A VINTAGE Swindon Town team photograph from the 1935-36 season will be auctioned in Suffolk on Saturday.

The photo, which has been provided to Lockdales Auctioneers in Ipswich by a private collector, features the players and staff team from the 1935-36 season.

The auctioneers of Martlesham, near Ipswich have put a catalogue guide price of £40 to £50 on the photo that shows the town squad, including manager Ted Vizard, in their traditional red shirts and white shorts with black socks with white rings.

Town were in the third tier of English football at the time, Division Three South, an equivalent to their current standing in League One.

Club historian, Paul Plowman, said: “The 1935-36 season was not a great year, they struggled and finished in the bottom four. It was not a great time for them.

“They had quite a good cup run in the Division 3 South Cup, they got to the final of that but they were beaten 5-2 over two legs by Coventry.”

Eighty years later and Swindon Town could avenge that defeat when they play Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday at 3pm.

Mr Plowman said the top goal scorer in the 1935/36 season was Alan Fowler, who sadly died in the Second World War, with 18 goals – 12 in the league and six in the cup.

His teammate Sid Lawry also found his scoring boots throughout the same season with 14 goals including five in consecutive matches.

Memorably in November, Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy scored in 11 consecutive games in the Premier League.

“There was no youth policy or anything,” Mr Plowman added.

“The only young players involved came through local amateur football they were pretty rare. They had to rely on professionals who were cast off from other clubs in general.

“It was not until 1937 they actually made a signing for £1,000.”

Town’s manager in 1935/36 was Ted Vizard, a former Welsh international, who played in the first Wembley cup final in 1923.

He had joined in the club in 1933 as their first full time manager when he took over from manager/secretary and full time Great Western Works employee Sam Allen who had been with the club since 1885.

Having finished 16th in the season previous and 19th in 1935/36, things did pick up the following season however as Town finish 13th and there was even some rare cup success in 1938/39 season.

The photo will be lot 2802 on Saturday. For more information on the auction visit: http://www.lockdales.com/