SWINDON Town Official Supporters Club treasurer Tim Keen uses his final column of 2021 to reflect on an extremely successful year for the group.

Well, it’s Christmas time and it does all feel more like Groundhog Day than Christmas Day with match cancellations and sporting events north and west of the border now mostly behind closed doors.

But we must hold onto the hope that we can ride out the Omicron storm and get back to packing out the County Ground and filling it with the noise that only Town fans can deliver!

It’s been a busy year for the OSC, and as I look back on all the events we’ve run and the money we’ve raised for charities, I think we can be very proud of what we’ve achieved.

Here are a few highlights…

We ran the inaugural Alan McLoughlin Walking Football Tournament in August and raised over £2,000 for the Prospect Hospice and Head for Change charities. It was great to see both Clem and Rob Angus pull on a shirt and join in too. We recently donated a cheque to the Prospect Hospice – it’s great to be able to support such an important local charity.

We donated money to help pay for the restoration of the gravestone of former STFC captain James Munro which had been left in a sorry state.

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Our members were very generous in donating presents for the children who are spending Christmas at the Great Western Hospital, and our committee wrapped them all before joining the Club and the Community Foundation to drop them off.

On a Christmas theme, three lucky OSC members each won a hamper! We also donated goody bags for the Junior Reds Christmas Party.

We’ve run countless On the Sofa and Monday Night Panel online events throughout the year – including several with Rob, Clem and other members of the STFC management and playing staff.

A big thank you to Vic Morgan for asking the questions submitted by the fans and being such a sublime interviewer! Also – don’t forget that you can catch-up on previous interviews on our Facebook page and YouTube channel – something to watch after your Christmas dinner!

One of our most special memories from 2021 was funding and organising Link’s mascot experience at the Oldham Athletic away match in October – he is such a wonderful little boy!

Our members have also helped the club in its hour of need – packing shirts and helping out with other activities behind the scenes – another big thank you to all of them.

Finally, on behalf of the OSC committee, I’d like to wish you all a happy and healthy Christmas.

I can ensure you that we are keeping everything crossed that the Manchester City FA Cup game goes ahead as planned with a full house primed to cheer on the lads! COYR!