Thetownend.com

To prevent that other 'whats it like being a town fan' thread getting clogged up with pox gumpf, I have started a new one here, to allow all the oldies to have a good old reminisce about old times but mostly to allow all of us speculate about the forthcoming match, not to mention throwing a few digital coins at one another now and then for old times sake.

A few topics for consideration -

Swindon v pox on the pitch  - who really has had the upper hand (easy one to start with)?
Speculation and predictions on forthcoming match
Swindon v Pox pwopa nawty boys off the pitch - who really has had the upper hand in the last 30 year?
Who has the best fans, home and away?
best atmosphere?
Who has sold the most season tickets (titter titter)?
Are Pox really our biggest rivals?
Who hates them the most - come on, really let some of that bile flow...

and any other pox related drivel, just to build up the suspense and tension for the next few weeks...enjoy.

i've always seen it as we beat them on the pitch they beat us off it.

Sorry Jimmy...worst idea for a thread ever.

I'm out.

Yes, sorry, you're right. God forbid that anyone would want to talk about anything related to the first game in ten years against (what some might claim are) our fiercest rivals.

Silly me.

As a young'un (or at least I like to think so!), I've only ever known the O*ford rivalry during my teens. I've always seen us as having an advantage over them on the pitch as results can backup. I've always wondered how the rivarly stemmed from as the Pox only joined the league in the 60's. Longer standing rivalries make more sense as historically we've played the likes of Rovers, City, Reading etc on a more regular basis. Who's to say (god forbid) that if we remain the bottom division that Cheltenham will become more of a rivalry?

It's early days yet, but I do fear that unless the team gels quickly the home derby may come round too quickly. Just hope I'm wrong. I'm looking forward to the games as I think we have missed some passion from the supporters in recent years.

I'm too young to have been to a Pox game. So for me I consider the Bristol teams to be bigger rivals.

Pox fans have always been Hometown Heroes. I've only remember them coming down in any numbers once, back in '95. Otherwise they've bought a few hundred down to the CG, to watch the most one sided derby in English football. I was bought up in the late 80's/early 90's when we would give the Pox a three goal pasting. I still remember the game at the Manor in 1990 when we were    2-0 down after 5 mins, only to turn them over 4-2. Until the McMahon years, we had won more games at the Manor than they had, and their record at at CG is shocking.

The reason the rivalry against Wovers over the last few years is due to the fact we've played them more often than the Pox over the last 10 years, but it was noticeable in the thread when the fixtures came out, it was noticable that the games against Wovers wasn't mentioned once.

Swindon Vs Pox who's got the upper hand on the pitch? I would say us in the league, but they r still goin on about our defeat to them at their place in the FA Cup and still bragging rights about it.

Swindon Vs Pox off the pitch, No idea, I don't go for the trouble myself, but early 80's yeah I heard Pox were supposed to have taken the TE, but an hour,45 mins maybe 30 mins before kick off, all before the nawty boys got in, everyone knows the nawty lot don't get into the TE 15-20 mins before KO, or used too.

Best home or away support? I think all away supporters r the best cause u all stick together and not split up like home games with some prefering different parts of the ground.

Are the Pox our biggest rivals? Depends on who's in our league at the time, some say Pox, some say Reading, some say the Bristols and guess depends on where u live in Wiltshire or other areas, I remember at one point our biggest rivals when we was in league1/championship was Plymouth!!!!

Who hates the Pox the most? Hmmmm, Wycome, Reading and us I would say

i don't think I have ever heard of Reading being described as our main rivals...ever. By a Swindon fan that is.

Personally I don't include Reading myself, just that they ain't too far from here soapy tit wank

Up until Banbury and Paddington they've always beat us off the pitch and we've done them on it. My old man used to go to every game from about '70-'90 so I've always been told Oxford are our biggest rivals due to the fact he grew up with it.

How old were you the last time we played a league game against O*ford?

I'd guess he can't have been much more than 6 or 7.

I've never seen us play oxford, i'm looking forward to it 8) I don't give a toss about all the outside the pitch nonsense, and anyone who does is embarrassing.

Yeah well my dad went to most games between 1970-2000 and he avoided all the 'trouble' because he's not that sort of guy.

He's from Chippenham and disliked Bristol City the most.

Reg, I was a young 19 the last time we played Oxford ;)

THIS

Very well said.  The only thing sadder than hooliganism is wannabe-hooliganism.

