Swindon Town Edge Past Cheltenham in First Home Win of the Season
By Football Desk | August 22, 2026
Swindon Town claimed their first League Two victory of the 2026/27 campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Cheltenham Town at the Nigel Eady County Ground on Saturday afternoon.
The Robins, managed by Ian Holloway, built on last weekend’s goalless draw at Northampton Town to move onto four points from two matches and sit in the upper half of the early table. A crowd of 8,833, including 999 away supporters, watched the home side take control before holding off a late rally.
Aaron Drinan opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a fine strike into the top right corner. The forward finished confidently after receiving a precise assist from summer loan signing Anthony Munda, the 19-year-old midfielder who arrived from Newcastle United earlier in the week.
Swindon maintained their advantage through the remainder of the first half and extended the lead ten minutes after the restart. Ollie Clarke converted from close range following a well-timed flick-on by defender Stephan Negru, giving the hosts a comfortable cushion.
Cheltenham refused to fold and pulled a goal back five minutes from time when substitute Ryan Broom produced a spectacular finish after a pass from Pierce Sweeney. Despite late pressure and several corners, the visitors could not find an equaliser as Swindon defended resolutely to secure the three points.
Holloway’s starting lineup featured several recent additions and returning players. Goalkeeper Connor Ripley was protected by a back line of Mitch Clark, Stephan Negru, Ryan Tafazolli and Billy Kirkman. Munda operated in midfield alongside Ben Middlemas, Ollie Clarke, Matty Virtue and Jaylan Pearman, with Drinan leading the attack.
Changes were made as the game progressed. Ollie Palmer replaced Pearman at half-time, Louis Millard came on for Middlemas, Kaelan Majekodunmi substituted for Tafazolli, Tom Nichols entered for Clarke, and James Debayo replaced Virtue late on. The unused substitutes were Ward and Griffiths-Brown.
The result marked a positive response after a narrow 3-2 defeat at Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup first round earlier in the month. It also highlighted the impact of new arrivals such as Munda, Pearman (on loan from Queens Park Rangers) and Australian defender Majekodunmi, who signed permanently after a successful trial.
Swindon continue to manage a significant injury list that has affected the first half of the season. Key absentees include Gavin Kilkenny and Fletcher Holman, both expected to miss several months, while Joel McGregor and Harry Smith remain on the recovery trail. Holloway has indicated the club remains active in the transfer market before the window closes, seeking further reinforcements particularly in attacking areas.
Attention now turns to next Saturday’s trip to Oldham Athletic, followed by a midweek home fixture against Port Vale on 1 September. Supporters will hope the squad can build on this encouraging home performance and maintain momentum in what promises to be a competitive League Two season.
The victory provided an ideal start to the home campaign and underlines the growing belief within the squad that promotion remains a realistic target under Holloway’s guidance.
The County Ground: Home of Swindon Town Football Club
17 August 2026
The County Ground, officially known as the Nigel Eady County Ground since the 2024-25 season, stands on County Road in Swindon, Wiltshire. It has been the continuous home of Swindon Town Football Club since 1896 and remains one of the longer-established grounds still in use in English professional football.
The site originated in the early 1880s when the County Ground Sports Company developed the land for cricket, athletics, cycling and other sports. Swindon Town first used the adjacent cricket pitch for matches in the 1895-96 season before a purpose-built football ground was established next to it. Funding for the first stand came from a £300 loan by Thomas Arkell of Arkell’s Brewery, a contribution that is still commemorated in the name of one of the stands.
Over the decades the ground evolved steadily. A covered stand was added on the Shrivenham Road side in 1932. In 1938 the Town End received a new roof, paid for largely by supporters who raised more than £4,000; the structure was designed to serve as a gas shelter in the event of war. Floodlights were installed in the early 1950s and first used for a Football League match in 1956. The Arkell’s Stand, an all-seater structure, was completed in 1971. Following the Taylor Report after the Hillsborough disaster, the stadium was converted to an all-seater venue in the early 1990s, which fixed its capacity at its present level of approximately 15,000.
The four main stands today are the Arkell’s Stand, the Don Rogers Stand (named after the club’s celebrated winger of the 1960s and 1970s), the Town End and the Stratton Bank. The pitch measures 110 by 70 yards and is natural grass. Ownership passed in 2023 to a joint venture equally shared between Swindon Town Football Club and the supporters’ trust TrustSTFC, who purchased the freehold from Swindon Borough Council for £2.3 million. The ground is now held under a long-term arrangement that requires investment in improvements.
The record attendance remains 32,000, set on 15 January 1972 when Swindon faced Arsenal in the FA Cup third round. In the modern all-seater era crowds have been more modest, typically ranging between 7,000 and 10,000 for league fixtures. The County Ground has hosted Football League, FA Cup and League Cup ties across more than a century and was the venue during Swindon’s only season in the top division in 1993-94.
Although modest by Premier League standards, the ground retains a traditional character that reflects the club’s deep roots in the town. Plans for phased redevelopment, including improvements to the Stratton Bank and the Don Rogers Stand, continue to be discussed by the joint owners. For supporters of the Robins, however, the County Ground remains far more than a collection of stands and a pitch; it is the enduring physical centre of the club’s identity.