Thetownend.com

Northern semi-final second leg is tonight.

HT: Oldham 0-0 Chesterfield, 1-2 on aggregate

Thanks, completely forgot and the Mrs is out.

If we get through I would feel more than confident against either of these two

Agreed, Chesterfield look worse so hopefully they can hang on.

Not thinking about it as we have to beat Barnet first

I'd have felt more confident if Marshall was playing and McLeod had failed the dope test.

Barnet are in superb form at the moment as well.

Chesterfields right back is awful

I'm just hoping we got a decent team to field next tuesday.

Sorted my tickets today. My first game since Huddersfield.

Did notice the other day that we were the favourites to win the JPT.

This makes me nervous.

Chesterfield v Swindon or Barnet

Clamity goal.

It's Chesterfield

Not being funny, but it's the JPT.  So I'm not sure I could manage to be nervous.  If we get to Wembley then I'm sure I'll go (even though the game would be over the same weekend as my wedding anniversary).  But nerves?  Not for me.  The league is 100 times more important than this.

I don't like being favourites for a competition that we haven't progressed to the final. What can I say, I'm not a betting man.

We should hammer the hell out of Chesterfield, they are fucking woeful

I didn't expect Chesterfield to win tonight. Fair play to them.

This competition is looking very winnable. It's just a shame Barnet have hit some form!

Barnet have won 4 straight in Div 4....anyone who thinks this is already done and dusted, needs to think again. We're Swindon Town, well versed in fucking things up.

It always nice to win a trophy, be tough agaisnt Barnet but quite looking foward to next tuesday.

It's one of our consistencies.

I would love a trip to Wembley to avenge the Millwall defeat, but it's going to be a war to get there. Barnet aren't the same team they were in September.

So we're in the Final?? Happy days :clap:

True. But we are in better league form and have W5 D 1 of the last 6 at home.

IF Barnet beat us at home, they deserve it. My worry is a lucky draw and the dreaded penalties.

Yeah let's get there before we hammer them eh?

Already had a few mates text me saying we have Chesterfield then, its like they have all forgot the Barnet game even exists.

I think we are right to be weary of the underdog. I hope PDC took note of the way the Oldham v Chesterfield game panned out. It's going to be all about our front men taking their chances. Connell on for the full game I hope ( or until we 3 up!)

The fact that PDC has got his team beating Premier League, Championship, L1 and L2 teams this season reassures me in that respect.

That's why I thought the draw in the first leg was very creditable. After beating Wigan 3 days previously it would have been easy (under a different manager) to have gone there with our heads in the clouds and our minds not really on the game. Before we knew it, we could have been two down and 3-0 down by half time then that would have been the end of that.

But we've kept it level and the same attitude next week will hopefully will see us through. Won't be easy though.

And we are? :1st:

word!

Fair play to Chesterfield. Oldham battered them for 90 mins but just couldn't find a way through.

Whoever gets to Wembley out of us and Barnet will fancy their chances.

Fucking spot on, easy to outplay them all game with their keeper on form and concede one fluke.

Its certainly going to be tighter than a nun's chuff.

Not sure if this has been mentioned previously but Mark Marshall failed a drugs test and is currently suspended:

http://www.barnetfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10431~2594165,00.html

Just been an advert on SSN for the barnet match.

Wasn't sure if it had been actually confirmed it would be on tv yet, now it has..

would be nice to
 - get 10k + for this
 - have the bank open again...

Oldham had 5,600 ish for there game last night which is a reasonable crowd for them I think.

I reckon we'll get around 7-8k.

it was confirmed that it would be on TV before the games even started Sky promised to show both 2nd leg ties.

I don't think we will get much more than 7,500 Tuesday....unless we win tonight at Sarfend and on Saturday too, to create that real buzz again.

one game away from wembley, I think there will be more interest than you credit it...

I hope there is, I just personally cant see it, Barnet wont bring that many down, 500 max. Ok maybe it was a bit low but I don't think we will exceed 9k.