I rekon the Pox fans incessant internet wanking over possible trouble could yet result in ticket restrictions for them at the game. TVP and Wilts will be reviewing what is said on the internet, even normal fans forums.

I've been to every Town v Pox game since 1999 and haven't witnessed any real trouble. When I wore my town shirt, the worst thing that happened was I got spat at. A few rocks used to fly into the away end at the manor but nothing worse than that. I don't think there was any trouble at the FA cup game.

I'm sure if you went looking for trouble you would have found it, but I just enjoyed spanking them ON the pitch rather than off it.

On the pitch: Swindon, although considering our history we aint won much more than pox.
Off the pitch: Not sure now. When I was younger they were more aggressive and I always felt on my guard. I remember the smoke bomb match. On that night Swindon had some real nutters out but if I'm honest pox were even more mental. We have in my view held our own against them at home, at their place we have never really come close. Those who don't rate their lads are in for a surprise. Did they take the Town End, twice before 1976, but they never tried after that, and they would have been killed had they had a go. Nowadys our firms are quite close, but I'd give them the edge. But on the day, you never know.
Rivals: I hate pox. After them it's Bristol Shitty.
This season: got a feeling they are on the up after being crap for so long. However, they hardly win against us and I think their fans put too much pressure on them.
Young ones: too many people have forgotten about that scum lot down the A420. Arrogant low life, more white trash than our worse areas...trust me, I hate them with a passion.

[url width=456 height=496]http://thxforthe.info/lamm/300/FOR_SPARTA.jpg[/url]

I think my first Pox game was at home in the mid 90's. We won 4-1 I think, quickly followed by us beating Bristol City at home. Been to the Manor when Turbo scored a brace and the FA Cup game.

One of my worst experiences at football was the 95/96 game at the Manor.  I've tried to banish the memory but it keeps coming back.

There's a man who knows.  :nod:

This again. I really can't do justice to how much the violent morons on both sides are welcome to eachother, I just wish they could be armed, moved into a field out of town and disassociated from our club.

I've been to a fair few Swindon v pox games, both home and away, over the years and apart from getting a few choice items lobbed over the wall on the way to the cuckoo lane end, I've never seen any real trouble. Lots of posturing and chanting sure, but no real violence.

Perhaps I've just been lucky, or perhaps those that want it look for it? Either way, hopefully the guys that get off on going around mob handed looking for a fight can all meet up somewhere well away from the ground and batter the fuck out of each other.

The rest of us can concentrate on the football.

Only trouble I've been involved with was when a few Oxford fans piled into the queue at the Town End turnstiles-midweek game we drew 1-1,late 90's I think.

I remember that game (I think). Allison scored a late equaliser.

Oh, and this says all that needs to be said regarding on the pitch success:

Yeah-that one.

Weird, I could have sworn Allison scored a late equaliser, but according to this he scored first. Stupid memory failing.

http://swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MatchCentre.asp?MatchID=19960104

How many Town vs Oxford games has there been since 1999?
I'm still bitter about the way we lost to them in the FA cup in 2002, especially after the players we had at the time showed a huge lack of passion for the fixture and as it was BBC 1 I told all my Uni mates to watch it.

I remember that 1-1 game with The Chief scoring for us. I remember seeing my mates big brother the day after with a massive black eye he recieved by getting a kicking under the Gorse Hill bridges by a load of Oxford. He was like a bit of a hero to us growing up. After I saw that I remember thinking that this rivalry wasn't really about football.

I also remember Kevin Horlock scoring the winner in a 1-0 win which I thought was in the 95/96 promotion season? Also remember Mark Seagraves kicking lumps out of Joey Beauchamp for most of that game as well.

I remember being two down at Oxford and winning 5-2?...Fitzroy was quality that day,was getting in a sticky situation after the game and an old school friend of mine Darren Rochester saved my life,he didn't do anything but they took one look at him and thought twice.

Fucking hell leefer. I used to knock around with Rochester many years ago - used to join him for a lunchtime pint in the Mills during the week. Luckilly never got involved in some of his activities. He did time after a Gills away game. His sister was fucking scary as well. 

I will let you tell him that Chalkies!
Saw him at a couple of matches last season.

Haven't seen him for years.

Not sure how many it was. There was an LDV (or whatever it was called then) game at the county ground, which I think went to penalties. Must have been around 12-14 league games home and away.

