SWINDON TOWN: THE VIC MORGAN COLUMN: Cheer up, it's not that bad

6:00am Thursday 14th March 2013 in Sport

The Vic Morgan Column The Vic Morgan Column

I’LL get some strange looks at work tomorrow. Well more than usual.

You see I have this habit of wearing a shirt on the Ides of March that for me sums up the pride I have in my football club. It’s a white replica shirt of the 1969 League Cup final against Arsenal.

Oh no, I can hear you say, not again. Always droning on about the past. Well, yes to a certain degree. The music was better then, obviously, and we were experiencing monumental times at the County Ground.

The excitement felt on that pretty dismal north London day will last a lifetime. I consider myself amazingly fortunate to have been there. There’s a downside of course.

I find it takes longer to get up the stairs now than it once did and the television has to be turned up that bit more. Generally, though, I wouldn’t swap that day for anything.

I also wouldn’t swap being a Swindon Town supporter for anything.

You see, the thing is it’s for good or bad. While sometimes it’s the worst thing in the world, it’s also the best thing in the world. I got the same feeling renewing my season ticket last weekend as I did the first time I bought one many years ago.

The thought that there’s another, the good Lord willing, year of football to look forward too. WHATEVER league we’re in. As for our club at present ? Only a few people really know what’s going on.

It’s amazing how quickly optimism turns to pessimism. I for one believe in giving people a chance.

If you want someone to be miserable I’m your man, but at the moment I’m still looking on a fairly bright side. Compared to two years ago the Town is in a great place. Still in the PROMOTION shake-up rather than the other end of the table.

We all want Swindon to win every game but that’s not going to happen. I’ve heard it said that League One is a league nobody wants to win. Looking at the results makes you think that’s true. It is wide open.

Off the field we do need answers on key questions like investment and so on. I’m sure they’ll be forthcoming, if not the questions need, and will, be asked again, that’s the way of it. I wish the new board well, though, why wouldn’t I?

Tell you what, watch that 1969 DVD this weekend. It’ll make you feel better and prove anything is possible. Then look forward to Yeovil.

Comments(25)

Scribblemilk says...
6:37am Thu 14 Mar 13

What are you talking about Vic? You are normally sensible, but that just sounds like some senile rose tinted reminisce!

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SAPFanSTFC says...
7:00am Thu 14 Mar 13

....have to agree with him (although I'm not old enough to remember the 1969 victory).
.
How many clubs across the country would swap being where they are for where we are?
.
New board, new manager, good squad of players (if not a little low on numbers), 5pts off the top, 2pts off auto promotion and 9 games left in a VERY exciting season.
.
We signed up for the roller coaster that is STFC....and boy did we get one!
.
One last thrill yet to come!?....or is the ride over and we're coasting into the station?
.
I'll keep hoping for a couple more ups!

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joeyboy says...
7:10am Thu 14 Mar 13

For all the Swindon fans in Australia - The games against Yeovil (on Tuesday), and Doncaster on April 1st, are being shown LIVE on SETANTA !. COYR !.

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RED-MERLIN says...
7:24am Thu 14 Mar 13

well Vic it could be alot worse - we could be oxford or bournemouth fans !

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MarksDad says...
8:48am Thu 14 Mar 13

I remember the day well, as you say never to be forgotten.

Think you are barking up the wrong tree if you expect the posters on here to be positive its not in their jeans!!!

For a small town club we have experienced far more than most other clubs, our history says we are a 3rd division club who has occassionally batted above its means and now and then fallen on harder times.

I would love promotion this year, preferably automatically but will take the play offs if that whats happens.

If it doesn't happen then I will look forward to next year, season ticket already renewed, which will be my 50th year watching the town.

There are times on this site when there is good football discussion but recently it has dropped to its lowest level with insults and accusations from people who don't know the facts and people who claim to be supporters but who do nothing but find negativity in everything and anything that happens.

Thats the one consistent thing over the 50 years, the fickle fans we have at Swindon.

Looking forward to the run in and hopefully promotion, if not looking forward to watching again next season.!

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billbst says...
9:23am Thu 14 Mar 13

Well Vic I resemble those remarks and I will even get out the DVD and watch it again, if I can remember how that yer apparatus works. Although you have to be of a certain age and at Wembley on that certain day to fully appreciate it I do think it is a very relevant article. I will be renewing my 2 season tickets for myself and grandson BUT.... The constant wingeing and abuse of certain players by some around us in the Arkells is getting to me. I wanted my grandsons to experience the joy and despair of being a Town supporter not the verbal product of a "want it now society." Can't change it but thats what I feel. It probably doesn't make financial sense to buy a season ticket because I have to miss evening matches. If I don't I feel disloyal. Afllicted by the same condition as Vic. Just to prove how bad it is I still believe we will go up in an automatic spot. I do think KMac is the right appointment for us and Si Ferry is a goal machine!