I don't care how Barnet have been playing lately - hope they win Saturday as well (Pox) - if we can't beat them it will be a huge kick in the nuts.

But why does my memory go back to Digby being sent off against Aldershot in the equivalent competition then (Simod Cup?)

I remember it well, we were in control until then and bang....fuck up central.

Interesting to see that if we make it to Wembley it could be worth around £500k to the club, a lovely nice little earner.

I cried when that happened  :(

Its been a bit of a jinxed competition for us

Considering the number of ex Swindon players they have, and that its unlikely we're going to beat them three times in one season, i'd take a draw right now. Its our toughest league game left considering matches against the other top sides are all at home. If we win i'd begin to get genuinely excited!

Expecting a defeat but would love a draw

Wrong thread fella!

Having a quick read on the Barnet forum seems they are as confident about turning us over as we are about beating them, they arent on a bad run at all I have to admit but we must be favourites at home.

Looking at the online ticketing part of the website tickets are selling very well for this. I reckon it could be a sell out.

It only looks full because they haven't released season tickets holders' seats yet.

I was secretly hoping Izale McLeod would be gone in the transfer window - either way, this is a very tough game.

No it isn't, Barnet are rubbish... mainly due to having Lawrie Sanchez at the helm!

Yep, i'm confident!

I think we'll win 3-1 next week, and then go on to win the JPT...had a feeling if Leon Clarke was still at Chesterfield he would have scored the winner against us, but now that's not the case I'm confident we'll beat Barnet and then Chesterfield  :D

Freight Rover Trophy not the Simod Cup (which was for 1st and 2nd Division clubs). 2-0 up and coasting towards Wembley.........I vaguely remember Macari trying to assault the ref after the game, or am I getting that mixed up with another game?

Andy King got the first Aldershot goal.

wasn't some geezer out the crowd that had a pop

Bravado methinks. No one will be confident of turning us over, particularly at home. What is it 4 months since we conceded a league goal? Saying that they've earned their place and it will be tight, but we've more than enough to see them off. Confident, yes. Cocky no.

I think so too but to be fair to them they aint on a bad run themselves, their last 5 games....

H Bristol Rovers W 2-0 
H Swindon Town D 1-1
A Accrington W 3-0
A Northampton W 2-1
H Crewe W    2-0 

Still if you put that next to our recent record it does overshadow their results hugely.

And yes Hereford in the 90th minute at home on 8th October was the last league home goal conceded 810 minutes of football.

How are ticket sales coming along for this?

5,000 sold. I haven't bought my season ticket seat yet and I'd imagine quite a few others will get theirs at the weekend.

will tickets be available on the night?

Yes (unless in the unlikely event that they sell out of course)

None too shabby so far.

Just rung up for mine

Probably get mine on Saturday.

I was going to get mine on Saturday morning but noticed the club are encouraging fans to buy them before or after Saturday. I don't really fancy queuing twice.

Didn't we also have bad luck in the Simod Cup semi-final at Luton.

I remember there was a huge Swindon following and something to do with Dave Bamber.

But then again, as I am usually pissed at away games it all could be in my mind

Bamber was through 1-on-1, thought the ref blew for offside (he didn't) and smacked the ball right at the keeper.  Absolutely gutted, but we rightly sung "we're proud of you"...

Just rang up for mine too.

Did mine online... £2 in fees?! Robbing bastards.

Credit card fees innit think it is a quid if you use debit card, still a rip off mind

Well looks like Chesterfield fans think we are arrogant wankers posting links to this page and they hope Barnet beat us, thats mostly because they know they will have a much better chance of beating them than beating us.

http://www.thecfss.co.uk/forums/index.php?s=73487296d75268b1183c8ae2496404cd&showtopic=37567

Oh and the irony in the last post.....

Ha

Who wrote that?

Funny thing is I didn't think this thread was that confident about us beating Barnet.....

Some twat on their forum called mattthespireite.

Have a read of the thread, they love us!

I have to agree.

It's not.

But for the benefit of browsing Chesterfield fans, I'm confident we'd easily turn you over in the final.