4-2

I remember when shaun close scored against them 8)

Epic

I thought we haven't played them in the league in 10 years? That cup game was 9 seasons ago...so surely maximum of only 4 plus the cup game since 99?
I''m not having a go I'm just curious. I just remember being at Brentford away last season and all these young lads were singing the Oxford hate songs and my mate turned round to me and said 'how many of these have actually been to a Swindon vs Oxford game?' probably many of them had never.
Was the last time we played Oxford on a Sunday? Just have a memory of getting chased through an empty town centre by a police horse after we beat them 2-1?

92/93 home match was on a sunday i recall.

2-2 draw and magicroundabouts mate was playing for oxford

who's that mate.

Les Phillips?

Ding dong !

Yeah

not seen him for ages. speak to his son now and again

Same

The 2-4 at the Manor is my favourite game, especially after going 2-0 behind after four minutes. Best moment is probably Duncan's clenched-fist celebration right in front of the London Road.

I enjoy the rivalry and hate the violence and threat of violence. I remember running from a mass of Pox lads outside the Shrivy Road after a night game and got a good kicking at Didcot railway station the last time we lost to them at the Manor. Unfortunately, those who don't want violence are often the victims. Says a lot about how hard the hoolies are.

I recommend Pox fan Ed Horton's piece on the rivalry in the When Saturday Comes Special No 3 Late Tackle. Published in 1991 but still raises a smile.

This whole notion of "honour amongst hooligans", "never touching shirters" etc is bollocks. When the hooligan is fired up any target will do. I wish it wasn't so, but it is.

Did anyone go to the STFC v Pox friendly played at Witney Town' ground in the 80s (?). I think we won 1-0.

Coming from Melksham and working around Bath and Bristol, I've always hated City the most. They have the most arrogant over exagerated outlook (like a mini Leeds) and I can't fucking stand them. After getting relegated the last time we were there, I really hope we get a result next month. Having said that, for the last 6-10 years the only other club we all sing about is Oxford and you can't deny there's an extra edge against them. When we last played them at the Manor and Robbo popped up with a cracking brace, it was one of the best away days ever. Oxford is undoubtedly the biggest, fiercest rivalry although I do think a lot of that is perpetuated by them feeling inferior and us rising to that.

Well heres a view from the other end of the 420.
The teams,while Swindons success rate over Oxford cannot be denied,i would just point out that in the one and only time
that we had a successful side,we didnt play Swindon in about 7 years,(its hard to beat a team in the 4th tier of the football league when you are in the top tier).
But i would argue that in Oxfords short time in the league they have been FAR more successful than Swindon,3 years in the top flight to your 1,and the teams that Oxford have beaten.
Ive seen Oxford beat Man Utd 4 times,Arsenal twice and Chelsea more times than i can count(4-1 2-0 and 2-1 at Stamford bridge spring to mind).
Outside the ground,ive drunk in Swindon before every Oxford game since 77,commercial rd,old town,town centre almost everywhere and never hidden the fact that i/we were Oxford,dont remember Swindon ever drinking in Oxford city centre.

Number of fans,while Swindon have always been better supported when the team is playing well,i like to look at the numbers when the team are crap,i remember swindon in the 80s getting crowds of less then 2,000 when Oxford were getting crowds of over 3,000(we were also crap). Our support in the conference was magnificent,over 2,000 away at Kidderminster and 4,000 at Weymouth (it was august bank holiday weekend).
So ultimately in all aspects the 2 clubs are more similar tha most people will admit.

Two points come to mind.

• Your ground is stuck out on Oxford's periphery, nearly 5 miles from the city centre.  (And prior to that, even the Manor Ground was a good 2 miles from the centre.)  You'd be as well going for a few beers in Abingdon before the game in terms of accessibility.  I did walk to the Manor Ground once after a few beers in town before the 5-3 defeat in the early 1990s...and it took ages!
• From what I remember of my time living in Oxford, there were precious few Oxford fans in the centre before games either.  Oxford folk grumble persistently that the city centre is over-run with students - and they're right.  There's a real town/gown divide.  From my experience, most of the locals only go there when they really have to and usually give the place a wide berth.

It might be just me but is that something Oxford should be proud of? The fact that Oxford fans are able to drink in Swindon centre whilst Town fans supposedly can't in Oxford surely just means Swindon is a nicer more welcoming place whilst Oxford clearly has a greater % of knuckle dragging neanderthals making up it's population?

That and the fact that drinking in Oxford city centre before an Oxford game is akin a having a pint in Royal Wootten Bassett before a Swindon match.

