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Vic Morgan: The visit of Bury and an eight goal thriller
Lifelong Swindon Town fan Vic Morgan gives his authoritative say on the club, every Tuesday on Total Sport. This week Morgan looks ahead to the visit of Lancashire club Bury to the County Ground, a side who the Robins once famously swept aside to the tune of eight goals to nil.
Now that the season seems to be whimpering to a close, I guess the only thing to do is hope for better next time round.
The recent run has been, to put it mildly, disappointing. Any hope of extending the campaign have long since vanished and we're now left with the task of mathematically making sure we stay in League One.
That continues on Saturday with the visit of Bury. On the face of it a game which doesn't inspire great enthusiasm but in the past has had one or two moments to remember.
Back in the mid Seventies when facial hair was prominent, the Shakers visited the County Ground on the opening day of the 1974/75 campaign. It was a season which promised much for the Town.
A relegation from the old division two had seen the return of the legendary Danny Williams to the manager's chair. Players like Peter Eastoe, Dave Syrett and Will Dixon, were in the team and experienced pros like the evergreen John Trollope and Frank Burrows were still the heart of the club.
So to lose on the opening day to Bury was a bit disappointing. The visitors were managed by one Bob Smith, who a few short years later was to lead Swindon to one of their biggest ever wins...against Bury.
Included in the winning team that opening day was one Andy Rowland. Little known to Town fans that day but my how that was to change. Not only was he in the team but Andy scored the second goal at the County Ground. A place he was to call home and a ground where he would score many more.
That season saw Swindon finish fourth and remain in division three. A replayed cup tie against West Ham among the highlights.
Move on a half a decade and Smith was Town boss having joined from Port Vale and Rowland had followed the manager to the club.
Four days before Bury visited again, Swindon had drawn 1-1 at Highbury against Arsenal in the League Cup. Billy Tucker thumping a header into the net to set up a famous replay in Wiltshire a week later.
So, sandwiched in between was this, on the face of it, run of the mill league game against the Lancashire team. Run of the mill? Well four nil at the break through Ray McHale, Chris Kamara, Alan Mayes and Rowland, after a breathtaking forty five minutes.
Maybe Swindon would ease off in the second half? Not so. Another four goals from McHale, Mayes, Tucker and yes Rowland, completed the eight nil rout.
Included in the Bury team that day was Danny Wilson, future Town manager. Three days later Arsenal were beaten in one of the most thrilling games ever seen at the County Ground. Arguably one of the most successful weeks in the club's long history.
My, how we could do with that now.
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