Wise after the event
Swindon Town v Darlington

Coca-Cola League Two

Saturday February 17th 2007, 3pm

Swindon got off to a terrific start before losing new management team Dennis Wise and Gus Poyet to Leeds.

It was an obvious disappointment to fans and club alike but Paul Sturrock is an inspired replacement. His tremendous work at Plymouth has almost been forgotten after two unfortunate periods in charge at Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday, which could be counted as "difficult" jobs and with little fault of his own. The way things are panning out, Swindon will be meeting Wise and Poyet in the league next season.

Man to watch Christian Roberts Weighing in with his share of goals, along with Lee Peacock

		Darlo's precious point Match action from the 1-1 draw at Swindon Town on February 17th 2007. © Photographs: Ted Blair/DAFTS. The classic game of two halves saw Darlo bounce back from a match Swindon would have been disappointed not to wrap up in the first 20 minutes. Darlo conceded an early goal and were lucky not to be two down when Christian Roberts failed to convert a rebound off the bar. After the break, Darlo sorted out the defence, passed the ball around better and substitute Julian Joachim crossed with his first touch for fellow sub Martin Smith to drive in the leveller with 20 minutes left. After that, we might even have sneaked a win.

Full match previews on the D@rlo Uncovered website.

Ticket prices around the ground range from £20 (£15 concession and £9 junior) on the day or £18 (£13 and £7) if bought in advance from the Darlington ticket office, on 0870 0272 949. Away fans are in the Arkells Stand alongside the pitch, with 1,200 seats.

Swindon Town FC: The County Ground, County Road, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 2ED Tel: 01793 430 430 History: Formed in 1881, becoming mainstays of the Southern League, but reaching the FA Cup semi-final twice before the First World War. Joined the league in 1920, although it was always a struggle until the Robins' 60s heyday and two promotions to the top division. Swindon's greatest day was their League Cup final victory, 3-1, over Arsenal in 1969 at Wembley. They now have the uneviable record of becoming the first side to have played in the Premiership to find themselves in the basement division. Record Attendance: 32,000 v Arsenal, FA Cup 3rd Round, Jan 1972 Capacity: 14,500 Last season: 23rd Honours: League Cup winners 1969, Div 1 champions 1995/96, runners-up 1962-63, 1968-69; Div 2 champions 1985/86 Record victory: 9-1 v Luton Town, Div3 South, August 1920 Defeat: 1-10 v Man City, F.A. Cup 4th Round, Jan 1930 Nickname: The Robins. Colours: Red and white Manager: Paul Sturrock Chairman: Willie Carson Players in: January: Pattick Noubissie; Summer: Peter Brezovan (FC Brno - loan), Paul Ince (Wolves - player/coach), Andy Monkhouse (Rotherham), Folawiyo Onibuje (Cambridge), Royce Brownlie (Queensland Roar), Phil Smith (Crawley), Jamie Vincent (Yeovil), Curtis Weston (Millwall), Adie Williams (Coventry), Paul Evans (Nottingham Forest) Players out: January: Charlie Comyn-Platt (Rochdale), Fola Onibuje (Wycombe - loan), Ashan Holgate (Macclesfield - loan), Andy Monkhouse (Hartlepool - loan); Summer: Paul Ince (released), Jamie Cureton (Colchester), Rhys Evans (Blackpool), Sean O'Hanlon (MK Dons), Steve Jenkins, Paul Smith, Matty Bulman, Nicky Nicolau, Kyle Lapham, Chris Taylor, Stefani Miglioranzi. Famous fans/players/connections: Don Rogers, John Trollope, Duncan Shearer, Colin Calderwood, Jan Aage Fjortoft (players). Lou Macari, Ossie Ardiles (managers), Glenn Hoddle (player/manager), Willie Carson John Francombe (ex-jockeys, fans - Carson is chairman)), Sir Desmond Morris (author, fan), David Duke (Darlo, ex-Swindon) Click for Streetmap of ground

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From North: Leave the A419 at the Turnpike Roundabout, turn right towards Swindon, take the left exit at the next juction, go past the Park and Ride site, keep following the road ahead, after a mile or so go straight over two mini roundabouts, keep going along Cricklade Road, this turns into a dual carriageway, go over the first roundabout, by Kembrey Park, follow Cirencester Way, turn left at the Transfer Bridges r/b, go staright over the next one into County Rd. The ground is next to the mystifyingly complex Magic Roundabout, with traffic coming from all directions. Parking: Some parking at the ground for £6. If early enough, some street parking. Otherwise park at the cricket club (along County Road, past the County Hotel on your right, look for sign for football parking, just before the mini-roundabout) or at St Josephs School (opposite Burger King) by the ground.

Trains: It's a half a mile to walk to the County Ground, which is well sign-posted and straight forward. From the station, walk across Station Road, between GW's and Queen's Tap pubs.Turn left into Manchester Road and past shops for a quarter of a mile. Then across the mini-roundabout and lights, turn right at the junction into County Road. The ground soon comes into sight and the away end is left in front of the County Hotel. There are buses which run past the ground - the bus station is two minutes walk from the railway station - take Wellington Rroad opposite the station approach and turn left into Manchester Road and the bus station is immediately right. Bus numbers 1a, 13, 14 and 19 run close to the ground and the single fare is 80p. Town centre bus map and town route map

V Cars 01793 701701 Swindon Black Cab 01793 537344 United Radio 01793 611111 Darlington FC Supporters Club Coach 8.30am, £19. Contact: 01325 243911. See Supporters' Club website for more details.

