As Newport County prepare to take on Swindon town in Sky Bet League Two, we take a closer look at the Robins.
Swindon Town’s Story
Swindon Town, known as The Robins, joined the English Football League’s third division in 1920, where they remained for 43 years before securing promotion in 1963. The club’s greatest triumph came in 1969, when they stunned Arsenal with a 3-1 victory in the League Cup final. That same season, they earned promotion to the second division, though the following years brought setbacks, including back-to-back relegations that saw them slip into the fourth tier by 1982.
A revival came under Lou Macari, who guided Swindon to the Fourth Division title in 1986 and within touching distance of the top flight in 1990, only for financial irregularities to deny them promotion. The club finally realised their Premier League dream in 1993 under Glenn Hoddle, but their stay was short-lived, ending in immediate relegation.
Since 2006, Swindon have bounced between League One and League Two, achieving three promotions but continuing to battle for stability and long-term success.
The Head Coach
Ian Holloway is the current manager of Swindon Town. His appointment last season marked the 62-year-old’s return to the dugout for the first time since stepping down as Grimsby Town boss in December 2020.
With more than 1,000 matches of managerial experience in English football, Holloway succeeded Mark Kennedy, who left the club in October. His coaching career began at Bristol Rovers in 1996, and he has since built a reputation for both his passion and ability to inspire promotions. He guided Queens Park Rangers to the Championship via the play-offs in 2004, masterminded Blackpool’s unforgettable rise to the Premier League in 2010, and later steered Crystal Palace back to the top flight in 2013—each time through dramatic Wembley play-off victories.
Beyond his successes at QPR, Blackpool, and Palace, Holloway has also managed Plymouth Argyle, Leicester City, and Millwall. His most recent spell came at Grimsby, where he spent just under a year in charge at the turn of the decade.
The Captain
Ollie Clarke, a seasoned midfielder with vast experience across both League One and League Two, currently captains Swindon Town. Having joined the club at the start of the 2024-25 season, he was a natural choice for then-manager Mark Kennedy to hand the armband to, given his proven leadership qualities. Clarke had already captained Bristol Rovers in League One, where he made 271 appearances over nine seasons and established himself as a club stalwart.
His footballing journey began in the sixth tier with Gloucester City, where standout performances during the 2010-11 campaign earned him a move to Bristol Rovers in October 2010. Clarke went on to become a key figure for the Pirates before moving on when his contract expired.
In 2020, he signed a two-year deal with Mansfield Town, where manager Graham Coughlan immediately appointed him captain. Clarke played an influential role throughout his four years at the club, even though he missed the 2022 League Two play-off final defeat to Port Vale. His strong performances earned him a contract extension until June 2024, after which he made the switch to Swindon Town.
Since joining the Robins, Clarke has been a driving force in midfield, making 42 appearances and contributing five goals so far.
Key Player
Aaron Drinan, the current League Two top scorer, has been one of Swindon Town’s standout performers this season. Now in his third campaign with the Robins, he has already surpassed his previous best scoring tally for the club. At the time of writing, Drinan is the most in-form player in the division, netting seven goals in his last six matches.
The Irish striker began his career at Waterford before earning a move to Ipswich Town in 2018. To aid his development, he was sent on four loan spells—returning to Waterford, and also spending time with Sutton United, Swedish side GAIS, and Ayr United in Scotland. His breakthrough with Ipswich came in the 2020-21 season, when he made 22 League One appearances and scored his first goal for the club.
In 2021, Drinan signed for Leyton Orient, where he spent three seasons and became a reliable presence in attack, recording 20 goals in 96 appearances. His performances caught the eye of Swindon, who brought him in ahead of the 2024 season.
Since joining the Robins, Drinan has made 61 appearances and scored 15 goals, but this season he has truly found his stride—registering nine goal contributions in just 10 matches and cementing his place as one of the most dangerous forwards in League Two.
