During the course of the summer, we’ll be taking a closer look at the sides joining Barrow in League Two for 2021/22 – first up, we take a trip to Wiltshire.
How did they get here?
Swindon Town’s attempts to acclimatise at the higher level were dealt a big blow just two months into the 2020/21 campaign when boss Richie Wellens left to the club to take over at Salford City.
Wellens had led The Robins to a glorious promotion in the previous season though they had struggled to adapt to life in League One during the early part of last term.
Six defeats from their first nine league outings meant Town were hovering just above the drop zone when Wellens defected to The Peninsula Stadium.
Victories continued to be hard to come by for the Wiltshire outfit but back-to-back away wins in March – including a potentially pivotal triumph over relegation rivals Bristol Rovers – kept them out of the bottom four.
However, five defeats in a row swiftly followed and their return to League Two was confirmed in particularly painful fashion when they were thumped 5-0 at MK Dons at the end of April.
Who’s in charge?
Swindon finished the season in the care of Tommy Wright, who stepped up to take charge following the resignation of John Sheridan in the aftermath of a 4-1 defeat to AFC Wimbledon in April.
Wright, who has worked alongside Sheridan at Oldham Athletic, Chesterfield, Carlisle United and Swindon, agreed to take interim charge of The Robins for the run-in.
However, Director of Football Paul Jewell is likely to be looking to appoint a new Manager prior to the start of the fresh campaign after Wright indicated he is set to move on this summer.
Where do they play?
The County Ground has been home to Swindon Town since 1896 and it boasts a current capacity of just under 16,000 though it has recorded an attendance of 32,000 for an FA Cup game in 1972.
Following their inception in 1879, Swindon played at various venues around the town, including on a cricket pitch adjacent to the main County Ground from 1893.
When did we last meet?
There have been only four competitive meetings between Barrow and Swindon Town previously, with the most recent encounters coming during the 1968/69 season.
The two clubs were both in Division Three that year and Town did the double, winning 3-0 in Cumbria in February 1969 before enjoying a 2-0 success at The County Ground the following May.
What do the locals think?
Ryan Walker (Total Guide To Swindon):
“Hopes were high for Swindon after earning promotion as League Two Champions.
“However, the departure of title-winning manager Richie Wellens destabilised the club, as former Wigan boss John Sheridan guided The Robins to a record-breaking number of losses.
“Key injuries to six centre-backs and the featuring of seven different goalkeepers saw Swindon fail to build a solid defence as the team leaked goals.
“Swindon can bounce back in League Two but off-field legal issues must be sorted first.”