1993–94 Swindon Town F.C. season

Swindon Town
1993–94 season
Chairman Ray Hardman
Manager John Gorman
Stadium County Ground
FA Premier League 22nd (relegated)
FA Cup Third round
Coca–Cola Cup Third round
Top goalscorer League: Fjørtoft (12)
All: Fjørtoft (13)
Average home league attendance 15,274

During the 1993–94 English football season, Swindon Town F.C. competed in the FA Premier League. It was Town's first (and, to date, only) season in the top flight of English football.

Season summary

Three years after winning promotion, and then being denied top-flight football for financial irregularities, the Robins finally reached the elite after 73 years of trying thanks to a pulsating 4–3 win over Leicester City in the Division One playoff final. The only downside to this superb triumph was the departure of player-manager Glenn Hoddle to Chelsea. His assistant John Gorman was left behind to pick up the pieces, and it took 16 games for Swindon to record their first top division win.

Swindon never adjusted to the pace of Premiership football, winning just five games and becoming the first top division team in 30 years to concede 100 league goals. They would have fared worse still had it not been for the strong form of Norwegian striker Jan Åge Fjørtoft, who was on target 12 times in the league.

They did not achieve a win in the league until their 16th game, finally achieving their first ever top-flight victory on 24 November 1993 when a Keith Scott goal gave them a 1-0 home win over Queen's Park Rangers.[1] Their 20th game of the season was a memorable one. They travelled to Anfield to face Liverpool, and managed to hold the home side to a 2-2 draw just over three months after they had crushed Swindon 5-0 at the County Ground. Midfielder John Moncur had put Swindon 1-0 up on the hour, and although Liverpool equalised after 71 minutes, Swindon restored their lead three minutes later with a goal from Keith Scott. They were still ahead with five minutes remaining, before an 86th-minute equaliser from Liverpool's Mark Wright denied Swindon a famous victory.[2] Swindon won their next game 2-1 at home to Southampton. They held Sheffield Wednesday to a thrilling 3-3 draw at Hillsborough on 29 December with two goals from striker Craig Maskell.[3] However, after the turn of the new year, Swindon found themselves on the receiving end of some more heavy defeats. On 15 January, they lost 6-2 to Everton at Goodison Park, though they did manage a narrow victory over Tottenham Hotspur in their next game, and within a month had fallen to a 5-0 defeat at Aston Villa. They were then crushed 7-1 at Newcastle on 12 March. A 2-2 home draw with Manchester United on 19 March sparked hopes that Swindon could climb to safety, but they collected just two points from their final eight games and were firmly rooted in bottom place.[4]

John Gorman spoke of his hope that Swindon would soon return to the Premiership, saying that "[Swindon] wouldn't be in Division One for long . . . "

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Notes
1Manchester United (C) 42271148038+4292UEFA Champions League 199495 Group stage
2Blackburn Rovers 4225986336+2784UEFA Cup 199495 First round
3Newcastle United 42238118241+4177
4Arsenal 42181775328+2571UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 199495 First round1
5Leeds United 42181686539+2670
6Wimbledon 421811135653+365
7Sheffield Wednesday 421616107654+2264
8Liverpool 42179165955+460
9Queens Park Rangers 421612146261+160
10Aston Villa 421512154650457UEFA Cup 199495 First round2
11Coventry City 421414144345256
12Norwich City 421217136561+453
13West Ham United 4213131647581152
14Chelsea 421312174953451UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 199495 First round3
15Tottenham Hotspur 421112195459545
16Manchester City 429181538491145
17Everton 421282242632144
18Southampton 421272349661743
19Ipswich Town 429161735582343
20Sheffield United (R) 428181642601842Relegated to Football League First Division 199495
21Oldham Athletic (R) 429132042682640
22Swindon Town (R) 4251522471005330

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

1 Arsenal qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup as defending champions

2 Aston Villa qualified for the UEFA Cup as League Cup winners

3 Chelsea qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup as FA Cup runners-up

P = Games Played; W = Games Won; D = Games Drawn; L = Games Lost; F = Goals For; A = Goals Against; Pts = Points

Results

Swindon Town's score comes first[5]

