- Historic League Cup Victory: In 1969, Swindon Town achieved a remarkable triumph by winning the Football League Cup. They defeated Arsenal 3-1 in the final, a significant accomplishment for a Third Division team at the time. (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
- Record-Breaking Player Appearances: John Trollope holds the club record for the most first-team appearances, playing 889 matches between 1960 and 1980. His 770 league appearances for Swindon stood as a professional record in English football until 2023. (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
- First Top-Flight Promotion: Under the management of Glenn Hoddle, Swindon Town secured promotion to the Premier League for the first time in their history by winning the 1993 play-off final. (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
- Home Ground - The County Ground: Since 1896, Swindon Town has played their home matches at the County Ground, which currently has a capacity of 15,728 spectators. (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
- Recent Managerial Appointment: In October 2024, Ian Holloway made a surprising return to football management by taking over as Swindon Town's manager. (The Guardian)
Swindon Town Ramp Up Pre-Season Preparations for 2026/27 Campaign
Swindon Town are well underway with their preparations for the upcoming 2026/27 League Two season, as manager Ian Holloway and the squad begin building momentum following a solid but ultimately frustrating 2025/26 campaign.
The Robins finished ninth in League Two last season, narrowly missing out on the play-offs after a 2-1 defeat to Chesterfield on the final day. Despite the disappointment, the club has moved quickly to lay the foundations for a stronger push next term, with several pre-season friendlies already confirmed and key contract decisions in progress.
Swindon have announced a series of pre-season fixtures that will see them face a mix of local rivals and higher-level opposition. The Reds will travel to Forest Green Rovers on July 14, followed by an away trip to Chippenham Town on July 14 evening. They will then host Championship side Bristol City at the County Ground later in the month, providing valuable experience against stiffer competition.
Further friendlies are expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks, giving Holloway the opportunity to assess his squad and integrate any new signings ahead of the league opener in August. The manager, who signed a long-term contract extension last year, remains a central figure in the club’s ambitions to climb the table and challenge for promotion.
Off the pitch, the club has been active in the transfer market. Recent reports link Swindon with several exciting targets, including a potential loan move for a Premier League forward and interest in a Hull City youngster. These additions would complement the core group that showed promise in the latter stages of last season.
One positive development has been the retention of key players. Defender Billy Kirkman recently signed a new contract, providing continuity in defence. Meanwhile, the club continues discussions with out-of-contract players as Holloway shapes his squad for the challenges ahead.
Earlier this week, the club provided updates on wider coaching staff restructuring, aiming to strengthen the backroom team as they prepare for what promises to be a competitive League Two season. Holloway has emphasised the need for everyone at the club to pull in the same direction following the near-miss on the play-offs.
Season ticket sales have been encouraging, with over 3,600 sold during the early bird period, reflecting strong fan support. Supporters will be eager to see the team build on their improved form from the second half of last season, where they demonstrated resilience and attacking quality.
Holloway has been vocal about his ambitions, stressing the importance of a strong pre-season to iron out any issues and foster team spirit. The experienced manager, known for his motivational style, will be looking to avoid the inconsistency that cost Swindon a top-seven finish last time out.
As the summer progresses, attention will turn to further incoming transfers and the finalisation of the pre-season schedule. The County Ground is set to host an “Evening with Ian Holloway” event in mid-July, offering fans a chance to hear directly from the manager about his vision for the campaign.
With the 2026/27 season on the horizon, optimism is building around Swindon Town. The blend of experienced leadership, promising young talent, and dedicated support could prove the perfect recipe for a successful year. Fans will be watching closely as the Reds aim to go one step further than last season and secure a play-off place or better.
The County Ground
Opened 1892
Capacity 15,728
History (from Wikipedia)
The War Department took over the ground in 1940, where for a while POWs were housed in huts placed on the pitch. For this the club received compensation of £4,570 in 1945.[2]
The addition of floodlights in 1951 at a cost of £350, gave Swindon the honour of being the first League club to do so. These were first tried out v Bristol City on 2 April 1951 beating Arsenal by six months. These original set of lights were supplemented by lights on both side stand roofs, which were sufficient for the County Ground to stage its first floodlit league match on 29 February 1956 v Millwall. (7 days after Fratton Park became the 1st ground to stage a floodlit league fixture). The present pylons date from 1960.[2] In 1963, the Italian architect Pier Luigi Nervi, who had been responsible for stadia in Florence and Rome, was commissioned to design a replacement for the North stand. However, his futuristic design was never realised due to the high construction cost and the club's on-field relegation.[3]
Additions included the building of the "new" all-seater Arkell's (or North) stand in 1971 (behind the original) and following the Hillsborough disaster; the County Ground was converted to an all-seater stadium beginning with the addition of extra seating in front of the North Stand and the building of a sponsored stand (originally the Intel Stand, then the Nationwide Stand, now the Don Rogers Stand) in the early 90s. The Nationwide Stand replaced the Shrivenham Road enclosure, a two-tiered terrace. In its last years, due to safety concerns, the upper tier was used by TV cameras and for crowd monitoring only.
A Rolex clock is located at the rear of the Stratton Bank stand, next to the scoreboard. Erected in 1963 following the club's promotion to the Second Division, it is the only Rolex clock to be found at any football stadium in the world.[4]
The ground itself is on land owned by Swindon Borough Council to whom the club pay rent. Swindon have in the past considered a move to a club owned stadium to generate more revenue, but have not had the financial backing to do so. In 2006 a redevelopment campaign for the County Ground began,[5] with the club and TrustSTFC (the supporters' trust) raising a petition to 'Save Our Home' urging the Borough Council to "facilitate the redevelopment of the stadium and do everything they can to keep the club within the Borough"[6] including the proposed upgrading of the adjacent Cricket Club to County standard and Athletic Club to Olympic standard.
Talks with the council resurrected again in 2021 when Clem Morfuni took control of the club and restarted plans to buy the County Ground in a joint venture with the supporters' trust. On 16 March 2022 Swindon Borough Council confirmed it would sell the stadium to the joint venture. Early plans included a £22.5m redevelopment project including a refurbished Stratton Bank, executive boxes in the Don Rogers stand and a new Town End with a conference centre and hotel. Work is expected to be completed by 2027.[8] On 21 March 2022 the council officially approved the sale of the stadium to the joint venture. Finalisation of legal documentation to complete the sale was expected to be completed in May/June 2022.[9] However, completion of the sale took several further months, through to the end of January 2023.[10]
Things to do in Swindon.
The Savoy