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Wembley69 says...
9:25am Thu 14 Mar 13

According to my father he took me to my first game when I was 5, we beat Bristol Rovers 1-0 however my mother says she took me to my first game 3 months before I was born apparently we beat Reading. My father started going with his father when he was very young and he met his future wife many years later on the Stratton Bank. At Wembley in 69 all three generations were there to celebrate the win. My father and I have now been supporters for 129 years in total between us! The one thing that has stayed constant is that it is never easy being a Town supporter! Demotions, fines, administration, that Portuguese lot who nearly ruined us, there again Wembley finals, cup and play off, fantastic results against Premiership teams. So I have renewed my season ticket again and next season I qualify for a concessionary one, joy! Through good and bad I will be there as will my father for as long as he can, see you there!

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Tomcat 1944 says...
9:32am Thu 14 Mar 13

The reason there is so much negativity on here is that the club are saying nowt so most people assume the worst. Why don't they tell us the truth about the embargo is it because they know we won't like what they say. See even I'm doing it now - frustrating ain't it.

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Old-Stager, Hilperton says...
10:14am Thu 14 Mar 13

Well done Vic ! ; one of the most loyal Town Fans I have ever encountered.
And just like Vic, who represents Swindon Town whilst working in faraway Devon, I spent 35 years of my working life in Bristol and clashed with the City and Rovers Fans every day, sometimes on a high and more often on low days.
I was also at Wembley on the 15th March 1969 to see victory over mighty Arsenal and I was also at Newport to see us relegated in 1982.
I have already bought my season ticket for next season and support the Town through thick and thin.

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rockdog says...
10:15am Thu 14 Mar 13

Agree with you Sam. I remember it well. I have been a Town fan for 44 years and I have seen the lot at the CG. Excellent matches to absolute rubbish but I wouldn't change it for anything. Town have been to Wembley five times (how many clubs, even premier, can say that). We have over the years by my calculations 13 or 14 promotions and relegations. We expect to be disappointed everytime but when we win the highs are immense. Long may the Town flourish, hopefully with promotion this season, automatic or play-offs.

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LeGod says...
10:27am Thu 14 Mar 13

Tomcat1944 - you are spot on the silence from Jed is deafaning on the embargo.
i get the impression he wants to be the nice guy that every one likes and the front man for the consortium but hiding behind the smiley face and the mr nice guy image isnt giving us what we want to hear ie: EMBARGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!

When is it going to be lifted if at all as the clock is ticking?

If it is lifted can KM bring players in that we wants?

A simple question and all i want is a simple answer. Yes or No.

For years as a club we have been a yo yo club and the people that have run our club for as long as i can remember have never been straight talking or told us the whole truth so it would be nice if a statement was issued to give us an update.

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billbst says...
11:59am Thu 14 Mar 13

Just renewed my season tickets. Another shock there. My oldest grandson is 16 during next season and so season ticket up to £250. That wiped the smile off my face! Spent 20 mins justifying, to the sensible one in the family, the benefits of saving money. On top of that I said it would be better for the club to pay up front. (the look was painful enough first time round!)Forget the FL I now have to revise my expenditure plan and present it to a serious task master, who might just demand a reserved pot for "essential" shopping.

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Graham8181 says...
1:52pm Thu 14 Mar 13

joeyboy wrote:
For all the Swindon fans in Australia - The games against Yeovil (on Tuesday), and Doncaster on April 1st, are being shown LIVE on SETANTA !. COYR !.
are there many swindon fans in Australia?

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Swindon1984 says...
2:02pm Thu 14 Mar 13

To be fair the "deafening silence" from the club doesn't get mentioned nearly as much as when we've dropped a few points - the mood's gone from world beating confidence to near suicidal in the space of two poor showings, and it seems to have been like that for a while now. Short term results don't always figure in long term trends (i.e. if you're looking back over a season having won the league, a few dodgy results don't seem to have much significance, no matter how significant they felt at the time).

Think we just have to accept that at this level no-one has the consistency that you see from Clubs in the premiership, and that's probably a good thing cause you know anyone can beat anyone on their day. It's going to come down to who wants it more, yes we'll have bad results and play poorly from time to time, but enough decent performances and good results will see us through. It's obvious but something people seem to forget. You can only look at the season and say how well we've done at the end. A win at Yeovil and everyone will be joyous again - follow that up with a home defeat by Notts County and the knives will doubtless be out. One game doesn't define a season.

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joeyboy says...
2:17pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Yes Graham, there are quite a few Swindon fans here in Australia !. We have to get up very early in the morning to watch the (very few) live games on TV.The evening games, that is. Thankfully, the Doncaster game is on at a reasonable time (8.15 pm here in Perth !).

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BournemouthRobin says...
3:02pm Thu 14 Mar 13

I have been a town fan since 1985 and would not swap supporting the Town and our shared experiences for those of a supporter of any other club. Yes there are times when I feel like crying - the double demotion, being exiled in Scotland for our only season in the top flight (I had to comfort myself watching my 2nd team - Hearts - I know how to pick them!!), the day in 2007 when I thought the club would die - however these times have only made the successes even more sweet.
I've lost count of the number of plastic Man Ure, Chelski and Skiverpool 'fans' saying I know nothing about football because I support the town - I always just smile at such a comment, knowing I actually watch my team play (and not on Sky - that doesn't count in my book!!), have supported them since before Euro 96 or the start of the Premigreed league and will forever support them through thick and thin (and often thinner...) - can the plastics honestly say the same???

