STFC Timeline - STFC Museum

Take a journey through time and recall some of the incredible moments in our club's rich history, from its humble beginnings through to the present-day.

1879

Club Founded

Foundation of the Club by Rev William Pitt

1881

Club Relocates

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.

1884

Club Relocates

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

1894

Southern League Founded

Swindon became one of the founder members of the Southern League

1896

Club Moves to the County Ground

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.

1897

STFC Company Created

Swindon Town FC become a limited company

1901

Swindon Escape Relegation

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.

1902

Swindon Survive Again

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.

1910

FA Cup Semi-Final

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

1910

Dubonnet Cup Victory

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

1911

Champions

Southern League Champions

1912

FA Cup Semi Final

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

1912

Argentina Tour

A close season tour of Argentina ends with Swindon unbeaten and culminates in a 1-0 victory, over the full Argentina national team

1920

Division Three South Founded

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.

1925

Largest Cup Victory

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

1927

Swindon Scoring Record

Harry Morris scores 47 League goals in the 1926-7 season the most ever goals in a season by a Swindon player.

1933

Swindon Bottom But Are Re-Elected

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

1938

Town End Opened

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

1939

World War II

Outbreak of World War II sees the County Ground taken over by the War Department. Its used to graze sheep and House Italian prisoners of war.

1956

Swindon Re-Elected Again

Swindon finish bottom of Division Three South but are re-elected with 42 votes, 34 votes more than Peterborough United

1957

Swindon Re-Elected Again

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

1958

Swindon Now in Third Tier (National Division Three)

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

1963

Swindon's First Ever Promotion

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.

1965

Swindon Relegated

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).

1969

League Cup Win Over Arsenal

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

1969

Swindon Clinch Promotion

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

1969

Anglo Italian Cup Winners

Swindon become the winners of the Anglo Italian Cup Winners Cup defeating Juventus 5-2 on aggregate with Arthur Horsfield scoring a hat trick

1971

Anglo Italian Cup Winners

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.

1975

Relegation to Tier Three (Division Three)

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

1979

John Trollope Retires

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.

1980

League Cup Semi Final Defeat

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.

1982

Relegation to Fourth Tier (Division Four)

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

1986

Tier Four (Division Four) Champions

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

1987

Consecutive Promotions

Swindon enjoy consecutive promotions, when two goals by Steve White won a decider at Selhurst Park in the final tie after home and away matches with Gillingham finished level on aggregate.

1990

Play Off Final Victory, Ends in Disappointment

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.

1993

Promotion To The Premier League (First Tier)

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

1994

Swindon Relegated To The Second Tier

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

1995

League Cup Semi Final

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

1995

Back to Back Relegations

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

1996

Swindon Bounce Back

Steve McMahon sees his team regain the status lost the previous season, winning promotion at Blackpool and three days later clinching the championship at Chesterfield to the second tier.

2000

Relegation to the Third Tier

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

2006

Swindon Relegated to the Fourth Tier

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

2007

Promotion at the First Time of Asking

Despite losing Manager, Dennis Wise, Paul Sturrock steers Swindon back up at the first time is 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.

2010

Swindon Relegated to the Fourth 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.

2011

Swindon are Relegated

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

2012

Di Canio's Side Win Promotion

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

2013

Play Off Heart Break

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.

2017

Swindon Relegated to Fourth Tier

Swindon are relegated to the fourth tier

2020

Promoted by Points Per Game

Ritchie Wellen's Swindon win promotion under points per game used when season curtailed by Covid back to the third tier.

2021

Swindon 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.

2021

New Owner of STFC

Clem Morfuni becomes Chairman and assumes control

2023

Joint Venture Between The Club & Supporters Trust to Buy the CG

Thanks to the Nigel Eady Trust the Club and Supporters Trust are able to buy the County Ground