Thetownend.com

Are you an absent fan who hasn't been going but will once the takeover goes through? I'd love to see big numbers turn up in August and really get behind them

I think this season is going to be a struggle and fans need to understand that and not expect a promotion bid just yet but if the fans can at least get on board and turn up we will get there quicker

I am not an absent fan but a distance fan, but I too hope all these people that said "I wont go again with Power in charge" put their money where their mout i sand turn out for the new regime.

Mind you many said "I won't go again until PdC has left" and they never returned.

I would like to think we can get 7k+ for the first home game.

I'll be there, missed the days out.

I won’t be going until Clem is gone.

I’ve been an absent fan for 10 years now - which obviously pre dates Power.

Haven’t played Saturday football for 3 years now and with my boy getting older, I imagine father/son trips to the CG won’t be far off. Probably at least another year for him but I might dip my toe back in.


Think the season will be a struggle but the shitshow we’ve been through should at least galvanise the fan base.

Personally think after a winning team; adversity is the next best thing to get the fans in and behind the team.

I’ll be there. Having young kids has scuppered me over the last couple of years but now they are in the states I have virtually all my Saturdays to myself

*England winning the Euros* could whet some appetite.




*If

season ticket money ready waiting.

willing to forfeit last season's too, luckily I'm in a position to do that at the moment, accept not everyone is

Same here.

Regardless of chances of promotion or relegation, I’m bursting to get back.

Hopefully the prospect of a ‘new dawn’ will galvanise the fan base.

Never had a ST. Will be getting one the first day they go on sale even though I'll go to 6 games max.

I've been absent for 3 seasons. Got fucked off with the totally with the totally avoidable Williams relegation and the Sherwood dof fiasco. Still went following season but wasn't enjoying it. Mccomick was the final straw for me.
Went to supermarine and started actually enjoying and  looking forward to games. Got a season ticket there this season, £100 as I'm now 60. I'm not sure if I'll go and see town again. I may do. It will have nothing to do with whether we're doing well or not.
I'm not convinced with Clem. The only thing I see he's got going for him is that he's not power. He's not an established cunt, he is a potential one but hopefully not.

I thought you had moved to Bristol or you back again😳

People will find a new reason not to go they always do, first it was McMahon, then King, now it's Power. Next season it'll be something else. There's a lot of people who just have no intention of going to games come what may but for some reason feel the need to be overly vocal to try and justify not attending.

This season we are a division lower, some fans will still be scared of COVID, we are lacking preparation for the new campaign and we're yet to find out if we will face any sanctions. I think it will be a struggle to get decent numbers through the gate this season personally with a lot of the floating fans losing interest.

Hopefully Clem will be in charge and i will be back in the TE.

Will the Chuck Wagon be there at halftime?

Hopefully in time Clem will give all the new families who have moved to the area reason to support Swindon once the County ground gets redeveloped. Hope I'm not being too optimistic 😀

COVID asides, the fans will come if there's decent football on offer.

Or successful football, they don't always go hand in hand, ask Dan Cowley.

I will be in the TE as usual

Fuck me then they’re going to be mightily disappointed.

I stopped going under McMahon after he and Rikki Kunt told a season ticket holder of 20+ years on the radio that he was the type of fan they didn’t want because he dared to question the tactics.

I went back to the first game after McMahon left, but this coincided with our son being born so couldn’t go much.

We then left Wiltshire & moved up to Peterborough for work, but managed to get back to half a dozen games a season.

When Fitton & co introduced cheap season tickets we decided to get them, and have had them ever since.
Wasn’t planning on renewing them for next season, if we were going to be charged full price after not getting to see any football last season.

If Clem takes over I will probably renew, especially if there’s any allowance made for no live football last season

Same here Batch.
Missing the away games and once Power free it will feel the shackles are off after this recent shit show.

Hope this galvanises the fanbase at the same time.
As for Clem he is not Power and time will only tell.

Although I mistrusted Power's aim to make money from the beginning, I stayed until Luke Warms incredible managership. Sat in the Don Rogers and laughing at the goalies distribution, their inability to take a throw in, it was then that I realised I'd lost the passion
After that, the odd away game that really took off under Flitcroft. It's fare to say that I've lost the habit of visiting the County Ground,  an uninterrupted habit since 1969.
Modern football lacks excitement. I may return for Rovers and if the Town do half a job, if they look like they train together, if they look like they care, i might take it match by match.

