In case you missed it see what’s in this section
We recommend
Let's Talk
Your Total Guide To sport
Vic Morgan: Bowie, Mackay And STFC In The Seventies
Lifelong Robin and Swindon Town columnist Vic Morgan has his say on the biggest talking points, every Tuesday on Total Sport. In the wake of the passing of the iconic David Bowie, Morgan remembers the 'starman' and travels back to Swindon Town in the seventies.
It was 1972 when one of the greatest rock and roll records was released. The rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, remains one of the most iconic pieces of vinyl to have graced any turntable.
With the passing of the great David Bowie, memories are undoubtably stirred for many of times when they listened and enjoyed tracks like "Suffragette City", "Starman" and "Hang on to Yourself".
I was no different. I was a 16 year old still at school wrapped up in music and football. Hours were spent in the common room at Malmesbury Grammar School discussing the latest records by Bowie, Zeppelin and the Floyd. Along with that the memories of following the Town at the time.
Remember, the early 70's were pretty grim times. There was high unemployment, strikes and power cuts. They were times of standing on the terraces following the Swindon team of the era. Just to put this in perspective, "Ziggy" was released at a time when the Town were led by another giant, one Dave Mackay. It was time when the County Ground side were a middling second division outfit.
When the record came out, Swindon had just finished eleventh in the table and still contained most of the team that had beaten Arsenal in the league cup final a couple of years before. Ironically the Gunners had exacted revenge in the FA Cup that very season, in front of a record attendance at our ground of 31,668.
Our average at home during that campaign was over thirteen thousand, a far cry from these days. It was also the time when flared jeans, denim jackets and long hair, was the uniform of many young football fans. Sadly it was also when violence was a regular on the terraces. Rival gangs used football as an excuse for madness.
After the summer which saw the release of the ground breaking record, Swindon began a decline. It was a season which led to a sixteenth place finish.
The old guard was beginning to disappear, although the great John Trollope made his six hundredth appearance for his only club. It was the start of a slide which saw relegation follow and the eventual drop to the basement of the Football League.
Still for a young fan like me, they were great times. The Saturday ritual of a search through the many record shops in Swindon town centre in the morning followed by the game in the afternoon, was just brilliant! I suppose it's something which you hang on to as a major part of your formative years.
Here we are with Swindon, weather permitting, about to play at Port Vale, Bowie's latest record was released a few days ago, some decades later. Football and music still a driving, inspirational force for many. Rest in peace, David Bowie.
Weather in Swindon
Listings