Thetownend.com

Just do us proud please. Everyone sing your hearts out and enjoy the day.

3-1 Town. COYR

GET IT FUCKING FORWARD!!

JUST FUCKING SCORE!!!

Not going to predict this one.

Don't fanny about in defence and we will win!

COYR

Good luck everyone.

Gutted to be missing this one.

Hope this forum is a happy place at 7.30 this evening.

Believe

Nervous isn't the word this morning, it's even woke me to have a 💩.
I didn't feel like this for either the wall or Chesterfield, Is it a good thing or is it the dread of losing again i dont know. Whst i Do know is i need to pay another visit to the porcelain very soon!!!

 :puke: :puke: :puke:

"WE ARE SWINDON" feeling good not like the chesterfield/millwall games ."Nathan down the wing cross to Massimo  1-0  another 3 goals "SORTED".4-0 .Championship beware SWINDON are coming."COME ON YOU REDS"setting off from oop norf in an hour  .LETS MAKE SOME FUCKING NOISE" WE ARE SWINDON"

Ahahahaha, I had the most ridiculous dream last night that we were going to Wembley.

Oh.

Wait...

Fucking weirdo..

I'm not going to enjoy the day. I'm not going to enjoy the game. Even if we're 3-0 up, I'm not going to enjoy it.

I just hope I can enjoy post match celebrations, but until then there's no point in lying; I'm not going to enjoy it...

You know that half-dream state you're in just after you wake up where everything you dreamt is still vivid? It feels like that today.

I had a dream the other night, I was at Wembley watching the match. Ball played back to the keeper, who took a heavy touch, striker nipped in veered to the right, then finished nicely from acute angle. 1-0.

During the dream it felt like us scoring, when I woke I realised the keeper was Wes, the striker Beckford.

Hardly a Vanilla Sky (or Martin Luther King) moment, but I hope that doesn't happen today, that'd be horrible.

We owe these, Wes' revenge is happening today!

After the Chesterfield Wembley game, I'll consider a couple of meaningful shots on goal as progress.

Have a great day everyone.

This...   Simply this....

I'm lucky to have a company with Club Wembley membership and I go a lot to Wembley....prawn sandwiches and all that. I'm at the Cup Final next week and I will be relaxed and will enjoy the whole day start to finish, today really matters to me and I will be as stressed as fuck.

I'm the same.

Feel a Yasser free kick going in today. COYR!!!

I'm shitting it

Me neither.

Excited and nervous...... Just hope we do ourselves justice and FUCKIN WIN !!!..... COYR

Fucking hell if you can't enjoy the day in terms of build up, in terms of heading down and seeing loads of fellow fans on their way, knowing we're all hoping for the same thing, then the day building up with every pint consumed, then there's something wrong with you.

That said as soon as I get near my seat, that's when the enjoyment fades and that horrible 'we're gonna fck this up' feeling beds in.

Each to his own... The 'event' is too big and too important for me to truly enjoy it, I'm not on a fucking sightseeing tour. I'm on a mission!

I see that Hertha, I just find it difficult not to go along with the excitement as it builds, like being a kid again. Yeah you have to reign it in a bit, but I couldn't not enjoy the hours before the match. Completely get the last hour being excruciating, as your mind goes through the what ifs...

And to be honest that's coming from someone who's not been as much in recent seasons, so a 'proper full timer' must have a different emotional experience.

Same as everyone else. Nervous but excited.
Best advice following Janaage's post.
Enjoy the build up, the colour, the Town fans and of course a trip to Wembley.
Some clubs never have that opportunity, this is our 6th visit.
The game just get behind the lads and then it's down to the players. We have a chance and that is all we can ask for in a play off final.

Trying to enjoy it but like you feeling nervous.
Like your comment, this is not a sightseeing tour.

At Orly waiting for my flight. I always love these big days out, at least up until kickoff. I spend too few days in a pub drinking proper beer surrounded by Swindon fans not to make the most of them.

Never do football dreams, but dreamt that I went into the CG this week, having been a fixture in the squad all season, to be told by the general manager - not even Cooper - that I wasn't in the squad for today, but they had VIP access badges for me and the wife. I told them where they could stuff their badges and stormed out. Felt bloody real.

So that's why I'll be watching from the stands with the hoi polloi today.

setting off soon, just hope that we turn up today!  I'm strangely positive and going to go for a 2:1 win with Gladwin &^ Luongo scoring.  I'll be looking out for people at Wealdstone, I'm easy to spot, being bald, overweight and wearing a town top.

Car's washed and adorned with Wembley tat. Bring it on!

On the 303 on our way, and so far, eastbound all clear.

Little bit nervous, but have the utmost faith in our lads today. COYR!

Yep, very much this. I am ghoing to try and enjoy the day before the game and hope to have something to celebrate after it.

Be following you up the 303 in about an hour.

As long as we 'turn up' today I'll be happy as I fully expect us to get a result if we are firing.

Anyone know if club shop open this morn?

You'll need to be more specific than that. That's ninety percent of our fan base.

Didn't sleep a wink last night. To nervous/ excited. Dont feel like eating anything either. Is it too early for a drink?

