Cheltenham Away September 2002

[Oaksey Moonraker]

The feeling after yesterday's result and performance makes all the moments of despair and pain worth it. I think the worse I ever felt after an away game was Cheltenham away in September 2002. The club was in financial freefall, the team on a terrible run and Andy Gurney arguing with Swindon fans. Steve Coppell said there was nothing that could be done for us and if we had continued to fall then we may well have gone out of existence.

Yesterday just shows you what this game can do for you and is probably the best away performance, result and feeling of more exhilaration since the 6-4 game at Birmingham at Easter 1993. Let's hope we keep our heads and get the results to get us up automatically.

[Ardiles]

I wasn't at that game.  Happily.  But was at the Brentford game at Griffin Park around the same time where rumours surfaced that the club was about to go to the wall.  Bizarre atmosphere.  I think we may even have won that night, but we knew there were bad things going on behind the scenes.

Some people were commmenting recently that the TEF isn't what it was.  (As it happens, we've had an influx of new posters in the last few months, and I think the forum is on the way back.  All new posters more than welcome.)  What a lot of people forget though, is that while the forum was very busy 3 or 4 years ago, a lot of the commentary was dominated by talk of Diamandis, Creditor Voluntary Agreements, balance sheets, solvency, boardroom incompetence, Andy ***King and shit football.

Fast forward to 2010, and the talk is all football (and 80% bollocks, obviously).  Andrew Fitton deserves the Freedom of Swindon and an annual appreciation day.  I hope to God that we're still at the start of the Fitton/Wilson era, because our footballing lives are so much the better for both of them.

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

I really had to try and keep my smile contain as we left amongst the home fans yesterday. It really was hard work.

[stfc11]

That Cheltenham match was my first away match, I was 12 years old! I'd been ill and had to convince my mum I was well enough to go, how I wish I hadn't!

[Ardiles]

I'm amazed there was a second away match.

Give that man a medal.

[leefer]

Remember the match well...though i often try to forget it.

[Reg Smeeton]

 It wasn't too bright that's for sure, but nothing like as bad as the dark days of the early 80's from about March 83 to March 85....this 2 year period was started by the sacking of John Trollope because of the abuse of John Trollope (John Trollope FFS) by many in the Arkells in a crowd of 2816, when losing 1-2 to Darlo and continued until the sacking of Macari in March 85. On this occasion TEnders in a crowd of 2695 called for and got the reinstatement of Macari.

 The previous away game we'd lost 2-6 at Scunny and been dumped from the cup by fucking Dagenham, who didn't even need the help of Redbridge.

 The previous home game v HPool I thought I'd go on the Bank, as it was reasonably sunny. It was so empty, that I found a stanchion all to myself to lean on....got in about 3 mins late, went home thinking it finished 1-1, to discover we'd won 2-1. Peter Coyne had scored in the first minute, but there wasn't enough noise to register outside the ground....crowd that day 2200.

[Ardiles]

The previous home game v HPool I thought I'd go on the Bank, as it was reasonably sunny. It was so empty, that I found a stanchion all to myself to lean on....got in about 3 mins late, went home thinking it finished 1-1, to discover we'd won 2-1. Peter Coyne had scored in the first minute, but there wasn't enough noise to register outside the ground....crowd that day 2200.

Classic story.

[pauld]

The previous home game v HPool I thought I'd go on the Bank, as it was reasonably sunny. It was so empty, that I found a stanchion all to myself to lean on....got in about 3 mins late, went home thinking it finished 1-1, to discover we'd won 2-1. Peter Coyne had scored in the first minute, but there wasn't enough noise to register outside the ground....crowd that day 2200.

Clearly what you needed was some bloke on the Tannoy going "Gooooaaaaalllllll number twwwwooooooo to Swindon Tooowwwwwnnnn"

[Reg Smeeton]

Clearly what you needed was some bloke on the Tannoy going "Gooooaaaaalllllll number twwwwooooooo to Swindon Tooowwwwwnnnn"

My favourite Tannoy man, was a fella whose name escapes me, which is now going to annoy in the 60's and early 70's who use to announce as the players came out, in a fine Swindon accent....and now the roar, for here they come...

[pauld]

I wasn't at that game.  Happily.  But was at the Brentford game at Griffin Park around the same time where rumours surfaced that the club was about to go to the wall. 

I was at both. I'm a fucking misery magnet

[Batch]

the town shirt went in the bin after that game at cheltenham. it was rescued by the mrs though

[One F In Fitton]

Sadly I was at those Cheltenham & Brentford games, but happily I was also at St Andrews that Easter bank holiday Monday, coincidentally (also got the video - the girl I spoke to when I ordered it from BCFC seemed pretty off with me for some reason......). The highs and lows that make this unique journey what it is.

I think what also summed things up at that Cheltenham game was when the ref sent Sam Parkin off, Parkin was still on the deck, and the ref clumsily kicked him in the head - fucking doofus.

It is good to remember the really bad times, it makes you properly appreciate what is going at the moment.

[Bogus Dave]

This is certainly a lot nicer than going to places like nottingham forest and getting dicked 7-1. Long may it continue

[Barry Scott]

I think what also summed things up at that Cheltenham game was when the ref sent Sam Parkin off, Parkin was still on the deck, and the ref clumsily kicked him in the head - fucking doofus.

I was at both as well, and from what i remember the ref didn't kick Parkin in the head, he jumped in 2 footed into Parkin's chest to break the fight up? Well, that was what i thought at the time anyway.

I think that was the first time i went to Cheltenham, maybe the last, and i hated it. Not just the result, but the fact the crowd was like one big family (i was with the home fans). As the players left the pitch chatting to members of the crowd and stuff it felt like some big love in. Hated it. Hate it.

Brentford was possibly the lowest point of my town supporting life.