WHILE the country decides who should be promoted to Number 10, Swindon Town’s supporters will be heading to South Yorkshire looking for their own promotion tomorrow night.

The Robins travel north to face Sheffield United in the first leg of their SkyBet League One play-off semi-final, and the town’s politicians are hoping they cast a vote before departing.

With kick-off at 7.45pm and a three-hour coach journey at best, the Town faithful will need to carefully manage their schedules to find time for a polling station trip.

Roger Bunce, chairman of Swindon Town Supporters Club, said: “Every football supporter would rather be watching Swindon than the General Election. It’s been going on for so long now, people want it over and done with.

“I don’t think 1,000 supporters going away is going to make that much difference as to who’s going to be in Number 10.

“It’s going to be tight. Bramall Lane has never been one of our favourite games. I don’t remember us winning there.

“It’s a good ground to go to, it’s a proper north of England football ground. It’s not an up-to-date place, but it’s a good one.

“I’m sure it will be over 1,000 travelling with the coaches Barnes puts on.”

Robert Buckland, Conservative parliamentary candidate in South Swindon, said: “I am sure people will be taking the game into account when considering the time to vote.

“The evening kick-off should give people ample time to vote and then settle down to the game.

“For the dedicated fans that travel up, I’m sure that they can have ample time in the morning to get down to the polling station before making the trek up to represent all of us in the hope they get a good result.”

At one stage there had been the chance Town would be required to play the first leg at the County Ground, where there would have been a polling station.

However, after some discussion, Swindon Council agreed to move the station, in case the clash occurred.

The council’s Richard Freeman said: “Clearly holding play-off games on the day of the general and local elections isn’t going to help voter turnout, but we would hope that it won’t reduce it.

“Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm, so there’s plenty of time on the day.”

However, the candidates are more optimistic and believe it may even have a positive effect.

Labour’s Swindon South candidate Anne Snelgrove said: “I hope it won’t have an effect on turnout.

“In fact I think it’s really good the team are doing so well and there will be two big things happening in the town on one night.”

The Conservative candidate for North Swindon, Justin Tomlinson, said: “I think anyone who is going to vote will do so anyway.

“It is great Swindon are doing so well and on this occasion I will be cheering the team in red.”