STFC Timeline

Foundation of the Club by Rev William Pitt.

Club was playing its home games on Bradford’s Field but the site was not ideal as the pitch was alongside a quarry in to which the ball kept disappearing. When a young spectator fell in the Club moved a short distance to Globe Field.

Both these locations were on the hillside between new and Old Swindon.

Club relocate to play at the Croft with the teams changing in the building that is now the Hop Inn.

Swindon became one of the founder members of the Southern League.

Club move to the County Ground and after one season playing on the cricket ground pitch it relocated to its present site. A loan of £300 from Arkells enables the Club to build its first ever stand.

Swindon finish bottom of the Southern League First Division, but are not relegated as the Southern League expands to add two more teams to its top division.

Having finished bottom the club, hangs on to its position by drawing 0-0 with Brentford, the match being abandoned in extra time due to bad light.

Club reach FA Cup semi-final, but lose 2-0 to Newcastle United.

Dubonnet Cup won in Paris with 2-0 victory over Barnsley.

Southern League Champions.

Club reach FA Cup semi-final but lose to Barnsley 1-0 in a replay after missing a penalty. This is the last time that a Club reached the FA Cup semi-final while not in the Football League.

Swindon become Founder members of Division Three South. In their first game they defeat Luton Town 9-1, which remains their highest ever League win.

Four of the goals were scored by Harold Fleming, but the distinction of scoring Swindon’s first ever League went to “Billy” Batty.

Swindon’s biggest ever Cup victory secured with a 10-1 victory away to the amateur team Farnham United Breweries.

Swindon finish bottom of Division Three South, but are re-elected with 45 votes, 19 ahead of Newport County who are also re-elected, and 25 a head of Llanelli.

Sam Allen the longest serving Town Manager draws down the curtain on a career that has lasted thirty one years, but carries on as Club Secretary, a role he held until his death on New Year’s Day 1946, one day short of his 79th birthday.

Opening of Town End Stand. With the fear of War, it is designed so that it could be used as a gas shelter.

Having finished 23rd out of 24 clubs in Division Three South, Swindon again apply for re-election and are again successful with 42 points, 35 more than Peterborough United.

A top half finish in Division Three sees Swindon become members of Division Three as the third and fourth tier become nationwide.

Swindon win promotion to second tier (Division Two), the Club’s first ever Promotion and the Board’s loyalty in sticking with Manager, Bert Head for five years, despite two 16th Place finishes is rewarded.

A team of mainly young home grown players rise to the top of the second tier the following season.

Portsmouth are allowed to play Northampton Town in an evening kick off with both sides needing a point – Northampton to go up and Portsmouth to stay up. The game ends 1-1 and Swindon are relegated to the third tier (Division Three).

Swindon lift the Football League Cup beating Arsenal 3-1 after extra time.

Swindon clinch promotion to the second tier with a draw on manager Danny Williams old stamping ground at Rotherham.

Swindon win the Anglo Italian Cup defeating Napoli on their own ground by 3-0 with the match abandoned due to rioting by the home fans.

A five season stay in the second tier ends with a bottom place finish for a team which had worn black socks and shorts.

John Trollope MBE makes the last of his 889 appearances for Swindon. 770 of these were in the League, a record number for one Club.

Bobby Smith’s team reach the semi-final of the Football League Cup, but lose out to Wolverhampton after a controversial foul by the Wolves keeper in the second leg.

A missed penalty sees Swindon lose at Newport and slip back in to the fourth tier (Division Four).

Lou Macari’s Swindon team win the fourth Tier (Division Four) Championship with a record 102 points.

Swindon beat Sunderland 1-0 in the Play Off Final, but Ossis Ardiles’ team are denied a place in the first tier as the Football League demote Swindon Town by two divisions for illegal payments. The penalty is reduced to one Division by the FA, so Swindon end up back in the Second Tier.

A sensational Play Off final sees Glen Hoddle’s Swindon defeat Leicester City 4-3 after losing a three goal lead.

Despite scoring more goals in the League against Manchester United than any other team, Swindon finish bottom of the Premiership and are relegated.

Swindon reached the Football League Cup semi-final, but were beaten by Bolton Wanderers 4-3 over two legs.

With the number of clubs relegated from second to the third tier increased, Swindon are relegated for a second consecutive season.

A dreadful season sees Swindon obtain just 36 points (13 behind West Brom, the lowest placed side to survive) and are relegated to the third tier.

A 1-1 draw at Bristol City is not enough to save Swindon and the club slip back into the fourth tier.

Despite losing Manager, Dennis Wise, Paul Sturrock steers Swindon back up at the first time of asking, with the season ending with a 1-1 draw against Walsall at the County Ground which sees both clubs promoted to the third tier.

Despite having saved the Club from relegation in 2008, and narrowly missing promotion when Town lose in the play off final to Millwall in 2010, towards the end of the season, Danny Wilson leaves by mutual consent.

Paul Hart takes over becoming Swindon’s most unsuccessful manager with just one win in eleven matches as Swindon are relegated.

Di Canio’s Side clinch promotion to third tier with a 5-0 win over Port Vale, and Swindon lose in the Football League Trophy Final to Chesterfield.

Di Canio resigns when players are sold contrary to his contract. Matt Ritchie is sold to avoid club going in to administration, and Swindon miss out on consecutive promotions in the play offs to Brentford.

Swindon are relegated to the fourth tier.

Swindon relegated to fourth tier (League Two) at the end of a season where few games could be watched live due to Covid.

Clem Morfuni becomes Chairman and assumes control.