If we beat Barnet and it is a big IF, then i expect the game against Chesterfield will be a tricky one seeing as they have recently picked up a bit of form although i dont see why how they think we have been arrogant?  :hmmm:

Saying that, I fully expect to beat both Barnet and Chesterfield and win the cup  :clap:

We're going to beat them all 15-0

We're not arrogant, just confident!

Chesterfield?!  I'm not sure I even knew they had a team.

(Was that arrogant enough?)

Sorry I was too busy chewing on my straw and taking off my smock.

Where is Chesterfield?  On a farm outside Chester? 

Small town in sheffield

Barnet is the tough match. Chesterfield are shit.

;)

The last time I went to Chesterfield (96' I think), their stewards warned us that their fans are thick chavs. Obviously nothing's changed.

Somewhere that is famous for being bent

No its a grubby small suburb of Sheffield where they work down t'pit......any more stereotypes anyone wish to add since they started on the stereotype dig?

Whippet bothering, coal mining, gravy eating, jobless cunts.

We'll smash them, easy.

On current form, Barnet are a stronger side than Chesterfield.
Barnet have won their last four games, Chesterfield have won five games all season.
IF we beat Barnet (Will be a tough game, no doubt) then I am confident we can beat Chesterfield, considering we've beaten many teams already this season from higher leagues.

That, you Northern cunts, is confidence, not arrogance.

Why would a steward furnish you with that kind of information?  I would have said " thanks Mr steward,  time for song.  :) " .

I shagged a girl from chesterfield once.

She had a twat as wide as a miners helmet.

Cool story bro.

I bet Sky and the sponsors can't wait for a Chesterfield v Barnet final!

They want glamour, they want excitement, they want fans to turn up - in short, they want


DI CANIO!!!!!!

Hope your nob isn't as bent as that fucking spire

We were winding them up. Their fans used to change ends at half time!

I have no confidence in beating a shite team that are 23rd in the league above and have won a massive 5 games.

Confident we can beat both Barnet and Chesterfield, though expecting the former to pose more of a threat/test.

Thats the spirit!

Looks like they have been reading this!


Don't bring a knife to a gunfight you slow unfunny thick cunt.

Apparently that was a 'classic comment', they're easily pleased

Spinach Chin seems a decent chap -

'Second in the league and on a good run - against (probably) a team in the bottom 4 of the league above? I`d really fancy my chances as well in thier position.'

it's Derbyshire not Sheffield.

Chesterfield has the biggest Tesco I've ever seen.

Hmm, we're confident, because we 've already beaten. Exeter, bristol City, Colchester, Huddersfield, and Wigan this season, whom i believe are higher up the 92 than Chesterfield. Why wouldnt we be, if we get through?

It is Derbyshire, my cousin lives there and it really winds him up if I say that he is just part of Sheffield, a lot closer to Sheffield than Derby though. :D

It's fucking Chesterfield. They'll probably do a Darlo and people will give less of a shit.

I have to say, Saltergate was the worse ground I've ever visited.

Is it Chesterfield where at half time they annouce the crowd changes instead of the team?

Don't think for one minute that the Barnet game will be easy. We all know it won't be and that's not just because they're in good form but also because this is STFC after all. We never do these things the easy way.

6,027 tickets now sold for Tuesday.

Is that just home tickets?  Would expect another 1000 between now and then, plus 1000 on the night, plus 500-750 from Barnet? 8,500-9kish?

Barnet won't take many as it's on TV. 300ish I reckon.

Looking forward to watching this down the SU tbf.

Yeah, 750 is a bit too high, but 400-500 with a good wind.

Is anyone watching it in a central London pub?

London Reds will be. Don't know if they've decided which pub they're going to yet though.

We've sold 1000 in one day, that's pretty impressive.

Some will be. it'll get posted by Ardiles, Otanswell or myself when announced.

Just finished washing the turnips, did I miss anything?

