Happy birthday to us, happy birthday to us, happy birthday dear TheWashbag.com, happy birthday to us… TheWashbag.com all started three years ago today. The 14th January 2010 was the date of the opening article on the mouthful-titled domain ‘fraserdigbyswashbag.wordpress.com’ with a rather pointless post speculating about Lee Peacock’s likely move away from the County Ground. What was meant to only
Read more
Ron Smith provides a festive feast of Swindon Town player related statistics for League One matches for you… Raffaele De Vita has made the greatest contribution of any Town player to scoring goals when on the pitch in League One, scoring 6 out of the 14 goals (42.9%). 2nd is Matt Ritchie with 29.6% and 3rd is James Collins with
Read more
After a weekend without FA Cup Second Round action we induct one of the most embarrassing FA Cup giant-killings suffered by Swindon Town. A humbling 4-1 defeat at Hastings United on 12th December 1953 is our 22nd entry into the STFC Hall of Shame; writes Ron Smith. The 1950s were not vintage years at the County Ground. Swindon Town were
Read more
Can you really compare a typical fan paying £380.00 for a season ticket at Swindon Town to someone spending the same amount elsewhere in League One? Writes Ron Smith. Last week the BBC proudly announced that Sheffield United “provide the cheapest matchday experience in the Football League”. Their survey found £17.20 will buy you a ticket to the game, a
Read more
A significant percentage of Swindon Town supporters would welcome a return of standing areas at the County Ground. Ron Smith analyses the results of our recent safe-standing survey. Our Safe-Standing Survey has revealed 87% of the 619 Swindon Town fans surveyed would support the provision of safe-standing areas to form part of the County Ground redevelopment. This result provides welcome backing
Read more
With news of Jeremy Wray’s departure as chairman of Swindon Town and replacement with Sir William Patey, Ron Smith asks whether this change at the top is really a shock. In July, Paolo Di Canio’s greatest supporter, Jeremy Wray lost the Interim’ part of his job title, on Friday 12 October, he lost the ‘Chairman’ part too. And, according to
Read more
Swindon secured a fourth win in a row with a 1-0 victory in Shrewsbury and Ron Smith finally made it to a first away match of this season, so here’s some thoughts… I travelled to Shrewsbury a year ago and witnessed a painful 2-1 defeat. Although it remains memorable as the one and only time Paolo Di Canio’s side has
Read more
Three is the magic number for Swindon Town as three goals, three different scorers, a third clean sheet of the season and importantly three points came courtesy of a ‘close to perfect’ performance, writes Ron Smith. Di Canio made three changes from the stalemate at Hartlepool. An injury prevented Troy Archibald-Henville from making the XI giving Flint a return. Alan
Read more
Throughout this week our writers have revealed their hopes and expectations for Swindon Town in League One during 2012/13. Finally on the opening day of the season, it’s my turn… Hopes and expectations for the season: After destroying nearly everyone in League Two, many expect Swindon Town will be ready to mount a serious automatic promotion challenge. But can Town really leap two divisions in
Read more
Does the lack of a reserve team and regular reserve fixtures at Swindon Town have a detrimental effect on some of the fringe and youth players, making it difficult to ‘take that next step’ and also prevents players of being up to speed when called into the first team? Following the appointment of Di Canio just over a year ago,
Read more
The Washbag 