Swindon Town FC Before the New Season - Dreaming of EFL League One

On March 19, 1994, Swindon Town FC played a 2:2 tie with Manchester United at the home County Ground. It was one of the most powerful lineups Sir Alex Ferguson had under his command during his 26-stint at Old Trafford - Schmeichel, Cantona, Hughes, and Sharpe are only some of the United stars of that period. And yet, the Robins managed to stand shoulder to shoulder with this impressive squad, mostly thanks to powerful Norwegian forward Jan Åge Fjørtoft and a well-organized defensive line in this game.

Despite this draw and a great show against Tottenham Hotspur earlier that season, Swindon Town FC was relegated to the Football League First Division (now called The Championship) and hasn’t reached the Premier League ever since. 

Still, at the beginning of the 2024/2025 season, we’ll check out how this local football attraction is preparing for the new challenges. 

Having finished 19th out of 24 clubs in the 2023/2024 season, the management of Swindon Town showed dissatisfaction with such a result. As this was their fourth consecutive season in League Two (the fourth-highest level of all English football leagues), new goals are being set for the forthcoming season. Based on the odds predicted by some betting apps for UK gamblers, Swindoners aren’t highly likely to see promotion in League Two, currently sitting on odds of around 7/1. 

That being said, it’s not impossible that the Robins eventually get ahead of Bradford City, Walsall, and other competitors. The team management has been making tangible steps towards a better result than the position taken at the end of the last season. For instance, Swindon Town has signed Miguel Freckleton from the Championship member Sheffield United. Originally a left-sided defender, Freckleton is a sturdy footballer who can play in several different positions. This 20-year-old acquisition should bring more stamina and power to the last-year vulnerable defensive line, plus, he can carry out certain tasks in transition. 

Another clever move from the Swindon Town managers is a marketing thing with a special honor on top: their home pitch has been renamed and it’s now called The Nigel Eady County Ground. Mr Nigel Eady was a lifelong fan of Swindon Town FC. Before he passed away in 2012, he left his estate to the club, i.e., he called Swindon Town the beneficiary of his estate. In 2023, The Nigel Eady Trust provided financial assistance to the club so that they could buy the County Ground from the local council. In return, the club management added his name to the old stadium. The stadium is now owned by the club and its supporters on a 50-50 ownership basis. 

Swindon Town FC also has its women’s counterpart, called Swindon Town Women Football Club (W.F.C.). In the 2023-2024 season, this side took fourth place in their Divison One South West, part of the FA Women’s National League. Their chance of being promoted at the end of the following season is not low at all. As a matter of fact, some analysts - both from traditional platforms and crypto betting sites - have predicted that Swindon Town W.F.C. could take one of the first three positions by season's end. 

We should simply sit back and see what happens, and whenever we can, hit the road and go to the stadium to express our in-person support to the Robins and Robinesses.