You on a wind up? Remind me again why we haven't played you for the last 10 years?

that would be less than the 6 fingers on one hand then ;)


We have only got crowds of under 2,000 for 3 league games since I started going to watch Swindon in 1975.
Home to Darlington 1,681
Home to Mansfield 1,941
Home to Peterborough 1,876

All in the same crap season in Div 4 in 1984 when we finished 15th, our lowest ever league position since the renationalisation of the divisions in 1958.

I went to that game and the pre season friendly (someone's testimonial) at the Manor in 87. All those wannabe hoolies on the Oxford site and the fella saying Swindon have never drunk in Oxford must have stayed at home, been grounded by their mum, not born, or been on holiday for that one. We were with dozens of town fans drinking outside a pub less than half a mile from the ground. Didn't see or hear a thing from the Pox.

What is it with you deluded Pox.

As the saying goes "forever in our shadow" always will be....end of.

You completely contradict yourself there.

"Oxford get good attendances even when they are playing crap"

"In the conference we got 4,000" (Even though one league higher you get 7,000)

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

I know it doesn't seem believeable, but that's 4,000 at a Conference AWAY match. We took 4,000 to Weymouth, had over 50% of the support.

Another deluded inbred ::)

All this banter with our A420 shitheads is very stimulating.
There are many intelligent postings on here about the rivalry.
I think that I would like to lower the tone by mentioning what Northstand 12 referred to a little while back about Oxford being in the Cuckoo Lane.
Regardless of your views on life and football it was a very funny event. I don't think Swindon get it. I think we are more intense about this than them. It's not even a hooligan thing. Even normally law abiding Oxford fans become a bit mental for this one. Inevitably some will cross the line. Swindon fans are right, we are obsessed about this. It's tribal and both Swindon and the media are in for a shock. Everyone will come out for this one. This means more to us than them and their lack of passion is embarrassing for them. Bless them, they do try but they know they can’t compete and so they try and look smart. They can come out with their putdowns but at the end of the day they know our fans have more bollocks, this is what football is about and we have bossed Swindon since we first played them. Never forget we took the Town End. They must live with that.
But going back to the Cuckoo Lane story. Right in the middle of their support, right in the middle of all their songs and hatred for Oxford they shit their pants when Oxford made their presence felt. I don't care about whether this is pc or not, it happened, it was funny and it showed that Swindon will never match our intensity and passion. End of.

Cunt

With respect, for every 4000+ away following clubs like Swindon and Oxford take away you always get far more mediocre showings.... We don't brag about them ones though do we.

822 was the full attendance for Weymouth vs. Oxford on Tuesday night in 2008 (two clubs not a million miles apart), it shows that if the circumstances are not quite right, people just don't bother. That doesn't scream of an admirable fanbase to me.

For the record, I'm not bothered about the whipping out of dicks and seeing who his bigger and better on the terraces etc. I follow the football club and Town have an incredibly good statistical record on Oxford and that's all that matters to me whether 10,000 people are at the game or 4000.

Oxford were good in the 80's. Congratualtions. We are both long-standing members of the 'We are shit and struggle to admit it' club :)

I admit we're shit - but less shit than that lot

We'll never match your inferiority either. bwahahaha.

Agreed... Levels of shitness is a completely different subject.

I love how people are so set on the notion that football hooliganism is the be all and end all of fandom.

The 80's ended, you lost. Deal with it.

"Even normally law abiding Oxford fans go mental for this one"

Is incest not illegal in Chipping Norton anymore then?

Your average home support in the conference was 4,000, 3,000 less than you got last season. 4,000 isn't bad for a conference team I must admit, but don't go saying "we have good support even when we are playing crap" when you have a 2,000 to 3,000 attendance difference in two seasons.

As Costanza says, it doesn't really matter about the attendances, Swindon are a bigger and better club and that's all that really matters in the end.


(Insert silly face rolling on the floor laughing here)
It's a football match not a bloody war.

I hate most other clubs in the FL.  Could give you a reason why for most of them.

The most embarrassing thing about when we were in the Premiership is that our fans sang "We hate Oxfud".

Torquay?

Oh, back to the 'inbred' insults again then are we? How original. Those years in the conference really have made your fans a bunch of rough twats, or maybe you were before? Probably the latter. Oxford will always be in Swindon's shadow and try fact you are referring back to childish insults, attendances and thinking the rivalry as a battle not a football match just shows how much you lot can't face the facts.

Some Manc Torquay 'fans' started on me after a match at Plainmoor a few years back. I hate them as a result of that.