I'd be surprised, because the staff will be off to Wembley themselves.  I've got a feeling they're involved in ticket sales there?

Leaving at 11-30 to pick grandkids up, then on to Bicester to collect son and his girlfriend and then train straight to the stadium.  Not feeling 100% positive about the outcome but then remember that Preston are here also only because the fucked it up on the last day of the season and couldn't get a result against Colchester!!!  Got to enjoy the day whatsoever - it is costing enough!!

Definatly not, join me I'm half way through a Peroni !!.....  :beers:

I've not been able to buy a top that fits since Ruddock left. Looking forward to today...until the match starts. A couple of post match beers and hopefully a few more after we've won. Haven't got a clue what to expect today. PNE are rightly favourites but that means very little. In my 4 visits, we've been favourites once and lost. We've been underdogs 3 times and won 2. Just hope we don't conceded early but I said that at Bramall Lane and it turned out well. These players have a chance to be heroes and on our day we can smash anyone in this division, on another day lose to any of them.  

Anyone know if the GC Hotel is open this morning?

No idea but makes good business sence to me, give em a call

I've had a walk up and down Wembley Way, the sun is shining. All is well right now.

A comfortable 5-4 win

6-5 in extra time...

GC - where is that?

The 'father of a 4 yr old girl me' is singing 'let it go', the 'football supporter me' has changed the words to 'Mass-i-moooo Lu-on-go, Massimo Luongo...', sad I know, but that what fatherhood can do to you.

Smartarse....

Just leaving now... My boss at the Media company I work for is a massive Preston fan. At our last meeting he said "So, our next meeting will be on Sunday right?"

Anyway, I'm on coach 39, and sitting in 119. Play off flag, two scarves, Swindon shirt.

Come say Hi if you like.  :D

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:..... Didn't notice that !

Come the fuck on you fucking reds.

I'm going to be very tired and emotional today I think.

pmsl

This has to be it. Second tier football again at last...

2-1 Town, Gladwin brace. Come on!

Good luck one and all.
You never know what you're going to get with this lot but if we score five we will garantee at least extra time.
We are under dogs so no pressure at all.
Can't wait for kick off

Shan't be coming to the grand junction later as me old man has schonky knees so on the tube to Wembley now to kill time before the Torch Opens. If anyone sees a bloke holding a stuffed penguin come and say hello! (me sisters in New Zealand and can't Mae it so that's her stand in)

It's on Grounty Coad.

I'm nervous, feel like I need the bog all the time and can't enjoy the day at the moment. Hopefully I'll feel better when we get there.

Any advise on when I should set off?  8)

Is that the road from Bransfer Tridges?

Ooo the arch, ooo people. Ooo singing. Means fuck all if we lose and end up in L1 north next season but you can bet your arse I'll be hugging and kissing everyone after if we win.

Of course it means eff all if we lose. But at the time, we haven't lost, so fckn enjoy it! Come on!!!!

Good luck to all the players and fans of Swindon Town today....

Only wish I could be there.  :(

COYMR's  :)

Poor effort.

Is that a West Country euphemism?  :gay:

Currently sat in The Watch House cafe in West Bay with a knotting stomach. Will be in the Tiger Inn in Bridport this afternoon running the gambit of emotions. Just don't freeze lads and do yourselves justice and all town fans proud. COYR.

Nerves beginning to kick in now, I'd be a fucking wreck if I were actually playing.

Sorry to keep on which pubs are ours without having to go through the threads to find out? Cheers 🍻 still fucking nervous but a few more  :pint: will do the trick come on town ffs

Nerves kicking in.  About to head to the Cambridge Bar in Edinburgh for beers and the game.  We can so win this.  COYR.

I was going to find a pub in Bath to watch it. However, they all seem to be showing the Prem games.  My darling, super, fantastic wife then pays the extra for me to watch it at home via our Virgin subscription.  Not only the game, but the full Sky Sports package with all the bells and trimmings for a year.

Bless her!!

On the M4.  Feel sick.  Can't beat it though, all the scarves and flags out of windows.

I thought there was no shortage of coaches though?  Seems strange that there's loads of Eagle of Bristol coaches been sourced?

Premier games all finish before we start

Had a big night last night so feeling strangely not nervous yet.  Ive got a funny feeling we'll do it today,  2 - 1 AET

I still don't know how I feel about Louis Thompson's almost certain inclusion. Especially when you consider what happened to Sam Saunders yesterday. He'll probably start on the bench and that WBA friendly hopefully proved a good run out for him.

Alas, I've convinced myself that we won't be victorious today. The Football Gods don't like me and/or Swindon Town FC  enough but I've had a near perfect day thus far so hopefully that continues.

Either way, I'm going to enjoy it and be as loud as I possibly can be.

Well so far my oldest son has snapped the stick on his flag,  youngest son has left his jacket at home in the hallway and I've forgotton to set the sky box to record the game.

It can only get better from here!

You not got the Sky+ app on your phone to do it remotely?

looks like L.Thompson, Swift & Toffolo will have some involvement - not sure about Nathan ?

Result, I get Skysports for a year and an evening in the pub!

