After 8 years, 8 months and 12 days – or 274,572,000 seconds if you prefer – the rivalry with Oxford United will be reignited this Sunday afternoon, like one of those trick candles that won’t blow out. Swindon versus Oxford is one of those intensely local, yet underrated derby games that is rarely appreciated and understood outside of these parts. Here is a match full of passion and with its fair
Read moreSuccessive defeats was hardly what we were all expecting having (eventually) put a solid 3 past Crewe on the opening day. Yet a sense of reality and perspective is sorely missing from yet another vocal minority in the post match reactions to our narrow 1-0 defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge. It’s almost like Paul Hart was still in charge… It’s all well and
Read moreThe Overseer Column returns. Warning: The following may contain traces of nuts. Our opposition’s shirt sponsor evoked memories of the TV advertising campaign many moons ago; “You’ve gotta admire a Mira”. To say that Swindon were a shower in their League Two outing against CTFC would be overly harsh. Nevertheless you could argue that somebody somewhere must’ve dropped the soap
Read moreIn his first contribution for The Washbag, Andrew Steele-Davis looks at whether Swindon Town’s future is home-grown. When Billy Bodin’s name was bellowed over the tannoy system at the County Ground on Saturday announcing that the young forward was in the starting eleven, it is safe to say you could not have seen that coming a few weeks ago.
Read moreThere is only one way to describe yesterday’s events…what an absolute farce! At 4pm we were all told the most fierce derby in world football was postponed as the Gloucestershire Constabulary couldn’t muster enough resources to police the match. Yet six hours later thankfully some common sense had prevailed owing to a persistent campaign by football supporters of both Swindon and Cheltenham on Twitter
Read moreAfter the City game was postponed, Johno cast his tactics eye over the Crewe game last weekend. Not to be confused with the legendary ‘Townsend’s Tactics’ with Andy Townsend in the back of a white van during ITV’s The Premiership programme, but much like the former midfielder, I’ll try to assess where it went well and wrong for Swindon most
Read moreUnlike the postponement of the England versus The Netherlands International Friendly and cup games in London, the decision to call off our League Cup 1st Round tie at Ashton Gate yesterday did come as a surprise. Whatever my own thoughts regarding delaying the fixture until the 24th August being a tad of an overeaction by the authorities, clearly being tucked up in suburban Swindon I’m
Read moreIt’s only taken 18 months! Yes, finally I can welcome ‘The Overseer’ to The Washbag. Perched in the Arkells Stand with his flat cap and pipe, Neilsen ‘The Overseer’ gives his expert and often irreverent view on Swindon Town. From ‘Bell-ends’ to ‘Bellissimo’ – what a contrast from the morale-sapping dross we were subjected to last season! The Paolo Di Canio [hopefully fascism
Read moreAs the new season kicks off today there are plenty of ways to follow us to keep up to date with the latest and best match analysis, features and detailed reviews on Swindon Town here on The Washbag, written by fans for fans. The site has a new look and is expanding every week. This season you can expect more than
Read moreIt can’t just be me. The arrival of Paolo Di Canio has signalled a total shift in my outlook and expectations for the season ahead. So much so that I’m throwing away caution and struggling to accept anything other than complete domination of League Two. Call me arrogant for believing this, particularly those outsiders of you reading this looking in, yet having
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