You aint got me down as one of them have you?  :suicide:
Couldnt agree more with you

Fair, Barnet?

heady days, eh - hope they return soon for you

It's hair, not a fucking football club.

Which just further hammers home the point about Pox's inferiority.

For me it's another season of trying to get out of the league we find ourselves in, our friends from up the road must be really excited about visiting some real grounds with stands on all four sides ! Giving it the big one might of impressed me when I was a teenager but any true supporter will be more concerned by what happens not only in our two games but the whole season. Hope ours is a one season stop over, I wonder if the warriors from Oxford have given the football much thought? To busy worrying about off field matters, see you there !

It's all they know judging by their forum. Mind you, apart from one brief spell in Div 1, what else to do they have to crow about football wise?

I thought this was a quite marvellous post by a Plymouth fan which I saw on The Football Forum:

The thing that matters is the football,not if some morons went in the other teams stand or not. Who gives a fuck? So Oxford have historically had a few more idiots than us?fucking well done for that.
2 similar sized clubs whatever each other may say. Oxford just hate us so much as nobody else takes any notice of them. A pretty insignificant club who have not done anything for years.
At least we get attention from a few clubs i suppose.

I don't read the Oxford forums so I don't see the Swindon equivalents who post such *shudder* banter (the modern term for being a knobhead). However, that Argyle summary describes the stuff I have unfortunately read on here, Twitter etc perfectly.

I agree with arriba's words.

They robbed us for 70 grand for Elliott Benyon.  They beats us in 1984.  Their badge is stupid.

In fairness I did say "most"

From what I've seen very few Swindon fans post on Oxford forums compared to how many Oxford fans post on Swindon forums. As has been mentioned, they take the rivalry much more seriously than we do, on the Oxford forum you couldn't go a few threads without seeing Swindon mentioned, on here you could go days without Oxford being mentioned (often the Oxford fans end up mentioning themselves, much like this thread).

What is this Conference thing that you speak of? I can't recall ever being there.

Oi. I live in Chipping Norton!

This should be the Oxford English Dictionary description.

'They can come out with their putdowns but at the end of the day they know our fans have more bollocks, this is what football is about and we have bossed Swindon since we first played them. Never forget we took the Town End.'

Silly me, I always thought football was about 2 teams of 11 trying to score more goals than the opposition.

I wish I had known the real reason and not wasted the last 32 years of my life on this fake football I go and watch.

I feel foolish :(

I'm not sure how popular this post will be but I find the more intense/passionate the support the less quality of life the support base actually has.  Which explains why the geordies always take football as a matter of life and death, it was their release from the daily grind, football gave them that utopia moment on the terraces that they never got at home or work. 

Translate that to Swindon Oxford, in my experience the Oxford lot are more prone to show their allegiance to the cause through violence and have this unshakable hatred of Swindon.  Swindon on the other hand treat Oxford with the contempt they deserve, we hope they continue to embarrass themselves in everything they do, but when it comes down to it I don't believe in the support as a whole we have that same level of hatred for them.  Perhaps it's because our support comes from a broader area, Melksham STFC fans are more likely to bump into cocky City or knuckle dragging Rovers fans than a some pesky Oxford supporter.  Appreciate our Oxfordshire supporters do have this daily STFC/OUFC contact and that's where the rivalry truly exists.

Not sure what the point of this post actually is now, rambling for the sake of it.  In summary my point, I think is, the average Oxford supporter is a low life, who takes football far too seriously due to social short comings.  Now there's a nice generalisation for you first thing in the morning.

Wish I had time to construct this the way I'm actually thinking it in my head, may have to give it another go later.

Pretty cringeworthy stuff, there are quite a few who like to big themselves up. Looking forward to going to their place, if it's a sell out can I take a crate and watch over the fence?  How tall is the fence, 5ft or 6ft panels?

That makes more sense than you think it does, janaage :)

If the laddie who wrote 'never forget we took the town end, they have to live with that' is over, say,  25....that really is pretty sad.

its one thing old boys exchanging stories about the old days (no probs with that), but to put it in a manner that suggests its one of the most important things that has happened in your life, well (echoing what janaage said) your life must be pretty empty.

Have to say I'm quite concerned for them.  God forbid, what happens if (whisper it quietly) we actually beat them on Aug 21st?  A large number of them have worked themselves up in to such a tizzy over this that I'm predicting

(a) a mass spontaneous combustion on the Stratton Bank at full time; followed by
(b) Samurai-style suicides across the Blackbird Leys, Cowley and Barton estates in the following days.