Swindon fans are as delightfully fickle as all other football fans. Clem will have no bearing on crowds (except for those who would've boycotted if Power was still in charge). If we win, the fans will come. I anticipate next season to be a struggle and the crowds will reflect that.

There will always be an excuse for some to not come. I'll be there regardless.

If you could attend but have to make excuses as to why you don't/won't attend then you aren't really a "fan" anymore.

That's a shame for STFC, but glad you have your football mojo back - even if it is down the road.

Clem - we can only wait and see if he can walk the walk after talking the talk.
"Once bitten twice as shy" as the saying goes, though with STFC owners we seem to mostly have attracted a shoal of piranhas

I'm still intrigued what's in it for Clem as there's no money to be made here

Given his trade, stadium development I would guess

Much needed too.

Not sure how that will work but let's not put him off before he takes over😀

Once released, I am sure I will be getting an ST. I would miss the anticipation/ apprehension westbound on the M4 and the joy/ despair eastbound on the M4 if I didn't go to games.

Well, his £1.15m investment for sure. A stadium development. Directors income from a successful and well run club. Business opportunities relating to my second point.

Edit. There is a possibility to make money out of a loss making club. Eg. Pumping money into a loss making Swindon Town from a profit making company to offset tax liabilities. Sounds bizarre but all the while this ‘loss’ making football club it actually getting to be a very saleable asset by organic growth in terms of infrastructure and higher league status. Oh I don’t know, let’s say in ten years down the line something that may have originally cost Axis say £6m in initial debt restructuring and share purchase (Standing) could well be worth £50m with a nice ground, large crowds, off the field and out of season income as well as some decent transfer sales up the pyramid. It is doable you just need the right people with the right backup, know how and vision to achieve it. Success makes success.

Where did Power go wrong he's had the same opportunities😳

But neither the will or the expertise. Clem certainly has the latter.

In terms of stadium development I mean. Whether he can run a football club is, of course, a different matter entirely

It's easy to see how taking over STFC in its current form can be beneficial to the right person. It's a potential Championship club that can be bought for relatively little investment. Although I suppose that might be why we've attracted more of our fair share of chancers over the years.

Just remembered something - was it Clem who was having random phono's with the fb crowd back in his early power falling out days?

Yep.

One might say that every club outside the championship is a potential championship club.

I'm not so sure where are anymore and can't see us holding our own with the likes of Bristol City, Derby, Stoke, Swansea etc as even in the premiership there were games we didn't sell out

....the pavements will be lined with gold. Rainbows will straddle the sky and unicorns will graze merrily in the fields. A national holiday will be declared and all will be well in the world.

Either that, or we'll hear nowt for a bit. Then, after the must settles, we'll be underwhelmed with the choice of manager. Signings will take a while longer and be people we have never heard of - A combination of journeymen, kids and non-league players. The Trialist family will be busy in preseason and results will be inconsistent when the league start. There will be gloom and doom and infighting on the TEF. Arguments will start about the use of capital letters and it will probably rain!

Fuck.

To be fair to the twat (although he doesn’t deserve it) if we had got promoted when his mate Tim sent us a lot of good players from Spurs he could have probably sold us for a profit as a Championship club.

Just imagine if we’d had a fit Ryan Mason for the whole season

Fair point as we had some good players then and if we had won at Wembley then things may have been different

All down to the 'bobble'.

Charlie Austin may have still been with us now and had a successful international career as we climbed the heights of the Premiershit!

Yep one damn bobble😂

Arsenal?

it'll be nice to have some normality to be fair

He doesn’t need to run the club, that’s what you employ people to do for you. Pay the right numeration you get the right calibre of know how.

Ok then, expertise in being in charge of the club, which would involve employing the right people to do the day-to-day running. We don't know if he can do that.

Leaders still need to lead, even if they do delegate.

I haven't been as much as i'd have liked over the last few years since my Dad got ill (who I had a season ticket with) and having young kids. My eldest is now 5 and showing a real interest in football, so would love to take him to his first game.

