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What are your favourites? and Worst? I've only ever been following Swindon through 2 play-off campagnes so only have a limited number to choose from..

Favourite is obviously Charlton, that second leg was magical and actually my favourite all time memory from following the town, with the worse being the second leg away at Brighton.. Gutted.


Hopefully I don't fuck up our chances of play-offs this year by posting this..  :badmood:

1. Tranmere away, final whistle plus about 45 minutes
2. Paul Bodin's penalty
3. The entire game against Sunderland in 1990
4. The final whistle against Blackburn at home in 90
5. Charlton away (not there), especially as the Police had to knock on the door to check about a household disturbance that had been reported by local residents.

 :suicide:



Best - Leicester (plus the tranmere game at home) "Aldridge what's the score?"  :)

Missed - Brighton (I was in Canada at the time)

Worst - millwall (atmosphere and football)

Edit. Oh, the noise when Danny ward scored against Charlton at home (does anyone have a link? There was one filmed from the Charlton end, doesn't seem to be around now)

That is brilliant!  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

He popped his head in to watch for a minute or two!  Was reported to them along the lines of potential domestic violence. We (my brother and I) later ran around the street celebrating with beers in hand, hopefully they realised locally that everything was ok at this point.

 :D :D

This.

Partly due to the rollercoaster emotions over the 90 minutes but mainly for the bloke in a shell suit and bushy tache telling everybody to "calm down" in a Scouse accent. Seem to recall bricking it after the final whistle when the Tranmere fans invaded the pitch and charged towards us, until they stopped about 20 yards away.

The final against Leicester as well, but that's too obvious a choice.

03/04 was painful and I missed both Charlton games so my memories aren't particularly fond!

Gillingham at Selhurst park - nuff said!

Maskells shot hitting the post and in....what a sound!

Old Man has always said that to me the sound of that will live with him forever!

Haha, just remembered I came out of Wembley and managed to go the wrong way from my group and ended up being in amongst about 1000 very sour looking Leicester fans  :zipped:

Exactly this...

03/04 was horrible...

Missed the Charlton game as was on honeymoon in Italy (bizarely spent the evening getting text updates from a Newcastle Utd supporting geordie mate - top man!) and then was only back from honeymoon a day or so before final and couldn't/didn't want to traipse down from Lancashire for the final - glad I didn't anyway!

03/04 could have been majestic. So close yet so far!!

Wigan away donkeys years ago...2-0 down and we won 3-2 in the away leg....terrible ground was Springfield Park.
We drew the home match 0-0 and was lucky on the night i seem to remember.

Brighton away was nuts, starting with the weather.

I remember no-one in our rent-a-stand had any idea what had happended when Sammy scored. And the Fallon goal... oh my days. When it nicked off the keeper and looped towards the corner and it was one of those "everyone freezes" moments when you couldn't tell if it was dropping in or not.

Millwall was absolutely fucking desperate. The Charlton away leg was beyond belief. I had an exam the following morning and gassed it, worth it though.

As did I and totally agree. Religious Studies, only GCSE though.. Got a D!

I had an exam the morning after the second leg against Blackburn in 1993. I failed too.

Haha, same. Except I failed.

Also had an exam, think it was 2pm, which allowed for a recovery and some morning revision! Fucking buzzing about it sat at my desk, I ended up getting a decent mark as well!!! Happy Days!

I wasn't at Charlton but hearing Martin Tyler commentate on the Ward goal was fantastic stuff, worst memory Brighton!

Blackburn away in 1990 and Steve Foley's goal. Fantastic.

Followed by:

1990 final against Sunderland - my first trip to Wembley with the Town and what a performance. One of the most one sided games ever, never mind finals.

1993 Tranmere away. The tension was terrible until Maskell got Town's second.....only for Hoddle to give away a penalty to leave me chewing my fingers. The Tranmere fans at the end were great - most Town fans were expecting trouble when they came towards us but they started applauding. The most sporting reaction to a defeat I've seen (Stoke fans come close - always good sports).

1987 Gillingham home. Charlie Henry's goal....enough said.

1993 final......certainly memorable but once Leicester pulled a goal back I had that feeling it was going to go wrong and I had an outrageous headache brought on by the stress of it all. I didn't enjoy the winning goal or the after match celebrations at all. I remember I just wanted to be sick.

What a volley that was by Foley.

Magnificent.

Here it is.....Foley's goal is about 1:47 in:

http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MediaPlayer/MediaPlayer.asp?ID=dm0AfYOrHfw (http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MediaPlayer/MediaPlayer.asp?ID=dm0AfYOrHfw)

Not surprised you failed, you were about three years too late!

And in answer to you question...Tranmere away, every time, for all the reasons.  And Brighton, took about two weeks to get over that.

And the conga....

Good point! Given the intelligence demonstrated there I would have failed anyway.

