember that there were a couple of half chances after that, but nothing to write home about. I was gutted when the final whistle went as I thought that away goals counted double. (Information on Town was limited to minor coverage on HTV West only at that time!) It wasn't until after the final whistle that someone told me there would be a replay at Crystal Palace - My mood went from despair to ecstasy in a matter of seconds!

The replay at Palace was unbelievable. I got into lots of shit at work for taking the afternoon off to catch a bus to the game (Good old K&B Coaches!). All the way down we were all very, very nervous. Gills were fancied to win and it seemed that all the supporters we saw after getting off the motorway were dressed in blue and white.

After getting into the ground, my memories are of lots of celery being thrown, a few people being 'removed' because of it, along with yards and yards of red and white tape/bunting. When Chalky scored after a couple of minutes we were in ecstasy. About 5 mins later I remember a whole lot more fans arriving late after their coach driver had taken them to Crystal Palace athletics track. I was then stuck next to a bloke with an 80s moustache and terrible B.O.!

Cascarino and Sheringham were no threat at all and were played out of the game by a solid Town midfield and defence. Gills had  a glorious opportunity to equalise but squandered it. When Chalky got the 2nd we knew there was only one winner. It was unbelievable!

After the end of thr game, I remember the players coming back over to us and throwing their kit into the crowds. I remember Dave Bamber standing their in his pants with his hands on his hips staring up into the crowd motionless.

After leaving the ground, all we could see on the way home was a sea of red and white. Every pub full and every car with Town fans hanging out the windows and sun roof - And one driving slowly along the road with a scarf waving fan stood on the roof !

For me, it was a massively unexpected high - What a wonderful time that was!

Happy days....shit football but effective....we batterered teams into mistakes and nabbed the goals.

Haha that Gills miss at the end...oh dear.

It's Fraser Digby's birthday today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA6ZQHjh-gA

Just watched the first 40 minutes, brought back some fantastic memories (As well as some not so fantastic).

What struck me was how loud our fans were at Wembley, particularly against Leicester. 35,000 +, most obviously part time/daytrippers, yet nearly everyone joining in with the singing. No need for a 'singing' section then.

Macari, Ardiles, Hoddle, PdC has achieved what needed to be achieved in his first season, but he's got a long way to go, for me, to be ranked alongside those three.