Take a trip down Memory Lane as we summarise a former Town player's career. From 1879-2009, we will feature players from all eras of the club's history. Click on 'Club', then 'History' and get nostalgic!
Infamously dubbed 'The next Thierry Henry' by then manager Andy King, Eric Sabin's arrival at Town came not without expectation.
He was signed from French Ligue 2 side ES Wasquehal in the summer of 2001, after King had spotted the striker during a scouting trip on which he was supposed to be watching someone else. Taken in by Sabin's pace the manager signed him up on a two-year-deal and returned to the County Ground with his recently unearthed gem in tow.
The striker, affectionately/ironically known as 'Sabinho', made his debut in the goalless opening day draw in the 2001/02 season, against a Peterborough United side that featured Jimmy Bullard. He impressed the home faithful with his pace and direct approach, winning a penalty which was unfortunately missed.
Over the next four games he won three more penalties but goals were harder to come by, and the Frenchman had to wait until November 24th for his first-the equaliser in a 1-1 home draw against Brighton & Hove Albion. The relief was there for all to see, as an ecstatic Sabin plunged himself into the jubilant Town End.
When Sabin bagged his second in as many games in the 3-1 home win over Wrexham, Town fans began to think that he had finally begun to find his feet. However, throughout the remainder of the 2001/02 season, he found the net just three more times in a total of 38 appearances for a Town side that finished 13th and had the 3rd lowest goal count in Division Two.
Sabin was no more prolific during his second and final season at the club, scoring just four goals in a further 43 appearances for the club on an almost tri-monthly basis. His final goal came in the 5-2 away rout of Stockport on January 18th, and in his penultimate appearance against Peterborough United, he was shown a red card for violent conduct.
His departure was far from routine, as he deliberated over Town's offer of a new contract for weeks, secretly appeared in a reserve game for Queens Park Rangers, and then revealed he would be leaving Swindon after the final game of the season against Luton Town.
After making only a handful of appearances for QPR the following season, Sabin joined Northampton Town in 2004; where he went on to score 15 goals in just over 50 appearances. A fans' favourite at The Sixfields Stadium, Sabin was disappointed to have not been offered a new contract by The Cobblers at the end of the 2004/05.
His final season in England was spent in an Oxford United jersey, for whom he scored 9 goals in 29 appearances in the 2005/06 season before returning home in the summer at the age of 32.
Despite having been born in France, Sabin qualified to play for the tiny French-owned Caribbean territory of Martinique and represented the island in the 2008 Caribbean Cup, scoring an unprecedented four goals in three games.
At the end of last season, Sabin finished his career where he had started it-in Ligue 2 with Eric Cantona's former side Nîmes Olympique. Now aged 35, he remains in France where he continues to run his youth soccer project, as well as working with Nîmes Olympique in a part-time coaching role.
