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Football: Wherever it may be

~ Laurence's football travels

Football: Wherever it may be

Tag Archives: swindon town

The Class Of 92

09 Sunday Feb 2020

Posted by laurencereade in S

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Class of 92, Dirty Old Town, EFL, groundhopping, League 2, Moor Lane, Peter Lim, Salford City, swindon town

Saturday 16th November 2019 ko 15.00

League 2

SALFORD CITY 2 (Rooney 4p 90p)

swindon town 3 (Doyle 9 54p Yates 78)

Att 3,509 (1,340 away

Entry £10 (terrace)

Programme £3

Its been many years since I completed the 92, that is the grounds of the 92 clubs that make up the Premier League and EFL. For what little it’s worth I finished at Doncaster Rovers’ old home of Belle Vue, and each season I normally get a new ground to aim for. This season though, the 92 has been reduced to 90, with Coventry City sharing at Birmingham City and Bury FC having been ejected from the EFL. But with Tottenham at their new ground, and Salford City having been promoted into the EFL, I had two new grounds to visit, and you could easily argue Salford is the more interesting case! Continue reading →

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Making Bets On Local Derby Day

08 Thursday Oct 2015

Posted by laurencereade in O

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Football League Trophy, JPT, Kassam Stadium, League 1, League 2, oxford united., swindon town

Tuesday 6th October 2015 ko 19.45

Football League Trophy Southern Section, 2nd Round

OXFORD UNITED 2 (Roofe 41 54)

swindon town 0 Turnbull sent off (violent conduct) 31

Att 9,013 (1,179 away)

Entry £15

Programme £3

It was 6.30 and there I was stood sheltering under the canopy over turnstile 1 waiting for Alan to open up. I watched the other Oxford fans waiting alongside me, and we all had the same expression on our faces. We were nervous, and despite there being 50 or so stood there it was quiet, I could even hear Joey Beauchamp’s footsteps as he walked over to the Quad Bar hospitality entrance. Being an Oxford United legend affords you that luxury. Continue reading →

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Priorities

20 Thursday Nov 2014

Posted by laurencereade in O

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

AJ George, Callum McCormack, FA Youth Cup, Jordan Graham, Muctaru Conte, Oxford, oxford united., Swindon, swindon town, Tommy Oulridge

Tuesday 18th November 2014 ko 19.30

FA Youth Cup 2nd Round

OXFORD UNITED 3 (Graham 14 45 George 20p)

swindon town 2 (McCormack 83 Oulridge 85)

Att 727

Entry £5

Programme 50p

If, perchance you are an Oxford United fan there is a prescribed order when it comes to local rivals. In strict order it goes like this,

 
  1. Swindon Town
  2. Swindon Town Reserves
  3. Swindon Town Youth team
  4. Swindon Town Ladies,

and so on…

Continue reading →

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Am I still watching?

26 Sunday May 2013

Posted by laurencereade in O

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

BMW, ladies, Lauren Allison, Oxford Sports and Social Club, oxford united., South West Womens Combination, swindon town, Tash Caswell

Wednesday 22nd May 2013 ko 18.45

South West Women’s Combination

OXFORD UNITED 3 (Allison 4 8 Caswell 76)

SWINDON TOWN 0

Att c100 at Oxford United Training Ground, Roman Way, Oxford

Entry FREE

No Programme

“For Pete’s sake!” I thought as I drove the two or so miles to the former Rover Cowley ground, “How on earth am I still watching Oxford United when it’s nearer to June than April?”

The answers of course were manifest. Apart from a tasty local derby, Oxford United’s women’s team are the success story of the club this season, and this was the last game of the season, and it transpires, the last ever time the ladies side will use the ground. However the best reason for being there was to celebrate the side having won the league.

With the club’s election to the Women’s Super League, ground-grading considerations mean games will played at Abingdon United’s Northcourt Road. That’s a shame for the Roman way ground as its a little gem of the Oxford footballing scene. Its a gem that needs to be visited too, as its future is, at best uncertain.

The entire facility, with its cricket, bowls, social club and multiple football pitches is owned by BMW, whose car plant is behind. The lease is owned by Oxford Sports and Social club but they intend to hand back the facility and cease trading when the lease expires in 2016, citing a falling membership and demographic changes. So far there’s been no indication from BMW as to their plans for the ground.

So from now on in, the only way to see a competitive game here will be to watch Oxford United’s youth team, or hope that the Oxford City FA, (themselves having problems with dwindling interest) use the ground for a cup final. All manner of teams both on Saturday and Sunday use the outside pitches.

But the job is hand was the final game, whoever the opposition. There were two surprises though, the first was the Swindon team not forming a guard of honour as the sides came out. The second was that the league didn’t see fit to present the trophy at the end. The players celebrated with gusto, but looking through my pictures it does seem that there’s something missing- the trophy.

Now as an Oxford United fan you will probably never hear me utter this phrase again, “I felt sorry for Swindon,” but I did. I’ll leave to one side the individually sponsored kit shirts, printed with red letters on a red background, but this was for them an exercise in completing the season. They only named 2 substitutes from a possible 5, and found themselves two down in less than 10 minutes.

