Coronavirus has given us plenty of time to ourselves. Use your time in isolation wisely and get to know your Swindon Town history:
30th March 1912 – Two years after losing against Newcastle at the same point in the FA Cup, Town earn a replay against Barnsley after a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Harold Fleming is the victim of a knee to the groin, forcing him out of the replay and football for ten months. The replay is set for four days’ time.
30th March 1935 – Frank Peters returned to the Swindon side after a month out of action and scores a hat-trick against Exeter in a 6-1 beating of the Grecians.
Alan Fowler and Tommy Armstrong contribute the rest of the goals at the County Ground.
30th March 1991 – In a cracker at the County Ground, Swindon beat Newcastle 3-2 with two missed penalties, one for Swindon and Micky Hazard. Hazard opens Town’s account from the penalty spot, before his later miss, before Duncan Shearer makes the score 2-1. Calderwood bags the winner 12 minutes from time.
30th March 1992 – John Moncur joins the club from Tottenham Hotspur for £80,000. Hoddle brings in the midfielder who had spent several years in Spurs’ reserves and out on-loan. He makes his debut in the 1-0 over Port Vale four days later.
31st March 1991 – Ossie Ardilles resigns as Swindon manager. He goes on to take over at Newcastle who Town had beaten just a day before.
31st March 2007 – Swindon leapfrog MK Dons and move into the automatic promotion spots with a win over Shrewsbury.
Barry Corr equalises after the Shrews take the lead. Christian Roberts get the winner with a powerful header at the back post in front of the Town End.
2 April 1951 – Bristol City visit the County Ground for the first ever floodlit football match at SN1. 3,000 people are at the County Ground. William Millar scores two in the first ever night under the lights.
2 April 1994 – Arsenal take an early lead at Highbury after Ray Parlour tees up Alan Smith at the back stick. Most in the ground expect the floodgates to open and a cricket score to develop, but Town hold firm and equalise. Paul Bodin scores from the penalty spot after John Moncur turns Paul Davis inside out and is tripped in the area.
3 April 1909 – Harold Fleming makes his debut for England, featuring in a 2-0 win over Scotland at Crystal Palace.
To this day, Fleming holds the record for number of England appearances by a Swindon player, 11 in total.
3 April 1912 – Semi-final heartbreak once again for Swindon. After drawing the original tie, Meadow Lane plays host to the replay. Star player, Harold Fleming is injured after heavy treatment four days earlier.
In the first half, Swindon are awarded a penalty and, after captain Peter Chambers picks Archie Brown to take it, the spot-kick is saved.
Barnsley capitalise in the second half and centre-half Bratley gets the game’s only goal.
3 April 1999 – Town’s worst ever home defeat and over 10,000 are there to see it. Craig Taylor is sent off six minutes in for Swindon and Ipswich run out 6-0 winners.
Mark Venus scores two penalties with half of the Tractor Boys getting in on the act.
3 April 2010 – One of the great Swindon away days of the 21st century. After beating Leeds at the County Ground earlier in the season, Swindon repeat the feat at Elland Road.
Billy Paynter opens the scoring with an acrobatic finish before piledriving in his second from 25 yards just after half-time. Charlie Austin completes a vintage performance on 55 minutes popping up at the back post to nod in the third sending 1,709 away fans into pandemonium.
4th April 1991 – Glenn Hoddle takes over as Swindon manager. The Town hierarchy continue with the model of employing young, exciting managers.
On his arrival, Hoddle says: “The foundations are built here on good football. I’m not going to be changing too much as that’s on the same lines that I want to play and same style I’m going to be looking for.”
5th April 1995 – Player-manager, Steve McMahon is sent off for a flying tackle on Jason McAteer which leads to a bizarre turn of events at half-time.
PA Announcer, Peter Lewis is sacked at half-time for his labelling of the decision as ‘crap’ – which he broadcasts to the entire County Ground. Alan Thompson seals victory for the Wanderers.
5th April 2010 – Town back up their brilliant win against Leeds two days earlier with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers.
Billy Paynter and Charlie Austin are, inevitably, on the scoresheet following Ben Gordon’s own goal after ten minutes.