That would mean Ricketts missing out... seems odd.

I have now and have just set it.  Thanks  :)

Good luck everyone.

I've never wanted a win this much.

Come on you Reds from Sunny Ibiza !!!

after a nerve ridden day, I have booze n nibbles and off to warm the telly up. with dreams of a season in the championship, COME ON THE TOWN

Just got in.  Why were both Belfords warming up and no sign of Wes?  Don't tell me he's still injured?

Sat drinking in magaluf with a carlisle player who hates preston, hes wearing our flag :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Got some Preston fans sat behind us in the Tiger inn Bridport

bollocks

same new Wembley. why oh why do we do it

Oh Cock  :(

Unbelievable.  What happened to Thompson?

fucking bollocks

Bollocks. 0-2 down and Thompson off injured.

And there we have our inability to defend.  There's Swindon fans leaving already.

And to make it worse, we have Preston fans right behind us.  Loads of them in behind block 221.  Fucking joke.

Can't be much of a surprise that we can't defend, we let in 5 against Sheffield United & Preston are better than them

What a wonderful goal that is

0-3 now. We are going to win 4-3, don't worry.

We haven't turned up. 3 - 0 down!

utter bollocks. again.

I feel sorry for the guys who went to Wembley but to be fare that's the Town all season.
WE find it hard to come back from 1 0 down how the fuck do we come back from 3 0 down?

Bet all the hooray Henrys who gave us "not going" lot stick feel a bit daft!

Fuck off Cunt...

Think I'm going to leave in a bit, this is actually embarrassing. I really do hope this is Cooper's last game in charge as fuck knows how he set us up today! Every time they attack we are left 1 on 1 at the back. Absolutely gutless!

Not really, because you're not even a swindon supporter. Stick to your dull interests.

Not even expecting a goal, but ONE shot on fucking target would be good!

What is it about this dump that we never turn up. Fucking embarrassing this performance.
Seriously tempted to fuck off back to the pub.
Shocking

At this stage I'll be happy if I don't cry on TV.

Nothing I'm interested in is as dull as what we've served up pal 😂

Besides. Don't take it out on me because of this garbage...

Fuck fuck and fuck....................... :crash:

COYR's

Would have been looking so different if Smith's header had gone in. 2-1 and we'd have been buzzing.

As it is, we're fucked.

I wonder now if Power and Cooper, who were so keen on focusing on the play offs and giving up on automatic promotion, realise why the fans were so desperate to go up in the top two  :hmmm:

Could be worse - just imagine what it must be like being in the bottom half of league 2, having three stands and averaging under 5k whilst wearing a yellow piss coloured top...

Dogshite.  Thompson should never have started, pulled his hammy on the run back with Beckford, nothing to do with the challenge in the box.

Referee is too much of a pussy.  And we can't defend crosses, in fact we can't defend.

I was angry after the SheffU game, and we haven't learnt.

Fucking shit...

Ha, ha. It's the same way we've set up all season.  It's the hoof forward that we can't deal with. Thompson was a gamble which failed as he was plainly not fit when chasing Beckford, gave away the free kick and that led to the goal. Cooper let sentiment cloud his judgement.

Absolutely embarrassing

Men against boys.  Literally.

Sometimes the other team is just plain better. Looks that way today.

Please can we have a shot on target

At least half the team can console themselves that they will be playing in the championship next season

Mark Cooper you can fuck off! Home time!

It's just annoying that we've had a great season and we can't seem to even compete in such a big game. I don't mind losing but fucking hell, what a time to have your worst game of the season.

They deserve to go up. We don't.  We did well to get there.

Glad I didn't make the effort to get there, feel for the fans that did. Had a feeling we'd get spanked, prove me wrong town please.

Should have played the kids, they only lost 3-0 & at least they tried

fucking dreadful really doesn't cover this performance. I think the missing 10,000 called it right.
One more time, im not sold on our kind of football.  success and olde fashioned English passion, would be nice.

beer time :badmood:

fucking hell, that was a header on target.

any news on N.Thompsons injury?

im on my fourth but it doesn't make it better im afraid.

Sending on a bloke with half a roll of Andrex shoved up his beak. It's all getting a bit village isn't it.

I'm glad the northern PNE cunt has fucked off out the pub. Some wanky supporter he turned out to be. Getting on my tits and not the violent type by nature he was getting close to wearing a black eye.

On a positive note we may end up keeping our best players as none of them have covered themselves in glory have they?

If we thought the last two Wembley appearances were bad, this is ten times worse.  I'm one of the most negative on here, but even I didn't expect this.

Utter shit is being generous.  Embarrassing  and humiliating probably cover it.  I actually could cry.

WTF...that was surreal. Made me think of this for some reason...

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/691c0ce32d038795e96062d95329921d5e9205ee.jpg)

We are embarrassingly shit

a tame end to a season of overachievement

oh great. tou know you've hit rock bottom when the commantater, is hoping for a Swindon goal, so we can come away with something.
Fuckity shit.

If offered it now, I'd take penalties.

