Thetownend.com

Draw is Monday 7pm.

We are no. 43

What date do these games get played?

Week before the City game.

2 weeks tomorrow?

I heard that the BBC is focussing more on the FA Cup this year. The draw is live on BBC2 FYI.

Apparently as well as the live matches, there will be a super sunday where they show 1 live game and then the goals as they go in from the other 7 matches.

What's the chances we get City the week before the league game!

My birthday weekend.

The gods will decide it will be Macc away again..

The Pox at home and give them an absolute thrashing hopefully on the TV.

 I've come to dread the FA Cup....up until about 8 or 9 years ago, we had a somewhat bizarre record of being in the top ten teams all time for % winning of games since our first effort v Watford in 1886.

 In other words, we tended to win a few early round games, before getting knocked out...a record which although it stuttered a bit kept going through the 80's into the 90's...all of which, meant we could generally be relied on to win a few up until the 00's.

Aside from the PdC season...our recent record has been terrible....it's kind of coincided with the status of the competition being diminished.

It must be difficult for the younger fan to appreciate the buzz a decent cup run generated......crowds of 20,000+ at the CG up until the 80's when capacity was reduced.

The FA Cup lost its credibility and soul the year they let those cunts from Manchester skip it to play in a poxy tournament

Will never ever forget the FA Cup 4th round game in 79/80 vs Spurs when 26,000 (and it looked and felt like more) were wedged into the County Ground for a 0-0 draw against a team that had Hoddle, Ardiles & Villa playing in, when Spurs set fire to the programme sellers kiosk on the bank.

But as you state recently apart from under PdC its been pretty sparse picking in the FA Cup with some awful 1st and 2nd round defeats against lowly opposition.

Histon away.......

1-0 up in the replay until 2 Gerry Armstrong goals in the last 7 minutes. Fucker!

Yep in front of 46,700 that night too with around 8,000 Town fans there.

I was there it was way more than the reported attendance.

I was there also, probably our worst ever performance.

Brighton away in the same week would give that game a run for it's money.

Malpas' last two games. Michael Timlin at left back. Shudder.

It was the only time I have felt jammed in at the CG you couldn't move an inch, it wasn't like that for the Wolves game that year which had the same attendance.

Home to Stevenage must rival it close too.

I would agree from what I heard, but I saw enough at Histon to know the 40 minute journey to Brighton was a waste and stayed at home thank god.

I went to both. I'm a sucker for punishment.

Dunno, I was at the wolves game in the TE as well and it was so rammed I lost my girlfriends purse, because I couldn't get my hand in my pocket. It was still there after everyone had left, sat there amongst the pissy newspapers :)

Hope not (drawing them, I'm happy with thrashing the bastards), as I'm away for the weekend & will miss it.

The thing I most remember about that game was the Punch Up in the Town End before the game.

Two Spurs fans stick in my memory, the first was this Fucking Huge (Fat) Skinhead, and the other was some nutter wearing Pyjamas.

There was a group of about 6 of us at the back (in the middle) of the Town End, when the Spurs fans charged across the TE. They then told us to get out, to which one of our chaps decided to tell them to "Fuck Right Off".  They then proceeded to kick us around the Town End for a few minutes.

Oh the Joys of being a Teenage football fan in the 70/80's :)

Me too, and yes it was one of our all-time lows.

I had been to Histon the season before, to watch them play Chippenham in the last game of the season.
The winner won the league & the loser went into the play-offs.

Histon won that day (2-1 I think), but Chippenham put up more of a fight than Town did :(

Fantastic photo of that game in the sponsor suite - North Stand.
Remember it well.
Not as good though as the Arsenal game.
As for your avatar...... Great player.
Spent 15 mins last season with the legend recalling all of those games.
One of my favourite moments. A wonderful Guy.

I think the Arsenal game was worse in the Town End, at least for Spurs & Wolves the games were all ticket.

For Arsenal anyone that turned up was let in.  It was an awesome night though :)

Is that a euphemism?

He has been my favourite Town player since the winning goal against Arsenal.
It was my 16th Birthday & from that day I always said if I had a son he would be named Andrew.
(Thank Fuck it wasn't Iffy Onoura as I don't think the Mrs would have been as happy).

Have only met him a couple of times, but always seemed a thoroughly nice fellow.
I found the programme from his Testimonial game the other day.

almost the same weekend every year for fuck sake

Have to say probably my joint favourite of all time.
Kammy being the other (due to my Pompey roots).
Majority would probably have gone with Mayes but Rowland stuck around and there was something magical about him, no thrills or spills but made the best out of everything.
My mate used to drink with him and he introduced me last season as "one of his biggest fans" he was so humble and appreciative which made the experience even better.
Got talking about those great times and as said one of the best moments following Swindon.
Like you I was a Town ender, probably the same age.
It was an adventure back then, a kind of "dare" coming in on the Didcot train but an adventure and Al, kids love adventures. As an adult though you never forget.
Andy, Andy Rowland.

If I remember rightly, one of Armstrongs goals was a complete fluke, hit him just below the kneecap and looped in.

I still love the FA Cup, including the Preliminary rounds for non-league, always look out for a local midweek reply under lights, normally good crowd and atmosphere.

Home against non-league also great for the early rounds.

I would agree the Arsenal game was my all time fave game too, that was a few weeks before my 14th birthday and for a teenager it was scary times in the bigger games, yes I remember the Spuds fan in the pyjamas kicking off too but there were so many people in the Town End you couldn't move away from it, (well I was 14 then!).

Great times though.

Interesting stat. I just checked and it appears we still are in the top ten win % in the FA Cup, coming in at 10 with 48.3%.

Even more interesting, we have the lowest draw % of current league teams - only 7 non-league/folded teams are lower.

Though that doesn't include teams that have played under 60 games.

I'm surprised we're still there....used to be about 7th

Eastleigh away please.