Can't argue with any of those I was at all of them and agree totally, I would add the Gills away game at Selhurst Park, which was a great game.

Had a few shit ones too like Palace away in 89 losing 2-0 after we won the first leg 1-0 at home and the special train arriving about 15 minutes into the game when we were already a goal down.

Brighton away was pretty bad as well but that was not as bad for me as Palace away under Macari.

And luckily I wasnt at Wembley for the 'wall game.

So young my only real memory of the play offs is against Millwall.

Fucking divot.

This thread makes me wonder whether we feature in the "most play-offs reached in the Football League" list.  Does anybody know of such a list and can link to it or copy and paste it?

This one got published in 2011 so a bit out of date, but we're up there.

http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2011/05/11/25-years-of-the-play-offs-and-the-most-successful-play-off-team-are-already-in-the-premier-league-110501/

Cheers.  I'm too lazy to try and update it but perhaps I will later if I get bored.

I had AS Spanish the day after, got an A.

Charlton away. The game was drifting away from us, whilst looking like we were never going to score, down to ten men. And then this happened.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq1tsNiJXMQ

Absolute carnage!

Was right behind it...great away support that day,was it really 23 years ago :eek:

Loads of empty space for Blackburn fans who failed to sell anywhere near their allocation for the game at Swindon but that was pre Jack Walker and his money.

1990 final against Sunderland I was too young to be on pop which meant I can remember the day and the whole game unlike later playoff years . The weather was fantastic like being on holiday in Spain overall a great frist memory of swindon in the play-offs

"Oh there, two against one here. Ferry on the ball, he's got Ward with him. Timing of the pass is crucial. A touch and shoot....


Yes. You bet. You bet. Two nil Swindon"

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

Have we seen pace like that from Ferry this season?

Brilliant atmosphere that night.

Simon Ferry has had an interesting career at STFC...certainly highs and lows, and not much in between. It will be a big shame if we lose him in the summer....clubs need players like him.

Wigan at home was a Sunday I think.

Gillingham home was ace, Peter Coyne (who was my favourite player, great hair) and Charlie Henry scoring after Karl Elsey had scored a cracker for them.
By rights we had lost on away goals, the game at Selhurst was won in 10 minutes and loads of Town fans were late getting to 'the most difficult ground to get to in Britain'.

Agreed...i feel he would thrive in The Championship where the game is played on the grass a little more.

I had a Spanish exam the day of the Tranmere away game. I got an absolute bollocking when I suggested to my teacher that  I could try to swap exam days so I was able to go to the football. I can't understand why? Football is so much more important than Spanish

I'm still gutted I missed that game

The play-offs are such that every win is brilliant & every defeat fucking awful.

The only play-off games I have missed were the two against Palace (I was in Spain on holiday, and didn't cancel it or come home because I had a feeling that we wouldn't beat Palace).

Wigan away was great, but actually not as enjoyable as keeping City out of the play-offs the week before.

Wigan at home was nerve racking, but apart from them hitting the post early I can't remember thinking they were going to win.

Pikeys away, we were robbed. Pissed all over them for most of the game & got done by a dodgy free kick. The only other
thing I remember was that it was like the OK Corral that night.

Pikeys at home. Two of the best goals you will ever see (there's being one of them), but CHarlie Henry's goal almost made me cry (I know, soppy old cunt). We even hit the bar after & could have won it.

Pikeys at Selhurst Park, for the first time in fucking ages we scored first (and an early goal to boot). The odd thing was it was the worst we had played in the three games against the pikeys, but was an awesome night.


Blackburn away, Hot & Sunny. I remember a pub just outside Blackburn being absolutely rammed with Town Fans, Foley's goal (I ended up hugging some old codger I had never seen before or since).

Blackburn at Home, don't remember as much about this as the other games but expected us to win & we did.

Sunderland at Wembley - The most one sided 1-0 ever played. What was to come later has somewhat tarnished the memories but we were awesome that day apart from our finishing.  Champers in Wembley car park which the Sunderland fans shared with us (they were very gracious, possibly because they had half an idea that it was them that would end up in Div 1).


Tranmere at Home, dream start 2 up inside 5 mins & 3-0 at half time. Was a bit concerned that their goal might play a part but all in all a great day.

Tranmere away, Another pub that was rammed with Red & White and one of the most nerve wracking games I can remember (just getting us ready for worse to come two weeks later). As others have mentioned the Tranmere fans after were first class & we were off to Wembley again.

Leicester, a game that everyone that was there will always remember. Remember getting there late & trying to get a couple of pints in quickly in the ground. The game itself was like a dream for an hour, like a nightmare for the next 15 mins, but after that strangely I thought we were going to win. Leicester seemed to have used up so much energy getting back in the game that we had chances to win after that. Chalkies dive/assualt & Bodins pen (I couldn't watch Bodin so I just watched the net).  I have the photo from the Adver taken from behind the goal of Bodin taking the penalty & the keeper diving the wrong way :D .  Champers in the car park again, although the Leicester fans didn't want to join in.