Pigeon fancying, Arthur Scargill supporting commie bastards. Fat lot of good that did supporting Arthur who's now retired on a fat pension and in a grace and favour pad being picked up by the miners pension fund.

I always wondered why Arthur didn't advertise Shredded Wheat on account of him wearing one on his head most of his life.

Sadly my seat in row R DRS will be available to anyone who wants it. I'm away on business three nights next week so it rules me out but I'll be in a pub with my town shirt on giving it large. Also ruled out of the Shrews game  >:( for the same reason.

or did they support Roy Lynk and the Nottinghamshire miners when Maggie promised them the earth and completely fucked them over.

Some may have  :hmmm:

Oooh, didn't realise it was on tv. I'm in Edinburgh next week so that's a bonus.  What channel?

Edit: Just seen it's on Sky Sports 1 apparently.  Happy days.

Fucking scabing bastards

Just had a look on the Chesterfield site .... They are flogging their tickets at £26, £36 and £46.  Are these prices pre set by the FA?  Or do the clubs get a say in charging whatever they want?  I went a few years back with a mate supported Southampton and then it was significantly more expensive?

Set by wembley/FA i believe.

i have had to explain to 3 different people this week  that chesterfield is not a place i have made up.

arrogant? nope but trumpton is more famous than you.

Want me to take you seriously?  Then fix that fucking spire.

It's been wonky for ages.  Shoddy.

Ooh, I like it when Ardiles gets angry.  :girlgiggle:

I think you'll find that was Mansfield.Chesterfield elected Tony Benn as their local MP in the mid 80's.

Remember how Maggie put an MI5 stooge into the NUM who then went and negotiated a deal in Libya
with Gaddafi?

Barnet havn't trained for 2 days and have no game tomorow.I actually think that is a benefit.

To us or them?

I'm not really bothered if they get a few days extra rest. Our fitness levels are the best in the league and we can afford to rest 1 or 2 as the likes of Bodin and Rooney can only play in the league.

To us Sam.

Devera = Fresh
McCormack = recently rested for 3 games
Cibbochi + Kennedy = Not actually played that many
J Smith = well rested
Risser = Not played much
Cox = ?
Pikey = Not played much
Bodin = Should be quite OK
Connel = Shouldn't be too knackered
Murray = Should be OK
Benson = Not played much
Magera = Doesn't run anyway

I think it's only really Caddis, Ferry and Ritchie that may be knackered.

...and Ferry only played the last 5 minutes at Southend

Has Caddis missed a game yet?

No

How many bookings is he on?

They reset on 1/1/12 so 1 I believe.

Any news on a pub?  I'm out with four/five others and looking for somewhere reasonably central to watch it, all the better if there's a few other town fans in.

Cheers

Jan - see this thread below.  I'm going to bump it now as well.  If you missed it, others may have missed it as well.

http://thetownend.com/index.php/topic,46764.0.html

I did, Cheers Ardiles

[url width=320 height=256]http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/javaImages/d8/9a/0,,10341~10459864,00.jpg[/url]

What a complete twat this bloke is

Ha, Remember that, He refused to go into the dressing room at half-time and instead kept messing with his phone, Infact he was doing that throughout the game and was just sat there as if he didn't give a shit, I hate that wanker!!

I've never witnessed such a lethargic managerial display. I wonder what's changed this then?

Wasn't the Barnet game around the time that he was touting himself for the Norn Iron job?

Yes. We played them on Sept 24th. Sanchez was shooting his mouth off a couple of weeks before

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14822327

I mean no, because clearly "Further to the speculation that came to a head last Friday I wish it to be known to all Barnet FC supporters that I have not formally applied for the position as manager of the Northern Ireland international side and I was puzzled as to how my name seemed to appear on a 'shortlist'"

Which was in no way linked to the NIron FA raising a middle finger to him just before.

Currently Barnet have sold 180 of their 400 allocation for tomorrow, they are taking bookings for a 2nd coach to travel to Swindon.

Should have gone to Specsavers is about right for those glasses.