Scum away please

Concord rangers at home please

The Draw Numbers for the 1st round -

1 Accrington Stanley
2 AFC Wimbledon
3 Barnsley
4 Bradford City
5 Bristol City
6 Burton Albion
7 Bury
8 Cambridge United
9 Carlisle United
10 Cheltenham Town
11 Chesterfield
12 Colchester United
13 Coventry City
14 Crawley Town
15 Crewe Alexandra
16 Dagenham & Redbridge
17 Doncaster Rovers
18 Exeter City
19 Fleetwood Town
20 Gillingham
21 Hartlepool United
22 Leyton Orient
23 Luton Town
24 Mansfield Town
25 Franchise
26 Morecambe
27 Newport County
28 Northampton Town
29 Notts County
30 Oldham Athletic
31 Oxford United
32 Peterborough United
33 Plymouth Argyle
34 Port Vale
35 Portsmouth
36 Preston North End
37 Rochdale
38 Scunthorpe United
39 Sheffield United
40 Shrewsbury Town
41 Southend United
42 Stevenage
43 Swindon Town
44 Tranmere Rovers
45 Walsall
46 Wycombe Wanderers
47 Yeovil Town
48 York City
49 Spennymoor Town Or AFC Telford United
50 AFC Fylde
51 Grimsby Town
52 Norton United Or Shildon
53 Warrington Town
54 Alfreton Town Or Lincoln City
55 Macclesfield Town Or Wrexham
56 Chorley Or FC Halifax Town
57 Altrincham
58 Blyth Spartans
59 Chester
60 Gateshead
61 Tamworth Or Southport
62 Bristol Rovers
63 East Thurrock United
64 Forest Green Rovers
65 Dartford
66 Maidstone United
67 Gosport Borough
68 Weston Super Mare
69 Eastbourne Borough Or Dover Athletic
70 Weymouth Or Braintree Town
71 Worcester City Or Greenwich Borough
72 Canvey Island Or Havant & Waterlooville
73 Concord Rangers
74 Basingstoke Town Or Harrow Borough
75 Aldershot Town
76 Eastleigh
77 Bromley
78 Chelmsford City Or Barnet
79 Nuneaton Town Or Hemel Hempstead Town
80 Woking

It's going to be City I tells ya!

Weston away

'You got no fans!'.......hang on....no that was Wealdstone.

Cambridge away

Home or away.....if only.

Somewhere down south, enough norvern away games as is
Prefer someone non league too

Southern non league side away is what I want.

Blyth or Gateshead away for a night out in Newcastle after? Forest Green Away would be pretty good for a cup game. Weymouth if they get through would be decent, Basingstoke as well. No doubt we'll get fucking Crawley at home or something equally as shit.

Anyone but fucking Macclesfield.

From a selfish perspective I hope we get a piss easy draw at home as I am going to West Ham v Villa on the 8th so won't be able to go to whatever game it is.

Or a non-league London based side of which the game moved to a Monday evening for TV.

Would have liked Bath City away just so I can walk down to it, but unfortunately they managed to lose 7-1 to East Thurrock United (from the Ryman League) at the weekend - a bit humiliating.

The chances of a decent draw from that lot are long odds.  We don't want anyone from Div 3....very little novelty in Div 4, and likely to lose to a half decent non league outfit.

Weymouth away would be ace, but can't see them beating Braintree, who are decent Conference level. In fact Braintree would be horrible...I once passed through Braintree many years ago hitching to a festival near Clacton on the east coast, a kind Braintree dweller gave me a lift as far as their humble town.  I was taken by the name, but there seemed little else to distinguish it.  Beating us in the FA Cup would probably be the biggest thing to happen there since the revolt of Boudicca's Iceni.

Weston away would be mad...bring it on.

Of the others....there are a clutch of away games which could be fun, especially for ground collectors...

Norton or Shildon.....sounds good, there's lots of Nortons about no idea where this one is, but Shildon is a historic railway place, in fact its works are older than ours.

Similarly Blyth Spartans, are a great non league name....a trip to Blyth in November  :)

Concord Rangers....got to love the name, know nothing about them would be good to have to find out.

AFC Fylde...I always thought Fylde was an egg chasing club, famous for players like Bill Beaumont and Roger Uttley, before it all turned pro.

Gosport Borough or Worcester would be OKish.

Hope we get Bromley away, I might actually get to see the game this time if we do...

Bristol Rovers perhaps :)

 :clap:

This was my hope! I could walk to it, too! Not to mention it being my birthday weekend so a piss-up would have been on the cards! (and probably still is  :beers:)

Yes, we are just that bad.

We've lost our last 3 cup games v non league sides, all in this decade. It had previously taken us 55 years since our first entry into R1 proper to achieve that particular feat.  :(

A statistic that would have zero effect on the players if we were to play a non-league side

I would like to think that seeing as how Cooper and a few of the players were around for last season's humiliation, that statistic might motivate them to try a bit harder....

Hopefully not too many of our loan players will be refused permission  to play

(http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab225/mark_woolhouse/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20141027_161424_zps0db7d4b6.jpg)

Fuck. I'd forgotten about Burton

Do you mean Boston? :)

Told you  I'd forgotten!

:D actually I had blanked out that result too.

Looks so much better here. It looked horrifically stretched & blurry on Twitter.

(Designer with OCD  :bye:)

You know it's going to be fucking Macclesfield - wankers!

I'm still having nightmares about last year's game.

I'm in London that weekend so an away game in the South East would be ideal.

Cheltenham away

Cheltenham away. Meh.

Yawn.

Pikeys get Shitty

*shudder*

That night at Waddon Road under Kingy is something I can't shake off

Well it's not non league and its not oop north.

Probably give it a miss but it might be good piss up trip on train?

Would've been easy if I was in Bristol that weekend.

Quelle surprise.

 ::)

Ace draw....chance for an unlikely historic win, yet to see us win there in about 4 or 5 visits...easy to get to....and not Div 3 or non league....will settle for this.

That's a great tie.  (Isn't it?  A lot of you seem pretty indifferent.)

