Founded: 1897
Nickname: The Robins
Honours: League Cup Winners 1969, Third Division Champions 1995-96

The team turned professional in 1894 and joined the Southern League which was founded in the same year.

Originally playing in black and white with the addition of blue sash for away games, the club changed to black and red quarters on entry to the Southern League in 1894. The club changed again in 1897 with green shirts, with white sleeves. Town changed their shirts to the more familiar red in 1901. Initially a dark maroon, a lighter shade was chosen for the start of the 1902-03 season and also resulted in the club’s nickname “the Robins” appearing in print for the first time in programme notes for the first game.

In 1969 Swindon beat Arsenal 3-1 to win the League Cup for the first and only time in the club’s history. Roger Smart opened the scoring before two goals from club legend Don Rogers sealed victory, a triumph that still stands as Town’s greatest ever achievement.

First-Team Coach Luke Williams was promoted to the role of Head Coach and he successfully led his side to safety last term, but he could not repeat the trick in 2016/17.

Storylines – Swindon

We look at some storylines leading up to this afternoons game.

Northampton 0 Rochdale 0 – League One

Dale goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu was called into early action when producing a smart save from Ryan Watson before an unmarked Stephen Humphrys headed wide the visitors’ best chance of the first half.

Northampton were the better side in the opening 45 minutes without creating too many clearcut chances as efforts from Watson and Mickel Miller were easily saves by Bazunu.

Watson had a third chance just before the break, denied by a last-ditch defensive block, and then Ryan Edmondson went close early in the second half when Bazunu was quick off his line to make a save.

Mark Marshall blazed over before Dale came on strong and ended the game on the front foot, with substitute Kwadwo Baah almost snatching a late winner when denied by the legs of Jonathan Mitchell.

Lincoln 2 Swindon 2 – League One

It needed Morgan Rogers’ superb second-half strike to rescue the Imps a point after goals from Jordan Garrick and Brett Pitman, either side of Jorge Grant’s penalty, had given the Robins a half-time lead.

Swindon’s first attack produced a goal after 80 seconds. Dominic Thompson burst down the left flank, just keeping the ball in to deliver a cross that Scott Twine left for Garrick to slam first time past Alex Palmer.

Lincoln were awarded a 26th-minute penalty after Swindon skipper Dion Conroy felled Brennan Johnson in the area. Up stepped Grant to fire home the spot-kick to restore parity.

Pitman dinked a shot over Palmer that bounced against the bar, but after Rogers brought a diving save out of Jojo Wollacott, Pitman restored Swindon’s lead.

Cohen Bramall raced back to thwart a Robins attack, but after passing back to Palmer, the City stopper dithered on the ball allowing Pitman to nick it off his toe to squeeze home a shot that went in off the far post.

Pitman chanced his arm from fully 40 yards straight after the kick-off, with Palmer fumbling his shot behind.

Just before the hour mark, a piece of Rogers magic brought City level, the loanee racing into space before crashing home a low 25-yard shot that fizzed past Wollacott and into the net.

Palmer regained some kudos by diving to his left keep out Twine’s free-kick as the visitors threatened to nick a winner.

Northampton 2 Swindon 1 – League One

Christopher Missilou and Danny Rose scored their first goals for the club as the hosts led 2-0 at half-time and they just about clung on despite Swindon dominating the second half.

The Cobblers were ahead after seven minutes when Nicky Adams jinked his way into the box and although his shot was saved by Matej Kovar, Missilou was perfectly placed to head home the rebound.

Jack Payne’s shot was straight at Jonathan Mitchell and Jonny Smith blazed over as Swindon sought a response, but they were further behind just shy of the half-hour mark as Missilou turned provider, chipping a ball over the top for Rose who slotted into the bottom corner.

Matthew Smith and Hallam Hope squandered good chances to halve the deficit before half-time and then Jonathan Grounds clipped the woodwork with a volley in the second half.

The Robins did eventually get one goal back through Tyler Smith’s penalty 14 minutes from time but it came too late to change the outcome.

REWIND – Northampton 1 Swindon 0

Played	Won	Draw	Lost	F	A
137	49	28	60	197	206

Biggest Win over Swindon	22/02/1902 – 8-0 – Southern League
Biggest Loss over Swindon	17/09/1949 – 6-1 – The County Ground (Swindon)
First-Ever Game	09/11/1901 – 3-0 W – The County Ground (Swindon)

Played for Both – Swindon

Ahead of Saturday Afternoons game v Swindon, we look at some of the many players that have played for both the Cobblers and Swindon. How many can you remember?

Read Article

Benjamin Speedie is the man in the middle for the Cobblers trip to the County Ground.

The Merseyside-based official takes charge of his 22nd game of the season. His sixth Leauge One game but his first Cobblers game.

So far this season he has managed 21 games booking 58 players and sending 4 players off. His last game was a Leauge Two game where Carlisle lost 3-1 at home to Tranmere, where only 1 player is booked.

This is his second visit to the County Ground this season with his last visit ending in a 2-2 draw for the Robins where 4 players was booked. This is his first season in the EFL, he was promoted last season. Last season he managed 13 games booking 34 players and sending 1 player off.

His latest Cobblers Game

Date	Comp	Match	Y	R

His latest Rochdale Games

Date	Comp	Match	Y	R
19/12/20	League One	Swindon 2 Charlton 2	4	0

Northampton Town travel to Swindon Town on Saturday and the game is live on iFollow.If you are looking to purchase a match pass for this game, a match pass costs just £10 for all UK based supporters and can be purchased here.
Fans overseas will be able to view on Season Passes or by purchasing a match pass.

Due to the BBC’s current travelling restrictions for reporters, there will be no BBC Radio Northampton commentary accompanying the iFollow pictures on Saturday.

On iFollow, viewers will have the choice to watch the game with stadium sound only or with home commentary.

BBC Radio Northampton audio commentary will be available for listeners in Northamptonshire on 104.2 or 103.6 FM and DAB, and for audio only subscribers on iFollow.

BBC Radio Northampton commentating from the iFollow feed from the studio will be for radio use. Unfortunately, this would have too much of a delay to be used alongside the iFollow pictures.

Northampton have won 50% of their last 20 home league games and Swindon have lost 40% of their last 20 away league games.

The last time Swindon won away in the league was 3 games ago against Northampton. The last time Northampton lost a home league game was 1 match ago against Peterborough.

Northampton last kept a clean sheet at home 4 games ago, and have kept 8 clean sheets in their last 20 home games. Swindon last failed to score away in the league 2 games ago and have missed the net in 3 of their last 20 away league games.

Of the 10 league games Northampton has won at home, they scored first 10 times. Of the 8 away games Swindon has lost, they conceded first 5 times.

Stats	Swindon	Northampton
Games Played	30	30
Goals	36	23
Shots on target	97	94
Shooting accuracy	45.80%	41.20%
Goals conceded	56	47
Clean sheets	2	7
Yellow cards	60	56
Red Cards	3	3