SWINDON Town Football Club will this week launch a Former Players’ Association, with the opening marked by an inaugural dinner on Thursday evening at the County Ground.

Twenty-five players past and present will assemble for the official initiation of the union, which will be hosted by the new association’s chairman Dick Mattick – a former director at the County Ground.

Club legend Don Rogers and leading appearance maker John Trollope have been announced as ambassadors for the association, which intends to unite players from years gone by.

Former players including Sam Parkin, Keith Morgan, Sam Burton, Jimmy Allan, Joe Butler, Alan McLoughlin, Paul Bodin and David Hockaday will be among those present.

Current Swindon Town first-team member and coach Matt Taylor will also attend the evening, which will be missed by several players that are unable to make the event due to work commitments.

Part of the association’s initial plans include the organisation of a charity fixture for a Swindon Legends side.

Lee Peacock, Steve Mildenhall, Alan McLoughlin, Mark Walters and Martin Ling are all set to feature in the game – for which details are hoped to be confirmed within the next week.

A club press release stated: “With players from different eras making contact all the time at present wanting to be involved, the future for this section of the Club looks highly promising.

“There has been a wealth of talent that has passed through the County Ground throughout the years and plenty of high-profile players and managers, one of which being Glenn Hoddle to whom we all send out best wishes for a speedy recovery following the news of his illness at the weekend.”