Swindon Town Football Club are delighted to announce that the Arkell's Stand will now be known as 'The Arkell's John Trollope Stand' from this point on.
As the new Ownership continues to make concentrated efforts to actively recognise and honour the great and rich history of the Football Club, we are thrilled to be able to pay tribute to one of the greatest players to have ever pulled on a Town shirt.
Making his debut for the club on August 20th 1960 in a 1-1 draw with Halifax, Trollope quickly established himself as a lynchpin and the very heartbeat of the Town defence, providing a reliable presence down the left side.
Putting together a staggering run of 368 consecutive matches - a feat that will unlikely be matched in modern football - Trollope made Swindon tick and he was part of the heroic and legendary Town team that beat the odds to defeat giants Arsenal and win the League Cup in 1969.
In total, Trollope appeared in 770 league games for Town between 1960 and 1980, which to this day is still a record and the former defender received an MBE for his amazing and loyal service to football.
After hanging up his boots, Trollope continued to serve the Reds with distinction and humility, taking on roles as Manager, Assistant Manager and as Head of the Youth Team.
Trollope's fingerprints can be found all over some of the greatest teams to have ever graced the hallowed County Ground pitch, and it isn't an overstatement to say that we will never see his likes in football again.
A one-club man, Trollope epitomised what it meant to play for Swindon Town Football Club and his 889 total appearances and 28 goals tell only half the story.
Therefore, we are honoured to be able to rename one of our main stands after a club legend, and it is only fitting that John's name will sit across from the Don Rogers Stand given the damage the two wreaked on the pitch together.
We also want to thank Arkell's who not only have continued their long and proud partnership with the Football Club, but they have kindly agreed to allow the stand to be renamed in John's honour, and we thank them for their support in helping us make this happen.
Town Chief Executive, Rob Angus, said: "Today is a special day for the Football Club as we finally and rightly honour and recognise the legendary contribution made to this great club by John Trollope.
"John is one of the greatest players to have ever pulled on a Town shirt and he served the club with ultimate passion and dedication for nearly 40 years, so it is only right that we honour that legacy by renaming the Arkell's Stand 'The Arkell's John Trollope Stand.’
"Clem and I are delighted that we get to recognise John's service to the club, where he still holds the record for most appearances for one club, and it is very fitting that both Don Rogers and John are working together just as they did down the left hand side of the pitch, with the two main stands at The County Ground named after two great legends that served this Football Club with class, distinction and ultimate humility.
"I'd also like to thank Arkell's for agreeing to this and for their support in making this happen - they are great partners of the Football Club, and like us, feel strongly that it is only fitting our main stands are named after two of the greatest players to have graced the hallowed County Ground pitch.”
We are also delighted to be honouring the legendary Don Rogers on Saturday. Don already has a stand named after him, but he never received any personal trophy or recognition for that honour, so we want to put that right this Saturday and we can't wait to honour both John and Don prior to kick-off.
We will be officially unveiling the Arkell's John Trollope Stand on Saturday prior to kick-off, and we would like to encourage all Town fans to come down to The County Ground and make sure that we can honour a ultimate club legend in the most fitting way possible.
It should be a mouthwatering day of football at SN1 this Saturday, and we want as many fans in attendance before kick-off to give John Trollope and Don Rogers the standing ovation they so deserve when we officially unveil The Arkell's John Trollope Stand.
Tickets for our game against Mansfield Town can be bought here.