Brighton at Home, mullered them & somehow lost 1-0. Was strangely optimistic for the second leg as we had played very well.

Brighton Away, shit weather (was in the pub by the ground when the thunderstorm & torrential rain hit). shit ground (was in the poxy bit of the stand down the side. We played well again & when we got in front I thought we had done enough until that cunt Virgo scored. Knew then that we would lose on pens (and so we did). Then we had to put up with those fucking gayboys trying to goad us into a fight rather than celebrating.  In fact it was so bad that I actually wanted City to beat them in the Final.


Charlton at home, another game we should have won more comfortably but was confident we could finish the job up there.

Charlton away, had gone up there on Boxing day when we threw away 2 points by letting them score a 90th min equalizer with only 9 men, but that was nothing with what was to come. After going 2-0 down & having Greer sent off we all thought it was curtains. But up popped Danny, Danny Warrrrrddddd to give us a lifeline. Then when they had a man sent off at the end of normal time you just got the feeling that it might be our night after all (although you dare not actually say anything).   A then, all those years after losing the semi on Penalties we scored 5 out of 5 & won. My abiding memory was of Austin racing the length of the pitch to jump in the crowd at our end.


Millwall, two word describe this game/day   "FUCKING SHITE"

Sorry that was so long but I just couldn't stop once I got going :D

I have light bulb from the Tranmere scoreboard, that was my souvenir of that night.

Got punched in the face after the 1st leg for referring to one kid as a thieving scouser

Yeah and large amounts of turf from the back of the away end being launched

I had an exam the day after the Sunderland game, for show I took my text book in the car to appease my Mum, but by the time I got back at Midnight, I knew it wasn't going to go well the next day!!!

Orrible Ground,nearly as bad as the cinders you stood on at Gresty Road in bygone days.

'd forgotten about the Blackburn away game, my memory is that there was huge amounts of ticker tape in Ossie's honour, and that strike from Stigger

Cant beat 93, but the Selhurst game against jills was awesome. We went for beers at Norwood Jct, thinking it would be quiet and there were Town fans everywhere we went.

Not been mentioned but the 2 Palace games under Macari had tremendous atmosphere.The terraces before the 2nd leg at Selhurst Park were absolutely electric.Bloody Wright and Bright!

Was thinking no-one had mentioned the Palace play offs. Got sunstroke standing in The Wedge that day, was sick for days. Very tight games, we gave it our all against opposition that were far better than us. We did very well to win the first leg albeit from an own goal

We mullered them first game...Fridge had a good goal disallowed, could have been 3 or 4.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

I didn't start going properly until 1989/90, so for me, the best semi-finals were Tranmere and Charlton Away and Blackburn and Charlton at Home. 

First visit to Wembley in 1990 was immense.  I missed Maskell's goal in 1993 coming back from the toilet at half-time.  Heard the roar and got back in time to see everyone going mad.  I still can't believe we threw away a three goal lead that day.  I remain feeling like I was going to pass out when the equalizer went in.

The play-offs - Total rollercoaster of emotions.  Ecstasy if you win, heartbreak if you lose.  We've experienced both in equal measure.

The Blackburn home game celebrations were fun.  I was in the corner section of the Shrivvy Rd which was given over to home fans with the Bank being used by Blackburn.  In the 2nd half, somebody in the middle passed out and the medics had to come in from the front.  I was leaning on the gate, and when they tried to put it back into place on exiting it wouldn't fit so the steward just said to be careful.  With about 5 mins to go, everyone started pushing forwards ready for the surge onto the pitch.  Needless to say, the gat just fell forward with me leaning on it splatted face down.  It became clear they couldn't hold anyone back so everyone just spilled around the pitch for the last few minutes.

The Jills at Selhurst Park- what a shit ground to get to. We were late and missed the first 15 mins because of the traffic, which also required a bit of a tactical piss- traffic queue- no sign of movement- quick scan of the area- spy alleyway- engine off- decamp- sprint to alley- piss with relief- sprint to car- engine start- sit in traffic ::)

Sunderland at Wemberly- what a great day out :beers:

Leicester at Wemberly- 3-0  :beers: 3-3 :eek: I just knew that we were going to loose out. How fucking awesome to be proved wrong :D

The trip back to Swindon from both the Wemberly finals was something to behold as well. Bridges over the M4 lined with fans from about Newbury west and a huge crowd outside The Sun by the Coate Water roundabout.

Charlton at The Valley. Danny Ward getting the equaliser and Stephen Darby with the last pen :beers:

Milwall at the new (souless) Wembly :badmood: