Thetownend.com

(A) Supermarine - Wednesday 5 July, 7.45pm
(A) Melksham - Saturday 8 July 3pm
(A) Corsham - Tuesday 11 July 7:30pm
(A) Bristol City - Tuesday 18 July, 12.30pm (behind closed doors but on 'Robins TV')
(A) Hereford - Tuesday 18 July, 7.30pm
(A) Eastleigh - Saturday 22 July 1pm
(H) Plymouth - Satturday 29 July 3pm




"Whattaya hear, whattaya say?"

Last few preseasons have been pretty dire. On top of the usual Supermarine and Melksham local away games we've had the likes of Harrogate and Woking at home.

Any chance we get something a tad more interesting this year? Maybe a Southampton at home or something?

Or another Weymouth away.

A foreign team at home would be nice.

Devon/Somerset teams please, maybe Dorset too, give me a chance of getting to them. #selfishfucker

Would take that to be honest.

Like Sporting De Gijon a whole 2 decades ago. Remember 'Super Sammy Parkin' chant starting that game for the first time.

We’ve already got Wrexham to look forward to, how many more do you want ??.

Ungrateful bastard, we had a foreign team last August. Second biggest team in their country.

I'm lost on that one.

Something I never knew.....same year we played Sporting De Gijon, we played Kenya at home behind closed doors.

http://swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Results.asp?Friendly=YES&Season=2002-2003

Would definitely qualify as 'interesting'

Cardiff ??.

Well that got wiped from my memory. Surely they're the biggest in their country.

Newport?

Flynn has Arteta's phone number!🙂

a not too distant never heard of non league team please. A brimscombe and thrupp type

Not with Wreck somes rise.

Revive the games vs Fairford and Cirencester and also Calne, Chippenham and Witney type early pre season games.

We always had about 8 to 10 games pre season with the first 6 or so being very local ones against very lower league very local opposition.

nah, that's boring (ciren + fairford)

obviously need some league oppo, though I don't usually care about that

We always played 5 or 6 local sides then did a couple further away near the seaside/abroad/Scottish and finished off with 2 or 3 higher league/foreign sides at the CG.

Copa Ibiza repeat please.

Liverpool?

We had Swansea in July but it was cancelled.

1985
(https://i.postimg.cc/05DcJK5D/85.png)
1986
(https://i.postimg.cc/3JZ1tMvw/86.png)

Proper pre season mix back then.

Gonna struggle with that one....   :cry:

Used to enjoy going to Witney for pre season games back in the 80s and 90s, always lots of Pox fans there too. Unfortunately many old teams are going by to wall now.

I hope Hullavington get into league 2.

Hopefully Flynn will be able to get the players away somewhere for pre-season to help with the team bonding and fitness - maybe a Macari esc army camp

Always disappointed with how little we do with the Forces TBH. Get them down to Warminster/Tidworth for a pre season thrashing! Some very cheeky runs over the Plain to be done.

I read somewhere that Flynn loves pre-season and he often arranges games and sets up training to ensure that the players are fatigued during pre-season matches.



















 ;)

not sure it's worth a new thread:

Fixture Release Date – Thursday 22 June 2023, 9am
Start Date – Saturday 5 August 2023 (with a likely live game on Friday 4 August)
Carabao Cup Round One – w/c 7 August 2023
Carabao Cup Final – Sunday 25 February 2023*
EFL Trophy Round One – w/c 4 September 2023
EFL Trophy Final – Sunday 7 April 2024
League One Play-Off Final – Saturday 18 May 2024
League Two Play-Off Final – Sunday 19 May 2024
Championship Play-Off Final – Sunday 26 May 2024

* they mean 2024

Was only this time last year I was having a look on swindon-town-fc.co.uk at where we've done pre-season before (well bit later last year as we were in the play offs). Went back and had another look as a reminder.

Championship play off final a week later than the others. What utter shit, that weekend is one of the best weekends of the season with all the finals!

I remember a pre season game away to non-league Forest Green, Duncan Shearer's first game.

Mid to late 70's Ayr United at home!

Shame it's so expensive to get away and abroad these days for these things

I have just arranged pre season in spain for one football club and it's around £20k

Yeah that is bollocks.

I remember we'd play little non league Yeovil in the 90s every season and pump them by 6 or 7 every time. Then they were a league team, then they were above us in The Championship and now they're back to being non league again.

What a rollercoaster.

I wonder if any Town fans made it to South America for the tour in 1912.
Probably would have found something to complain about if they did!!

http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Results.asp?Friendly=YES&Season=1912-1913

http://gottfriedfuchs.blogspot.com/2012/11/swindon-town-tour-of-argentina-and.html

Come on Clem, dig deep.

The three month ferry home probably wouldn't have been ideal.

Lots of goals for Archie Bown on that tour - I wonder if he's a relative, my mother's maiden name is Bown and it's hardly common(that's a hundred password security questions given away!)

Bloody hell I missed that one. How random. Some good results there, not that I've heard of any of the teams.

I like that he started his career at Swindon Casuals, I like to think they were proper nawty wearing Stone Island!

Maybe not Stone Island but Burberry would have been around then and a fairly new brand.

Pretty sure Burberry in those days were more likely to be providing waterproofs to Shackleton than kitting out the local scallies of the day!

I wonder if Scott and Oates were town fans?  :sherlock:

Fuck me, I take it back. I thought we played Cardiff. Senile dementia come early.

Lets get something in Ireland or Scotland please.

People now know my name at Supermarine FFS!

We did play Cardiff LL.

http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Results.asp?Friendly=YES&Season=2022-2023

I can stop the meds now?

Didn't we do Lake Garda at some point?

To answer mt own question - was the Di Canio season, 2012

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlZ1GrU4fUA

Our tour of Austria when Fenerbahce held the mighty Swindown to a draw. Best bit at 56 seconds in.

https://youtu.be/GXlINN4UHTs

Looking back at these, are the last two seasons our worst ever pre-season fixtures?! Prepared to give 2021/22 a bit of a free pass given the situation, but this season's was unforgivably shit.

Aberdeen and Clem need to understand that a couple of decent glamour fixtures can be a factor in shifting season tickets. A cheap day in the sun during the school holidays at home to a Premier League or big Championship side might just hook a few people.

But we were fatigued against Supermarine!

I think we are all fatigued now...

Up the Swindown. 

Think Roberto Carlos played that game.

And Mateja kezman

Sounds like from the Wednesday Night Panel that Flynn will have a few more pre-season games than the new normal, as he is big on fitness. Music to my ears. I assume the balls won't be out in the first session this preseason. Last couple of seasons we've had 5 and 6 which is pretty poor really.  

To get an idea as to what is more normal in years gone by. Year we went to Austria (wembley bobble seaason), we had 8 on UK soil on top of the 3 games there. Copa Ibiza year we went up under Sturrock, 6 on UK soil on top of the 2 in Ibiza. In 19/20 we had 10 games.

I'd at least like to see us at least get properly round the local region like we used to, with a good 6 or 7 local away games (Supermarine, Salisbury, Hungerford, Melksham, Chippenham, Cirencester, etc.)

Add to that then a couple of solid home friendlies against higher league opposition at home (Birmingham, Cardiff, Swansea, Southampton, etc.)  

This sort of preseason should be the bare minimum and we've been getting less than that the last few seasons.

The squad needs to be fit and needs to be used to playing games in several systems. This season was just a case of pissing in to the wind and hoping for the best and Lindsey and Sandro can share than blame.

Yeah... Can't imagine Flynn will be too interested in how we "play when fatigued".... as per Lyndsey vs Supermarine last year...mother fuckers shouldn't be getting 'fatigued' in the first place 🤦

Bristol City at home would be tasty

Hereford away

Tuesday 18th July – Swindon Town  – 7:30pm

https://www.herefordfc.co.uk/news-pre-season-friendlies/ (https://www.herefordfc.co.uk/news-pre-season-friendlies/)

I guess what type of team we'll take will be more apparent as other fixtures roll in

It looks like we're going down the same route as last season by playing fatigued as we're due to play Bristol City the same day as Hereford.

https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/pre-season-fixtures-announced/

thanks


oooh. £5 to dream a friendly. fuck off on principle

But they can come true Batch. :)

whatamistaketomake

rumours of QPR and Plymouth too.

reckon we'll publicise before or after it's played?

We may end up with several games in one day.

That was a total guess, I hadn't read this page yet  :D.

soapy tit wank

Lindsey's legacy lives on!

club confirmed:

 @SupermarineFC - 5 July, 7.45pm
🛣️ @BristolCity - 18 July, 12.30pm
🛣️ @HerefordFC - 18 July, 7.30pm

QPR away please

Bristol City away at their training ground......that's no fun🤣

could be, if rumours are right

Melksham away on 8th July as well - 3pm ko

How does one watch 'Robins TV'

Fucking wankers weren't even the robins until the 70s.

Oooh! Just down the road for me.

I think we'll see an "Arsenal X1"

ITK or random guess?

If true it wouldn't be any different from a Pizza Trophy game

Got me Melksham tickets!

You come across any Bristol fans around your way

I had a few in Corsham last night and there were a few mouthy Gasheads outside the Royal Oak when I walked past. No idea if they were local or just drop ins. Always used to be mostly Swindon around these ‘ere parts.

I did suspect there would be a few around even though it's still Wiltshire

I think Corsham became more Gas when they moved to Twerton back in the 90s for a while, the fanbase seemed to migrate.

Growing up it was just a tiny smattering of Gas and Teds. Looks like in the intervening years I’ve been away - 50 odd - that might have changed!

Back in the late 80's early 90s Rovers didnt have enough stewards so they regularly asked Swindon to hire us.

I stewarded 3 games at Twerton as an "on hire" Steward (not to mention away games, Lords, The Oval and Wembley which we also stewarded, as Swindon was respected as having one of the highest rated Stewards in the league back then).

I remember was in front of about 3 or 4 Corsham Gas flags in the corner of the Rovers fans.

Yer the Royal Oak is always has a few knob heads lurking around, you check out the Flemish Weaver, went back in for the first time in years! Very quirky!

Was in there last night. My brother was the manager up until a few months ago.

We're heading to @CorshamTownFC for our third friendly of pre-season, on Tuesday 11th July.

⬇️ Tickets are available to purchase now!
---------------------

not sure I've been there before..

Pre-season games are great if fans can go along and watch unlike the Bristol City game behind closed doors.

Edited first post but filling up nicely without even a home game yet.

(A) Supermarine - Wednesday 5 July, 7.45pm
(A) Melksham - Saturday 8 July 3pm
(A) Corsham - Tuesday 11 July 7:30pm
(A) Bristol City - Tuesday 18 July, 12.30pm (behind closed doors but on 'Robins TV')
(A) Hereford - Tuesday 18 July, 7.30pm

Are we expecting any games at home against higher league opposition.

Yay!

Yes

Qpr and Plymouth i heard

Cheers Tans :clap:

Shaping up nicely and good to see it being done early as Last seasons pre season was a fucking shambles. Not only was it shorter than usual, we only played 5 or so games compared to the 9ish you normally play, felt like we was still in pre season for August in all with the ‘fatigued ’performances.

QPR seems a solid choice. That would take us to 7 with two home games to higher teams. Get a few more on there and you've got a really solid pre-season.

haha, that's so funny that you move to Corsham and you get a pre-season friendly in your backyard (not literally I assume). Happy days Aud!

He'll be in the Corsham end  ;)

https://www.corshamtownfc.co.uk/Matchreport.aspx?id=649874

Wasn't this the team we lost to in the final of the Wiltshire Shield?

Corsham Ultras.

‘You’re gunna get your f**king head kicked in’.

Nah, that was Westbury. Corsham was one missed penalty away from Wembley this year in the FA Vase.

Corsham had a great season too finishing 3rd in the Hellenic Premier losing only 3 games and finishing on 91 points in the same league as Wootton Bassett, Wantage and Fairford.

It's OK, I'll be stood behind  Knoll Jutty  :)

Shame its not in a couple of weeks time, we are staying in Corsham for a week

The ground is more than a stroll from the nearest pub and parking will be a bitch.

Westbury United was who I was referring to. It appears they lost 3-0 at home to Corsham Town veterans a few days before we played them.

It's less than a mile to the Royal Oak from the ground!

Bollocks is it.

Nearest is the Methuen Arms in the town. Probably similar to having a drink in Old Town and walking to the CG.

Follow the blue line

Jesus that's about 1000 yards/0.6 miles (according to google maps :) )

That might be a mere hop, skip and jump for you young ‘uns, but for us OAPs it’s a fucking long way on a zimmer!

haha - you should get yourself a mobility scooter Aud!!

 :car:

Corsham cricket club is always good for a pint, cheaper then the Methuen, same walking distance, and you might even catch the end of a game.

We're heading to @EastleighFC for the second year in a row!

👏 Tickets for our friendly with the Spitfires will be free for both sets of supporters and available in due course.


22nd July, 1pm

Pitch renovation has started:

Day 1

https://twitter.com/cassidymarcus/status/1660669354449436672?s=61&t=pTUdr8xXlQ7vJcn1NU7cbg


Day 2

https://twitter.com/cassidymarcus/status/1661037391409299456?s=61&t=pTUdr8xXlQ7vJcn1NU7cbg

Well done for posting. I hope there’s more to come. Be interesting to know how much money it’s costing?

Was on the pitch at the weekend and the state of those sprinkler heads for a pro pitch was shocking - how we didn't get more injuries due to exposed rubber pipes (sprinkler surrounds sitting above the level of the pitch is beyond me.  I know it was after end of season, and you could see during the season they were managing them due to the two distinct markings on the pitch - but it is obvious they are well overdue replacing - probably goes a long way to explaining the decline in our pitch over the last couple of seasons.

Thought the pitch looked tip top at the end of the season - as it always does.

The past 2 seasons it has deteriorated significantly, even to the point where at the start of the Garner season we were struggling to avoid getting the first game of the season postponed.

There were some well documented off season reasons for the deteriation, but having seen the state of the irrigation system showing through the surface at the weekend, it's clear that there were lack of investment issues as well, legacy of the remnants of the previous owner circling the plug hole no doubt.

Didn't they spend a fortune on it in the summer between Power and Clem, I only remember as I thought at the time that the contractor doing it was very brave considering it was public knowledge that Power was trying to put the business into admin if he didn't get his way, albeit I assume they only did it with the money up front!

They spent on it with a contractor in Marcus's absence, but not necessarily a fortune.  They ended up having to bring in a pitch expert (the guy that used to look after Leicester's pitch and do all of the mental patterns) who helped them get it ready for the season - that wasn't cheap for sure.

I think little positive investments/improvements like this slightly alleviate immediate concerns about Clem’s intentions.

Here for the long haul.

We did do this sometimes under Power too :) Well the scrape and relay.

The irrigation looked a bit off in that sometimes they literally had to stamp on it to get it to retract at half time.

Its good its being addressed.

So we are told!

Can’t keep expecting the worst.

It’s a hard habit to break after 30+ years of largely “the worst” on the ownership front!

Agree, credit it where its due.

The penny pinching rightly gets called out, it is refreshing to see some investment into the playing surface.

Today’s post:

https://twitter.com/cassidymarcus/status/1661395963284533248?s=61&t=pTUdr8xXlQ7vJcn1NU7cbg

The landlord a few years ago was a gas head so a lot of fans started drinking in there. At one point he was wearing a neck brace/frame thing and was still lording it around and necking pints which kind of sums up the clientele it attracted. I’ve considered it a rovers pub since and a few still go there. Probably the worst pub in the centre of Corsham tho.

Clem went to a Corsham match during this season and apparently was talking about setting up a connection between the clubs and to loan players too, and Corsham have done the ground up in preparation for promotion (if they can get it) so not surprised to see a friendly being arranged. Decent bar/club house at the ground too, pool tables etc.

OnLy dOIng thE miDdlE peNNy pInChinG cRoOks

Two today. He must have seen reeves4england’s post! 😀

https://twitter.com/cassidymarcus/status/1661755151760359424?s=61&t=pTUdr8xXlQ7vJcn1NU7cbg


https://twitter.com/cassidymarcus/status/1661760842491129857?s=61&t=pTUdr8xXlQ7vJcn1NU7cbg

For Sale: One dented and rusty watering can. £5 will throw in rusty bucket with a slight leak FOC.

(https://scontent-man2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/349843540_781731986679093_1565189359262439533_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=ai8RhtGIaDkAX_ofgIs&_nc_ht=scontent-man2-1.xx&oh=00_AfCJ_IUNQl7xZCnwk7i73pSAAKGe3l8TUEqixZTZKkrHbA&oe=6475F46F)

Highworth Town away - 15th July

Kick off time? Can't see it announced.

2pm

Pitch renovation Day 5

https://twitter.com/cassidymarcus/status/1662117464602206210?s=61&t=pTUdr8xXlQ7vJcn1NU7cbg

When we going to see the under soil heating pipes😀

it's more likely to be a hypocaust

Where's the Romans when you need them😆

Isn’t being a fan strange. After a stupefyingly meh season, I’m already looking forward to the next - probably as I’ll actually be able to attend for the first time in years.

It is strange but TBH I doubt its the ability to actually go its the blindless optimism that things COULD be great in the coming season, something most of us feel until actually proven opposite!

Was talking to Batch and NMH about this very thing last week and I cant help but be expectant for the coming season and miss Swindon football Saturdays already!

Partly though I think some of that is having Flynn in charge, its the massive element of the unknown.

I think it’s not that blindless next season. Ditched the tippy tappy stuff, pragmatic manager, new players (yay). I just pray he starts off well cos the bellends will soon jump on him.

Absolutely agree.

 Pitch renovations catch-up:

https://twitter.com/CassidyMarcus/status/1662363883271602177?s=20

https://twitter.com/CassidyMarcus/status/1662766023718707200?s=20

https://twitter.com/CassidyMarcus/status/1663162640456114177?s=20

https://twitter.com/CassidyMarcus/status/1663514549394329601?s=20

https://twitter.com/CassidyMarcus/status/1663547079682330624?s=20

Love seeing all the pitch stuff, some investment in the systems finally, hope it pays off!

He's very clearly been fantastic at his job for many years, great that he's been given furthur tools to do an even better job going forward.