I have been away for a few days so I don't know if this has been posted on here yet if it has then my apologies......

http://www.johnstonespainttrophy.com/news/2011-2012/swindon-decorating-centre-to-play-host-to-the-johnstones-paint-trophy/

The trophy is on display in Swindon tomorrow before the game.

Just been on the On Line Ticket site and we have exactly 100 seats left for the DRS. If that's anything to go by we are looking at a pretty good attendance considering its on TV.

Is the Stratton bank open, I know Paolo was keen for this to happen

No. Not until the other stands sell out I guess (which isn't going to happen).

It's not, while DRS is almost sold there is still tons of tickets in the Town End.

Shame, always looks shit on the tv with an empty end. We can just blame that on the away support though.

We should have just put the barnet fans in the Stratton Bank and let Swindon fans have the corner of the Arkells, Would look better on tv then and show up their support.

Didn't manage to get a ticket on Saturday morning for this as probably would have held up others buying O****** tickets so will just buy on the night and sit in my seat in the Town End as nobody ever reserves it for Cup games hence me just paying on the night! 10K would be brill, although with temperatures and schooling, 9k will still be a decent attendance!

I think a lot of Town End tickets would be sold on a turn up on the night basis. It does always look better on TV when the town end is full(ish)

Shit thought there'd be more left in the DR. Probs old school it in the Town End instead.

Everyone in the Town End for a sing song!

Just had a change of mind on this and got tickets for me and the boys.

How is the weather down there today?

The snow here is melting now

Not too bad, A bit of rain and quite cold but a lot better than it has been, The snow has totally melted aswell.

Won't know until tonight weather I can go, so my seat in the DRS will be long gone, might have to give the town end a try.

What are rules tomorrow?

Do away goals count, will it go to extra time or straight to pens?

Just listened to PDC on Sky Sports News. I just couldn't understand him today, but he seemed happy enough.

Away goals don't count extra, no extra time, straight to pens if its a draw no matter what score the draw ends up.

Phil Smith on the bench just in case.

Thought the area final was different. Extra time happens when to scores are level over two legs and away goals count in extra time.

Tomorrow is deffo straight to pens and away goals don't count!

Maintain we'll win this 3-0 and 4-1 on agg!

The rules about extra time only come into play in the Final at Wembley where there could be extra time and then penalties.

If the scores are level on aggregate, away goals are not taken into consideration, the game will go straight to penalties.

I hope so, after the Digby - Aldershot debacle.

Does anyone reckon Flint is the mystery sub goalie?

My vote goes to Risser.

Risser doesn't look agile enough to me. Just wondered that because Flint is now out injured and Smith looks to be on the bench.

I think Smith is on the bench so that if it looks like it will come down to penalties then PdC will bring on Smith in the last minute :D

I really would do this. Smith is ace at saving penalties.

Smith not on the bench against Southend though. Still think McCormack is the backup keeper.

Mcormack would be far to small I would have thought.

I thought it came out that Magera was sub keeper? Or did I imagine that?

Most people thought that when he went in at centre back too.

I thought it came out that risser was the 'surprise goalie',

i think its captain caddis...

Ferry surely?

Very sensible decision to put a GK on the bench for such an important game.  We really do seem to have all bases covered these days don't we ?

Hehe, Chesterfield don't like us much do they

http://www.thecfss.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=37729

I can see that watching yesterday's game wouldn't have them worried, luckily we know we can play better. Was amused with


Which neatly ignores the fact Chesterfield are a 4th division team too.

Should be a good game then.

Fabulous attendance for their cup final : 5.724

Yeah i saw a comment that said Bournemouth and Oldham would wipe the floor with us. Just like Huddesfield, city and Wigan did, right. For once i their lives they are a few places above us, and suddenly they're real fucking madrid. Heee haaaw.

We won the league...We won the League...at Saltergate....

"Last time I saw Swinedon play at Wembley they were 3 up against Leicester City, who pulled it back to 3 all before the Swines cheated a penalty to go up 4-3. I think they were relegated directly due to financial irregularities. They don't deserve anything but a loss this time. "

What an imbecile

One mentioning how they shouldn't get complacent.