What does their away end hold?

Fans

Not a 'derby' as such.  (Traditional non-League side; not Oxford, Bristol etc.)  But it's still a local away day.  And winnable.  Could have been so much worse.

That was truly awful.

Not bad, as has been said already it could have been much worse. Pikeys away for example

Apolgees!

Never bothered to go to Num before.

Is it walkable from train station to ground

What do you mean not a derby....it's our nearest opponent?  Oxford are a traditional non league side in my book.

The fact we've never won there does stick in my craw a bit...

hell no

If you like walking...not exactly near.

500 max id guess, it's quite small although being the cup they might be able to allocate some of the side stand as well.

So is it tiffin in town and taxi job or are there any decent boozers near the ground

there is a bus from the train  station that goes pretty much to the ground

They have to offer a certain % of capacity for FA Cup ties, I think

We'll probably have to dig out a third kit for this as well, with them playing in red and white stripes.

Normally around 25%, so about 1200.

last few times to was about 1100 behind the goal and 500 or so in the side stand

Not bad, although last time I went to Cheltenham we lost...under David Byrne. I think that may have been one of the legendary Yinka Casal's games...he went down injured about five times. We got a red too, can't remember who.

Bogey fuckers, Cheltenham

Offering 15% seems to be the norm, but that figure can be varied under exceptional circumstances.  Sadly, Whaddon Road only holds 7,000 so it's going to be around 1,000 tickets max for us.  Season ticket holders alone would comfortably outsell that allocation, I would imagine.

I went there once but can't remember the result. I think there was some people in ponchos and sombreros.

Ah no, looked it up, they had the man sent off and still won 2-0 - I remember Shane Higgs playing like Buffon

And we are always shite at Cheltenham
 Bad bad draw.

Be interesting to see if this is a Saturday 3pm kick off as Forest Green drew Scunthorpe so can't see Glos Police wanting to cover a derby game and FGR at the same time. Of course FGR might get on TV as non league team doing well vs a struggling League 1 side

I disagree...

Given their gates, we'll be able to take as many as we want. Been there 3 times and plenty Town in home ends.

Last time I went to Cheltenham the wife threw her ring back at me.

Maybe I should go again.

Wow!!

I just had to look up their gates to see what you mean.  (They're averaging 2,500 if you're interested.)

That's OK, then.  Anyone who wants to go will be able to.

Another thing I really don't like about Cheltnum is that they're so called nickname is Robins, like us.  Have you ever seen a robin with reed and white stripes....thought not, cunts. Do Sunderland, Soton or Blades call themselves robins?  No because it's ridiculous.

So is having a bowling green in front of your ground....

The BBC write up on the first round cup draw completely overlooks the fact our tie is a first round 'Derby' game which would suggest we're not being considered for one of the TV games.

How dare they! There are several far more interesting draws than ours.

Fond memories of going to the 'nam away a few years back with Jay o'haitchen. Was easily the best and funniest train journey ive ever had. Getting some poor posh bird to read out the problems from Dear Deirdre.

Never ever seen us beat them though :(

So when do we hear for sure that the game is/is not being moved for TV?

This is important.  I have lodgings within walking distance of the ground.

In the next day or so.

1-0 Cheltenham. DaVita.

Rematch. FB invite sent.

Never been, so hopefully there will be some cheap tickets on the go and we'll take over 1k!

Should easily top 1K. We usually do!

Cheltenham are like a southern Macclesfield.

Both essentially non league bogey teams.

Be very afraid - wont stop me going, mind!

Hazlewoods Stand
 Adult - £23
 Over-65, Disabled - £17
 Under-18 - £9

Read more at http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/article/facupdetailsconfirmed-2047186.aspx#FWwhMfVY61kBaW4G.99

£23  :eek:

No wonder they have no fans

Not on sale yet though, suppose we have to wait for BT sport to cherry pick the two games they having.
Hope its not one of the 8 BBC are moving to the sunday

Edit
Cheltenham tweet
Cheltenham Town's FA Cup first round home tie against Swindon Town has been confirmed for Saturday, November 8 (3pm kick-off) #ctfc

23quid for 1st round of fa cup :eek:

Stupid cunts, that will put off quite a few

As FA Cup prices are agreed between the clubs, I'd be interested to know which party (or both?) insisted on charging that amount.

Fuck that! Almost as crazy as our away prices....

I think if we were at home then this would be a reduced price game, but we're not so I'll stop moaning and get a ticket! Be costly this season if fans had to be refunded after a shocking FA Cup performance...

ridiculous price for a 1st round cup game

I think the prices are down to the fact it's a local derby, which means more police, and more costs, and the fans are paying for it.

Saying that, they could've put them down to £20.

That's a bit much but I'll probably still go. Just make a point of not buying anything in the ground.

 We should have a boycott....that'll teach them....

Gate receipts are split 50/50 in the cup aren't they?

In which case boycott, and give £11.50 to STFC...

 :nod: until 3rd round when the FA get fingers in the pot too

Finger in the Dyke?

Greg Dyke ??

Cheltenham ticket will go on sale Friday morning. Swindons allocation is 1677.

With those prices it wouldn't surprise me if we didn't sell out.

But knowing our recent away followings you never know!

Covering all bases then!

Haha, let me rephrase. I don't think we'll sell out, I do however think we could pull out a surprise and take about 1,000.

Whilst it is expensive. I struggle to find a bad word after reading the statement from their chairman. Football is what it is nowadays.

From Cheltenham Town chairman Paul Baker:

There have understandably been mixed reactions from fans to the prices that the club has announced for our forthcoming FA Cup match with Swindon Town.

The club had to come to quite a quick decision on its pricing strategy for this match to enable tickets to be printed and given to Swindon; and of course we had to get agreement from our opponents too. It was not an easy decision but there were a number of factors that we had to consider.

Over the past four seasons we have operated a two tier pricing strategy and I will go into more detail regarding this below. However, as a general policy leaving aside the Johnstone's Paint Trophy if we play a team from the same or a higher division then matches are priced at either Category A or B.

