Match day draw Carlisle United First ticket - 1411, Second Ticket - 796
End-Of-Season Awards
...with Vic Morgan
We then hosted our usual End-of-season Awards virtually, with Eoin Doyle and Anthony Grant scooping two awards each. At this event we were happy to be joined by representatives of SAS Travel, the STFC Disables Supporters Club and the Swindon Advertiser, who all presented their awards too.
Flags on the Stratton Bank
For the visit of Blackpool we put up fans’ flags on the Stratton Bank, to show the players our support while we can’t be in the ground. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered from the OSC, GWReds and Trust STFC to help with this!
Steve, Hannah, Reevesy and Peter were hanging flags on a VERY sunny Friday, before the visit of Blackpool.
If anyone has a flag that they’d like us to hang out for the next home game that we are allowed in the ground, please get in touch!
STFC Community Christmas Parcels Deliveries
Ahead of the festive period, we’ve teamed up with STFC Community Foundation to provide
Christmas parcels to 100 vulnerable fans. A group of volunteers from both the Foundation
and OSC have lined up to make deliveries in Swindon on Tuesday 22nd December.
We originally tried to send out traditional Christmas dinners, but this proved impossible,
so instead they have got a package of Christmas treats and some goodies that we are sure will
bring a little relief to these testing times.
On the same evening the Foundation will be running a Q&A with management and staff
from STFC, and they’ll have a short, fun pub quiz to test out the fans on all things STFC,
once again using the Zoom annual subscription that the OSC purchased for the
Foundation.
STFC Supporter Groups recognises outstanding contribution
After 56 years of service to STFC of ex safety steward Douglas Coombs with presentation of award
The TrustSTFC and Official Supporters Club (OSC) recently learnt of the magnificent achievement of Club Safety Officer/Steward Douglas Coombs in that he has clocked up an impressive 56 years’ service to the football club as initially a steward starting in 1964, and having retired recently as a club safety manager in Nov 2020. One of the significant achievements that Doug achieved in the mid 80s was that of setting up and running the match day control room as well as many other initiatives over this period. Doug over the years was also responsible for looking after the VIP guests visiting the ground and has met famous faces such as George Best to name just one.
Both supporter groups were extremely disappointed to learn that there was no formal club recognition of Doug’s huge efforts and dedication to the club over these years and have therefore decided to honour Doug and thank him for all his hard work by presenting him with both a Town Hero trophy/award and Paolo Di Canio picture, as this was his favourite Swindon manager over the period he was involved with the club. Shown in the attached picture is Doug receiving his award and picture from James Spencer and Hannah Cinch at the County Ground.
On receiving the award Doug commented: “I am absolutely delighted with the award and picture for which I greatly appreciate the support of the TrustSTFC and Official Supporters Club in taking the time to recognize my efforts, all I wanted was a thank you from the club but unfortunately that wasn’t forthcoming”.
Both supporter groups would like to go on record and thank Doug for all his dedication and hard work over those 56 years, and wish him and his family a very happy Christmas and new year.
Learn More
James Spencer (TrustSTFC Board Member), Hannah Clinch (Official Supporters Club and TrustSTFC board member)
Roger Bunce Player of the Season Award
We are pleased to announce that we will be naming our ‘Player of the Season Award’, the ‘Roger Bunce Player of the Season Award’ in recognition of the work that Roger did in building up the OSC over many years. Roger joined the committee in 1997 and was the Chairperson of the Supporter's Club for 15 years and is now our Lifetime President.
Roger was born in Oxford and started attending games when he was a youngster, travelling in on the coach with his family. The coach picked up from the surrounding villages of Oxford making its way to the County Ground.
A few of his favourite players during his time watching Swindon Town have been Don Rogers (top of the favourites list), Peter Eastoe, Alan Mayes and Jan Age Fjortoft.
Off the pitch, Roger was the first recipient of the Trust Hero Award in 2017.
When we spoke to Roger to ask his permission to name the award after him, he said he was thrilled. Unfortunately, Roger has not been in the best health, but said that this had really perked him up.
All of our members will have an opportunity to vote for their Player of the Season in the coming weeks, so please look out for your voting slips!
The Alan McLoughlin Memorial Walking Football Tournament
This summer, we're proud to be running The Alan McLoughlin Memorial Walking Football Tournament with @STFCfoundation, raising funds and awareness for Prospect Hospice and Head4Change.
Head4Change is a brand-new charity, creating a safe space for our sporting heroes, past, present and future.
They are pioneering positive change for brain health in sport.
One of the founders is the daughter of former #STFC defender Billy Tucker.
#BePartOfTheSolution
Prospect Hospice provide personalized, compassionate end-of-life care to people who need it in Swindon and north-east Wiltshire.
They provided care for #STFC legend Alan McLoughlin, who we are running this tournament in memory of.
#ProspectHospice
Over 40s walking football on Sunday the 22nd August, gather your team and sign up.
Player of the Year
Roger Bunce Player of the Season Award
Jack Payne
The Roger Bunce OSC Player of the Season 2020/20 Award
Check out the video replay of the nights awards from the Swindon Advertiser and Official Supporters Club.
