No.1 | Danny Williams | Manager August 1965 to July 1969 | Score 423.2 Danny Williams’ first spell in charge at Swindon from 1965 to 1969 is, by my definition, the most successful spell by any Town manager in the Football League, FA Cup and League Cup. His overall record is second to none and provided an entire generation with lasting memories of the 1969 League
Read moreNo.2 | Fred Ford | Manager July 1969 to November 1971 | Score 409.6 After winning the League Cup and promotion from Division Three Danny Williams was enticed to Sheffield Wednesday in July 1969. With Swindon already in pre-season training the board turn to Fred Ford to steer the Town ship in Division Two. Ford previously coached at Swindon and had spent
Read moreA trip down the A419 to our Gloucestershire neighbours Cirencester Town provided a second chance to follow Paolo Di Canio’s pre-season roadshow before Reading arrive at The County Ground for the final test on Saturday. Unlike previous seasons when the friendly ties against local non-league opposition provided runouts to a few first team fringe and mostly youth players, Di Canio has fully embraced both the Supermarine and
Read moreNo.3 | Glenn Hoddle | Manager April 1991 to June 1993 | Score 404.6 Bringing Hoddle over from Monaco to replace Ossie Ardiles was definitely the right choice. The former Tottenham midfield maestro secured the points needed to avoid relegation in 1991, but only just, as Glenn’s side won 2, drew 1 and suffered 5 defeats in his eight games to finish 21st.
Read moreNo.4 | Bobby Smith | Manager May 1978 to September 1980 | Score 388.9 A manager frequently overlooked and perhaps forgotten, Bobby Smith took over from the retiring Danny Williams for the start of the 1978/79 Division Three season. Smith started off in management young. He was only 29 when he took over at Bury in November 1973, making an
Read moreSwindon Town are set to further bolster midfield options with the signing of Alan McCormack. The 27 year old Irishman has left Charlton Athletic by mutual consent and had his ear bent by a persuasive Paolo Di Canio, convincing the former Southend United player to step down to League Two, at least for one season. To continue the recent theme of inviting supporters of their former clubs to
Read moreNo.5 | Ossie Ardiles | Manager July 1989 to March 1991 | Score 363.9 Ossie Ardiles succeeded Lou Macari back in the summer of 1989 and also in this countdown, as we enter the top five Swindon Town managers. The small and smiling Argentinian became Swindon’s first manager from outside of the home nations with the task of building upon Lou’s meteoric rise up
Read moreAfter returning from Italy, Paolo Di Canio took his Robins a short distance across town to face Evo-Stik Southern Premier Swindon Supermarine at Hunts Copse. With a first opportunity for the Swindon public to witness Di Canio in the flesh a bumper crowd swelled the football ground attached to a bungalow, delaying the kick-off for 15 minutes, a rarity for a pre-season friendly.
Read moreNo.7 | Lou Macari | Manager July 1984 to July 1989 | Score 348.1 For the past few weeks Lou’s name has been frequently mentioned as a potential no.1 in this countdown, so the fact that he joins outside the top five may be a surprise for some. You may remember my rationale whereby points gained are multiplied by a division factor, so given Macari’s points are spread in three divisions, including two
Read moreHopefully the deal bringing Alan Connell to Swindon Town will be completed later today and he can make his Town debut at Supermarine tomorrow night, so I’ve asked Grimsby Town fanzine Cod Almighty for a view on Alan’s year at Blundell Park and whether a move to Swindon is the right move for him?
Read more
The Washbag 