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

I don't think N Thompson was fit to play in the first place and my big fear before the game was that in his desperation to play he would convince himself and the coaching staff that he was fit to play, get injured really early and have to go off. And so it came to pass. His lack of fitness is why he gave away the free kick and why he was completely to blame for the first goal in my opinion.

You can see Louis isn't really fit either from the way he is carrying his shoulder.

Having said that, our problems today go way, way beyond the (un)fitness of the Thompson Twins.

It says a lot about the third division , that we were the fourth best team.

I'm not convinced his 'foul' really was one, but that's just my opinion

and even more about it that teams like Bristol & Preston have thrown so much money at it to get out of it

Youth players were good all season...

We need several players in the team with a winning experience like Greer ....

 :suicide:

 

However you look at the season including the play offs, our league position did not lie.

I left at four. Utter dogshite. Next time we get to Wembley you couldn't giv the tickets away.

Don't tell Sir windon

So Swindon destroyed. my eldest Alex missed 60 minutes after falling sick. Currently in Wembley medical centre waiting for him and my wife dawn, he's being looked at by doctor.

Other than that, fantastic day.

I cannot tell you how fucked of I am. What a waste

Hope the lad is OK Batch. Clearly a good judge - that would have made most people sick. Pathetic.

Oh no.  What's wrong with him?  Hope he's ok.

he's fine, just a big drama queen. thanks though.

A similar thing happened to me. Seriously though, I hope he's OK....

Edit: It appears he is. One bit of good news at least.

felt sick, had chest pains but 99% sure he pulled a muscle at school sports but Wembley aren't taking any chances.

The second worst day of my STFC supporting life before today was the 2010 Play Off Final v Millwall. That has now been relegated to third worst...

Cunts. Outplayed. See you all next season

Its called supporting your team. Can you understand that concept??

Left feeling numb,lost to an awful hoofball  team that were both cynical and clinical. Wouldn't want to watch that every week but hey-ho. Clear out will start now and hopefully a commanding centre half is top of the shopping list. Still really proud of how we've done this season,we're not far off a really good team

I'm going to trawl the streets of Swindon looking out for cars with the number plate LOMAS 1  :sherlock:

I'm sorry but that is not true. Also, if they were 'awful' that doesn't leave us with too many adjectives does it?

How long before Thor posts?

they had a plan, attack the wings/cross it in. we learnt nothing all fucking season in how to handle it.

I'm sure on in the cold light of day I'll appreciate this season, but right now I'm pretty angry

you weren't at yeovil or milton keynes or doncaster or.... It's went we ended up in fourth place.

That was a comprehensive shitting on made worse by some total bellends scrapping in the Swindon end. 3 lots around 113

Goodness me that was bad.

It wasn't that good we were lucky to get 0

Is this a joke? Clear all the shit out eh?

What's annoyed me so much about 2010, 2012 and 2015 is how charitable we've been.

What's that Millwall? You lost here last season? Here have a comfortable win.

What's that Chesterfield? You've not played at Wembley before? Here have a comfortable win.

What's that Preston? You've got a rotten Play-Off record? Here have a comfortable win on us.

So frustrating because this side was made for that occasion and firmly bottled it.

The only positive was that the display at the start.

Shame about everything else after that.

Well I was at Yeovil and Franchise.

What's disappointed me is that Preston are an ugly team to watch, they completely bullied us out of the game but I wish them all the luck in the championship, they will need it.
Getting the right balance of Steel and skill is obviously not easy, but we defiantly needs some ballsy players incoming.
Let's face it it's been a good season for us, let's hope we don't lose too much talent and gain a few experience heads next season.

They'll be fine. Its the Championship, not the Champions League. There are poor sides in it. They have just humped us 4-0 at Wembley. Hardly grounds to say they'll struggle.

Preston will do just fine on the Championship.

L1 could be a competitive again, let's hope the rebuild is positive. We must avoid the hangover ala 2010 and Orient this season.

Can we just enjoy ourselves at Wembley for five mins at least?? That is the biggest dissapountme t for me.  After great build up for the day in the pubs, (which was buzzing to be fair) the day was ruined three mins after kick off.

the summer rebuild will be interesting. We'll need a replacement for Foderingham for sure

What I really wanted on my train home was some pissed up Swansea fans chanting Old McDonald Had A Farm at the Fuzz.

Let's just pretend football isn't a thing for a month or two mkay.

Well that was a colossal pile of catwank.

six loan players returning to their clubs,Luongo ,Williams and Foderingham almost certainly leaving and a few players not being retained I suggest is a clear out. Not a joke,a fact

Well that was fun.

Hopefully we start afresh next season with a new manager and players. The only one I want to see back here is Louis T. and that's not going to happen. And Mr Power, defending is an important part of football as well as pretty football.

Well we didn't turn up and played like a bunch of cunts

I went with the wife and kids and the excitement on their face was amazing to see. Walking up Wembley Way with the Town fans in good voice and seeing old friends was just brilliant.

The game was shit as we know and my son was upset as the goals went. When we got back to the car at Wimbledon he came to me gave me a hug and thanked me for taking him. Poor lad, I've subjected him to a lifetime of misery and he still thanked me.

Mid table mediocrity next year.

Oh well, that sucked.