Ardiles - I didn't think this thread was for you? Welcome back - you just cant help yourself can you ;-)

I succumbed.

You win.

You completely contradict yourself there.

"Oxford get good attendances even when they are playing crap"

"In the conference we got 4,000" (Even though one league higher you get 7,000)
 
 
 
Actually we averaged 6,600 and had 11,000 against Woking (less than a hundred away fans)
As previously posted the 4,000 was the away following at Weymouth.
Im not interested in "my dads bigger than your dad" posts,i was just replying to the original post of Why Swindon is better
than Oxford and i was posting a counter view.
What does make me laugh is people on here slagging off the Kassam for having only 3 stands,my opinion, id rather have 3 good stands than 1 good stand,1 40 year old stand that looks its age, 1 stand with seats bolted onto shallow terracing and a crap view(this your own fans opinion)and a pylon coming through the roof and 1 open end that should have been condemned years ago.
How many times will the Stratton bank be open this season,once or twice? so while having a fence behind one end is i admit pathetic,seeing a totally empty end isnt much better.

Each to their own but at least our ground has character.

You would be foolish to argue the same about the Kassam. At least Millwall managed to finish their ground which is basically the same as yours.

 :zzz: :zzz: :zzz: :zzz: :zzz:

Just my ground is better than your ground posts then eh? Your ground is like an open air Lidl. Each Oxford fan I know admits that having 3 stands is an embarrassment and, I suspect, deep down you know it too.

Quite deep down in his actual post in fact...

Your average home attendance in all of your conference seasons was around 4,000. You can't say that you have good attendances when you are playing crap when the attendance difference in two leagues was 3,000.

I'd rather have the County Ground, with all it's character, than three soulless identical stands.

** I think "Talk" should replace this word.

I'll be in the minority here i think but i prefer the Kassam to our tired old ground.
The townend is a shit hole, the arkells is a pigeon shit stained eyesore,The stratton bank well it's a redundant old terrace with shitty saets bolted on.
The only stand of any note is the DRS which is ok. Sooner it gets redeveloped the better

Conversely I'd much rather keep our tired old ground than build a Kassam stadium.

I realise that redevelopment will come and is needed. But I rather we did it right or not at all.

Precisely.  Oxford botched their redevelopment and are still paying the price.  The biggest mistake was the site which, admittedly, they had little choice over given the historical significance of Oxford.  The Kassam is built at the arse end of the city on a low grade plot of land that no-one else wanted.  Next to the sewerage plant.  It would kill me if we ever went down that route.

Agree with Arriba to an extent.  The County Ground is long overdue its overhaul.  (It was ripe for a rebuild at least 10 years ago, in my view.)  But that's one of the two aces in our pack...we still have this to look forward to and benefit from.  The other ace is that we already have the most important detail right: the location.  A mile or so from the centre of town, near lots of pubs, train station etc...just as it should be.

What surprises me massivley, is that in football circles it's pretty well known that Swindon are in DIRE financial situation. With PAYE and VAT man problems likely to appear around November time.


Read more: http://yellowsforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=3017#ixzz1SBSR2YFs


...the latest from our yellow brethren...

Yep, dire financial situation, spending six figure sums on strikers. I think you'll find that Ridsdale's at Plymouth, not Swindon.

PROTEST BEHIND THE ARKELLS!!!

The wool has finally been pulled from my eyes!

They seem a confident bunch based on this thread and a lot think we are going to have a terrible season.

http://yellowsforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=3280&page=1

Interesting prediction from don't wannagohome who has us finishing both 6th and 10th!

That Ricky Otto chap appears to have a rather large chip on his shoulder.

...and complaining that we think we're so superior.

Well, er...yes.  (Sorry, but how else are we meant to respond to that?!)

The way we're being run is a shambles... It's a circus down here at the moment!!!

Do that lot just make shit up for effect?

they do appear to 'create' less than intelligent Swindon fans in order to fuel the debate, hatred, tension etc...bunch of fecking retrards.

To be fair, someone did say that that forum is the Oxford equivalent of the Adver site (thisis...).  There is another site somewhere with less knuckle-dragging involved, but the post count is a lot lower.

They're not alone. quite a few other fans don't fancy our chances.

Not sure what that's based on, but does seem odd. I guess we were bottom and utter dross last year, and many fans won't know the extent of our rebuild in the summer.

