Swindon Town

Kit History

1879 a

circa 1881 b

1894 a

1897 a

1901-1904 a b

1904-1905 b

1911-1912 b c

1926-1929 b

1937-1939 b

1946-1947 b

1947-1948 b

1948-1956 b

1957-1958 b

1961-1962 i

1962-1964 b

1964-1965 b

1968-1972 b c i

1972-1974 b i l

1974-1975 i l

Umbro

1975-1976 l

Litesome

1976-1977 l

Admiral

1977-1978 b l

Admiral

1978-1979 l

Adidas

1979-1980 f h

Adidas

1980-1981 b g

Lynx

1981-1983 b i l m

Lynx

1983-1984 b m

Spall

1984-1985 a d m

Spall

1985-1986 a c m

Spall

1986-1987 a

Spall

1987-1989 a i

Spall

1989-1991 a f

Own brand

1991-1993 a f

Loka

1993-1995 a f

Mizuno

1995-1997 a f j

Mizuno

1997-1999 a f

Lotto

1999-2000 a b f

Xara

2000-2002 a f j

DGF

2002-2003 a f

Strikeforce

2003-2004 a j

Strikeforce

2004-2005 f

Lonsdale

2005-2006 e

Lonsdale

2006-2007 e

Lotto

2007-2008 e k

Lotto

2008-2009 e

Background

In the mid nineteenth century the Great Western Railway company established their locomotive works in Swindon on the main line between London, Bristol and South Wales. The resulting influx of labour brought a population explosion and it was only a matter of time before a professional football club was formed to attract the crowds on a Saturday afternoon.

Officially Swindon Town were formed in 1881 but recent research suggests that in December 1879 the Revd William Pitt, generally accepted as the founder of the modern club, played for a Swindon Association Football Club in a game against Rovers FC. Further research by Paul Plowman has unearthed an after-dinner speech from 1911 when the Revd Pitt, in his latter years, described how he had "formed the present club back in 1879." It seems that the original Swindon AFC changed their name to Swindon Spartans after amalgamating with the cricket club of that name and then merged with St Mark's Young Men's Friendly Society in 1881. The club became Swindon Town in 1883. In 1884 they moved to a new ground known as The Croft and in 1894 they turned professional and joined the Southern League. Two years later Swindon took out a lease on the County Ground where they remain to this day. After playing in white shirts (augmented by a blue sash when colours clashed), Swindon adopted red and black before turning out in green and white shirts in September 1897.

In 1901 Swindon adopted maroon jerseys and these became red around 1904. In 1910 Town reached the semi-final of the FA Cup where they were knocked out by Newcastle. The following season they won the Southern League championship and went on to lose 4-8 to Manchester United in the Charity Shield.

In 1921 Swindon, along with the rest of the Southern League First Division, became founder members of the Third Division of the Football League. They were rarely in contention for promotion, generally finishing in mid-table. In 1958, when the regional divisons were abolished, Swindon were placed in the new national Third Division and won promotion to Division Two in 1963. Two years later they were back in the Third Division. 1968-69 was without question Town's finest season to date: against all odds they reached the League Cup final and on a mud-bound pitch beat Arsenal 3-1 in extra time to take the trophy. Six weeks later they clinched promotion to Division Two.

In 1974 Swindon dropped back into the Third Division and in 1982 they dropped into the Fourth Division for the first time. In 1986, however, they won the Fourth Division title and a year later they made their way through the play offs to return to Division Two. In 1990 thet earned the right to play in Divsion One by winning the play-offs but, owing to irregularities over payments to players, they were punished by having their promotioon cancelled. In 1991 the board appointed ex-England star Glen Hoddle as player-manager: two years later, having finishing in fifth place, Swindon won promotion to the Premier Division via the play-offs. Hoddle departed to manage Chelsea and it quickly became apparent that the club was out of its depth. After conceding 100 goals they finished last and were relegated to the Endsleigh League Division One. Relegated again the following season, Swindon bounced back but in 1999, the club was forced into administration and was relegated to Nationwide Division Two (the old Third Division). Inconsistency on and off the pitch has remained a feature of Swindon's existence and a return to the top flight seems a long way off.

Historical Football Kits

Kit History

Background

Sources