The STFC mosiac sign at the start of the game was the highlight, the rest was like a nightmare.......... 1. had the misfortune to sit behind the goal with relentless negative chanting around me about "plastic fans" to anyone who wasn'nt singing etc, this is destructive, doesnt help the team or encourage casual fans to come back. 2. Team not turning up and bottling another wembley final 3. Cooper tactics were wrong should have gone 4-4-2 after our continuing defensive fralities. 4 Beaten by a better team but we didn't do ourselves justice today. 5. Need to rethink defensive strategy next season, get more bite in the team to sit alongside passing game.

You tell him to be proud.
Same with my two lads.......what have we done ?
We go again and keep believing.
Great to see Lee Peacock coat as well.

I saw Peacock as well and the kids had their photo taken with him.

Met some decent Chelski fans on the tube on the way home, they sad that they were surprised we lost and were really nice to the kids, telling them they had to experience the lows to appreciate the highs.

Funnily enough they were adamant that it was the arrival of Hoddle that kicked started their club and which led to their recent success. It felt rude not to point out that a certain Russsian's millions also helped.

Saw peaks too, that's some beard  :)

That was shite. No excuses for not turning up. Well not for the fans that have paid their money all season anyway. To be treated to that was awful. Cooper can fuck off when he says it just wasn't our day. It was beyond not being our day. Every town fan that made the effort deserves a proper explanation for that shambles. I imagine we won't get one though.

What part of today was pretty? None. Shambles from the off. I'd take hoofball if it means results and promotion. They were nothing special.

I'm gutted.
I hate to say it but it looked like I was watching 11 players that knew they weren't going to be at Swindon next season. I don't think one player comes out with any credit.
Starting Nathan Thompson was fucking ridiculous, and no one except Cooper can take the blame for that.
I can accept losing, we get used to it supporting Swindon, but all we ask for is a bit of fight and commitment, we didn't get any of that in a fucking play off final. As good as this side has been at times this season, that was one of the worst performances I've seen from a Swindon side in a long time.

It wasn't that it was a bad performance that fucked me off, I was watching a team that didn't seem to give a flying fuck about what was going on.

I think you are right Quagmire. It did look like a side of players already knowing they were off to another club.

I don't buy this Preston are a long ball side or dirty etc. Just look at the fouls our side have committed recently. Preston were just better. Better shape, discipline, and the best player on the park in beckford who was different class. They allowed us possession as they kept their shape and refused to be broken down. Good side,well drilled.

Arribas is right. Some serious sour grapes on here about Prestons style. 2 of their goals were fucking lovely and we never once had a sniff.

Not sure how being neat, clinical, solid and committed is a bad thing. We certainly offered none of those qualities.

This seasons Swindon side at their best beats Preston at their best.
Today wasn't about being a good side, Preston wanted it more than we did, sadly it's as simple as that.

Parking at Wealdstone was a good move. Got a kick around in with the boys. Saw Sonic, Samdy, Fred and Si Pie. The boys had a good sing song to the tube station, and of course:

(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r66/batch_2001/SAM_0377_zpsy0d0abgu.jpg) (http://s141.photobucket.com/user/batch_2001/media/SAM_0377_zpsy0d0abgu.jpg.html)

Is that what caused the illness ?

Quite agree. Pretty patterns but not going anywhere. I want to see a passing side that can also defend and show some passion. Sadly we'll never see the later with loan and ex prem players who don't give a fuck.

I was also disappointed to see Nathan Thompson selected. I know Cooper says he passed all the tests but that return was way too soon.

It would have made absolutely no difference to the final outcome though.

Didn't learn from our 3-0 losses to Bristol City and Gillingham or the 5-5. That's on Cooper/Williams.

As for the football, Preston's front two had better movement than we could cope with. They were stronger than us, and our midfield yet again bottled it.

Really pissed off at our complete inability to defend crosses. I know it shouldn't come as a surprise really, but did we actually do any work on it? The only thing I got annoyed with Cooper over is his wobbling on about strikers missing chances without even acknowledging the other obvious issue.

To concede so cheaply after 2 minutes with shit defending is criminal. The game was over after 15, though it might have been more interesting if Smith could have put that header in.

Fucksake. This chance probably won't come up again for ages. Bottled it again and surely we must have the worst new Wembley record of anyone.

Not sure I can stomache league 1 forever. Sick of it.

:)

I suspect playing football + over excitement + pepsi + seeing us fuck it up after 15 minutes.

Did get to see a bit behind the scenes though. Walked passed the team bus and the players entrance. In keeping with the day the players were nowhere to be seen.

Is that Seann Walsh at the bar?

Fucked if I know!

Wonder when it was a team last conceded 10 goals in 3 play-off matches. Anyone?

I hate the new Wembley...that is all.

What the fucking hell was that!?

£150 odd to be humiliated.

As shit as Cheltnumb in the cup and Blades away last season put together.

All over at two zip...

I wasn't even angry....just sat in disbelief!

Thompson was a gamble which was an epic fail....started badly and faded.

Preston were organised direct and clinical, whilst we couldn't do anything right. I don't really think Preston ever changed up a gear...they didn't have to and that fucking hurt me.