I'm not sure they quite understand. Who are the favourites for this one anyway?

Some of the things written on that Chesterfield forum is hilarious, comments like “Swindon look dodgy at the back” & “They cheated at Wembley and don't deserve anything this time” make me laugh.

I thought that, they dont rate us do they......but then they are used to watching shit week in week out they probably have forgotten what a good team looks like!

I love the logic of, 'well we beat bournemouth and they're much better than swindon'.  By that logic, well, we beat Wigan, Bristol City, Huddersfield, Colchester and Exeter.  They're all better than Chesterfield according to the league tables.

That 5 games against people in division one or higher.  The same as they have one against league 1 teams in their league campaign.

"but no reason why we cant win as barnet showed what class of teams play in division 2 ,the step up to league 1 is massive"

Step up massive ? so why are you bottom then ? ?

I can understand people thinking we ain't all that from watching last night's game. Barnet were scrappy and bought us down to their level, certainly wasn't the fluid football that has made us as good as we are.

Quite why anybody would thing we were dodgy at the back though is beyond me.

Because the step up was so massive...

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

QED!

If they have made all these judgements on us from watching one game against Barnet, then my judgement on them from watching one game against Oldham is that they looked poor at the back, their right back was dodgy and they had no midfield at all.

You can understand why opposing fans are not keen on PdC

"We beat Wigan, deservedly. We beat Huddersfield so we won't have any problems with Chesterfield," he added.

Got to love the bloke, though - pure box office stuff!!

I asked for that

Hi lads. Spireite here. There are some really thick arrogant cunts on our forum who believe because we are in a higher division we will beat you. You cant tell the fucking idiots anything though,if you do then they take points off you because they have a scoring system. Childish wankers. Anyway,i feel it should be a good game between us both as we both like to play football. Dont let the Oldham game trick you into thinking you saw how we usually play though. We went their to protect our goal advantage and try and nick a goal,which we did. It wasn't very pretty,granted,but we got the result. We like to get forward down the flanks but it aint really worked out for us this season because the club fucked up by not replacing two players who scored nearly 40 goals between them. Jack Lester will be our main threat,he only needs a sniff and can punish the meanest of defences. Who is your main threat and are you confident?

Matt Ritchie. Yes.

Can't argue with that really. Ritchie is the one to watch, and we have every reason to be confident. We've beaten a number of higher division teams this year and the confidence in the team is clear for all to see. We always try to play our football and it's proven successful.

That said, it's not going to be easy. It's a cup final, so your lot have obviuosly done well to get there, and anything can happen over 90 minutes.

I hope your team don't take us as lightly as some  of your fans we have lost 2 in 28 not conceded at home since 8th October . The confidence is absolutely sky high and with a backing of over 30k most Swindon fans will be going to Wembley thinking we are favourites. Natural order will be restored next season anyway with us above Chesterfield where we have historically been.

Never mind all that. How did leon Clarke do for you overall?

I think anybody who has been a fan for more than a season would know that a one off can cause upsets. So you are in with a chance :)

In seriousness, our right hand side is pretty good. Our defence has been superb since mid September.  We don't have a reliance on a superstar striker. They are good but if you mark one out of the game we have the other , and midfielders and defenders that can score too.

Jesus that sounds over confident and big headed. Obviously it is a game we can lose, but I am confident.

Should be a great day out. If we lose I will be pissed off...but...it doesn't mean much other than kudos. Its not like a playoff final.

Have a great time, before the game. Not during it.

You mean Wigan Reserves, Huddersfield Reserves and probably Bristol City Reserves

Say's the Chesterfield fan, who's team is currently rock bottom of league one.  :smugfu:

 Fuck me this game isn't for 6 weeks....and it's only the Skoda hubcap...bit early to be dissecting likely events.

you can only beat who's put infront of you and as matter of fact many of these 'reserves' would walk straight into your team no problem..