Given the attractive opposition and status of the match the Swindon fixture has been designated as Category A. We do not agree with the trend that began
with Premier League clubs fielding weakened sides and charging lower prices in the FA Cup. This will be one of our biggest and hopefully most exciting games of the season and we will be going all out to win it.

Furthermore, we will be faced with significantly higher policing and stewarding costs for this fixture, similar we expect to the costs we would incur for matches with Portsmouth and Oxford United, so it is important for any business to recognise additional costs and to do its best to alleviate those costs.

This is a big match, Swindon Town are our nearest rivals, we have not played them for a few seasons and we expect the fixture to generate a lot of interest. Swindon are enjoying a good start to their season, they are well supported, their normal ticket prices are somewhat higher than ours and we anticipate a good following from Wiltshire.

From our point of view the FA Cup is an important competition and we hope that fans, and especially season ticket holders, will want to come to support their team and to enjoy what will be a good atmosphere and an exciting game against League One opposition. Is an extra £2 really going to be the difference between coming to this mouth watering fixture and staying at home?

That remains to be seen but supporters should also remember two things. Firstly, ticket prices are subject to VAT so 20% of what you pay goes straight to the Inland Revenue and our average matchday earn per ticket this season is around £11. Secondly, we are not profiteering. We are trying to run a sustainable business, which is frankly very challenging to say the
least. So yes, this is an opportunity for the club to perhaps generate a little additional revenue which will help sustain the business and help our trading position at the end of the season.


The FA Cup is one of the few opportunities the club has of generating additional, non budgeted revenue and believe you me, we always have significant unbudgeted costs too!



There also appears to be confusion remaining about the two tier pricing strategy. This was originally introduced four years ago when we were looking at ways of to increase the funds available to the manager for players. We had not at that time increased ticket prices for some years but were reluctant to do so in a difficult economic climate. Nevertheless, ticket revenue is a significant proportion of our income and therefore a major consideration when it comes to increasing income.


We considered increasing all prices by £1 but felt this would be unpopular and unfairly hit our regular home fans who attend week in, week out. So instead we decided to introduce 'Premium' games, games which we felt would attract large away followings and which would likely appeal to home fans too. The strategy has worked in terms of revenue generation and helping to absorb some of the additional matchday costs associated with these fixtures.

Since then, of course, to further support the playing budget we increased the additional charge for what we now call 'Category A' matches from £1 to £2. The bottom line in all of this is that we are trying to run a sustainable business. You could also argue, quite rightly, that for home fans the vast majority of matches are cheaper than they would otherwise be if we did not have this differential pricing - and of course one of the benefits of being a season ticket holder is that these increased prices do not affect you - except in cup matches such as this one.

Finally, I would like to reiterate that we are a club that listens to its supporters and will take on board whatever people have to say about pricing. Last season we responded to feedback about the stadium catering and changed the supplier so if supporters are adamant that they do not want two tier pricing then we will have to re-consider the strategy. Unfortunately this is highly unlikely to result in prices being reduced. Sadly the dream of better football for cheaper prices is unlikely to ever come true.

Read more at http://www.ctfc.com/news/article/facupticketstatement-2050687.aspx#o3X5UDKyKE9RzcG1.99

Yeah I get where he is coming from but is still the FA cup 1st round.
Am sure the clubs below could do with the money too

FGR v Scunthorpe = £15
Northampton v Rochdale = £12
Cambridge v Fleetwood =£17 seats £14 terrace

Nams home gates arent exactly massive as is and am sure the price will put some fans off from both sets.

Wont stop me tho, cant beat a good away day on the piss  :pint: and the train is only £8.80 so even better

I think the price is too high but will still go, piss up cant be refused.

400 sold this morning already

 :pint: Got my two! I'm 23 on the 6th, so this is my birthday piss-up game then back to Bath for a GrillStock & more booze.

See you all there.

COYR

Grillstock is terrific. Just don't eat at lunchtime if you're going after the game.

Think I'll go to this one, although my usual accomplices are wavering on the £23 thing.

any idea what shirts we will be wearing at Cheltenham, both our colours clash. Presume an aforementioned third shirt will be produced.

Asked that when picked up tickets
Kiddy serving said they had no idea and it was under discussion

IIRC 3rd kit wasnt due till end of November or later as not needed until sheff utd away

if I had to guess, I reckon we will wear black

Plan is to go there after the game at 8 or something.

Are you Bath-based?

740 sold, strong first day!

Hellava good first day that.

+2 to that figure, think we should sell that out!

That was just after a full house beating Arsenal 4-3 as well

any update on ticket sales ?

Got my tickets today. Went for behind the goal as I was given the option.

Where is the best place to park?

Have my 2 tickets today.

Likewise never been to the ground before, where is the best place to park?

They run a park and ride every 20 mins from the race course if that helps

Got my tickets over the weekend.

My away record is absolutely terrible so apologies in advance!

If we get refused permission to use our loan players in the cup then we may have a problem in defence

1162 sold, 500 left

Great to hear! :beers:

Are they allocated seats? Want to buy online  for me and the little ones but want to make sure we'll be sat together.

If I try and buy online it doesn't assign seats (understandable) - don't want to be left with what's left after tonight which may be scattered about if I leave it to stfc !

They're allocated seats, instead of unreserved seating. So you'll probably get the tickets next to eachother.

theyre allocated. ordered mine online and received them today in a sequential order.

Thanks both. Got the the CG early and got tickets,  and there was virtually no queue later on either. Can't see us selling out.

Pleasantly surprised U11 were free. Softens the £23 extortion a bit!

Mine arrived in the post yesterday - hopefully a few hundred more on that 1162 figure to take us around the 1300-1400 mark.

Will be on the 11:15 train from Swindon, so look forward to a few beers in the afternoon!

Toffolo hasnt got permission from Norwich to play Saturday
Hopefully the others will

They said yesterday that Bell was also refused permission.