England making the final and the takeover completion would make for a fucking great week.

I will certainly go to a few games if a new owner is in place, i tend to pick and choose during the season.  I will also sign back up to an Ifollow season ticket for the games that I do not attend in person.

Back before the world got flipped I probably attended between 5 and 8 games a season - don't see any reason why that would change.

What bastard parent would do this to a 5 year old?

Since we last saw footy at the CG we have left Swindon and moved to South Devon!  Chatting to my son over the weekend and we will be renewing our st's although guess it will only be Saturdays for us

New employer has be working alternate Saturdays so while I won’t buy a ST I’ll attend as many games as I can.

Power had zero interest. I understand the requirement to have stayed in Switzerland for a certain amount of days per year - he wasn't interested in the club, just bleeding us for our very last penny. Parasitical.

Hi All.. Just so you are aware there is a Facebook panel tonight with Vic Morgan at 7pm on the Official Supporters Club FB page discussing the ownership transfer inc myself and the adver, former players etc you can ask questions on the FB comments..

Never!

I'm exactly the same as you, will go as and when it suits for myself and my dad. During the pandemic I've moved to Northants and the trains are brutal here (if your final destination is not London or Birmingham) so I might be driving to more games than before.

Cheers buddy. Keep up the good work

Champagne is in the fridge and it’s coming home.

As I don't live in Wiltshire I have never had a Swindon season ticket,  but think I will do so if we get new ownership.

My kids support their local team but still come along occasionally to point out how shit league 2 football is :) !

Can't wait to get back to the football and hearing about all those potential signings of people I've never heard of!

Who is their local team Moss?

Your best bet is to maybe drive to Banbury Station. Get the 1pm to Didcot. Then jump on the 2pm to Swindon.

Used to always be on that 2pm train on the Saturdays I went to Town matches. Gets you in at around 2.25pm. Time for a (very) quick pint and stroll to the CG.

Tonight or on the morrow?

I usually go for a pre-match lunch and share a bottle of wine with my dad at the Miller & Carter. I would get the train from Paddington and he would drive from Wantage. I think what I'll probably do going forward is drive to his and then he'll drive into Swindon and back. I'll either then drive home or stay overnight depending on the alcohol intake (which is probably going to be garguantuan given the upcoming season ahead!

I know, I know. I'm in two minds, but he has asked several times to come, but don't think he's quite ready yet as he doesn't have the understanding or attention span. I'd have to ply him with chips, sweets and take his tablet just to keep him occupied I think.

Do it! Especially as he’s keen. If it doesn’t work out, the scars will heal. If it does, it’s another minor indoctrinated into the cult of STFC.

Having said that, I took my daughter to her first game when she was five weeks old. Despite ‘witnessing’ Sam Parkin’s debut hat trick, she’s happy to steer clear of the County Ground.

Plenty of trains now and Banbury to Didcot direct has made the journey easier.
Tip - buy separate tickets Banbury to Didcot then Didcot to Swindon. Big cost difference. We

I risked both mine at 4.
Definitely need other distractions though.

Confident this week and a new era.
Then back to football discussions at long last.

So a long slow chill.

a sleeping tablet?

interesting tip actually as I can get a bus to Banbury so perhaps I might not require the car after all. Dammit, just checked and there are no buses from Banbury after bloody 6pm on a Saturday.  :doh:

I wouldn't worry too much about waiting until they understand the finer points of the game. When they're young, it's about sharing daddy time, with all the necessary bribes and distractions it takes. If it feels good, they'll want to come back.

Slowly, slowly catchee incurable disease...

Right on BO. I was going to say, if you made more of a day of it, naturally you'd have to get a train from Banbury at around 11am.

Seems sensible to overnight at the old boys and it gives Mrs BO a bit of a break. Hope she had a great birthday by the way!

Cheers Kev, yeah it was good. We were supposed to be in Porto, delayed from last year, but we'll have to do that some other time. We stayed a couple of nights in Nottingham instead. Not a bad city and ticks all the boxes a sports fan could want with 2 football clubs, a cricket ground and a horse racing circuit. London prices in the pubs I noticed though, but perhaps that's a select few?

Whilst I'm aware we might be taking this somewhat off topic...