Smith should of buried that header at 2:0....that was the one chance to get back into it.

Preston didn't really have to try and we made a striker who tried and failed to make it in the Premier League look like Messi.

Should of had a certain pen for the Byrne break but we would of probably missed that...

Kasim ran up his arse, did Um Bongo play?

Obikas header that was clawed away was the only highlight.

Havent read back to see what Cooper said.
I hope he is proud of the seasons performance, which I for one thought would be shit BUT for the money that town fans pissed away to watch that shit today he really should apologise.

I did stay til the end but left at final whistle....I applauded the players at the CG v blades.....I suppose that was as good as it gets.

I will be there next season, let's hope we keep a.good spine of the team and get a big centre half and a nasty experienced midfielder.

Meh!!!!

Just read back and this post is excellent....sour fucking grapes bitching about Preston.

Did Cooper really say it wasn't our day!? Fuck off......I suppose he couldn't do the old..'missed chances' speech today.

Cant be bothered to talk about today. See you fuckers at Supermarine in July.

I don't mind the 352 in fact I quite like it amd am happy to buy into a club philosophy/identity/ethos but I want to see us working on a back 4 formation, something we can switch to if needed, when teams like Franchise and PNE just batter us in the channels with balls into the spaces where traditional fullbacks would be. Do something to make it a bit more difficult for teams. We don't have to play 3 at the back to play attractive, attacking football. For the love of god sign someone who can attack crosses and set pieces and get SOME experience.

Fuck me Fred has aged!!

They did play long ball and they were dirty. No sour grapes, just a fact.

Near, clinical, solid and committed trumps fanny flicking football all day long.

Years ago - we (or any team) would dust off, regroup, sign a few more players and go again. Now a days, we'll have how many of today's first XI here next season 2 or 3? If that...

We've had a good season, come fourth, been within 90 minutes of the Championship and we have to rebuild practically from scratch again.....ridiculous really

Yep. And it's too much to expect them to completely rebuild the side every single year and mount a promotion push or even finish in the top half of the table. It's happened the last couple of seasons but it can't happen every time.

Sam's mentioned a few times that they expect a promotion-push every 3 years - this one has come a bit early.

Trouble with a promotion push every three years is that loan players aren't allowed to stay in Div 1 for that long as they'll be moved onto the championship if they are any good.   We've had loads of examples over the last two years and there will be at least four moving on this year.

It means rebuilding the team every two years unless we can afford to buy or produce more of our own.

You're right, it won't happen every season....and the season it does happen (like this one) it's a bit shit or bust because deep down we all know we will change our side every year.
This was this sides only chance to get promoted.

Too many short term contract (all usually 1 or 2 years, so always nearly expiring and giving the player/agent all the power) and the loan system. I completely understand why it is the way it is but I do miss 4 year contracts where you knew you had the core of your side for a few seasons and you had a foundation to build on.

I know it was forever and a day ago now but we had players that went first division to the Premier League back to the first division, down to the second and back to the first with us.

I can't imagine Wigan will have any of their old Premier League squad next season in L1.

It was a good day until 17:32.

I got very drunk yesterday, the only highlight of the day. I did get home and fall asleep Into a plate of Indian takeaway I have no memory of buying though.

Think I may have had a very brief chat with you on the tube, I was with my nephew, you were stood up with your lads sat down.

Nice to see some 'old' faces at Wealdstone, as per usual just a shame about the football.

Oh and the fact we were in row 16 of block 221 and had to put up with Preston fans directly behind us, as club wembley don't care about what fans are in front of them. One day it will kick off up there big time. Most of their fans were okay but a couple were proper dickheads.

obika thompson n smith gladwin randall and hylton.cant see anyone else being here (maybe rodgers)

We were row 14.  Not impressed by it at all and Wembley's refusal to do anything.  It was lucky that it was mainly families in the Swindon seats otherwise it could have got really nasty.

Gladwin may not be here but the rest you are right with.

I think it's 50/50 with Byrne, Kassim and Gladwin. If any of them went I wouldn't be surprised but equally, one or two of the three could stay. I think Kassim is the most likley to go.

Maybe we sign Gruffalo?

I noticed Luongo looked pretty disinterested after the game, wandering around looking at the floor when the other players were clapping the fans. In stark contrast, Nath was clearly struggling to get around on crutches and seeing him and Louis after the game was quite moving really.

Think history has repeated itself a little with some players being guilty of thinking about next season, and their ne t club, before finishing the job they still had to complete. PNE seemed to be fighting for every ball, our lot didn't have the same heRt. Having said that losing the two early goals obviously had a huge impact. The real problem was Smith missing that header, it had to go in for us to have any chance.

22 years and counting since we had anything to celebrate at Wembley, I was actually relieved we didn't get a meaningless consolation yesterday, would have been horrible to see a goal in the last minute.

I'd rather wait til next time, when the goal hopefully would mean something.