Today’s pitch activity….

https://twitter.com/cassidymarcus/status/1663823076088332288?s=61&t=pTUdr8xXlQ7vJcn1NU7cbg

https://twitter.com/cassidymarcus/status/1663847213896794112?s=61&t=pTUdr8xXlQ7vJcn1NU7cbg

Day 11 of pitch renovation.

https://twitter.com/cassidymarcus/status/1664199036843307011?s=61&t=pTUdr8xXlQ7vJcn1NU7cbg

 https://twitter.com/cassidymarcus/status/1664575998753423362?s=61&t=pTUdr8xXlQ7vJcn1NU7cbg

Plymouth home friendly

Sat 29 July, 3pm

And it looks lie that's over and out. underwhelming

Good number of away fixtures. Would have liked one better home tie.

Probably more about numbers than it is anything else and there is enough of them now.

(A) Supermarine - Wednesday 5 July, 7.45pm
(A) Melksham - Saturday 8 July 3pm
(A) Corsham - Tuesday 11 July 7:30pm
(A) Bristol City - Tuesday 18 July, 12.30pm (behind closed doors but on 'Robins TV')
(A) Hereford - Tuesday 18 July, 7.30pm
(A) Eastleigh - Saturday 22 July 1pm
(H) Plymouth - Satturday 29 July 3pm


Is this them all then? Not as many as I thought actually. Would like another home tie at least.

And bigger teams wanting to play us (or not) we don't really have a 'big' neighbour to play and the big boys tend to piss off somewhere emerging, lucrative and hot these days.

And the police not wanting us to play anyone that local. The 'preseason friendly' vs Cardiff, kickoff moved forward on police advice always makes me chuckle.

That’s the complete schedule according to the clubs latest tweet. I’ll do Supermarine and Plymouth I expect - shame Hereford is midweek.

Presume the pitch renovations has curtailed the home friendlies.

I can’t think of too many recent seasons where we have had more than one home friendly. Did we play Everton and West Brom around 2016 sort of time?

I guess it has, they may have wanted another one but can’t announce it if the pitch isn’t going to be ready

This is it, I think we really struggle with geography here, we ain't going to play Oxford or any either of the Bristol teams (except BCD), Reading isn't going to inspire anyone and who else is there?

Similar to Barrow round here who have Holker Old Boys, FCU Manchester Oldham and Newcastle under 21's (who I imagine equally struggle to find people to play pre-season).

Look, all I want from pre-season is a raft of trialists and the excitement of working out who someone is from a picture of the back of their head 50 yards away.

It is two Championship teams tbf. Just a shame that one is behind closed doors and the other is Plymouth.

yeah, and I'd expect that to be the stronger fixture than the City on the same day. Surely that's not City's first team?

Supermarine and Melksham are great local clubs but I'm bored of them! They do have strong ties with us I suppose.

Can't be arsed to traipse to Eastleigh, i'd imagine.

Just wanted a couple of local different grounds. Like when we did Brimscombe and Thrupp.
------
But hey, its all personal opinion ain't it. Looking at Plymouth's pre-season its just the same.

Didn't we even play Liverpool that year? Well.. a Liverpool XI at least....

Around 15,000 sell out too

Thank God... I didn't dream it🤣... I remember thinking at the time that all those home fixtures v Prem opposition were all pretty meaningless... I mean even more meaningless than other friendlies... could have probably got a better workout against FL or deecent NL opposition...

Southampton and West ham in the invincibile year?

Tottenham and someone.. Birmingham?

we played twice on successive nights

Wasn't it the case that the home team would have to fork out a fee to host more illustrious opposition in preseason?

Bigger the name the larger the fee, but more chance of offsetting with a bigger attendance.

yeah, at least that's what I remember

wonder how much we're getting from Plymouth 😁

:D

I remember playing West Ham one year, and thinking all of their players were physically much bigger and stronger than us.

Don't forget we had a decent workout against Supermarine and ended up fatigued😀

Hartson got stick for being massively overweight

I do miss premier league preseason fixtures. Gareth bale scored an amazing goal at the cg just days before his real Madrid transfer. Most expensive player to grace the cg pitch?

I attended this one......

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/18-charged-over-swindon-town-2065812?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target

I can remember playing Bristol City at home pre-season 1980 lots of trouble and again in the mid 2000's

I vaguely remember beating West Ham in a pre-season and getting relegated 10 months later.

I am pretty sure that this game was Roberto Firmino's first game for Liverpool, and Vigoroux nearly broke him in half in the first 10 minutes on his debut for us, while on trial from Liverpool :D

spot on Berni

Benteke scored an absolute screamer and James Brophy was a trialist

I was there, it was a nice day out from memory. Vigs nearly saved their winner but it looped up in the air and under the bar sadly.

Indeed :doh:

Ours was a cracking finish too. Obika

That is really what is missing but along with the pitch not being ready until late, its all the big boys going to the states and other places. Was thinking even a Fulham would have been alright but even they're in the US right towards the end July. Maybe could have squeezed someone like that in before if the pitch was ready.

I’d like to see us try and pull together a Copa Ibiza effort in future years.

Plenty of mid ranking European teams that aren’t chasing the Yankee dollars in the “off season.”

Remember Vitesse Arnhem

There's plenty of Championship clubs that would be a decent 'showpiece' home friendly in the event of the PL teams all heading off in their various directions around the world.

Norwich, Watford and 'Boro spring to mind if we could insist on their 1st team squad travelling and playing. Then you have Hull, Stoke, Swansea, QPR and WBA etc.

Derby, Portsmouth, Charlton, Wednesday and Bolton wouldn't be too bad even if we had to dip into L1 to get a fixture.

Hamburg's finest St Pauli are playing at Dunfermline's East End Park in a pre-season friendly. that's kinda cool.

Ah the good old Borsele voetbaltoernooi te Nieuwdorp.

We won, so it wasn't a bridge too far.

Noticed a few pre seasons in the 90's spent in Finland as well.

Was that under Hoddle I cant remember, the only Dutch team I do remember was us beating top flight Roda Kerkrade JC in 1979.

They had 4 current Holland internationals in the side including the goalkeeper Jan Jongblod who played in the WC finals of 1974 and 1978 as well as Theo De Jong, Dick Nanninga who took part and another player Pierre Vermeulen who was in the 1978 squad.

We beat them 4-1 and Kamara missed a penalty.

Pre Season is a bit shit..

Hope we lose the lot....we always have a stormer when we do!

How did we ever get that ‘friendly’ v Fenerbache when Cox scored that worldy?

Didn't even have a kit.

I assume it must have been some sort of tournament in Austria where we happened to be doing preseason? I knew that Kezman scored their goal, but I wasn't aware that Roberto Carlos played for them??

http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MatchCentre.asp?Friendly=YES&MatchID=2009802000

Also note we thumped them 5-1  in a friendly in 1953....

Yes Carlos was shit that day, he took one direct free kick and put it so far over the bar and Macnamee was running rings round him at times.

It was good to be able to watch a pre season game in full on Fenerbahçe's own tv station on tinterweb well before ifollow etc.

They has us on screen as Swindown Town :)

Was summer 2008 the summer of the Best Holdings debacle?

Year after.

Extensive highlights here. Lots of fans from this bygone era can be spotted in the last 7 minutes or so.
https://youtu.be/cfAjikvqTNQ

20 years since Jimmy Davis death soon. We could have gone to Redditch.

I wonder if the Eastleigh fixture coincides with a player Town might be signing...

Someone like;

6' 5'' CDM/CB Ousseynou Cissé - 32yrs

or

6'1 RCB Christian Maghoma - 25yrs


Someone like either of them would be pretty decent, especially Maghoma would really is trying to kickstart from the bottom after being a Spurs Academy lad. Good full season at NL with Eastleigh. Probably more than capable at League Two level. Cissé is older and more versatile. Probably fits the Anthony Grant mould of player and at 6' 5'' he's not a small lad...Aud would sign him up for sure.

Both seem like types that Flynn might try to sign as well. Maghoma contract expires end of the month and Cissé is a free agent after being released. Strange as it looks like he had a decent season :hmmm:

It’s just like watching grass grow.

https://twitter.com/cassidymarcus/status/1666748710376685569?s=61&t=pTUdr8xXlQ7vJcn1NU7cbg

Anyone know when the players are due back for pre-season training

Normally around the first week in July

Are you sure? Our first pre-season game is 5th July. Is it not about 2 weeks before that or something?

Think they’re usually in for testing in late June

Thought someone said it was one day next week

Maybe slightly earlier Bob but normally you would expect them to go in on the Thursday & Friday for testing 29th & 30th June and proper preseason would start on Monday 3rd July.

Vincent Kompany already has Burnley back for their pre-season.

I did see that so maybe many clubs will be going back earlier than normal

Yeah thats the earliest i have ever been aware a team has been back. I always had 6 weeks in my head as a good preseason. Given the first week is normally light work and testing. That would mean last week of June. So I would expect them in on the 26th.

Hopefully things liven up in the next couple of weeks.

Dont forget season starts first weekend of august

Judging by players socials, looks like most of them are back in the UK now

Good point Tans as I thought the season started around the 12th August so expect them back earlier than normal.

Tbf, their season ended about a month before everyone else’s

Good point!

Pitch updates:

https://twitter.com/cassidymarcus/status/1667075968467443713?s=61&t=pTUdr8xXlQ7vJcn1NU7cbg

https://twitter.com/cassidymarcus/status/1667812864449445889?s=61&t=pTUdr8xXlQ7vJcn1NU7cbg

Players back into training two weeks tomorrow.