Byrne to fill in at LB if fit?

Barthram and Byrne either side.

not sure what we'll do at CB if Stephens is refused permission as well!

Has Turnball been given permission to play?

Shouldn't be a problem with the season long loans as can hardly play for own club later if still here, short term loans can understand parent clubs refusing permission

Why wouldnt he? He's on a seasons loan.

Doesn't that mean Southampton have recall option in the Jan window?

I guess then it comes down to whether they'll look to sell him then, which I'd have thought pretty unlikely.

Does anyone know if there's a pub that is allocated to us or has been for us in recent years, on Saturday?

From the football ground guide


There is a club bar at the ground called the Robins Nest which allows in small numbers of away fans for a £1 admittance fee. Neil Le Milliere a visiting Exeter City fans recommends the Kemble Brewery Inn on Fairview Street. This pub which is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide serves up to six real ales.

Around a ten minute walk away are the 'Sudeley Arms' and 'The Conservatory' on Prestbury Road on the outskirts of the town centre. There is even a decent fish & chip shop situated in-between the two. To find these pubs, turn right out of the club car park, and then turn left at the end of the road. Go straight over the roundabout, and The Sudeley Arms is on your left and the Conservatory is further up on your right. It is no more than a ten minute walk from the ground.

Otherwise very near to the ground is the Parklands Social Club, where you can also park your car (£4). Simply go down Whaddon Road, passing the ground and the bowling club on your left. Take the first left hand turn and the entrance to the social club car park is a short distance down on the left. Robert Middleston a visiting Nottingham Forest fan adds; 'The Club had a friendly welcome, and the locals we met were all happy to chat football. The club has a number of TV screens including a very big screen, on which the Sky Premier plus game was broadcast, a nice way to pass time over a sandwich and pint before the match'.

Chris Clarke informs me; 'A good alternative is The Hewlett Arms which is a bit more cosmopolitan than other pubs in the local area, it can be found at the top of Hewlett Road which is about a 10 minute walk from the ground'. Also further along Hewlett Road is the Fairview Pub.

Is Nathan Thompson likely to be risked for this? Bearing in mind he is one booking away from a suspension.

Yes we need the cash!

This. We need to get to the 3rd Round.

No, but we have been allocated a boutique hotel/gin house and day spa.

 
Bollocks, raging I'm going to the West Ham game on Saturday now!  :suicide:

Make sure you go to the boleyn pub before to get an infamous rib man roll!

Is that a West Ham pub Sippo? i'm going with a Villa fan so we need to find an 'away friendly' pub if such a thing exists?

It is West Ham, but he based outside.

Just googled it, sounds pretty awesome!

Practice the lingo before you go and you should be able to blend in with the locals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1tPuZQlIH0

Swindon Town have so far sold just under 1,400 tickets for Saturday's trip to Cheltenham Town in the FA Cup #stfc

still like to know if we will have a 3rd kit for this game  :)

Toffolo given permission by Norwich to play against Cheltenumb.

Pretty sure we will have to as they wear red and white stripes
I reckon the planned release will be pulled forward
Be blue or black at a guess
Or pink
Who knows


That's good news for us and the player

yes

https://mobile.twitter.com/Official_STFC/status/530426941568843776/photo/1

Black and magenta!

:poofs: :poofs:

I love a black shirt! Not sure about Magenta though. Have to see the whole thing!

I dunno, it could be quite nice. Depends how much of it is magenta. If it's black w/ magenta not magenta with black...

It could be like Fulham's away shirt with a little bit of black at the top with a lot of magenta below... https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=fulham+away+shirt+2014&espv=2&biw=1280&bih=702&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=AshbVIBQz43sBt3EgcAK&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ

Would be about right. Isn't that fulhams older kit?

https://twitter.com/Official_STFC/status/530457179162017793/photo/1 , looks like Magenta with black

probably

(http://images.directsoccer.co.uk/images/products/zoom/1389778652-27720700.jpg)

So we have a strip with pink in it and a prominent reference to 'cruising'.

You know what's going to happen, don't you.

Or it could be like the blue/yellow Boca kit from a couple years ago
Just different colours

Yep. We'll score a couple of times, come from behind and won't leave with a clean sheet. Eugh !!

It's purple, not pink.

A bit more...

https://twitter.com/aaronbryanttt/status/530483562014076928

I think it looks smart

Even though it looks like a packet of ink cartridges, I quite like it

They've even unveiled a bit more this morning... would've thought someone would have posted it by now:

https://twitter.com/Official_STFC/status/530630783237488640

I really like it. I do wonder what the players think of it though.

Also, for Cheltenham there's a new bloke on Twitter (https://twitter.com/STFCsince92) trying to get everyone to put effort in for Saturday & the City game. Encouraging streamers and a shit tonne of flags etc.

As much as I like what he's trying to do, the fact I mentioned this forum and he's not on it, he's only been on Twitter 1 day and he's calling himself an 'ultra'... I'm ignoring the fact he suggested someone brought a drum into the Town End.

Tickets go off sale at midday today, Cheltenham will be selling some tickets for the stand behind the goal tomorrow from their ticket office

God, that kit's going to be a "mainly purple with black bits" panto baddy outfit isn't it? Eeeuuurrrgghhh.

And that's why I like it! :)

I thought it was 'pinker' than it is. But it's a lot darker than I thought, I'm actually a big fan. Definitely going to pick one up!

At least it's different !!

Might just have to purchase this new 3rd kit!

Just listened to the interview with their boss.

Sounds like they are gonna set up to completely stifle us. He noted two 'cut above' midfielders (I assume Kasim and Luongo) so I'm guessing they are gonna double up on both.

Play Reeves and Gladwin in midfield. That'll show em!

Both do need some game time ahead of City and Peterborough (assuming we lose both of them for both games?)

3rd kit NOT available for fans to buy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt7jwC2K6fc&feature=youtu.be

Ah that's a shame. I'd have bought one too!