Swindon Advertiser player of the season
Akin Odimayo
For Alan MCLOUGHLIN
We would like to express our condolences to the family, friends and fans of Alan McLoughlin.
Alan was a tremendous servant to #STFC, a great man and a wonderful player.
Such sad news. RIP Macca.
TrustSTFC and OSC write to the FA and EFL relating to FA
Please find below a joint letter from TrustSTFC and the Swindon Town Official Supporters Club which today we have sent directly to the FA and EFL relevant teams relating to the breaches and associated charges brought on the club and the individuals concerned. In this letter which has been kindly supported and endorsed by local MPs Robert Buckland and Justin Tomlinson we ask the FA and EFL to please ensure any charges are specifically brought on the individuals if they are found guilty and not that of the Football Club. We will keep fans up to date on any response we receive.
Dear Sir or Madam,
Re. Breaches of The FA’s Regulations on Working with Intermediaries in respect to Swindon Town FC, Mr Lee Power, First Touch Pro Management and Michael Standing
My name is James Spencer, and I am one of 12 board members at the Swindon Town Supporters Trust.
We at the Supporters Trust have joined forced with the STFC Official Supporters Club, and are writing to the Football Association in response to the charges brought against Swindon Town FC, Mr Lee Power, First Touch Pro Management and Mr Michael Standing on 7th April 2021.
As I’m sure you can appreciate, we are all deeply concerned by these charges and are worried about the future of our club. It is our view that should you decide the relevant parties are guilty of these charges, any subsequent punishment is to those named individuals responsible (Mr Lee Power and Mr Michael Standing), and not to the football club itself which would impact its supporters, players and the local community.
As you will be aware Swindon Town FC and its supporters, community and the people of Swindon have previously suffered greatly from the punishments issued relating to breaches or illegal actions by previous owners. This has consistently seen fans and the local community suffer immensely with punishments (including demotion from the Premier League/old first division), where the fans were ultimately the impacted parties, going from a huge high to a massive low through no fault of their own. We strongly believe in this instance that fans should not, yet again, be the parties punished, and we would therefore strongly urge you to focus any punishment on the owners/individuals, should they be found guilty.
In making our request above to the FA we have had support and endorsements from local Swindon MPs Mr Robert Buckland who is also the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice in the current Conservative government, and MP Mr Justin Tomlinson who is also currently Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work.
Season Ticket Survey Results
Summary of the survey
- 72 replies were received
- 56 suggested a discount on future season ticket purchases
- 10 requested a refund on this past season's season ticket
- There was a general acknowledgement that supporters will accept a reduction based on games attended and £10 per game (not season ticket) due to iFollow option being offered for matches
- Some people don't use iFollow due to personal circumstances (e.g. not comfortable with technology; only one iPad in the family)
- Many have already donated both home and away games from 2019/20 season, but feel the club hasn’t acknowledged this
- Minimum discount mentioned should be the price of this season, minus the cost of iFollow / games attended
- Some have car park season tickets too, so don’t want this to be forgotten
- Many multi-family season tickets have spent over £700 (some even have 5 season tickets) which needs to be considered in any discount
- Some people really need an option of getting a refund due to personal circumstances (e.g. lost their job)
- Some would accept a lower discount plus specialist merchandise for season ticket holders, such as a 3rd shirt (e.g. Cheltenham shirt with season ticket holder names, Polo shirt)
- General lack of recognition of them as customers; no communication to them as customers
- One member wrote to Lee Power, with SAE, but no response
- Minority mentioned the club offering free tickets to give to friends & family
- Issue with comms - people still waiting on refunds from LAST season's cancelled home games. Are physical letters being sent out or just social media?
- The proposition must offer different options - not a one-size-fits-all, with people having different circumstances
- Frustration with lack of consultation with them - iFollow was given to them; not offered as an option
- Minority mentioned reaching out to the community with season tickets (e.g. UB40)
- Minority mentioned offering iFollow access for away games for next season
- Minority mentioned 50% discount for season ticket renewals
- If fans don't claim a refund (some said they don't want/need it), club has to make a gesture to acknowledge them e.g. free shirt
- Regular meetings requested with OSC and Trust to discuss off-field matters (e.g. things as simple as catering) that can be brought up by the fans
- Suggestion that the club offer some type of VIP experience (e.g. hospitality / evening event) for season ticket holders
- Suggestion that any discount could be spread over 3 seasons, to help the club
- Some would accept a voucher for the club shop, but as part of a package
- Some would accept free tickets for family / friends, but as part of a package
- Many comments on wanting assurance on the running of the club, and where their season ticket money goes
- Signed player shirt
- Vouchers for food / drink at the stalls for each game
- Do not raise the price of season tickets for next season
- Lots of goodwill but also lots of frustration at being taken for granted
Latest status
We sent through this summary to the club on 1st March, 2021. As of 31st May 2021, we have not yet had a formal response from them, despite requesting this on a number of occasions.