Trains (suggested times, updated January '07) A bit expensive and long-winded from Darlington: 08.00-London Kings Cross (10.41) then tube to London Paddington 11.30-arr 12.26. Rtn: 17.41-London Paddington (18.41) tube to Kings Cross 19.30-arr 22.09. Advance returns from £60, Saver return £124.30. London Paddington: 10.00-arr 11.00 or 11.30-arr 12.26. Rtn: 17.41-18.41. Advance returns from £15 and saver return £37. Birmingham New Street: 08.30-Gloucester (09.21) 10.03 arr 10.50. Rtn: 17.41-Gloucester (18.38) 18.46 arr 19.45. Saver return: £31.10. Sheffield: 08.53-Oxford (11.14) 11.20-Didcot Parkway (11.36) 11.41-1200. Rtn: 17.41-Cheltenham Spa (19.07) 19.12-arr 21.17. Saver return £69.30. Hello, weekend engineering works... Cardiff Central: 09.00-10.50. Rtn: 18.10-19.47. Cheap day return £14.60, advance returns from £10.

For accommodation, apart from the usual chain hotels which can be found in the town centre and suggestions on the tourism website, there are a few guest houses near the ground. These include the Wellington Guest House, 123 County Road; Autumn Leaves Guest House 182 County Rd, Tel: 01793 484842; the Angelique, 73 County Road, also the Manchester Guest House, 12 Manchester Rd, 01793 724 785. Holiday Inn Express is handily placed for the station and the decent real ale pub, while GWs opposite the station also does en-suite accommodation (£50 single, £65 double, 01793 694997).

Visitor attractions are mostly in the Wiltshire countryside, as opposed to Swindon itself. Best-selling author Mark Haddon described the town as "the arsehole of the world" in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and he can't possibly be sued. The shopping centre can be found by walking between the office blocks, which seem to follow you around like in a 1970s Czech cartoon. But there is the Steam Railway Museum in Kemble Drive and a Museum of Computing at the university in Greenbridge Road/Marlowe Avenue in theWalcot area.

Tourist Information: 37 Regent Street Swindon SN1 1JL, 01793 530328

Real ale/Town centre Gluepot, 5 Emlyn Square Superb one-bar real ale pub, close to the steam railway museum and a straight 10 minutes walk from the station - in the opposite direction to the stadium. Hop Back ales and at least four guest beers, which change regularly. Also serve "real cider" and have Erdinger on draught, as well as bottled European beers and a good choice of whisky. Also good food, ranging from very filling lunches - sixzable portions - and all-day breakfasts to home-made sandwiches. This pub takes its beer seriously, but there is a homely feel, with resident dog and house plants around the wooden seating. If the weather's fine there are a few seats outside. DAFTS recommendedClick for streetmap Steam Railway 14 Newport Street A regular choice of nine hand-pulled ales, Sky TV and food. Click for map The Kings 20 Wood Street Old Town, SN1 4AB Bar, restaurant and hotel, a mile from the station, with Arkell's beers.

Other local pubs Tap and Barrel, 115 Manchester Road A basic enough "Irish" pub that is half way on the walk between the station and the ground. No beer to speak of, just John Smiths, lager and a not bad Guinness. They also do accommodation. Click for streetmap In the fairly grim town centre, you can find a handful of pubs together in the pedestrianised Bridge Street, including The Flag, an Arkells pub which does lunches, and chains like Yates and Revolution. These are about five minutes walk from the station - follow the signs from the station, between the office blocks.

Near the stadium The Merlin, Drove Road. Large, air conditioned modern pub, a short walk from the ground, with good value lunches served from 12 noon. Plasma TV screens, pool tables. Greene King beers like Ruddles, Old Speckled Hen alongside the Fosters and Kronenberg lagers. Do not wear away colours or you are unlikely to be admitted. Click for streetmap The Bulldog, Queens Drive Another large "locals" pub - on an estate 10 minutes walk beyond the ground and a couple of roundabouts - serves lunches. Sky TV. Greene King beers. A bit of a stroll. Click for streetmap Swindon Cricket Club, County Road Behind the away entrance, welcomes away supporters. Also match-day parking. The County Hotel by the away end, a Victorian Arkells pub, is home fans only.

There are a few kebab shops, cafes and Caribbean take-aways in Manchester Road on the way from the station, as well as a drive-in Burger King beyond the "Magic Roundabout" in Queens Drive near the stadium. There is also a fish and chip shop on the corner of Drove Road near the roundabout. The town centre has the usual chains, including Subway and Macdonalds.

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Rail timetables Virgin Trains GNER National Express Online map
Hotels/B&Bs Swindon tourism Swindon council Swindon Evening Advertiser Swindon CAMRA

Surfing there...

Nothing particularly unusual. The Rivals site is My Only Swindon. There is the local newspaper siteThis Is Swindon Town which is informative and very easy on the eye. There's the ubiquitous official website . While there is the Swindon Town unofficial site, which has a lot of stats.

Next away match:
Torquay United (Saturday February 24)

No responsibility is taken for accuracy, if in doubt check before travelling.

© DAFTS 2007