For what it's worth, I haven't got the first idea how we'll do next year either.  You only have to remember the consensus on here this time last year which (apart from Reg) appeared to be that we would be there or thereabouts and hopefully worth a play off place again.  We couldn't have been more wrong.  Trying to guess how we might do when there are even more unknowns out there is a mug's game.

All I would say is that over time, I expect that our set up, relatively strong fanbase (for the division) and financial stability will tell.  A bounce back season like we had in 2006/07 would be good, but we'll not know whether that's feasible or not until October.

I agree with all that Mr Ardiles - even more so given the nature of our squad this season and the fact our manager has never managed... my bemusement was based more on the fact that teams coming down are usually considered among the teams you might fancy to have a good season.

But a lot of fans of other clubs appear to have completely written us off, which I just thought was a bit odd.

Agree with that too.  Time will tell...

Here's hoping they don't know something we're unaware of!!

Personally, I think we'll have a decent season, but I think it will be tough. There are up to eight teams capable of finishing top three on the basis of current squads.

Gonna be tricky.

I think our aim should be the play offs. It's gonna be hard, no doubt about it. This looks to be one of the more competetive league two seasons in a while.

Whats the point in aiming for second best?

That Plymouth post cracked me up, so true. The Pox dont really know their place in the Football League anymore, going to take them a while to find some perspective.

Weren't you expecting us to be relegated last week?

I'd love to think we're gonna steam roller everyone like we did at the start of the last time we were down here... hell, maybe we will. But there are about 6 teams that could probably stake a claim for a top 3 spot... so it's gonna be tricky.

Still got to be the aim though hasnt it? Anything else is just pure bollocks.

Correct.  Aim for top spot only !!!!!

http://forums.electronicarts.co.uk/real-football/373861-all-time-english-league-attendance-records.html

Somewhat amused to see us behind Bristol Rovers, mind.

The attendances for City and Rovers given the size and catchment etc of the city is very poor (in my opinion).

Poxford scraped out a 1-1 draw against an American youth side. Pathetic.

After Rix and Alsop, I guess they have to look abroad, gary glitter-style to find any youth sides to play

You're bananas! :banana:

Pre season games mean nothing.

Rubbish. We were unbeaten during our 2010 pre-season...

How long have you been waiting to use that?

Although statistics never tell the whole story ( in terms of attendance: years in league, size of ground, periods in higher divisions ect), your link does add weight to the argument that both Oxford and Swindon are about the same size. I have always thought of us being similar in size. As an Oxford fan I am a bit embarrassed by some of the posts on the main Oxford forum. However, it is always the same few who post the over the top stuff about violence etc. Most posters are fine and don't bother posting in those threads. I love the rivalry but prefer friendly banter to fists!

That's no good, BLT! Where's your passion?!

Passion....obviously there is and healthy too.

Having attended St Birinus school in Didcot where only a few of us had brains to follow Swindon, we were always aware of the fuckwits that followed the pox. William Porter come home all is forgiven !!! 

However, we all joined together to try and knock shit out of the pricks that went to Segbury (Wantage) and the schools in Abingdon, Newbury and Wallingford. True this was in the form of playing football, rugby and cricket

I can't remember running from the London Road end where we normally went neither when being herded into the Cockoo lane ends.

I do remember being there when the wall / fence broke in the London Road and many people were injured. I think it was against Manchester United.

For the record, I worked in Cowley between 1979 to 1983 and my car always had a Swindon speedway sun shade banner across the windscreen also a STFC badge proudly displayed. Never had any incidents except for a few laughs with the local natives.   

Competition is healthy and wish I could join you in August.

Fuck I hate Oxford.....soapy tit wank
 

It's a little known fact that the scum, hold the dubious record of having the lowest attendance for a post war fixture v ManUre.....a bit over 8,000 at the Manor Ground in 1988.

Will Porter !!! (Remember him).

Keith Collins and all.

Pity you could not join us during the "big game" - Maybe it's just you and me who put so much into this because of our Didcot / Birinus Roots.

One more for you. Remember Mr Such the Teacher (English I believe) Passes away at 93 last week. (You may have known his Son Robin).

Would be great to have you sitting next to me for the big one NZ.

I remember an English teacher at St Joes in Swindon called Mr Such - a real prick - probably woujld be about the right age. 