Why bother having a third shirt if fans can't buy it?

Maybe they should just pick an away kit that doesn't clash with anyone?

Presumably we'll also be wearing this at Sheff Utd.

Seems strange they arent going to sell any. Even just a small number would sell

They said the same thing for the previous 3rd kits the past year. Just building up the hype and demand ;)

like last time, it will cost £50 and limited edition.

A mainly pink football shirt emblazoned with 'Imagine Cruising' on the front.

I'm sure the demand would be huge......

For those wondering where to drink tomorrow and don't know Cheltenham, there's a stack of pubs not far from the ground.

If the last game there is anything to go by, most will go to the Midland Hotel, at the back of the station, when they roll off the train. Was heaving last time. It's a pretty average pub to say the least, and a good 15-20 minute walk from Town - 45 walk to the ground, but there are buses.

At the bottom end of town, near the ground, most headed to the Sudeley Arms and Conservatory (recently renamed, not sure what it is now). Sudeley is a proper pub, and the Ex-Conservatory more of a bar.

There are far better pubs within a 10-12 minute walk of the ground though: the Strand and the Swan, both on the High St opposite each other, beyond the pedestrianised part, have better beers and generally nicer places to drink....

Worse away pub ever was the one close to Birmingham's ground - the famous 4-6 game.

Unbelievably decrepit shithole

Feathered fish or some such name

Thanks for the advice on pubs Frigby! Weather looks shite tomorrow so not sure fancy the 45 minute walk either!

You can get a shirt, without the badges/sponsors here :

http://www.prodirectsoccer.com/Products/adidas-Autheno-12-Short-Sleeve-Football-Shirt-Mens-Football-Teamwear-Ultra-PurpleBlackWhite-48411.aspx

And a third of the cost !!!

Shaun Reid - Warrington Town manager (on BBC 2 at the minute) and brother of Peter was a coach at town for a while? 

I assume as he was also at Plymouth for a bit would this have been in the Sturrock era?

Peter Reid has a monkey's heed

Eats banana,s with his feet.

....or as the natives sing.

Peter Reids got a fooling monkeys heeeed"

Dogged win for Warrington that
18k for going thru
67k for the TV

Lifeline for a minnow club

Love the FA Cup
Our journey starts tomorrow

I do like the Mackems on a String song - cud be reworked for the Pox

Could have done with Exeter winning that, more chance of them taking Harley off us.

Bah, 14 quid? Daylight robbery! £11.25 here
http://www.directsoccer.co.uk/football-kits-c1/mens-clothing-c2/jerseys-c5/adidas-adidas-autheno-12-ss-jersey-senior-p306

or £10.95 here:
http://www.clublinefootball.com/adidas_autheno_long_sleeve

We pay a lot of money for an iron-on club badge and a couple of sponsor's logos

The direct soccer link also do club badges
Sponsors too

TBF how bloody desperate would that be, knocking up a knock-off copy of a pretty rank 3rd kit with photoshopped club and sponsor logos? I suppose anyone who wants to wear that kit has pretty much already thrown all sense of personal dignity out of the window already, but really ...

Screw the sponsor but no need for a photoshopped badge

http://www.bonanzamarket.co.uk/listings/Swindon-Town-English-England-Premier-League-Football-Soccer-Badge-Patch/150272987?gpid=18283950120&gpkwd=&goog_pla=1&gclid=CK-Inp7M6cECFQjKtAod8kAAAw

England premier league ???!!!

Ha, that looks like better quality than the ones the club shop have!

I might buy some of those to put on my Swindon tops.

Jesus that third kit is rank, its up there with the brown and 'gold' (different brown) stripey one

Hey, gold kit was ace.

Was last night's game the only one that the BBC are showing live all weekend,  that's a bit rubbish - even ITV seemed to show more?

and what a shit game it was

Weston vs Donny match off, thats a shame I fancied an upset there today.

The daylight robbery is the £6.99 the Direct Soccer website charge for delivery, whilst the Pro Direct Soccer site charges £3.95, so whilst Direct Soccer is chaper for the shirt, if you add postage the Pro Direct Soccer is cheaper, unless you order multiple shirts.

Oh God, I sound like someone from Which or those price comparison websites !!!

I really liked the kit on Saturday, but now...

the idea of playing in it makes me sad. I might have to get the home kit though. BUT PURPLE!

I have only got a couple of reds, black and blue in my STFC shirt collection so far...

I have a 'magnetic green' or whatever the hell that 3rd kit from 96/97 was called!

i actually loved that kit though!

Yeah, except less interesting .... ;)

Nothing new there then !! :)

You can't still fit in it surely!

I can almost get my forearm in!

Cambridge 0-0 Man United after 62 mins.  Starting to look quite interesting.

Hahahaha

I'd be very careful who you say that around

Some strange scores so far. Man City 0 Middlesbrough 1. Chelsea 2 Bradford 2

And a good scoreline for us : Preston 1 Sheff Utd 1

Bradford now winning

4-2. Wut.

Fair play Bradford and Middleborough.

Leicester beating Spurs

Wonder what odds you'd of got of Bradford and Middleborough both winning?

Especially when Bradford were 2-0 down...

Superb day. Shame about MK winning in league though. More games for Sheff Utd to think about!

200/1 apparently

Does the replay for Sheffield United affect our game or not?

Apparently 289-1...

Doubt it. It will be midweek sometime.

No. They play the game in midweek, a few days after we play them next week.

so they have the league cup semi  second leg, us, fa cup replay. is that right?

Sheff Utd play the LC semi on Wednesday, the league game against us next Sat followed by the FA Cup replay the Tues/Wed afterwards.

Preston get bogged down with another game, all good.

Especially as they got the JPT 2nd leg next week, followed by the league game next weekend and the replay the following week.

All we need now is for the 82'ers to get a replay.

Great afternoon with those results and shocks in the fa cup! Would love us to have a fun one year but concentrating on the league seems to be a good thing this year.

