Swindon Town

Swindon Town spent its first four years unsure what to call itself. It began in 1879 as Swindon AFC, took the name Spartans within a year, and only in 1883 settled on the identity that has stuck ever since.

Professional status followed in 1894, and by 1896 the club had moved to the ground it still occupies. For most of its history that was simply the County Ground; since the 2024/25 season it has carried the name The Nigel Eady County Ground, after a lifelong supporter who left his estate to the club. Swindon had already bought the site outright from the local council in 2023, for £2.3 million. It holds 15,728, all seated.

The one major trophy came on 15 March 1969, when Swindon beat Arsenal 3-1 in the League Cup final, Don Rogers scoring the winner. It brought no European football: the FA of the day tied continental qualification to league position rather than cup form, so a club outside the top flight had no route in. Swindon took the consolation on offer instead, winning the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1969 and again in 1970.

Player-manager Glenn Hoddle took the club into the top division for the first and only time in 1993; it went straight back down. In 2006 Swindon became the first former Premier League club relegated as far as the fourth tier. Financial trouble put the club into administration twice, in 2008 and again in 2012, both times with supporters and the council keeping it going; in 2017 Australian businessman Clem Morfuni bought it. Through the lean years John Trollope kept turning out at right-back, 880 appearances in all, still the club record.

Swindon Town, formerly Swindon AFC, formerly Spartans.