Yeah previously it has normally been between the 26th and 28th June for a normal early August season start.

Today’s pitch update.

https://twitter.com/cassidymarcus/status/1669614493125562370?s=61&t=pTUdr8xXlQ7vJcn1NU7cbg

Great memories Martin Tyler, Danny Ward v Chelsea

I'm sure they are doing a great job, but there seems to be massive gaps around the sprinklers, or have my eyes gone?

https://twitter.com/Official_STFC/status/1671518339011854336

I suspect that they know what they are doing.

Of course. But you see it right?

Do you mean broadly at the edge of the 'D' if the pitch were marked out.

My, entirely uninformed, suspicion would be that you add that bit at the end once the rest has settled and you test the sprinkler system  works?

Given it's a complete reboot of the pitch with good investment, the sprinklers are probably sunk into the pitch periscope style.

https://www.eticketing.co.uk/swindontown/EDP/Event/Index/781?position=1

Plymouth tickets are available now. Only the Arkells open. £15 adults, £5 concessions, £2 U11.

Not surprised only the Arkells is open if they're charging 15 sheet for a friendly.

Those are the times we are in. If the non league clubs we are playing charge 12, no reason we can't charge 15. Such is the world with inflation.

Feel like they could have got a decent crowd in with tenner a ticket though, more than making it for it.

When we're playing local non-league teams in a preseason friendly, it'll be one of there biggest crowds of the season, so £12 tickets makes sense. If we're playing a club which many perceive to be of similar stature to us, it's going to be a small crowd, and now probably even smaller still at £15.

I took my SLR camera to that match for some reason (new zoom lens toy) and got some great photos - one of Pritchard standing next to Bale springs to mind where it looked like a first teamer v under 15's. Also a pic of Bale controlling the ball on the touch line when he just looked like he was from another planet. Who have we got this season? Wootton Bassett B and Trowbridge? How far we have fallen.

I don’t think it’s us that have fallen as much as it’s the rise of pre-season tours abroad to sell merchandise and increase the customer base.

I can’t imagine (m)any L1 & L2 clubs get proper pre-season games against Premier League teams and any that do end up playing against a ‘select XI’ which will basically be all the kids left over who didn’t travel to the States for the Orange Mustang AT&T Superbowl Cup.

Wrexham are actually playing in that one.

Are the players back in today?

Wednesday, I think.

I might pop along to Marine a week Wednesday

Looks like the friendly at Eastleigh is a sell out. They’ve got a couple of hundred left, we have sold all but 50.

I say sell, but it is free entry.

Keeping this away from the transfer rumours thread.

I'm guessing that the relatively quiescent masses, thus far, will be dusting down the alarm bells if there aren't any new signinngs announced before the week is out.

I'd be disappointed if there weren't one or two in the bag before Saturday.

It's a case of whatever it takes to get out of L2 this season.
If that means 2 or 3 top of the range loans (for L2) coming in towards the end of the window then so be it.
I have some trust that Flynn will get this right.

I do hope that we have 90% of the squad in place by the season start...nowt worse getting it all in place with 6 games gone.

In Flynn we trust!

Imagine a friendly for free!

I see Bristol Women Beaters beat Melksham 9-0 last night. Bit of a benchmark.

Att. 2014

Our pre-season friendly @MelkshamTownFC on Saturday 8th July will now kick-off at 2pm, instead of 3pm.

#STFC supporters, book your tickets in advance here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pre-season-friendly-melksham-town-fc-v-swindon-town-fc-tickets-639755183977

I’ll be there!

New KO Requested by STFC

Ah, that's good.
The 16:51 had better be running.
Being stranded in Melksham until 21:34 doesn't get the juices flowing.
Attendance is dependent on some new faces though.
Three & a bit days for some scarves to be held aloft.

Flynn talking about Supermarine: "It's come a little earlier than I would have liked..."

Is he just a whingebag? Did he not agree the schedule?

Forgive me if I’m repeating what May have been said before but the pitch updates have gone missing.

it makes it less likely for me

were they going to charge us £1.50 for the floodlights or something?

it's all good, an hour will make no difference to most

did you not see that Marcus may no longer be employed

Perhaps he means 2pm instead of 3pm!

I did. And I have seen the pitch…. Just assumed that the pics were there. Though I can understand why they’re not.

Was thinking of going to Hereford (A) but noticed we are also (A) to the slave trading wife beaters on the same day. I cannot say I’m keen about going to Hereford to see a team of trialists and academy players.

Would expect a mix at both.

City game is BCD albeit streamed for a fiver.

I know that, I won’t be paying a fiver as I’ll be at work. So I refer to my OP. Other than paying to get into Edgar St. there’s the fuel and usual out of pocket expenses to consider.

Tickets on sale for Colchester today.
Just got my 4

Planning to do Melksham on Saturday for the first time.

Can anyone advise on where to park please?   :sherlock:

You going to fight the six fingered sister shagging bumpkin yokels single handedly then?

The huge car park right outside the ground

Brand new housing estate right next to it with a long entrance road, plenty of space.

Anyone actually going tonight? Turns out i have a free evening now

Its definitely a 7.45 ko isn't it? I checked the Livescore app last night to see when the England Under 21 games were on and noticed it had our game with Supermarine kicking off at 1pm. I've just checked today and it's reverted to an evening ko, which I assume is accurate?

Be there nice and early.

Did you have to register on the Colchester site to get them?

POTD available for an extra £2

I know this is poor form, but I've done it so many times I don't think I can be arsed given the lack of new players

I will no doubt regret it when we have 10 trialists

Get yerself to Corsham next week

Thank you Dave and Grimmy.  :)

When I drove by Supermarine at the weekend it said 7.45.

Yes but I did that 2 seasons ago.
They offer Military or NHS discount so £13 for an adult

I have tickets to go see this game, looking forward to it as I was at the Corsham FA Vase semi (or quarter) final game and had a great day.

I registered & got mine for £18, also booked parking for £7

Three trialists in the squad tonight. I assume one is Moore-Taylor.

No Devine, Darcy in the squad.

good spot

not a dig, but is devine fit? not sure what his last injury was

He has been pictured in training but it could be too early I guess.

Or Minturn

Sent from my SM-A346B

I thought Devine was still injured.

Trying to work out formation from the starting 11 seen as it has Hutton, Shade & Lavinier in.

I’ve got 352 but with one of Hutton/Lavinier in at CB

Is there any sort of Comms tonight?

Nothing against Shade but hope he's not in Flynns first eleven line up come August.

I think with all of them it should be a case of wait and see what Flynn can do with them before we write them off…

Shade was very popular at Walsall under Flynn. There is a player in there i tell ya

From the Adver blog - No Ronan Darcy, Harrison Minturn, or Reece Devine for Swindon tonight. They are injured but expected to be back soon.

Jordan Taylor Moore is the number 3. A mate of mine is there.

I agree. Lindsey/Morris isn’t much of a benchmark when it comes to utilising players to the best of their abilities. I’d imagine/hope Adeloye must be chomping at the bit.

Darcy is there in a tracksuit, according to my man with the long lens in the bushes.

Would love for Adeloye to bag a couple tonight and kick on.

It's not a bad price including parking and a free program, and against general opinion I actually like the ground. Just a shame we haven't won their on my last 2 occasions

Does anyone have a line up to guage who he has opted to go with? Also anyone any ideas on the trialists?

Number 3 is Jordan Taylor Moore, Lewis Ward is another one on the bench

Mahoney, Hutton, Trialist A, Blake-Tracy, McEachran, Brown, Hepburn-Murphy, Cain, Shade, Lavinier, Adeloye.

SUBS: Brann, Trialist B, Clayton, Khan, Kanu, Fox, Brewitt, Wakeling, Hart, Trialist C, Toombs, Keyes, McGregor, Dworzak, Aguiar, Austin.

Maybe just hope he can find some consistency under Flynn.

Somebody posted Lavinier is playing as an overlapping RCB

Thanks.
Well it isn't the worse side I've seen us put out so it's up to them to make a go of it for themselves. Is Ward is on the bench as a trialist? Thought I read somewhere he was on the bench 🤷

Yep just read it again courtesy of Hyabb. Do we have to name him as a trialist as he has been training with the club for a whole now

Are we winning yet? Flynn out!!

I wonder if the players will be fatigued later on😆

Cain. 1-0. Flynn in

‘ SWINDON SUPERMARINE 0 SWINDON TOWN 1 (Cain 20)

Town opening the scoring after a bit of brave play from Adeloye allows Cain to weave himself into a shooting position just outside the box. The midfielder shifted the ball onto his left 20 yards out and curled into the bottom left corner.’

Weird there isn't any score updates from the club on social media

Adver are doing it

Ah cool thanks, that makes it easier than trying to follow random tweets.

Brann on in goal. Ward on bench.

The back 3 of JMT FBT LAV makes sense with FBT in the middle and JMT on left. FBT cutting through the middle just as he did down the left. Like Nathan T did all those years ago. Lav I don’t think will be a starter unless Hutton goes.
A fast right sided proper CB will be needed.

Didn’t we lose to this lot last pre season?

Yes, 2-0....the infamous (to me anyway) "I'm really pleased as I wanted to see us playing fatigued" Scott Lyndsey game...