Won a goals galore acca but everything else went tits up on the bookies front!

Good to see more games for sheff Utd and pne too.

ummmm

https://twitter.com/SkySportsNewsHQ/status/559074145573818368/photo/1

100 quid on Bradford and Middlesbrough...

I bloody love this competition, always have and always will and days like today are why.

It's a real shame how its profile has decreased in recent years with certain teams treating it with total distain. The FA havent helped with the ridiculous idea to have the semis at Wembley and moving the final to a later KO.

The FA don't give a flying fuck about the cup. The fact the final is played on an 'ordinary' Saturday with other matche's being played, says it all. So until it's back on cup final day I couldn't give a shit about the competition.

so you gave a shit last year and this year?

Shhhhh... Just let janaage vent.

I'm not 100% sold on the 'big teams treating it wth disdain' line. Look at the sides Chelsea, man city and man utd put out this weekend.

Look at the reactions when man city and arsenal won it in recent years.

I think the cups just fine.

Agreed. I think you make a good point. Those 2 sides should have been good enough to win.

That deluded twat Lansdowne has just been interviewed live on BBC1.  He says that the new stand - opening the season after next, will increase capacity to 27,000.  Does he really think he will get 27,000.  ARSEHOLE!

14k additional capacity behind the goal?

Its a shame the interviewer didn't ask him how the police investigation into Nate Dog is going

They are re building the Williams Stand as well once the End behind the goal is complete.

Watching this reminds me of when we played villa on the box in the fa cup.

Rebuilding all the stands in turn

That Matt Smith likes putting himself about a bit.

No wonder he broke two goalies arms at Scunny last week.

When the commentary box was pelted with coins,can see Alan Hansen flinching now  :girlgiggle:

Didn't realise they had egg chasering at Trashton this season.

To be fair they probably could depending on what league they are in.

27,000 is way too small - they are a massive club don't you know

Yes, the rugby side has switched to Trashton from the Memorial.

That pitch is starting to look bare down the middle. Wouldn't like to say how bad it'll be in a few months time when we play there.

Freeman v kasim is going to be some battle!

West Ham are spectacularly crap

And if that is a taster of the atmosphere when we play there . . .

Fuck me!

Freeman has the looks of a paedophile about him

We are going to have a physical battle down there.
To be fair they look a good side and the league table doesn't lie.

Ref is going to have a busy game.

It will be shit because that away end has gone, great stand for getting an atmosphere going that

Praying for a draw - even though I've got City to win as part of a treble

0-0 will do just fine thankyou

If he has ambitions to see them play in the Prem, then that sounds about right.  Sooner or later, a Bristol side (and they're the only ones still standing) will end up in the top flight.  It's a matter of time.

Agreed, take them to another game would be perfect.

Bristol are just an aggressive, in your face sort of side. Freeman hasn't looked good as their one creative player to me.

This interview with Scudamore about City being a PL club is cringeworthy. Lansdowne has chucked £50m at it so he deserves it?? It didn't stop them going down last year.

Agreed. A typical Cotterill side.

Their fans have probably been saying this for the last 32 years. They're still in the same league they pretty much always have been.

Only been watching since half time but West Ham have been dreadful. No ambition to keep possession and play football, just long balls up from the back which the City defence are perfectly comfortable dealing with.

West ham look lacklustre.

And yet if you watch him in slow motion every time he is tackled he takes his eye off the ball and concentrates on falling over with his arms stretched out.

that's much the same as the first half. city have been the better team largely.

we will have to be shit hot defending set pieces with smith and flint coming up,  but I'm looking forward to the match!

They're not doing so bad, Bob's, considering they're up against a massive club.  :)

Sums up Scudamore's "vision" of his "product" perfectly - all about money spent, football doesn't come into it. He must have hated this weekend, his "product"'s taken a right caning.

Setting aside our thoughts on City their supporters will have to be gutted if they don't win this, West Ham have been woeful.

I am hoping for City goal plus late West ham controversial equaliser equalling an embarrassing melt down from Cotterill

Wet spam 1 up

tehehe. mugged

Get in!

Best League in the World 1-0 Massive Club/Welsh Cup Winners. It's a great advert for the game, Barry

Fuck me, what an injustice...... :D

1-0 West Ham. I fully expect Cotterill's post match interview to include the words clear and handball :)

So I assume that the section in the Atyeo Stand that West Ham have got is all we will get?

Still think City won't be in the top 2 come end of the season. Franchise and Swindon strike force on a complete different level to City. That Matt smith needs a million chances to score

Less I'd of thought. FA Cup away allocations are bigger.

He had a couple cleared off the line though to be fare.

Plus his record during this loan spell is 9 goals in 11 games

City looked to be tiring badly in the 2nd half

How are Bristol City joint top of the league.  Bloody commentators, they are second!!

I am equally amused and annoyed that Danny Murphy hasn't been arsed to learn the City players name... goal is apparently the number 4's fault.

Good to see that Villa are managing to hold the south coast Bayern Munich at half time.

They'll be down to 3rd by Tuesday night.

Now need Bournemouth and arsenal to complete the treble

Clues here how to approach this match, ride out their early storm as they seek revenge for our disgusting cheating win over them then watch them tire chasing shadows second half - I am confident we won't lose to those wankers.

Arse 1 up already

I didn't think City looked too bad, am I alone?

Freeman had a lot of the ball but did fuck all with it. Matt smith will cause havoc from set pieces as will flunt.

Fuck off villa!

Smith wont play against us anyway

http://m.westerndailypress.co.uk/City-secure-Smith-month/story-25911076-detail/story.html

Good boy...

Kevin Horlock ‏@Kevinhorlock6  10m10 minutes ago
Oh well Bristol City can now concentrate on finishing runners up to Swindon Town...

I'm more pissed off with the condescending attitudes displayed by the pundits. Fucking wankers.

Always talking down to clubs that aren't in the 'golden six', always giving it the fucking tiny club shit despite most of them being fairly average players anyway: Kilbane, Savage, Jenas, to name a few today, I'm looking at you, you fucking cunts.