That was down to Natasha Caswell’s eye for a through ball and Lauren Allison’s predatory instincts in front of goal. Goals 49 and 50 for the campaign is a exceptional return, and its a pity she’ll now be lost to the club, moving to the USA on a sports scholarship. After that, the game settled down to a pattern of complete Oxford domination, Swindon being reduced to two decent chances, Abby Picton and Niamh Rawlins both seeing shots hit the bar. But with time running down Natasha Caswell was on hand to bundle Dani Anderson’s cross home to give the score a more realistic feel, and then it was time to celebrate.

Lauren Allison runs clear

Natasha Caswell scores

Champs!
Lauren Allison given the bumps


 

 

 

Us & Them

09 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by laurencereade in O

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Adam Chapman, Adam Rooney, Aden Flint, Daniel Boateng, fa cup fixture, Giles Coke, James Constable, JPT Trophy, oxford united., Paolo Di Canio, Paul Caddis, swindon town, Wes Foderingham

Wednesday 5th September 2012 ko 7.45pm

Football League Trophy 1st Round

OXFORD UNITED 1 (Potter 88)

swindon town 0

Att 7,746 (1311 away)

Entry £20.50

Programme £3

There’s a fairly well established routine for Oxford United’s involvement for this competition. Prices are reduced to a uniform £10, and the North Stand isn’t opened for home fans. The programme is smaller, and a weakened side put out. There is of course of exception to any rule of Oxford United, and that is swindon town, so none of the above happened!

If you don’t understand the rivalry, then please have a read of https://laurencereade.wordpress.com/2012/03/03/all-quiet-on-the-western-front/ I think you’ll get the picture. I’d also point out that with the way the draw is regionalised, and that the competition is only for the bottom two divisions of the league, another A420 derby was perhaps more likely than you’d expect!

Last season both sides got something out of the rivalry. Oxford completed a double over the Robins, including a first win at the County Ground since 1973. swindon took the championship, and did so in some style. To add a certain piquancy to the tie, if any were needed, swindon were yet to score at the Kassam stadium, the FA Cup fixture in 2002 finishing 1-0 and last season’s league fixture 2-0. You felt that a side having strengthened in the summer further, would put to bed at least one of those statistics.

There was also the Paolo Di Canio factor to consider. There’s no arguing with a championship in your first season, but there’s always the propensity for the exitable Italian to explode. Already this season Captain Paul Caddis has been shipped out on loan following a bust-up with the manager, then another bust-up this time with goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, was papered over. I noted that the swindon fans seemed wholly behind their keeper, so perhaps they felt their manager calling their player “The worst professional I have ever worked with,” was a little wide of the mark. You just wonder what could happen next with Di Canio, it certainly isn’t dull at the other end of the A420!

It was a frantic affair as all local derbies should be. Smoke bombs were thrown, insults hurled, and there was an atmosphere I’ve never encountered at a FL Trophy game. Oxford with a midfield injury crisis gave a debut to Arsenal loanee Daniel Boateng in holding midfield role. He showed what a great prospect he’s considered to be, at centre half. swindon made by far the better start and missed a hatful of chances, the most glaring being Darren Ward’s free header from Adam Rooney’s free kick from the right. Adam Chapman’s dipping free kick after 40 minutes represented the U’s best chance of the half.

What turned the game was the introduction of Alfie Potter (for Boateng) on 53 minutes, his desire to run at defenders and a devastating turn of pace gave the Robins defence something different to worry about. Di Canio’s reaction was to sacrifice midfielder Giles Coke in favour of centre half Aden Flint. It cost his side the game, as Flint collided with Ward allowing James Constable space in the left channel. He looked up and his measured pass found Potter making a late run into the box, and he made no mistake slotting home under Foderingham.

That took the fight out of the visitors, as Oxford found it straightforward to play out time, for a victory that will be hard to put into context. Both sets of fans will either enjoy the win, or mourn the loss depending on their allegiance, but despite Di Canio’s pre-match comments about targeting this trophy the relevance of this result to both sides will be how they perform in the following weeks.

Red on one side, yellow on the other

Darren Ward heads over


Di Canio ponders 3 defeats against the old enemy

All Quiet on the Western Front

03 Saturday Mar 2012

Posted by laurencereade in O

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Adam Chapman, Asa Hall, assault, Ball Boy, Football, groundhopping, James Constable, luke rooney, Matt Richie, newport county, Oli Johnson, oxford united., Paolo Di Canio, swindon town

Saturday 3rd March 2012 ko 12pm

League 2

OXFORD UNITED 2 (A Hall 16 Johnson 18) Constable sent off 11 (violent conduct)

swindon town 0

Att 11,825 (1,166 away)

Entry S/T

Programme £3 (100 pages)

Now, dear reader over the time you’ve being reading this blog, I’ve tried to take a balanced view of what I’ve experienced. Yes, I’m an Oxford United fan, but I’d like to think I can take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

There is, of course an exception to this, and that is swindon town. Those of you that follow a big club such as Arsenal or Manchester United, will have your derbies, and just because yours are more high-profile don’t think the A420 one is any less passionate. Put simply, its small but vicious. That’s why the kickoff was set for midday and the Police presence sizable.