Just for a bit of context - FGR are losing at Melksham.

2nd half line up

STFC second-half XI: Brann, Clayton, Hart, Brewitt, Fox, Aguiar, Austin, Dworzak, Hepburn-Murphy, Khan, Hart.

Guess that confirms that Harvey Fox is still with the club - think on an extended scholarship rather than full pro terms.

Any news on other trialists?

1 is Ward

Big player this season, mark my words *crosses fingers*

2 Harts? We building a foundation?

2-0 Brewitt

Who is higher in the pyramid - Supermarine or Melksham?

Marine.

DiV will be delighted!

Bright pink Spandex away kit.

Anyone know who No. 19 is, Trialist C.

Someone on twitter said trialist c is Ward now in goal? Is that not right it's a an outfield player?

Also seen on twitter Wakeling with a pack of ice strapped to his leg.

Nemo is right - like this.

Let’s hope they are the best there is…etc…

Pink and black football kits are decent. Palermo or some Juventus away ones.

Need to sign a real bulldog in defensive midfield to join them.

Don’t think so. 2 of the trialists are Ward and JMT. There’s an unidentified baldy in midfield - could be the other one.

Don’t want to sign any nuggets though…

Jon jo shelvey :pint:

Where are you getting info on the kit?

"One team in Swindon, there's only one team in Swiiiindon..."

What info?

Brewitt was unlucky not to score a couple of times last year, Hartlepool in particular sticking in the memory. Could be a useful asset with any luck.

Sorry, I misunderstood the black and pink kit reference

:D

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hart_Foundation

Never ever considered Lav playing RCB in a back 3 but I’ll be honest. I don’t hate the idea…

At this point it might just be square pegs in round holes as it’s early days but I can see the logic behind it.

Wouldn't mind a Sharpshooter up front either.

FATIGUE KLAXON!

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/23636629.michael-flynn-first-pre-season-win-three-trialists/

"The boys have worked extremely hard, so there was a lot of fatigue on the pitch"

10/10
DV approves.

Although we do have Austin whose a Stone Cold finisher.
Scores the odd Stunner too

Shame we didn’t sign D.Johnson

Might have to dust off the box with the panic button in it.

Zeki Fryers came to us as a FB and was adequate at CB for a season. I wouldn't write Lav at RCB off totally just yet

Think it definitely has potential.

Thought both Clayton & Cain looked to have bulked up a bit

The Rock?

[/quote]Nah, Crockett from Miami Vice

Be careful going down this route, we might end up with McMahon back.

No chance in hell…

Sounds more like they've been hitting the fitness hard in preseason rather than getting the balls out first session, to me.

Both.  You should listen to the Life of a Kitman pod, they are doing weekly updates on pre-season training

so come on, someone must have gone ...

how did the new keeper do?
how did the fgr guy do?
did the other trialist impress?

who looked sharp, who looked leggy (not that it really matters now)

This.

Hardly any mention from anyone that went on how we looked, line up, shape, formation, how players played etc.

Did anyone actually go?

Did we win?

Found this off twitter

Second half thoughts

Murphy Aguiar Khan look very sharp

Number 19 trialist looked very slow and sloppy on the ball (no idea on name)

Clayts brewitt looked class

Harvey Fox young kid looked decent

murdered them 2-0 (Caine, Brewitt)

This is the other trialist

James Thomas ex Burton and Derby apparently.

Nothing comes up on Dr. Google

Sure that's not just some lad hanging around outside Spar asking if you will buy him 20 B&H?

Doesn’t look old enough to have had 2 clubs

Mildly impressed. Ta

I’ve definitely heard of Thomas from somewhere (probably football manager) but as mentioned, it’s strange that there’s nothing online about him

Naaa Steve didn't play

1510 at Supermarine

A further 1000 tickets released for Eastleigh, £5 a ticket now.
Over 3000 sold in total (home/away), free tickets a very good idea.

Anyone been before for a decent pub nearby? Think we played in the cup a few years back

Went to that FA Cup game. There is a place right opposite the walk to the ground. Funny old walk that.

The replay was possibly the most inept performance by a Swindon side I have ever seen.

In similar vein to last pre-season, we are playing away at Bishops Clever tonight completely unannounced. It's a Swindon XI so likely youth teamers.

Bishops Finger. Mmmmmm!

My Aldi staple

Anyone going tomorrow? I was going to but with no new players i don't think i will bother

Me and Mrs Audrey are going.

So what time is kick off then? 2 or 3?

2

Cheers.

Bought a ticket as thought it'd be a nice run out on the motorbike.....but  weather forecast now predicting thunder /rain !  :badmood:

Hope its a decent game !   :)

Melksham away is the only preseason game I ever go to. Nice little setup there. Looking forward to it.

Milk Churn/Water Meadow for a beer

Think I'll do what the lad wants to.

nice set up, but been there a few times and no excitement in the squad. So I probably wouldn't.

Yes going with Mrs GR, it’s a good set up there.

Hope Minturn manages to get some opportunities over pre season to stake his claim. Needs to be playing regularly this year, either with us or out on loan (ideally a conference premier side), sitting around on the bench will do him no good.

Feel he won’t get the chance to play regularly here this season if we’re looking to bring in a couple CB’s on top of Brewitt, Clayton and FBT.

On the roof terrace. What a great set up

Very good set up👏

couldn't be arsed in the end. look forward to reading the reports later

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F0gxSlfWAAECeFp?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)

                     Mahoney
            Lavinier  Brewitt  FBT
Hutton                                    Shade
                Khan  McEachran
                       Cain
               Austin    Wakeling

I’m guessing?

Darcy sat in the stands I think I recognise the guy sat behind him but can't name him as I can't be sure

To be fair it isn't a bad line up and should be able to hold it's own in the league. A couple of quality additions and we should be ok

Be interested if anyone can be bothered to post up a formation this time unlike at SS.

Also how we line up in that formation with who polaying where and how we played as a team, if anyone looked rusty and how the keeper played and if he commanded his area or made any saves ot any catches etc etc  and .... well anything as nobody really bothered for the Supermarine game.

That's not a bad side at all considering. Moore Taylor and Ward seem to be on the bench, the third trialist from Supermarine isn't.

that team should be capable of mid table

Great😡

Don't keep us in suspense throw a disclaimer in to cover you🤣

How do you add pictures to this bloody site??

Attachments under additional options in the full post screen (not the quick post one)

use web browser. there's a "addition options" button. attach

When you type a new message click on the additional options (bottom left of white box)

Not tech savvy it is saying its too large (first time I've heard that) what do I need to do

It’s a lovely little ground, seems like quite a few town fans

Unfortunately can’t see JMT out there as yet. Might be in dugout.

🤷

Finally

Good job Lou but still none the wiser😀

Does anyone know who that might be?

Offensively yes, defensively, no.

Decent advertisement behind this chap too 😏

It always seems to rain when we play Melksham preseason!

Ward and JMT both here and on bench

It's clems mate from Axis

What position does he play?

Eyeing up Melksham’s stadium for ideas how to downsize the CG when we ‘re-develop’

Austin. goal. header. cross from Hutton

hope we keep Hutton

One thing with Hutton, always rated him as a good crosser of the ball.

2-0 FBT 25 yarder

better than last year!

Wakeling goes close then has one ruled out for offside

#32 :)

Back 5 is really fluid, always looking for overloads when we are attacking. Lots of crosses into the box, mostly from the right. I’m not convinced Shade offers anything from the left.

Hutton played as a much more offensive wingback is great, as long as we dont have to rely on him defensively.

If he wants to stay and we play to his strengths he could even double his assist count of last season

Brilliant crosser of the ball at L2 level, just not a RB.

Would be interested to see him wide of a front three. Fundamentally not a defender but if we have a squad that actually works for 352 this year then the positives of him at RWB outweigh the negatives, provided the right hand CB is up to the job of covering for him. Interested to see if this Lavinier experiment survives pre-season. Might just work!

3-0 Adeloye (!)

100% i would love him in this set up but we have to get a good holding midfielder to cover as well for that as like you say he is poor defensively. A good midfielder will cover that though

No idea if we can take much from the result today no matter how it ends, I see Melkshams previous 2 games game been a 1-1 draw with FGR 4 days ago and a 0-9 loss to Bristol Rovers a week ago.

I would like to see us get another couple of goals 2nd half though.

Last seasons game finished 3-2 to Swindon but we did play a very very young team that day with 6 trialists.

4-0 Shade

fair!

5-0 Aguiar

What style of football we playing anyone🤔

Sounds like Wilder's Sheffield United

Any tippy tappy stuff?

No messing then more direct!

I'd love to see Slick Rick kick on and fight his way back into contention this year.

He clearly is a good technician. Long range shot into top corner apparently. There is a good player in there somewhere and hopefully Flynn can unleash it.

Kinda like this then?

                               sweeper Keeper
           covering CB             CB            covering CB
attacking RWB                                                attacking LWB
                    Ball winning MF      creative MF
                                 Box to box MF
                            Big striker      Fast striker

Needs to be under one mb in size. Compress it via Compress or Die {saves you installing an app}.

Gunningball

Similarly would be delighted for Adeloye to prove his worth. Everyone is a winner if he does. Insane and a sign of our abject mismanagement that our newly signed 'number 9' managed 1 League start last year.