They'll be too busy trying to win their Cup Final...The JPT !!!

havent read back.....

Bristol City are not top of the league and took the cunts til the 84th minute to let us know....despite everybody saying they were.

Andy Cole might have an IQ of 2000 but he will always sound like a thicko...

City will do the same to us so we will have to try and emulate West Ham without being sloppy and giving the ball away...repel the initial onslaught, shut the crowd up and pick the fuckers off.

I assumed he was on a season long loan. good news, though they'll buy someone I'm sure.

Yep, andy williams

:)

The City game was pretty dull to attend. They ran out of steam quite early going from a team who looked like potentially getting a result to a plucky lower-leaguer.

Aden Flint was voted man of the match by the sponsors which surprised me. That said, I can't stand Aden Flint so I spent most of the game wanting him to fall over the ball.

Anyone know when the draw is?

They're doing it on Monday during The One Show.

It's what Stanley Matthews, Stan Mortensen, Jackie Milburn, Bert Trautmann et al would have wanted.

Am I being whooshed here or is this true?

No whoosh. They've been promoting it as 'Monday during The One Show'.

Ok thanks.

Devalued again.....FFS...

FA are cunts...no question...

Bmuff got knocked out.

I will knock one out too.....fuck off you south coast fuckers....

Possible lifeline for City?

http://westhamforum.boards.net/thread/766/

TwatFace stirring again?

Is ACON a FIFA tournament ?
Asian cup isnt I dont think

CONCAF tourney, Asian cup is AFC. It's just the confederations that make up FIFA.

Ah right
Cheers
I know we werent allowed to use the players away at the Asian cup as a reason to postpone games ( if we had a 3rd on Int duty that is ) so wasnt sure

West Ham were 'given' a game by Bristol City. Fair play to them and they look like a team high on confidence. It will definitely be an interesting game when we go there. I would be happy with a scrappy nil all draw.

Their away allocation looked quite small...be good atmosphere being so close to their fans.

1100
Not sure we will get that many as FA Cup demands a higher allocation of away fans than league 1 ( although that should have been 1900 for the hammers based on the attendance of 12.682 )

I reckon around 600 esp with increased segregation ect

Best hope it's on the box then

Preston had 1100 allocation

Thought city looked a very good side. Neat and tidy in possession and very dangerous from set pieces. Smith is very much in the Andy Carroll ilk and a right pain in the arse for any defence I'd think. Gonna be some fight for the title I think

He'll be gone at the end of February, back to Fulham. They'll also be unable to get him back.

that's good to hear. Looks a proper player to me

According to the City fans I know we should be getting 1100 too. I'm sure there will be a few dotted around in home seats though.

It'll sell out quite quickly so Town fans will need to be on the ball to get in the home end.

Hopefully they might stick it on tv, its building up nicely to be a huge game.

Unless they go back to that nice Mr Lansdown and tap him up for a couple of more million to buy Matt Smith

Such a shame the allocation won't reflect the spectacle that will be this game.

I've been telling all my mates that we should make it a boozy bank holiday Monday in Bristol but chances are it'll be one per season ticket holder...

Most definitely, they stopped the multiple tickets for ST holders ages ago
Damn right too

Does anyone know if you can get an adult ticket with a junior ST?

I'd be surprised if they won't upgrade the ticket

Possibility of further distractions for 1982 (very) Ltd?

www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31103752 (http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31103752)

A replay (resulting in a draw) would be quite funny.   :)

It's never your fault

It's never your fault

Bristol City, it's never your fault

 :nod:

Although they are running out of Tuesdays, their form hasn't exactly dipped with these extra games.

Fortunately there is time.

I quite like that one, can we sing it in April?

If the FA do order a replay, it'll probably be like the Franchise/Chesterfield game, where they ordered the game to a finish on the day, so it'll be decided by extra time/pens if needed.

Saying that, the 82'ers are also planning to sue West Ham by that article for £250k, which, by the last few seasons, is their weekly losses.

"It wasn't me"

West Ham fined £71,000 but remain in the FA Cup.

So basically they got away scot free?

Hows it gone down on OTIB?

No idea, but it's still a useful read to find out what's happening at STFC.....that used to be the Oxford forum, but strangely these days their obsession seems to be signing Tyrone Barnett for half a mill, rather than all matters STFC.

And made £90k for winning the tie.

As well as TV and gate money from the next round. I wonder what the ruling would have been if it had been a team not from the PL?

Well this was the penalty for STFC Ladies team for a minor infringement..

http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/sport/11768771.Town_ladies_title_hopes_hit_after_FA_censure/

I don't understand the Phil Neville bashing, I actually think he's quite good...

We play who we like, we play who we like, we are WHU we play who we like

Remember Tevez and the premier league spot retained at Sheff Utd's expense for a similar petty cash fine.

Let's not even re-visit the differing punishments meted out for illegal payments

Wasnt the fine £5M? Hardly petty cash.

In terms of the financial value of staying up, it's miniscule.

Off the FA Cup topic I know, but is there, anywhere, a definitive version of what we suffered and how that compared to, say, Posh being demoted, certain 'big' clubs getting away with fines rather than little 'ol Swindon getting demoted, and so on?

There's plenty of apocryphal tales of Man Ure and others lining the pockets of parents when they sign their young sprogs, of new cars being left outside the houses of transfer targets back in the '70s as well. I've heard from ex-Board Members how we, along with others, allegedly manipulated attendance figures to provide a ready supply of (non-taxable) cash.

But apart from digging out the original press exposures of our 'crimes' (which were hardly unbiased anyway), I've yet to come across a serious, written, debate about the whole issue and how we compared to other clubs. I gave up on Tom Bower's 'Broken Dreams' because it seemed to concentrate on the usual suspects (Bates, Clough etc), but that was years ago so maybe I need to get hold of it again.

Guess in the end we're too insignificant.