It doesn’t help that Oxford United’s record against their principle rival is appalling. Until Oxford’s win at the County Ground in August, they hadn’t won there since 1973. The only previous meeting at Grenoble Road was an FA cup 2nd round tie in 2002 which saw United prevail 1-0 courtesy of Jefferson Louis’ backside! More recently swindon made an audacious attempt to prise striker James Constable away from Grenoble Road. He immediately gained God-like status amongst Oxford United fans by refusing point-blank to speak to the Wiltshire club.

The visitors arrived (via a 1500 strong “Welcoming Committee at the Priory Pub) with 10 straight wins, and a clear injury list. United in contrast had 4 top players out injured including star midfielder Peter Leven and captain Jake Wright. Form has been patchy with last week’s draw at home to Macclesfield being a real disappointment. With the midfield positively threadbare, midfielder Adam Chapman was recalled from a loan spell at Newport County.

It was hardly surprising that the visitors started brightly with Luke Rooney firing into the side netting, with the passing and movement being quick and crisp. On 11 minutes came the game’s real talking point, as Constable and Joe Devara chased down a through ball. Constable’s arm flailed, and caught Devara in the chest. Hardly assault, and the swindon player went down clutching his face. Referee Graham Salisbury was surrounded by visiting players in ugly scenes rather reminiscent of Manchester United around 10 years ago. We’ll never know whether he crumbled under the pressure, but Constable was dismissed, and United had a mountain to climb.

Except it didn’t quite work out like that. Scott Rendell won a free-kick and former swindon loanee Lee Holmes swung a deep cross into the back of the box. A host of players went for the ball, but it was Asa Hall who managed bundle the ball home. Cue the stadium going potty, and this writer to have a tear in his eye.

Two minutes later, unbelievably United doubled their lead. Hall’s diagonal ball to Holmes on the left, gave the winger only one option, a needle-threading cross to the back post. This he completed beautifully and there was Oli Johnson to tap home. I sat there having a minor asthma attack watching former OUFC winger Joey Beauchamp celebrate with another ex-OUFC player Paul Wanless.

For the rest of the half it was continuous swindon pressure. Ryan Clarke tipped a Matt Richie free kick over the bar, and United added to their injury list as Mark Wilson limped off. That meant the introduction of Adam Chapman for his first home appearance for over 18 months. The emotion was palpable but United had to defend as Rooney stabbed an effort wide and Clarke came out better than Jonathan Smith at close-range.

As the frustration began to mount for the league leaders, a ball boy made himself a hero for the day. A ball went out for a goal kick and the ball boy beat Matt Ritchie to the ball. As he began to return the ball to Clarke very slowly, Ritchie took offence and became embroiled in a shoving match with the teenager. All rather amusing, but the winger was booked for his part and it all looked more physical than the Constable incident. It did give an indication of swindon’s frame of mind at half-time.

Manager Paolo Di Canio cut an odd figure, it was hard to see where passion ends and rabble rousing starts. Both managers and captains had been warned as to their conduct before the game, and while Di Canio primped and preened during the first half, as the second half wore on that turned into a morose sulk.

I expected the second half to become a continous barrage of swindon pressure. Yes, they had all of the territory, but created little that man-of-the-match Clarke couldn’t stop easily and whilst Di Canio had made all his substitutions after 64 minutes, there were no tactical changes. Quick passes and rain the crosses in, but United had switched to 4-4-1 and swindon, once they realised that Plan A wasn’t working, quickly ran out of ideas. United freshened things up by bringing on Liam Davis and Jon-Paul Pittman which gave succour to Scott Rendell who’d ran himself into the ground doing both his work and Constable’s.

The final whistle saw United comfortable, and their visitors frustrated. There was the infantile sight of Di Canio trying to ingratiate himself with the travelling fans with a scarf, but nothing should be taken away from what was real team performance by Oxford United in difficult times.

I’ve little doubt that swindon will be promoted, probably as champions, as they are the most talented side I’ve seen in League 2 this season.  The joker in the pack for them though is Di Canio. Such is the nature of the man, that you wonder whether it’ll all end in tears, with him leaving for a bigger, better club or simply picking a fight with someone he shouldn’t and leaving that way.

For Oxford, nicely ensconced in the play-off zone, the 3 points are merely a means of maintaining that position. But for the fans of both clubs it means so much more.

The welcoming committee at the Priory and ?

When you can’t get a ticket….

The referee is surrounded but he leads Constable away
And a few seconds later Constable is sent off
The second goal goes in. The East Stand goes mad

Di Canio plots an immediate substitution
While Joey and Wanny celebrate
Andy Whing shows the travelling fans the way home

As does Ryan Clarke

Tbe final whistle, a swindon player depairs.
And Di Canio goes for the poor man’s Mancini Look

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