Ahh remember the Porto trip. Think I mentioned if you got the opportunity to hot foot over the border and give A Coruna a visit.

Parts of my old stomping ground and yep Notts is pretty decent for several of the things listed as well as a decent original live music scene too. Yeah I guess it depends on where you went for a scoop but I guess that most cities (big and small) will tend to have inflated prices somewhat. Having said that, at Sheffield Train station a few weeks back, had some time before my next train and had a pint of craft ales in the pub there...a surprisingly cheap £2.80. Which was stark contrast to one of the concourse pubs at Manchester Piccadilly - an eye watering £6.20 for a pint of fucking Strongbow...erm you're ok thanks.

This was me about 8 yrs ago.  Trawl back, and I'm sure you'll find me asking the same questions on here.  The sage advice came back about taking an iPad, plenty of sweets and wrapping up warm.  Never looked back.  Just do it.  My youngest was barely past his 3rd b'day, and loved every second.

Southampton

Take a right out of the station and slightly down the hill on the right is good real ale place. Can't remember the name, but you'll find it.

Ah ok. Yeah it's quite a big chasm in class between those 2 sides sadly.

It's good to see the takeover being compared with buying a house.

Of Manchester Piccadilly or Sheff?

Thanks for all the replies. Think i'll take him in August when the weather is still good. Hopefully the new regime will continue with the first game thing where they make a fuss, give you a certificate, meet the Robin, etc. Something he'll remember.

I've been back in Swindon 23 years. Did 10 years in Slave Trade Central.

A slightly funny story.  About 25 years ago we were away to West Brom immediately before xmas.   Myself and my son had planned to go, a friend who is Baggies through and through said he would get the tickets but could he take his son Danny for his first footy experience.  So off we went, the prat had got  tickets amongst the home supporters which didn't go down well! Players came out for pre-match warmups and Danny was shouting at both teams excitedly.  When they went back in Danny got up and announced he was going home as he had seen the game!  Took a lot of persuation for him to stay.  Cannot remember the score but I know we won (3-1?) despite the ref giving WBA two penalties which were both missed

Are you sure it wasn’t three penalties, they scored one of them & missed two and we win 2-1.
December 1989, with Shearer & White scoring for us

was that *the* shearer goal?

Not Horfield I hope😀

I don’t think so, wasn’t that in the league cup

Manchester Piccadilly.

Cool, will check it out next time I'm back in Manchester, if I have some spare time.

Right now though, all this is making me think about is Gomez and Whippin' Piccadilly :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wkYocRVnYc

Yep - The fact that their 3rd choice keeper is probably worth more than our entire club illustrates everything that is wrong with the game right now IMO

D'ya mean the B Lounge opposite the Malmaison?

The Piccadilly Tap.
Not been there before, but might be worth a visit on the way to Rochdale, Oldham or Salford.
The takeover might have happened before then.

From memory Piccadilly Tap seems to ring a bell.

Ah that's probably the one, never been in although I would say that from my time working in Manchester none of my Manc dwelling colleagues would set a foot in any of the pubs around Piccadilly....

Just play this to them every now and then  :)

https://youtu.be/zXRH9spWOA4

What a lovely finish that was by Charlie.

I left work early and drove down on my own. Sat behind Charlie's dad and mates. Good Times.

I live near Southampton.  Still dining out on that night  :D

Great goal that, I was at the game with HerthaB.

Haha I took them to the Di Canio/Leon Clarke game in the league cup - we were pitch side by the tunnel, not a game to forget in a hurry :)

Can't wait to get back there!

Can we have another striker like him please?

I haven’t been since 2016 as a direct result of what I perceived to be the mismanagement of the club by Mr Power. I had been a ST holder for around around 17/23 seasons prior to that. With a young family and other interests I am unlikely to get a season ticket again anytime soon but under new ownership I will make every effort to go to the new boards first home game. I reckon I would average 4-5 games per season going forward.

Our move north of the border means that we'll certainly be picking/choosing games more than ever.  But can't wait to get back once the new owner is on place and we're back up & running.

