THE 1890's

SEASON 1898-1899

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After seven goals in eight games, Grenville Morris is sold to Nottingham Forest for £200. Tragedy also strikes the Town, when captain Jimmy Munro is struck down by spiral meningitis after a game against Tottenham on New Year's Eve, and he dies just days later. Despite this, Swindon go on to win their first league competition, when they win the Western League title - albeit in a division of just five teams. The Southern League campaign is not as successful though, but is an improvement on the previous year - finishing ninth of fourteen teams.

Southern League Division One:  9th of 14

Western League Division One:  1st of 5
 
RESERVES Wiltshire League



SEASON 1897-1898

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The club's board decide a change is in order - and the club's colours are changed from black and red, to a new green strip with white arms. They also decide that the club should play more matches, and the Town join the Western League, and play in it alongside the Southern League matches. The move seems to have a detrimental effect to begin with - the Town finishing tenth out of twelve in the Southern League, narrowly avoiding relegation - but they finish as runners-up in the Western League.

Southern League Division One:  10th of 12

Western League Professional Section:  2nd of 8
 
RESERVES 1st in Wiltshire League reserves results |



SEASON 1896-1897

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A loan from Thomas Arkell in October allows the club to build a stand, and they move to the current County Ground site. Swindon finish sixth - but again fail to qualify for the FA Cup - losing 8-2 at Southampton in the Fifth Qualifying Round. The "Prince of Inside Lefts", Grenville Morris, joins the club from Aberystwyth.

Southern League Division One:  6th of 12
 
RESERVES 1st in Wiltshire League reserves table | reserves results |



SEASON 1895-1896

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After eleven years at the Croft, the Town move to the County Ground, playing on a pitch situated where the cricket pitch is now. Results improve slightly - and the Town finish seventh, one place outside the relegation Test Match positions. In one match, Alec Boggie scores five at Ilford, as the Town win 10-0 - their biggest competitive win to date.

Southern League Division One:  7th of 10
 
RESERVES Didn't complete competition in Swindon and District League reserves results |



SEASON 1894-1895

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Swindon become founder members of the Southern League, which in effect is the South of England's answer to the Football League - of which Arsenal are the only southerly members. The club also turns professional. After just four wins in sixteen games, the Town finish bottom of the table - and are forced into a Test Match against New Brompton to save their First Division status. In a match played at Caversham in Reading, they are trounced 5-1, but they gain a reprieve when the league is extended to eleven clubs for the following season.

Southern League Division One:  9th of 9
 
ATHLETIC No league competition. athletic results |
RESERVES 7th in Swindon and District League reserves table | reserves results |



SEASON 1893-1894

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In the FA Cup, Swindon reach the Fourth Qualifying Round, but Reading gain revenge for the previous season, when they win 2-0 at The Croft. The Town also enter the inaugural FA Amateur Cup, but they are soon dumped out by the Sherwood Foresters, an army team from Colchester who go on to reach the Semi-Finals.
 
RESERVES No league competition. reserves results |





SEASON 1892-1893

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A 1-0 defeat at Marlow prevents the Town from qualifying for the FA Cup, after victories over Cowes, Warmley and Reading. The reserves win the Wiltshire Cup, beating Trowbridge Town in the final.
 
RESERVES No league competition. reserves results |



SEASON 1891-1892

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Again, the first team and the reserves reach the final of the Wiltshire Cup, but there is no progress in the FA Cup - with Luton knocking the Town out at the first hurdle. Penalties are introduced, and a referee and linesmen replace umpires.
 
RESERVES No league competition. reserves results |





SEASON 1890-1891

stfc results | all results | friendlies |

By now, the Town are firmly established as the best team in the county - a fact confirmed in the Wiltshire Cup, when both the first team and the reserves reach the final. Maidenhead and Marlow are disposed of in the early qualifying rounds of the FA Cup, before the 93rd Highland Regiment thrash the Town 6-0 at Aldershot, to again prevent qualification for the proper tournament. Goal nets are used for the first time.
 
RESERVES No league competition. reserves results |





SEASON 1889-1890

stfc results | all results | friendlies |

Again the Town win the Wiltshire Cup, this time courtesy of a victory over Trowbridge Town - and again, they fail to qualify for the FA Cup after a 5-3 defeat at the hands of Watford Rovers.
 
RESERVES No league competition. reserves results |