Troll, ignore

Admittedly, Wigan fielded a team of inexperienced youngsters such as Ali Al-Habsi, Emerson Boyce, Gary Caldwell and Franco di Santo, along with players like Callum McManaman who's only ever shone in the Champsionship, and Adrian Lopez who's only just made the step up from La Liga.

The Huddersfield side that we stuffed 4-1 was also significantly weakened, with a whopping 4 outfield changes from the side that beat your lot.

As for City, they were aweful. It wasn't a reserve team, but it might as well have been.

I know I've bitten, but it's worth getting the facts out there.

Plus we've also beaten Exeter and Colchester's first team this season.

I know a few Chesterfield fans up here, decent lot on the whole. Seems they have their own set of muppets,as every club does. They are expecting a decent game, it's pretty much all they have to play for this season... They seem to have accepted they won't stay up.

Chesterfield are fucking woeful.  They reminded me of Swindon last season.

I watched their second leg against Oldham on sky.  Oldham battered them but just had no one to score the vital goal.  Oldham cocked up in defence and Chesterfield capatalised.

I fully expect Chesterfield to be better in the final, but if we play our passing game and get the ball to the wingers, we should have more then enough in the tank to beat Chesterfield.

The fact that we will take more fans too should help as it will pratically feel like a home game

You've Jinxed it!

How many points did we have after 29 games last season?

Stop it, all of you.

We had 31 points. And we still had 31 four games later!

Chesterfield are a much bigger club than us and are plying their trade in a higher division.

Compared to them we are plucky minnows and don't stand a chance against them at Wembley, they are stronger, fitter, more tactically gifted and all round far superior to our bunch of cloggers.

But sometimes, just sometimes, the fairytale comes true: Jack kills the giant; David triumphs over Goliath; pox win a game in Wiltshire, these things can happen.

Live the dream little Swindon, live the dream....

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

 :cry: Terrific and emotional speech. I am starting to believe that we might just do it, I can only hope.

Class.

Word!

Just got back!!! blah, blah. Only one sat in the pub in Peterfield! I also missed the goal going for a piss would you believe.

Still nice to be going to Wembley again and taking the missus and nipper this time.

Unfortunately this is bound to be a problem....we've a massive game on Tuesday night (weather permitting) and nobody mentions it. We'll expect the players to fully focussed, but as fans, many are getting as excited as Gary Glitter at girl guide jamboree.  This is the first time we've had a final in season since 1969...then Wembley cost us 3 defeats in a row in March, which ultimately cost the title.

I kind of agree with Reg, got to get back focusing on the league.

Thankfully Crawley are dreaming of a cup tie against Stoke. I kid you not one question on their forum was "is Stoke at home bigger than Man U away". Erm. No. But its interesting that (one of ) their fans think this way, I suppose if you a new league club then it seems more glamorous than it is.

I agree with what you say, but I'm hoping that the professional attitude that Paolo has brought to the club will shine now.

He doesn't appear to accept anyone who is not totally focused on the next game, and will happily sub someone after 20 mins if they are not doing the job he expects (see Kerrouche).

It will be interesting to see...it certainly helps that we've Bodin, Cox, and Rooney, who can't play in the paint pot.

Here's something for everyone to ponder.

After we won the league cup we were denied the chance to play in the Fairs cup, now Europa league due to league rules at the time. We then went on to enter the Anglo Italian cup (as a sop) which we won. Why not inaugurate a similar European cup competition for lower league clubs winning a specific domestic cup competition like the JPT? Sponsorship would not be an issue as I'm sure there would be many companies clamouring to support "grass roots" football in all the other Euro countries. The format could be on a knockout basis so not to clog up domestic fixture lists.

So for instance if we win this years JPT we don't enter next seasons we go into the Euro piss pot trophy instead. The next seasons JPT could give a bye to one club in round one while we go off into Europe same rule applies to other euro clubs too. A team winning the Euro piss pot trophy can only win it once and will have to drop back into the domestic comp the following season to ensure there not being a one club domination or two clubs from the same country participating or taking into account a club being internally promoted to say in our case the Championship.