I'd be happy with that😆

Delighted for Adeloye. It made no sense starting Jephcott who was on loan over him at the tail end of last season. Jephcott clearly not good enough, Adeloye deserved a shot even if it was just to put him in the shop market. Maybe Flynn will get something out of him

I have heard some good stuff about our youngster Dani Gonzalez who is playing this half, supposed to be very quick and versatile can play in a few roles.

Adelove to see that

Kev's on 🔥

Sounds like we poached him from La Masia with a name like that!

FT at Melksham... 0-5

Good result considering FGR could only draw there 4 days ago.

Yeah but that was a village team v a town team so...  ;)

so you are saying Gonzalez is speedy?

don't suppose he's a trained carpet fitter too? (underlay underlay)

nice to see preseason going ok so far. results aren't that important but we should at least show a bit of quality - which we seem to be.

no new injuries?

Nope, you did that yourself to set up that damn awful joke :)

Can't read too much into pre-season results of course but I do like us to see off non league sides by at least a couple of goals and it's slightly concerning when we don't (i.e last pre-season)

Absolutely, we did better this year at Supermarine and Melksham than we did last season.

Next game on Tuesday at Corsham should also be a good run out.

Winning is a habit you can't get into too early

Well,what an enjoyable afternoon that was! Few pints of Thatchers, bit of chat and rescued a woman’s handbag!

Bit of a scuffle in the 2nd half with beered up fans but nothing to write home about.

My take fwiw, as I can’t identify many players. Brewitt is fine, FBT stand out in the 1st half. Mrs Audrey liked the look of McCreachan but not in a carnal way. Hutton was Hutton.

2nd half JMT or whatever he’s called, looked just what we need at the back. Organising the defence, keeping it simple, bit of a unit.

A couple of the youths looked decent but I have no idea who they were. Were there any triallists? No idea.

Looking forward to Corsham Tuesday.

Only thing I do rate him for to be honest haha.

Music to my ears. As long as its not tippy tippy academy shite.

Who is captain, Austin?

Sure FBT had it

Hope so. Let Charlie concentrate on what he does best...

Wakeling had ice strapped to his leg, to the side/back of his knee (tried to add photo but gave up !)

FBT had the armband in a photo I saw somewhere.

Did a quick check to see how the other teams in L2 did today in friendlies, these are the results and the league level they played against, not really any surprises though.

Accrington 2-2* Blackburn (level 2) ongoing late kick off.
FC United 0-2 Barrow (level 7)
Bury 0-5 Bradford (level 9)
Maldon 0-4 Colchester (level 8 )
Halesowen 0-5 Crewe (level 8 )
Rossington 1-3 Doncaster (level 10)
Dover 0-4 Gillingham (level 6)
Cleethorpes 1-2 Grimsby (level 8 )
Huddersfield U21s 0-1 Harrogate (level 2)
Undy 0-4 AFC Newport (level 3 Welsh league)
Grantham 3-4 Notts County (level 8 )
Radcliffe 0-3 Salford (level 8 )
Stockport 1-1 Lincoln (level 3)
Melksham 0-5 Swindon (level 8 )
Vauxhall Motors 0-0 Tranmere (level 8 )
Reading 0-1 AFC Wimbledon (level 3)

ah thanks, let's hope it's not as serious as it sounds.

Decent article

https://www.totalswindon.com/sport/what-we-learned-melksham-town-0-swindon-town-5/?fbclid=IwAR03UmhLpe346jt8Ppr97FZjXVZgC6bXrVLfDnFlBA335ad9Xem5qQTbI7U

Attendance 1514

Was there some hand bags antics with the Melksham kids and the Swindon ones second half? Looked like the Town fans were moved along?

Yeah. Bit of nonsense really.

They weren't wannabe gasheads were they😆

Wasnt that almost the same crowd as at Supermarine?

Flynn reaction
https://www.totalswindon.com/sport/michael-flynn-saw-a-lot-of-promising-signs-during-swindons-victory-over-melksham/?fbclid=IwAR0Zu7a3p2x0zPB_D_3TuJAZSoENTl7hmQAv8R-IaRsAXPcpezISG_fZyMI

Yeah. 4 more!

According to Flynn....

Sums up Shade very, very well! I like Flynn!

Thats damn close! good crowd for both those teams that, nice bit of income for them both.

I’ve been to both preseason games so far and this new formation throws up some questions and dare I say it, some competition.
FBT, Brewitt and JMT have all played the middle of the 3 and they all seem comfortable enough.
Clayton has looked as a good as anyone else at the back so far also, so with 3 out of those 4 being left footed you could say the obvious that’s it’s unbalanced.
Brewitt was very assured today and played a couple of lovely passes.

I’m aware it’s only teams way down the pyramid but I’m feeling a little more confident about our shape and state of the defence compared to when the whistle blew against Crawley.
Clayton has bulked up a little too. Some options for Flynn for sure.

Big forward for Charlie/RHM to play off of. A DM and a left wing back needed for me.

Think he’s got a hard on for Shade!

But he’s right. Shade flatters to deceive. If a football brain could be inserted in his head then he could be good. No one has been able to get him to use all his physical attributes well for 90 mins on the pitch.

Interesting....playing like Sheff Utd c. Chris Wilder.... intriguing... Anything that doesn't feature the 'horseshoe of doom' is fine by me...

If you sit/stand near the dug outs at games you'll see players with ice packs all the time... it's pretty common practice and doesn't necessarily mean it's anything remotely serious...

By the sounds of it, we've got a preseason friendly against Swansea, presumably behind closed doors. Flynn mentions it in his Melksham post match.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0fzsj0y

I cant listen at the moment but I am guessing it will be fri/sat/sun of this week as we have no game between the next 2 Tuesday friendlies?

Saturday

That was the first game at Gigg Lane for over 4 years, so whilst not ideal I suspect Bury fans still enjoyed it!

I can’t make out what the last question is? Talking about a position.

Think it's asking the position of the player we're close to bringing in, which Flynn responds with a No

Ta. Makes sense.

Absolutely and welcome back Bury, seen Swindon play there 5 times before, the first being well before the redevelopment, quirky old ground but proper old school lower league one.

Nice little video from a young fan here.
Worth watching for the FBT strike

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZJFS90XJGY&ab_channel=Juniortism

Who is higher up the pyramid. Melksham or Corsham?

Melksham

Couple of sitters missed and a couple really unlucky. Could have been closer to Rovers 9-0 really.

Yeah plus 1 disallowed and three of the woodwork.
I was quite impressed by the press and the effort all round.

Nice little video that.

What a finish by FBT, decent all round performance by the sound of it, next on to Corsham on Tuesday.

What was all that kicking off in the crowd about? I don’t understand why people would start a fight, especially at a friendly  :hmmm:

Yes its quite frankly pathetic.

nice. could easily have been 10.

imagine going to a preseason friendly at Melksham and kicking off 🤣 Tools

Some people need to take a long hard look at themselves.

Most of Melksham is Swindon fans anyway with a few Bristolians about. Did look like one had a blue scarf....Rovers fan?

One lad had a dark city shirt on under his jacket and was quite gobby

Aud did say there were a few in corsham so could be shenanigans again in midweek!

I'm thinking probably Bristhole fans

Standard

What on earth must your life be if you have to go to a preseason friendly and try to get it to kick off!

Even hooligans need to get their fitness levels up. Perhaps he was trying being proper nawty whilst fatigued?

🤣🤣🤣

Sadly the reason we still can't play the likes of Bristol City in front of a crowd.

Tbh it's usually just a few overexcited kids or suppressed blokes who've had one too many cider lollies from the ice cream van on a hot day.

To be fair they were all school boy age and were goading a group of town fans. Singing Austin you're a wanker Karma when he scored and he laughed towards them and what do you think is Swindon shit etc then they were told of you carry on you're out which then the town fan in question started lauhging singing Irene's a prostitute he was also told to tone it down. We moved for the 2nd half but could see the fists flying from the opposite end. Really quite pathetic for a pre season friendly against a localish town which has an element of Swindon fans from.

Some Town fan wasted his pint chucking it at them. Can see that on the video.

Was you on the flat roof next to the main stand

Twas. I was wearing a white Greece baseball cap!

There looked like there was quite few of you on the roof😀
What's the corsham ground like similar to Supermarine?

No idea. Never been before! Got a clubhouse for a beer.

That's all that matters😀

You going

No working sadly

surely that’s a bonus,  I’d rather stick wasps up my arse than watch that shite.

Now now, we've had a good relationship over many years with our friends along the M4 south of the river with players trading both ways😀

Better view of the goals here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4rgNCXWkS4&ab_channel=MelkshamTownFC

I generally never take pre-season results too seriously of course, but it's good to get into a winning habit nice and early. That Hutton/Austin partnership could be very fruitful over the course of the season.

Or until August 31st at the most.

I still can't see a scenario where he stays. Especially as Peterborough don't have Ward or Thompson anymore.

I mean for all the talk about Hutton wanting away/Peterborough's supposed interest, nothing as yet has come from it. I noticed that Tomlinson played a part in their pre-season game over the weekend, perhaps there is a deal to be done where we get Tomlinson and cash for Hutton. Would Lavinier then shift to RB?