You have no knowledge of Oxford's opposition, the strength of Oxford's team, whether the result in any way reflected play, yet you feel able to comment. You're the sort of person who should never be called for jury service - you'd assume the defendant was guilty because the police arrested them. Pathetic. Actually that's unfair. Shallow, stupid AND pathetic. That's better.

.... but also amazingly funny! Maybe I under-estimated you?

Let it all out won't you Eric.

 :crash:

Meh.

Roll on 21st August and then we can shut the cunts up

Even if he was all these things, he'd still not be a Scummer. He could always learn to be less shallow, less stupid and less pathetic but you'll always be a yellow belly.

There you go Eric, I removed the contentious stuff from his post. HTH.

Actually, "Yellow Belly" refers to a native of Lincolnshire. So there.

It's cheaper than therapy.

Yep. All you need do is beat Oxford on the 21st and you'll never hear from me again. No siree.

Hmmm .... I like to reply to all posts directed at me - it's only polite - but I find I have nothing to say to that.

What's your opinion on our 2 wins so far, Surrey?

Sorry Benz, not really been following too closely.

Good, then fu@k off

Ah .... I wondered when the intelligent one of the bunch would turn up. Welcome.

No intelligence needed for you.  I am just replying to your quote "Yep. All you need do is beat Oxford on the 21st and you'll never hear from me again. No siree."

If you don't like it then that's your problem. 

And I was pointing out the obvious fact that you're clearly not as intelligent as other posters on this thread. (Adopts the voice of a 12 year old girl) If you don't like it then that's your problem.

Roll on Aug 21st when we see the back of this one....

Eric's like the dog shit you can't get off your shoe.

I stink. Get used to it.

I like you Eric. I'll happily buy you a pint in the County Ground Hotel before the game on the 21st. Wear your O*ford shirt just so I know its you ;)

Nah he'll probably take CGH all on his own. I don't know if you're brave or stupid, Batch!

I'm alright, I'm the one buying him the pint. Its the others I feel sorry for.

He probably won't be at match or even in Swindon !

Well I hope you can live with yourself. He will rain down upon them with great vengeance and furious anger.

I heard he was going to take the Town End

You can make a deluded statement like that from a single post.

What a true prick you are!

We have to put up with this trip until you go back to school then.

Arrrgh it's still on there

Meh, I hate poxford fc, not the city of Oxford, or the people who live there. I don't even 'hate' their supporters. Sure, they've got fans who are as pathetic and mindless as some of our own, but all clubs have got them.

I desperately want to beat them and then I want to take the piss mercilessly, but that's about it.

Footballing rivalry? Too fucking right! Anything else? I've got enough people I know to hate, I don't need anymore.

They've done it evey time they've played us - old news. They're hard, we're chicken shit. Lets move on.

I'd happily smack one of the fuckers if they came looking for it. Had a lot of grief from these cunts at England games many moons ago. We were well outnumbered and they were giving us some real shit until fans of other clubs saw what was going on and the Scummers legged it. I've always had a soft spot for Man City since. 

Really sorry if I got under your skin. That wasn't my intention at all.

Good one about going back to school though. Might save that and use it at the appropriate moment.

I like you Eric.If you supported anyone else i feel we could of had something.

Let him in the lounge Mods.

Must say I was genuinely scared reading this. "Smack one". "Fuckers". "Looking for it". "Grief from these cunts". "Well outnumbered". "Giving us some real shit". "Fans of other clubs". "Scummers legged it". "Soft spot for Man City".

Reads like the original screenplay for "Green Street".

Would you protect me from the ruthless violence of "Wild Man Chalkie", the heartless taunts of "Only Me" (I'm a prick, you know) and the endless righteousness of Benz / Benny? If so, I'd happily buy you a pint in the lounge before smashing your head, sorry, fucking head, in and reducing you to a quivering mulch with my caustic wit.

I would welcome you into my bossom allowing you to weep at the error of your ways.

Ha! You said "bossom". That's rude.

Is that a misspelling of bosom or bottom?

Kept my finger on the s for too long. Well spotted

Get a life.

I've got one that I enjoy very much. How about you, Spence?

But you keep a good balance by supporting oxford  :)

Channel 4 investigative program on now just said the Pox were one of the clubs up for sale.

Indeed. Feet on the ground and all that.

Bit low brow for me. I'm watching University Challenge. Questions a bit easy tonight though.

Think they've been up for sale for quite some time....the fella who owns it, is more interested in Rugby League.

Its a shame that Ken Bates and Peter Risdale own clubs already :D

Maybe Kassam's interested again?