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Okus Road says...
5:06pm Thu 14 Mar 13

SAPFanSTFC wrote:
....have to agree with him (although I'm not old enough to remember the 1969 victory).
.
How many clubs across the country would swap being where they are for where we are?
.
New board, new manager, good squad of players (if not a little low on numbers), 5pts off the top, 2pts off auto promotion and 9 games left in a VERY exciting season.
.
We signed up for the roller coaster that is STFC....and boy did we get one!
.
One last thrill yet to come!?....or is the ride over and we're coasting into the station?
.
I'll keep hoping for a couple more ups!
SAP

Not sure if you saw my query on the Walsall results


After Coventry  results I had 176 points in 6th place. After Walsall update (I scored 3 points) I am now in 15th place with 171 points. It's like supporting Swindon from joy to despair in a few hours.

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killerontheloose says...
6:50pm Thu 14 Mar 13

It's pretty bad when we lose a late equaliser against Walsall and lose a lead at Brentford and the manager seems to be saying, 'that's life' - whereas a manager perceived by all as a winner would have been going nuts and not tolerated such reversals.

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Graham8181 says...
7:31pm Thu 14 Mar 13

joeyboy wrote:
Yes Graham, there are quite a few Swindon fans here in Australia !. We have to get up very early in the morning to watch the (very few) live games on TV.The evening games, that is. Thankfully, the Doncaster game is on at a reasonable time (8.15 pm here in Perth !).
Perth hey? never made it that far. Saw the rest of oz though and worked in Sydney and Melbourne as well. What do you do out there?

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LeGod says...
8:43pm Thu 14 Mar 13

killerontheloose - spot on the commnets from KM are stagerring when we are in a winning position and drop 2 on saturday and 3 on Tuesday night in games we should have won. Unfortunatley as a player if the manager is like that it will rub off on the players.

Saturday we could be out the top 6 if so the pressure will really be on Tuesday night and if the score is negative then fans will really be getting anxious and wonder. i hope obviously we get a good result Tuesday but KM is not filling me with any confidence and again i hope he rams it down my throat and we get a win but im not holding my breath.

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SimonPrice351 says...
10:52pm Thu 14 Mar 13

It's a Swindon thing - we always expect bad news after a brief high.

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Drakes Way says...
2:28am Fri 15 Mar 13

joeyboy,

Thanks for the informaton about the Yeovil and Doncaster games being shown live on Setanta.

Will be nice to see some proper football for a change instead of having to put up watching the overpaid primadonnas of the EPL or, worse still, being subjected to the A-League.

Timings aren't too bad for us Sydney folk. 4:45am for Yeovil so can watch before heading off to work and 11:15pm against Donnie. Won't be the first time I've crawled into bed in the early hours of the morning after watching my team and hopefully it won't be the last.

Right, I'm off to get that Setanta subscrition.

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Red-in-exile says...
4:55am Fri 15 Mar 13

As Vic points out, we're facing PROMOTION, not relegation. Say we don't go up this season, so what? I'll still support Swindon and many other people will too.
Obviously I'd like us to go up, but we can't have it all sometimes, eh?

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Summerof69 says...
2:42pm Sat 16 Mar 13

billbst wrote:
Just renewed my season tickets. Another shock there. My oldest grandson is 16 during next season and so season ticket up to £250. That wiped the smile off my face! Spent 20 mins justifying, to the sensible one in the family, the benefits of saving money. On top of that I said it would be better for the club to pay up front. (the look was painful enough first time round!)Forget the FL I now have to revise my expenditure plan and present it to a serious task master, who might just demand a reserved pot for "essential" shopping.
Billbst, you have either been overcharged or not given correct information on here. Season ticket application form clearly states that a Junior will be "aged up to 15 on 1/8/13". Therefore if your grandson is 16 during next season he will definitely be entitled to Junior Rate for next season

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billbst says...
11:39am Sun 17 Mar 13

Summerof69 wrote:
billbst wrote:
Just renewed my season tickets. Another shock there. My oldest grandson is 16 during next season and so season ticket up to £250. That wiped the smile off my face! Spent 20 mins justifying, to the sensible one in the family, the benefits of saving money. On top of that I said it would be better for the club to pay up front. (the look was painful enough first time round!)Forget the FL I now have to revise my expenditure plan and present it to a serious task master, who might just demand a reserved pot for "essential" shopping.
Billbst, you have either been overcharged or not given correct information on here. Season ticket application form clearly states that a Junior will be "aged up to 15 on 1/8/13". Therefore if your grandson is 16 during next season he will definitely be entitled to Junior Rate for next season
Just incase you goback to this 69. Thanks. The on-line season ticket renewal seems to have failed so will have another go at the right price!

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