I must be one of the few who thinks Tomlinson isnt actually that good… 

I like Tomlinson and think he could do a job at RWB, hes predominantly right footed and played RWB for Hungerford and Eastliegh previously and was moved to LWB while at Posh.

I think he has loads of potential if we keep him fit. Ironically he has only ever had 2 fairly big injuries in his career, both while at Swindon on loan.

I certainly wouldn’t be climbing over myself to get a deal done that involved Tomlinson coming in at the expense of Hutton going…

Now, if we could get Tomlinson in as well as Hutton to add to the options at both RWB & LWB I’d be inclined to try and make that deal happen.

If Hutton wants to stay (which has been rumoured that he didnt, but things change and it was only a rumour) then yes get Tomlinson and keep Hutton too, that would be a good option.

Tbh, even if Hutton doesn’t want to stay. He’s under contract, so we could always just say tough shit.

…or tell him, get your head down, keep popping the ball on Chairle’s head and you’ll have better options in January.

I like this option as we will all benefit.

I like this as well but if we're in the promotion hunt and sell Hutton in January our fans will go equally ape shit and say we lack ambition.

Ive been on holiday....how many signings have we made?

The same number of rounds 4D has ever bought.

er, 3 including Brewitt, Austin and loan keeper?

I always get collared for most rounds, they're a tight lot  :)

opinions and arseholes. There isn't a lot to go on but he was pretty good in his first spell at the club I thought.


I think you are right about potential. He's young and Peterborough generally have a good eye for non-league talent. Injuries have probably held him back so a good pre-season and he may have a part to play this season.


As you say, Hutton + Tomlinson is a right result. If the various noises about us being skint are true, we may well have to cash in on Hutton, we don't have an assembly line of valuable assets currently. If he starts the season well, we may have our hand tested come the end of August. You would hope that  we look longer term, but if the offer is too good to refuse, then so be it. (as always it will be undisclosed anyway)


Yeah I am in agreement. If we are there or thereabouts at Christmas, selling Hutton would go down like a lead balloon.

Think the issue is it sounds like we (or Clem) already gave Hutton the “get your head down for the next few months and we’ll agree to sell you in the next window” talk in January.

:) Clearly I have no idea. It's their word against yours!

Same fans who spent a few months last season spouting shite about how he was ‘rubbish’ and ‘didn’t want to be here’ and ‘we should sell’

no, different ones

I'll offer a counter opinion. Outside of being a good crosser, I don't think much of Hutton at all. Tomlinson is class but I do worry about him staying fit.

Hutton is a fine attacking right back.

I'd much rather watch a Hutton than a Hunt but in the context of a potential top 3 side it probably should be more a Hunt than a Hutton, based on there being more of a spread of goals & assists across a team aiming for autos.

Having said that, keeping Hutton and adding assists from midfield & the other flank would be ideal.

Not really a counter opinion, its plain for most to see that outside of crossing hutton doesnt have too many attibutes to being a footballer TBH, hes quick but not fast, he struggles to beat his man and cannot really defend.

But.

Tozer at Wreham, is not a footballer but he is a long throw specialist so that gets him his place in the team, early doors at United Beckham wasnt a great footballer but man could he deliver a cross/free kick/shot. Twine as well, doesnt contribute too much but has similar attributes to Beckham with the ball at his feet, both though worked on their game and improved as players.

I think if Hutton had better footballing ability then he wouldnt be in L2.

I think if a team play to a players strengths then they are a good asset, if like Lindsey yotu rely on Hutton being able to defend then you are fucked.

Who is number 29? Gets sent for a hot dog at about 3 mins.

my opinion on Hutton. If he could find consistency in his crossing he'd be a great supply line for Austin.

Not sure I've seen many players put crosses in simply by creating half a yard without beating his man.

defensively he's below average though

Maybe he didn't want to be here but that ship has sailed? Things and opinions in football change

Wasn't sure whether this would be better suited to another thread, but both Morecambe and Barnsley have cancelled preseason friendlies stating lack of available players.

Considering we managed to still get the preseason friendly against Supermarine in 2021 still played after power decided to stop paying everyone, that's proper tinpot

Notice that Mansfield haven’t bothered with the “Trialist” malarkey and just named Aaron Lewis in their squad for their upcoming friendly. Either extremely confident of getting a deal done or can’t be bothered to keep it secret.

Don't know about hot dogs but 29 is Aguiar...

Is RHM injured? Hasn’t featured yet.

Kieran Freeman too

Injured in the warm up at Supermarine I think

Bloody hell🤦🤣

It’s true he didn’t start at supermarine when he was listed in starting line up but he did come on and play the 2nd half.
No doubt rested.

I think this is what they call the ''Nathan Byrne'' scenario. Player capable of playing at league above in an advanced position. Fans hopeful he stays as he starts the season and no doubt Hutton will play really well in August. Much like Byrne, will then be sold at the end of the window to someone in League One - like Northampton or the oft mentioned Peterborough

I think you're mixing opinions or misquoting there DV a smidge. I don't really remember anyone saying he was rubbish. They may have said he was 'a rubbish defender..' which is accurate. He's no defender. No doubt about his ability in the final third though.

There were several that stated he 'didn't LOOK LIKE he wanted to be here' and that's true too. There were games where he really looked disinterested and he wasn't even in the game. Whenever he was though, he did tend to perform.

Also, are people not allowed or incapable of being flexible with their opinions? Surely being a mature adult means one can see what they may have thought, examined some of that opinion during a period of reflection and then MIGHT have an altered opinion to one they previously did? No...is that not possible? Must everyone's opinion be perpetually fixed?

I used to fucking hate tomatoes, also found them boring and tasteless. Had them in the mediterranean and realised what having proper tomatoes to eat was like. Thus, I now fucking love tomatoes and my opinion on them changed. I wasn't ignorant enough to still go 'well, they do taste good but I still hate them' because new knowledge came to me.

How gloriously riveting  :girlgiggle:

Shirley you mean Kalven Freshwater?

(Apologies i could look on the website but) do we have games this week?

Page 1 of this thread. Corsham tonight.

Ah cheers LL, I never realised that! The Audrey derby! :)

Swansea BCD on Saturday

We’ll be there! Hope it’s not a yoof side.

It’s a youth side, supposedly, they’re not even sure Flynn is going to be there.

Thanks! Saves a trip I was unlikely to make anyway.

Call yourself  a fan. Pfftt

Bit shit if Flynn wont be there and it is only the yoofs TBF.

I'm sure it was referenced somewhere that Flynn had concerns with the state of the Corsham pitch and didn't want to risk the first team on it.

Boo. Flynn out

Flashbacks to our preaseason game at Banbury under Kev MacDonalds which got halted because a hammer was found on the pitch  :D

I am. Just a shit one.

At their training ground I presume similar to City?

any chance of a stream?

Not a clue, only know about it because of the post Melksham match comments from Flynn

I had a look Swansea end and it doesn't look like they consider this a first team friendly. They play Oxford friday night and Rovers Tues for example.

So no stream

Booooo!!!!!

Maybe they’ll sneak a new trialist into the team tonight.

Any idea why we don't do preseason games on ifollow like other clubs do? Just seems a missed opportunity when fans would happily pay for it

No idea, its just something the club isn't very good at it seems. Though normally its sold by the home team, see Bristol City next week, and i remember a Birmingham game last season i think.

The other thing is its normally behind closed doors for a reason. The Bristol one is different, as they are doing work on their pitch so all their preseason is at their training ground so they are happy to provide access. Swansea seems like an almost off the books pre season game honestly, so they are probably keeping it that way for a reason. Lets see if the clubs twitter even covers it?

Lineup for the Corsham game, very much a development side. Only question is are these the trialists potential first teamers or youth trialists.

When is the Bristol City game this week or next🤔

I woulkd imagine it is the lad who Flynn said was 16 but has developed very quickly so wants to see him at both levels

Lot of midgets on the pitch 4 us

That's probably most of last years team then.  Perhaps our transfer policy is all players must be under 6'0 except the goalkeeper

A y team news

Some Fecker has a drum

That's not even a first choice youth team is it?

Hope they didn't charge to get in😳

Kanu on the bench, so did think that.

No Hart Foundation either, or Fox. Assuming that a few of the names from last year might have left the club - Taank, Wynn-Davis and a few others. There was never an announcement I don't think, only that Dworzak had a contract.

1-0 Corsham.

I assume for City and Hereford they'll send mixed squads to both and Flynn will attend both? Its not exactly far and the City game kicks off at 12:30.

All the pre-season fixtures are on page 1 Jimmy (I learnt this morning :) )

Cheers Robert😁

(A) Supermarine - Wednesday 5 July, 7.45pm
(A) Melksham - Saturday 8 July 3pm
(A) Corsham - Tuesday 11 July 7:30pm
(A) Bristol City - Tuesday 18 July, 12.30pm (behind closed doors but on 'Robins TV')
(A) Hereford - Tuesday 18 July, 7.30pm
(A) Eastleigh - Saturday 22 July 1pm
(H) Plymouth - Saturday 29 July

I left at half time. That’s not even our youth team - kindergarten team maybe.

Anyway it’s a struggle against fully grown blokes. I have no idea who is who but our No. 11 looks very decent - very small but skilful and tbf got stuck in a bit. No. 14 looked good too.