I hope not

Quite possibly, you were stood up with your nephew yeah? It was good to nearly meet you Jan. I was the right side of merry then, hence the singing :) Hope he somehow had a good day, football aside. Think my lads did until goal 2/medical centre :)

Can't believe they mixed club Wembley. Don't think it was like that where we were (block 208). That's ridiculous. That said because we were late leaving Wembley we were with mostly Preston fans who had stayed to watch the trophy lift. They were all pretty decent, no piss taking at all. As much as they were trying to help though, "I know how you feel" doesn't make you fell better !

They were a damn sight nicer than those Millwall villains. And we've got to put up with them again next season...  :cry:

He certainly went off the boil in the second half of the season. Who didn't though?

Gladwin, Hylton and Wes. Don't think Obika can be criticised either.

I'm still undecided as to whether that was down to stage fright, or not giving a shit. I think the former. I refuse to believe any professional footballer would not give a shit about a Wembley final regardless of whether they are off.

On the flip side, I can see an argument "well, I'll be in the chmpionship anyway next year" may just make them dip form that 1 or 2% that is enough to get beat.
-------
On Thompson, I think he was worth the risk myself. You will get 100% from him. Yes he gave away the free kick, but our utter schoolboy defending of it cost the goal.

Quote of the day. Preston fan on tube after game...
"Is Swindon in the Cotswolds? "  :D

(http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab225/mark_woolhouse/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20150525_124352_zpsnqrlulcb.jpg)

Seeing a video of a load of our players signing and dancing in a pub last night like they'd won the game didn't help my mood this morning.

Wasn't it someone on here who said that Swindon was 'The Bronx of the Cotswolds?!

No, Swindon isn't in the Cotswolds, but neither is Cirencester or Cheltenham. Each can legitimately call itself 'a gateway to the Cotswolds'. Unlike Gloucester which is 'Asda of the Malverns'.

So where to begin? I woke up feeling absolutely awful following a long day yesterday and thoroughly depressing game of football. When we were pretty much assured of a play-off place, I told my 6-year old I'd take him to his first ever game if we made it to Wembley. Obviously I had to follow through with this promise/threat when we did make it. He's never seen a live football match, so this should have been a real treat for him. After witnessing Millwall and Chesterfield, I was quietly optimistic. What a fool.

I was determined to enjoy the day regardless though, so we got the tube into Wembley Park, I got him a scarf and a horn (£15!) and he was amazed by all the people and the size of Wembley.

Then onto the game. The Wembley display was great and the atmosphere before the match was pretty decent. Then they scored. Why was Thompson playing? Why do we persist with 3 at the back. I hate the wing-back system, it leaves us exposed against any team. I'm not sure if the players got stage fright, or had their minds on where they were going to be playing next season, and it really pains me to say but it was the worst, and probably the most gutless display I've ever seen from a Swindon side. I really don't think anyone came out of it with any credit. Preston were everything that we weren't. Clinical up front, solid at the back, neat in possession and quick and strong in the tackle. Garner dominated our defence and Beckford's class shone through. He's really a bit too good for this division. When we did get the ball in good positions, it was almost as if we tried to make it harder for ourselves by slowing down the play and passing backwards to give them plenty of time to get the numbers back and make it near impossible to get through them.

I'm not sure where we go from here. There will be one hell of a rebuilding job to go. It feels like we need a couple of experienced pros to fill the spine, but they aren't easy to come by, and with the system we seem to insist upon they have to be good on the ground. I love the ideaology that we're going to be a club that passes the ball. Its how the game should be played in my opinion. But if we're going to be successful at it, we need to address other issues which have been absolutely glaring since around February. It seems the Asia Cup has a lot to answer for - since Mass and Kasim came back, we've not been right. Whether Mr Luongo came back thinking he was way too big for this club or not I', not sure, but he's been distinctly average ever since. I wouldn't be putting my hand in my pocket if I was Tim Sherwood.

The only shining light from yesterday was my boy. He took the defeat pretty well (not as emotionally invested as me!) and said that we may stand a better chance next season when Preston aren't there. I didn't have the heart to tell him its not quite as simple as that. He also announced that he's going to be a Swindon fan for the next year, at which point he will assess his options, which considering the result yesterday I'll take!

Bit of a pattern for the new Wembley now. 0-1, 0-2, 0-4. If it continues, we lose the next one 0-8. 

Have you got a link?

Afraid not, it was on snapchat.

The Cotswold Hills are geologically a bit indistinctive, as your talking about part of a band of oolitic limestone, that stretches from Dorset to Lincolnshire.   The scarp bit is obvious rising as it does from the Severn valley, but then the dip slope part trails away for a good 60 miles eastward, and so it's end is a bit arbitrary.

Cirencester is 'capital of the Cotswolds' :)

Let's face it he checked out months ago.

Be interesting to see what happens over the summer and if we still have the same manager, owner and some players next year.

That's how Ciren is marketed but it's not in the Cotswolds!

Bouton-on-the-Water's recent marketing describes it 'Venice of the Cotswolds' pmsl.


I personally consider Stow-on-the-Wold as capital of the Cotswolds.

Good post

If the stories circulating regarding Cooper's departure are also true you can see where something of a motivational problem occurred.