You'd have to circumnavigate around Blatter or Platini as they'd veto it on the grounds a) they did not think of it b) there's nothing worthwhile for them c) you think of something

Discuss.... 

Non starter

I imagine this competition would be about as attractive as the JPT is now. Who'd want to watch Swindon vs some 4th division French team away on a cold night in February? Nobody.

Speak for yourself reeves

Im sure summer of noughtie nine would have something to say about that

:D

Just remember how shit the second attempt at the Anglo Italian Cup was.

And then imagine how good it would be to play someone from the lower leagues in Eastern Europe.

Would be a huge financial burden to the team that qualified, big costs & small crowds.

Cant wait for us to play someone from the azerbaijan 5th division

Imagine what time the SAS bus would leave. :)

everyone knows there are only 2 tiers in Azerbaijan football.

Nice to see some positive responses....

:D

Same in Armenia. And most of the 2nd tier teams in Armenia are the Premier League side's reserve sides. Odd concept, I wonder what they do for cup games?

Probably better off having a mini competition for the winners involving Irish FA Cup winners, Scotland League cup winners and Wales FA Cup.

The Sun's Monday match paper screams out the headline.....

"For Ritchie or Poorer"

Lowly Swindon humble the mighty Spireites. Swindon's highly rated winger Mat Ritchie stunned the 10k plus Chesterfield supporters who had made the arduous trek from the frozen north over a two week pilgrimage on horses, cycles, traps and carts with many unfortunate souls having to hitch hike after selling their children into slavery to pay of the extortionately priced £10 tickets with three second half goals in a ten minute blitz that left the 35k Robins fans who had made the relatively easy trip down the M4 in a convoy of 4x4's, SUV'S, Limos, 1st class rail travel and a plethora of executive coaches breaking open the Krug in celebration.

Harry slagthorpe who was interviewed after untying his whippet from some nearby railings ready for the two week trek back home was gutted. "Fooking heck" were his chosen words after I asked him how he was feeling after the final whistle. "tha put me last few brass farthings on 't lads to win so I could get 't bus 'ome and the wife 'n littluns from the pawn shop man Abdul" "I'm fooked, really fooked" he said as a tear rolled down his cheek and disappeared into a crevice on his chin.

Meanwhile, the Swindon fans were cheerily waving £20 notes at the departing Chesterfield fans as they untied their horses and various paraphernalia to also start the trek up north along with Harry.

After the crowds had disappeared Wembley Way was awash with Champagne bottles, red and white tickertape and Fortnum and Mason hampers.

Fuck 'em even if they dick us 20-0 we'll still get promoted as they slip the other way.

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :clap: :clap: :clap:

class

Mean while....

In the Swindon Advertiser the Paolo, it's Paolo Di Canio column start's with;

"I'm a looking forward now to the draw for the Euro howa you say peasa pot trophy". "Mmmmm we are in a good moment and I like to go to my home and show them errr the famus reed army".   

what do i win?

Is Johnstones paint still avaialable? I thought it disappeared in the 80's with old spice and spangles.

I'm going to guess yes you'd think so, though retro product sponsorship may catch on. The Um Bongo FA Cup. The Ratners Premier League.

Yeah it is we sell it at work and it's shit!

What about the Wimpy Premier League?

Hofmeister Championship

Skol league 1, Double Diamond League 2.  We could do this for ages.

The Circle K Conference.

Blue Stratos League Division One
St Bruno Championship
Gold Block Conference North

Still a few Wimpy's knocking about.

Houses or burgers?

Quatro Premiership, Tab Clear Football League.

They have Wimpy's in Southend.  Decide against having a bender in a bun.

We were singing the skol song on the train on sunday, i wasn't singing & 1 young lad about 17 said why aren't you singing so i said that i'd forgot the words, he looked really blank when everybody started laughing at him.

Waitrose Premiership
Sainsbury's Championship
Morrisons League One
Tesco League  Two
Asda Conference

Lidl conference south

Anusole frogging championship (Mark and Lard reference from the old days)