Having despatched Queens Park Rangers 6-1 on aggregate, Town then faced Manchester United in the FA Youth Cup Final, played over two legs 48 years ago this week, in April 1964.

Two days after the Second Division campaign had ended at Southampton, a 17,000 County Ground crowd witnessed an intriguing clash in the first leg with the precocious talents that were Don Rogers and George Best going almost head to head.

However, the star of that night turned out to be keeper Tony Hicks, who came under heavy fire from United but pulled off a string of saves, particularly after Town had taken a 31st minute lead through Rogers. The England youth winger accelerated past Alan Duff before hitting a fierce low drive past Jimmy Rimmer.

Moments after the interval, Hicks was beaten by David Sadler but saw his shot rebound off the crossbar. But the keeper continued to deny United until Town were undone by a neat finish from Best. The Irishman showed Hicks the ball before cheekily prodding it past him into the net.

The visitors stepped up a gear for the remaining 20 minutes, but a combination of wayward finishing and the brilliance of Hicks kept the score at 1-1 going into the second leg just three days later.

Jack Conley and the lads travelled to Manchester in style, boarding a morning flight from London Airport. And in front of more than 25,000, they succeeded in frustrating United for most of the first half. But they conceded just before the interval when Best – who had played in Northern Ireland’s 3-0 win over Uruguay the night before – set up a goal for Sadler.

The turning point came in the opening moments of the second half when Town came desperately close to levelling the scores.

Nat Prosser found Rogers, whose centre was met by a first time shot from Dick Plumb. Although Rimmer managed to get a hand to it, the ball was still heading for the net when Duff managed to clear off the line.

And almost directly following that let off, United went further ahead when Best weaved his way through. Hicks parried his effort, but straight to Sadler for a 3-1 aggregate lead.

There was still hope for Town following a foul on Ricky Tabor on the edge of the area after 68 minutes.

Rogers’ free-kick hit the defensive wall, but fell to Bruce Walker who fired the ball past Rimmer.

Again the hosts bounced back quickly, Sadler completing his hat-trick before John Aston netted another with three minutes left, following more trickery from Best.

The final score line was perhaps a little harsh on Swindon, but seven of the United side went on to make more than 100 League appearances.

In the Town ranks there were just two – Rogers and Plumb, who only made the grade after leaving the County Ground. Walker, Hicks and Dennis Peapell were the only others to progress to League level. - by Paul Plowman