I've heard various things too which don't make good reading. Sounds to me like he has been Powers puppet

Out of interest what have you heard? I'm not local to Swindon so the only rumours I hear are the ones that get posted on here. The only thing that doesn't make sense to me regarding all this is that Power had the opportunity to flog Cooper to Barnsley in Jan, make a couple of quid in the process & either bring sonebody else in or promote Luke Williams, assuming he would have been happy to take the job on. Surely he would have done that then if Cooper was leaving at the end of the season regardless.

I got to a pub in Ireland (on the border of county cork and Waterford) asked for the game to be put on, just in time for Paul Huntingdon to be given the freedom of our penalty box to give Preston a 2-0 lead. Typical!

We had so much possession yesterday but created 1 clear cut chance which Smith missed, hardly surprising given how he played, very poor from the big man.

6 pints of cracking Guinness and my £35 bet on Preston to win promotion softened the blow somewhat but very disappointing that we didn't show up on the biggest stage.

Youghal?

I found a place on Soi Cowboy that serves draught Guinness..... great result.

It was a small town called Tallow. Think the pub was called Teniry

I thought Soi Cowboy was the club where you get high quality prossers in Bangkok.  Due to a bad stomach I didnt visit but our lighting guy and monitor engineer certainly took advantage, whilst our tour manager bought one back to the hotel bar gave her a few drinks and then sent her home.

Soi Cowboy is a street (Soi means street). There's many bars, go-go bars etc there. It's actually just a 2 minute walk from where I had a beer with you.

High quality prossers? If they think Cowboy has 'high quality prossers' then they must be used to some right fucking shit-holes. It doesn't exactly set the bar high.

As I say, I didn't involve myself in this nonsense.  It was only the ghastly 'mericans that did.  Didnt like it.

Didnt see anyone fighting as in the gods but obv no stewards/officials saw it either

(http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab225/mark_woolhouse/pnepolice_zpsczz30cfe.jpg)

Nice they have the time to trawl through our forums though?! Get a life jeeeez  ::)

I saw a couple of incidents by me, one was dealt with really excessively. 10 stewards on 1 bloke. Apparently the guy behind him wasn't happy with him standing up and kicked off, pretty sure he didn't get kicked out.

I missed the incident itself but a couple of stewards got involved when a fan complained about being given a blow with one of the crutches of a guy in the disabled area immediately in front of us;  sounds like there was more spirit (metaphorically as well as literally) in the Town fans than in the Town players on the pitch

it was the same when we played Millwall to be honest, arguments between our own fans.

Is it wrong that I really hope Davies was being scythed down in this tackle...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32899121

The Preston fans were too busy nicking things off kids http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/first-picture-preston-shirt-snatcher-5762704

It's all over local news up here today that Beckford has given the lad a signed shirt and tour of Deepdale.

That was a fantastic challenge. He didn't hold back though that's for sure.

http://www.itv.com/news/granada/update/2015-06-02/preston-fan-admits-she-lied-about-having-terminal-cancer/

So that's where Thor has been.

She was the fucker they were clapping for 1 minute on the 10 minute mark , they were trying to drum up support for her amongst Town fans on Twitter to join in what a lary cunt there are somethings in life that you should never lie about and having cancer is one of them. She is the bitch on the end and the caption above the image on the official Football League Twitter account said

"We were privileged to have Linda Moon & family with us today. Her incurable cancer means it may be her last ever game "

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFzkW4PWMAA620-.jpg)

They've some classy women up there for sure, with her and shirt lady. No wonder thor tarts himself around everywhere else.

To be fair - and not wishing to in any way support the lady after what she did - the clapping was for all fans who had died or for reasons of illness or incapacity were unable to attend the Final.

that's not how it was initially portrayed RWB. the tweet I saw was specifically for this bitch. even saw her oooh, I'm so touched bile responses to it.

at Wembley I explained to my lads why we were clapping, tonight I can teach them some people are utter Cunts

This is what was tweeted

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CEz_gFdWIAAVXe8.jpg:large


Relegate them I say.

That was only added afterwards the original request from PNE was a show support for this cretin

Agreed, with this and shirtgate a nasty cloud of negativity has descended across their achievement, and it can only be cleared by replaying the whole game.

Hang, I've just remembered who is left in our squad, I'm not prepared to pay £45 quid to watch a still injured Nathan Thompson and Rosi Branco try to hold back the Preston tides while our 8 strikers crowd round their box,  futilely wondering if the ball might come down that way at some point

They can keep their promotion

I'm lost for words.  If somebody initially misunderstood it was cancer, you would correct them not allow it to spiral out of control. 

She's insulted everyone who is genuinely fighting the disease and deserves any abuse she gets.

The camera panned in on her when the clapping was going on and she was crying.  Tears of shame?  I somehow doubt it.

I stand corrected.  I'm not sure I like this ever-increasing 'mark of respect' or whatever, anyway, but this kind of action undermines people's natural compassion. However, I also know how difficult it is to stop the train once you have started something going....whether deliberately or not.... We none of us enjoy losing face.

She could do with a new one.

Well its been a while since that shit day in north london, but then i found this photo that a mate of mine took.....and i remembered just how much i fucking love the Town. Roll on next season COYR