How much did they charge a ticket out of interest? Club building it up and then sending a youth team is pretty poor imo

Looks like we have a couple of trialists on now.  No idea who they are, probably yoofs as well.

11. Hubbard
14. Keyes

... apparently...

I bumped into to PaulD on his morning dog walk a couple of weeks back and we had a bit of a natter.
Anyway, Wynn-Davis is no longer at the club.

He’s off to Alabama on a scholarship

£8

Keep an eye on that Hubbard.

Lot of money for an U18 pre season friendly

Decent crowd there, too. All good money for Corsham.

Trialist B is a player released from Villa - Frith I think.

I thought i seen last eek they said they were sending the kids didnt they

Without wishing to go all mumsnet and stuff, if you bump into him again, let him know he can reach out if he needs any "local" help/knowledge.  Tuscaloosa (assuming Alabama of College Football fame) is a mere 3 1/2 hours from here - which is local :-)  Having made the move I can at least offer any insights I may have gained in the past few years.  Great Uni as well.

Will do. He doesn’t live far so occasionally see him about. Usually more a quick head nod & alright than a catch up but will pass on next time I see him.

In fairness - he still lurks on occasion so might read it himself.

Also, don’t quote me but I *think* he said it was Mobile, Alabama*

If it isn’t the NFL or late 80s - 90s - earl 00s wrestlers my American geography is non existent.







*home of ‘Hardcore’ Holly.

I know Mobile, on the Gulf, a little further but a straight road down.

If you see him again I'm in algeciras, Cadiz Spain, I'm only a 10 hour flight with connections if he's happy to pay

Hopefully he's not 'stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again' ?

Not much to glean from last night's friendly I guess. I wonder what the benefits of playing such a young team against a group of fully grown men. Clearly there have to be benefits otherwise why do it, but to me it seems a bit pointless giving the youth team such a tough, physical test so early in pre-season. Perhaps that's one of the reasons,  to make sure they are prepared physically?

The original plan was to send the first team.
I understand for all of our non-league friendlies, we send someone down to check the pitch is okay a week or so in advance.
Corshams pitch didn’t look great when checked last week, so they didn’t want to risk the first team, but told them they’d send the youths to honour the game.

I've Twitter DM'd him and directed him to this thread

Those horrible swindon bastards . Burn them

'Operation human shield' type thing :)

Tbf, the pitch wasn’t great. Some noticeable undulations. Very much a ‘cut field’ type.

Attendance 861

The Swansea City behind closed doors friendly today is a bit elusive. Checked their website and both their U21 and U18 teams have behind closed door friendlies today against Briton Ferry Llansawel.

No reference to us at all. Likewise with the first team fixtures.
https://www.swanseacity.com/news/academy-pre-season-fixtures-confirmed-0

Swansea want no outside media coverage

As Aud says

https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/swanseacity/forum/299390/swansea-city-v-swindon-town-this-saturday/#7

Cheers gents. Shame we get no coverage today.

I agree as the season gets nearer it's nice to get coverage on how things are shaping up maybe we will get updates from the Bristol City game behind closed doors next week.

I think you can stream that game on their platform for a price.

Cheers Bob

https://twitter.com/Official_STFC/status/1680155293953536005?t=aJK2pQ32f4tB-TyXdJo3uw&s=19

Swansea game is 12 today.

Mahoney

Clayton
FBT
Lavinier

Shade
Hutton

McEachran
Khan
Cain

Austin
RHM

Subs: Two trialists, Fox, Brewitt, Hart, Jaxon Brown, Devine, Darcy, Wakeling, Adeloye, Aguiar, Minturn


Really not bad side that. Lavinier CB seems to be happening. No Brann on the bench so think one of the trialists will be Ward.

Someone mentioned Wickham as a trialist. Not sure I can see that one

I'm inclined to agree. As a first XI it's really not a disastrous side bearing in mind we've only signed a keeper. If we can add 5 decent signings, we really could challenge this season. I think I've probably done the current lot and manager a disservice by predicting 16th based on current playing staff.

Nothing else to puck is there. The squad is so short. Our best bench options are Brewitt, Devine, Darcy and Wakeling. Remember some of these Flynn has told to move on, adelyoe etc. Thankfully no injuries at the moment.

One clutching at straws observation from the official clubs twitter. It could be a mistake from them, or me jumping on something. Everyone is using their new squad numbers, but Shade has 28. He wore that last season so likely a mistake, but he has worn 7 every game so far. So perhaps 7 has been vacated for someone....

Again, just passing on a rumour I heard in circles. Allegedly the 28 was temporarily vacated for Demetriou, thus Shade wearing 7 before but since that one broke down, no need to keep 28 vacant. Shade is back to wearing 28 today.

Probably put that one under the 80% bollocks section but just something I heard.

Didnt have his contract renewed at Cardiff in the Summer but after his good spell at FGR he will probably still get a L1 club I would think.

Is the type of striker that Flynn loves though. If i is indeed him and its a massive IF we did sign him that was be a statement of intent.

If Demetriou wanted 7 as a centre back then I'm glad we didn't sign him!

Sorry I meant the 28 was allegedly freed up. I wasn’t convinced when I heard it, seemed very random but then checked and saw he was wearing 28 at Newport.

If we believe the rumours from STFCboo on the 2 strikers we have missed out on, and IF this is a player on trial, then it seems very clear Flynn wants a taller striker in at least. Which makes sense.

It would be the sort i think Charlie would thrive of too

Worries me more than all the rumoured trialists / missed out signings are nothing but tall strikers.

Not our most pressing need imo and Austin is no slouch when it comes to challenging in the air or holding the ball up. Sure, not his main strengths either but if I was looking to add to the squad, yes a target man would be on the list but wouldn’t be top 3.

Don't worry we have missed out on lots of defenders as well based on the rumours!

How many is lots

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

…seen very little evidence of that.

I think it was a joke.

We havent actually seen any evidence of any strikers that we have missed out on too.

Currently the only player we know 100% that we missed out on was Moore-Taylor and ironically he was a defender, so technically Riddick is right, we have actually missed out on 100% more defenders than attackers so far!

Is 28 a number Shade has used through out his career / has some attachment too?
Can’t see the logic in him being willing to give up #28 for #7 in the first place in that case. Even less logic in changing to #7 to then go back to #28 if it was suddenly free again because if it is his preferred number he wouldn’t have given it up in the first place.

Evidence that you’ve seen / heard*

Yes, JMT was on trail so that one makes sense.
…but I stand by what I’ve said about Johnson & Smith turning us down.

Doing OK at Swansea. Had a couple of chances. Jerry Yates playing for them.

Shade had the number 28 at Walsall and at Leicester too.

No idea tbh, made little sense to me when I first heard it. Only link that made it somewhat credible was seeing that Shade had 28 last season, has worn 7 all pre season up until now (a couple days after we hear Demetriou to Crewe) and now gone back to 28. Paired with Demetriou wearing 28 at Newport.

How do you know? Thought there was no media coverage?

I see Brewitt is on after 30mins, presumably someone has picked up an injury.

Adver updates. Starting defender for Town off injured as Brewitt has come on.

14'

Town have a chance early on.

Blake-Tracy picks up the ball following a short corner from McEachran, who then turns and hits a well struck attempt into the side netting.

17’

Shade wins a free-kick along the left and bends an effort towards the top right corner, but Fisher tips it over the bar.

Official site doing updates on twitter.

Ah! Thank you.

1-0 boo

Swans line up

Swansea lineup for you:

Fisher, Key, Wood, Naughton, B. Cooper, Abdulai, Grimes, Fulton, Paterson, Piroe, Yates

No idea how strong or otherwise that is

fucking hell, we are playing people off Twitter now

Very strong. Not too far off the best they can field.

Nice. Yates off

Clayton went off after 20

Piroe adds a second for the Swans.

3-0

3-0 now.

Not learning much from this friendly only the gap between the two clubs is huge.

He is one heck of a player TBH.

Absolutely. Swansea have some superb technically gifted players. It was always going to be a huge step up from our last games.

Same as all our friendlies tbh..

59'

A crossed delivery from Hutton finds Austin, but Fisher once again is there to clear any danger

Changes made by both teams

60’ | A triple change on the hour for Town

⬆️ Darcy, Minturn, Wakeling

⬇️ McEachran, Shade, Austin

[3-0]

#STFC

Fair point although it seems a long way to travel for a behind closed doors friendly.

4

66’ | A handful of changes for Town, with the playing XI as follows:

Trialist A, Minturn, Brewitt, Hart, Hutton, Brown, Trialist B, Devine, Darcy, Fox, Wakeling

[3-0]

#STFC

ward is on then

Devine fit - ish

5

League 2 squad with semi okay starting XI and little quality depth gets pumped by Championship side.

Shocker. Score won’t mean much.

Who is trialist B?

Wickham

Could happen at Bristol City next week as well🤣

They’re scraping past Torquay 3-2 at the minute with a fairly strong team.

A little hope then'

no thanks

Fucking hell if we are looking at the likes of Connor Wickham then we are desperate.
For a start he is always injured.

The only learning we remain desperately short of a decent squad. Would go as far and say 5 but we will struggle to peddle some of the shite we already have.
Let’s just hope it looks a little more positive in 3 weeks.

Concerned to say the least.
Still time but at this rate looks like the loan market is where we will be heading again.

Maybe this persuaded someone to get his chequebook out?!