Likely that we'll be attending more away than home from now on.  The northern-ness of Div Four next year is a plus, if I'm honest.  There are 10 teams in the league within a 4 hr drive of here...Carlisle being the closest - which we can reach in just under 2 hrs.  Really looking forward to it.  All we need now is a team.  And a manager.

Where did you move to in the end Ardiles? I remember meeting you at Hartlepool away some 15 years or so ago when I lived in Edinburgh and would drive to northern away games.

During that time, I stupidly thought Sheffield was more north than it actually is when I drove to Hillsborough, which was memorable in itself for me nearly bumping into David Blunkett and his dog, and all of the contents of my molten lava meat pie falling out of the bottom onto the floor, leaving me with just a pastry shell during half time. Final score was 1-1, Mooney scored.

Bollocks, I can't that happening, mind you neither could he :D

Haha. It sounds ridiculous but I was kind of lost trying to find the away section at Hillsborough and a dark people carrier had parked up which had caught my eye, and so the entourage and guide dog had stepped out and with me also wandering about like a blind man, nearly walked in to the poor bugger!

Hopefully it was a good pie, and having lived in Edinburgh you will know a good pie!

Where d'ya move to, see you in Carlisle!

It was until the steak and kidney disappeared through the bottom!! I do love a scotch pie but generally don't eat food at football. However I did partake in one during a Hearts v Kilmarnock league game. I think they must have recognised my English accent as when I peeled the casing away discovered a badly burnt pie, this was literally black as the ace of spades. I'm led to believe Killie pies are supposed to be decent.

I'm also aware that this is going violently off topic which is going to piss some people off during this very important time so any takeover chat today JJ?

:) no news in the last few days at all mate, I think cogs are turning but its now a matter of time as soon as Power realises the game is up.

Just want it all over with now so we can get back to being miserable on the pitch not off it again.

Very true. It will be interesting what team we put out at Melksham on Friday, but from what I have seen from other League 2 sides, most have only played their youths and triallists anyway which sounds like what we are going to have to do anyhow.

it's oh so quiet, shhhh. shhhh
it's oh so still, shhh, shhhh

Meanwhile all the other teams are putting the hard work in on the training ground preparing for friendly matches!

We're renting in a small village near Loch Lomond right now.  But recently had offer accepted to buy our own place a bit further east.  So still Stirlingshire, but closer to Stirling itself.  Early days, but really enjoying it up here so far.

And I remember the Hartlepool meet as well.  That was getting on for 18 yrs ago, btw.  Probably the coldest game I've ever been to.

Great stuff, know Stirling quite well an old girlfriend came from there, my best mate lives a bit further East in Alyth near Perth, outside of the big cities its lovely.

The only minus point is everything is so far away from everywhere else with shitty roads. Loch Lomond is a really beautiful area.

Lovely part of the world is Loch Lomond! I don't know Stirling particularly well but it does look very picturesque around there. I assume Stirling Albion will be your local club?

Sure I'll pop along to Stirling Albion every now & then.  But I've already 'inherited' a sort of allegiance to Greenock Morton from my father in law...so already have a Scottish club.  They're an hour away, so not so bad.

Cappielow is the ground they play at I think? And they also used to be sponsored by a company called Millions, who make those tiny little pink chewy sweets. I suspect that's no longer the case.

Both those things are actually still true.  The pub just outside the ground is called The Norseman.  Makes the CGH look like the Ritz.

Nice! Do Morton have a (large(ish)) following in Norway, hence the name of the pub?

I have no idea.  Although, interestingly, they have a certain Markus Fjørtoft on their books right now.  Born in Swindon while his Dad was working there in the 90s.

Not any more, hes at Ayr Utd now.

In answer to the question tile to this thread...

In light of the time its taking I am going to get royally pissed!

I haven't paid full price for a home ticket since the Rovers game was postponed without refunds. I'd gone from having doubts about Power to full on hating him already but that was the final straw for me.

I'll 100% be back this season. Not buying a season ticket but expect I'll make 10 or so home games and 5 or 6 away hopefully.

I'd missed this. Crikey Ardiles, bit of a life-change from ?Farnborough. Are you changing jobs or just working remotely? I'm fascinated at how many TEFers have taken the plunge and moved out of the south-east this past year. If this is representative, should be good for redistributing wealth around the nation(s).