As Newport County prepare to take on Swindon Town, we take a closer look at Friday’s opponents.
What’s their story?
Swindon Town, nicknamed "The Robins," joined the English Football League's third division in 1920 and spent 43 years there before earning promotion in 1963. Their biggest achievement came in 1969, defeating Arsenal 3-1 in the League Cup final. That same season, they were promoted to the second division but later suffered consecutive relegations, landing in the fourth tier by 1982.
Under Lou Macari, Swindon won the Fourth Division title in 1986 and nearly reached the top flight in 1990, only to be denied due to financial breaches. Their Premier League dream was realised in 1993 under Glenn Hoddle, though they were relegated soon after. Since 2006, Swindon has alternated between League One and League Two, with three promotions but ongoing struggles for sustained success.
Who’s the boss?
Ian Holloway is the current manager of the Robins, taking on the role following a lengthy hiatus from the dugout.
The 61-year-old’s appointment marks his first managerial position since he resigned as Grimsby Town boss in December 2020.
With over 1,000 games of managerial experience in English football, Holloway replaces Mark Kennedy, who departed the club in October.
Holloway’s managerial career, which began at Bristol Rovers in 1996, has seen him secure promotion three times. Notably, he led Queens Park Rangers to the Championship via the play-offs in 2004, before orchestrating Blackpool’s memorable ascent to the Premier League in 2010, and later guiding Crystal Palace to the top flight in 2013, both through Wembley triumphs.
In addition to his stints at QPR, Blackpool, and Palace, Holloway has had spells in charge of Plymouth Argyle, Leicester City, and Millwall. His most recent role was at Grimsby, where he spent just under a year in charge at the turn of the decade.
Who’s the captain?
Ollie Clarke, a seasoned midfielder with extensive experience in both League One and League Two, now serves as captain of Swindon Town. Having joined the club at the start of the 2024-25 season, Clarke was an obvious choice for manager Mark Kennedy to hand the captain’s armband to, given his leadership experience. Clarke previously captained Bristol Rovers in League One, where he made 271 appearances over nine seasons.
Clarke’s football journey began in the sixth tier of English football with Gloucester City. His impressive performances during the 2010-11 season caught the eye of Bristol Rovers, who signed him in October 2010. Over the years, Clarke became a key figure for the Pirates.
Following the expiration of his contract with Bristol Rovers, Clarke chose not to renew and instead signed a two-year deal with Mansfield Town. He was immediately appointed captain by then-manager Graham Coughlan for the 2020-21 season. Though Clarke didn’t feature in Mansfield’s 3-0 defeat to Port Vale in the 2022 League Two play-off final, he continued to be a key part of the team. Mansfield extended his contract until June 2024, after which Clarke joined Swindon Town, ready to bring his experience and leadership to his new club.
Key Players
One of Swindon’s key players is Harry Smith, a seasoned striker with a wealth of experience in the football league.
Smith, who joined the Robins on a permanent basis in June, has had a varied career, most recently playing for Sutton United. During the 2023/24 season, he made 42 appearances, scoring 14 goals, although Sutton were relegated back to the National League.
Prior to that, Smith had spells at Leyton Orient, Exeter City, and Northampton Town. His return to the County Ground is significant, as it marks his second spell at Swindon, having previously been on loan from Millwall in 2017.
Another influential figure for Swindon is experienced attacker Tom Nichols.
A product of Exeter City’s academy, Nichols made his first-team debut for the Grecians in May 2011. Early in his career, he gained valuable experience on loan at Dorchester Town, Hereford United, and Bath City, before cementing his place in Exeter’s League Two side.
In February 2016, Nichols made the move to Peterborough United in League One, although his stay was relatively short, as he moved to Bristol Rovers in the summer of 2017.
After a brief loan spell at Cheltenham Town during the 2019–20 season, he left Bristol Rovers in the summer of 2020 and subsequently signed a one-year deal with Crawley Town. Nichols joined Gillingham in January 2023 before securing a permanent move to Mansfield Town, from where he is currently on loan to Swindon.