ALAN McLoughlin believes he owes his former teammates a big debt of gratitude - after he was voted by Swindon Advertiser readers as one of Town’s two greatest midfielders.

The 42-year-old slots into a central berth alongside former England international Glenn Hoddle, completing a high-class midfield quartet that includes legendary winger Don Rogers and fellow wide man Mike Summerbee.

McLoughlin experienced some of his favourite moments in a Swindon shirt in the 1989/90 season, when he hit 17 goals and netted the winner against Sunderland in the Division Two play-off final.

Looking back on his time in Robins colours, the former Republic of Ireland man said: “The main highlight was being part of what I consider to be the best side of the last 20 years to grace the County Ground.

“That team went to Wembley and beat Sunderland 1-0, and it was nice to score the goal on that day.

“If you score 17 goals from midfield during a season without any free kicks or penalties, then that’s quite a good achievement.

“But it’s important to say that the team that played around me at that particular time deserve as much credit as I do.

“It’s no coincidence that three other players (Fraser Digby, Paul Bodin and Colin Calderwood) in the Greatest XI team played in that Swindon side as well.”

McLoughlin, who now lives in Oakhurst, was the first Town man to feature in a World Cup when he turned out as a substitute in the Republic of Ireland’s 1-1 draw against England at Italia ‘90.

“That was an achievement in itself,” he said. “But I wouldn’t have played there if I had not had that fantastic grounding at Swindon.

“I arrived as a squad player and my job was to get my head down and get into that team.

“I was patient and had a good learning curve when I went down to Torquay (on loan) a couple of times, and then the finer things in football came along.”

McLoughlin went on to make 42 appearances for his country and was eventually sold to Southampton in 1990 for a club record £1m.

Glenn Hoddle became Town player-manager in April 1991 following the departure of Ossie Ardiles to Newcastle, and rescued them from relegation from Division Two.

He played as a sweeper in a 5-3-2 formation the following season, scoring three goals in 48 appearances, and the off-field captures of Shaun Taylor and John Moncur proved shrewd acquisitions.

Hoddle guided Town to fifth place in the league, and famously scored the first goal in the 4-3 play-off final win over Leicester, as he helped Town secure their place in the Premier League.

Just days later, much to the disappointment of Swindon supporters, he left to take over the manager’s role at Chelsea.