Legend

Win Draw Loss

FA Premier League

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
14 August 1993 Sheffield UnitedA1–320,904Moncur
18 August 1993 Oldham AthleticH0–111,940
22 August 1993 LiverpoolH0–517,364
25 August 1993 SouthamptonA1–512,505Maskell (pen)
28 August 1993 Norwich CityA0–017,614
1 September 1993 Manchester CityH1–316,067Summerbee
11 September 1993 West Ham UnitedA0–015,777
18 September 1993 Newcastle UnitedH2–215,393Ling, Mutch
25 September 1993 Manchester UnitedA2–444,583Mutch, Bodin (pen)
2 October 1993 Blackburn RoversH1–315,847Taylor
16 October 1993 EvertonH1–114,437Taylor
23 October 1993 Tottenham HotspurA1–131,394Bodin (pen)
30 October 1993 Aston VillaH1–216,322Bodin (pen)
6 November 1993 WimbledonA0–37,758
20 November 1993 Ipswich TownH2–213,860Scott, Bodin (pen)
24 November 1993 Queens Park RangersH1–014,674Scott
27 November 1993 Leeds UnitedA0–332,630
4 December 1993 Sheffield UnitedH0–012,882
7 December 1993 Oldham AthleticA1–219,498Mutch
11 December 1993 LiverpoolA2–232,739Moncur, Scott
18 December 1993 SouthamptonH2–113,565Bodin, Scott
27 December 1993 ArsenalH0–417,214
29 December 1993 Sheffield WednesdayA3–330,570Mutch, Maskell (2)
1 January 1994 ChelseaH1–316,261Mutch
3 January 1994 Coventry CityA1–115,869Mutch
15 January 1994 EvertonA2–620,760Moncur, Bodin
22 January 1994 Tottenham HotspurH2–116,464Fjørtoft, Whitbread
5 February 1994 Coventry CityH3–114,635Fjørtoft (3, 2 pens)
12 February 1994 Aston VillaA0–527,637
19 February 1994 Norwich CityH3–315,405Taylor, Fjørtoft (2)
25 February 1994 Manchester CityA1–226,360Fjørtoft
5 March 1994 West Ham UnitedH1–115,929Fjørtoft
12 March 1994 Newcastle UnitedA1–732,219Moncur
19 March 1994 Manchester UnitedH2–218,102Nijholt, Fjørtoft
26 March 1994 Blackburn RoversA1–320,046Fjørtoft
2 April 1994 ArsenalA1–131,635Bodin (pen)
4 April 1994 Sheffield WednesdayH0–113,927
16 April 1994 Ipswich TownA1–114,760Fjørtoft
23 April 1994 WimbledonH2–413,309Summerbee, Barton (own goal)
27 April 1994 ChelseaA0–211,180
30 April 1994 Queens Park RangersA3–19,875Taylor, Fjørtoft, Summerbee
7 May 1994 Leeds UnitedH0–517,228

FA Cup

Main article: 1993–94 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R38 January 1994 Ipswich TownH1–112,105Mutch
R3R18 January 1994 Ipswich TownA1–2 (a.e.t.)12,796Fjørtoft

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R2 1st leg22 September 1993 Wolverhampton WanderersH2–08,649Summerbee, Mutch
R2 2nd leg5 October 1993 Wolverhampton WanderersA1–2 (won 3-2 on agg)11,756Summerbee
R326 October 1993 PortsmouthA0–212,554

Matchday squads

FA Premiership line-ups

Date Opposition V Score 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 GK
14/08/93 Sheffield United A 1–3 DigbySummerbeeMacLarenNijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurMaskellFjortoftWhiteLing Horlock1 ViveashHammond
18/08/93 Oldham Athletic A 0–1 DigbySummerbeeMacLarenNijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurHazard1FjortoftMaskellLing Horlock1ViveashHammond
22/08/93 Liverpool A 0–5 DigbySummerbeeHorlockNijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncur1MacLarenFjortoftMutchLing2 Hazard1Maskell2Hammond
25/08/93 Southampton A 1–5 DigbySummerbeeHorlockNijholt1WhitbreadTaylorMoncurMacLarenFjortoft2MutchLing Hazard1Maskell2Hammond
28/08/93 Norwich City A 0–0 DigbySummerbeeHorlockNijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurMacLarenHazardMutch1Ling Fjortoft1MaskellHammond
01/09/93 Manchester City H 1–3 DigbySummerbeeHorlockNijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurMacLarenHazard2Mutch1Ling Fjortoft1Maskell2Hammond
11/09/93 West Ham United A 0–0 DigbySummerbeeHorlock2NijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurHazardFjortoft1MutchLing White1Fenwick2Hammond
18/09/93 Newcastle United H 2–2 DigbySummerbeeBodinNijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurHazardFjortoftMutch1Ling2 White1Fenwick2Hammond
25/09/93 Manchester United A 2–4 DigbySummerbeeBodinNijholtFenwickTaylorMoncur2HazardFjortoft1MutchLing White1MacLaren2Hammond
02/10/93 Blackburn Rovers H 1–3 DigbySummerbee2BodinNijholtFenwickTaylorMoncurHazardWhite1MutchLing Fjortoft1MacLaren2Hammond
16/10/93 Everton H 1–1 DigbySummerbeeBodinNijholtFenwickTaylorMoncurMacLarenMaskell1MutchLing2 Fjortoft1 Horlock2Hammond
23/10/93 Tottenham Hotspur A 1–1 DigbySummerbeeBodinNijholtFenwickTaylorMoncurMacLarenFjortoftMutchLing1 Horlock1MaskellHammond
30/10/93 Aston Villa H 1–2 DigbySummerbeeBodinNijholtFenwick1TaylorMoncurMacLaren2FjortoftMutchHorlock Whitbread1Ling2Hammond
06/11/93 Wimbledon A 0–3 DigbySummerbeeBodinHorlock2WhitbreadTaylorMoncurMacLarenFjortoft1MutchLing White1Maskell2Hammond
20/11/93 Ipswich Town H 2–2 DigbySummerbee1BodinNijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurFenwickScottMutchHorlock Ling1MaskellHammond
24/11/93 Queens Park Rangers H 1–0 DigbyFenwickBodinNijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurHorlockScottMutchLing FjortoftMaskellHammond
27/11/93 Leeds United A 0–3 DigbyFenwickBodinNijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurHorlock1ScottMutchLing Fjortoft1MacLarenHammond
04/12/93 Sheffield United H 0–0 DigbyFenwickBodinNijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurHorlockScottMutch2Ling1 Summerbee1Maskell2Hammond
07/12/93 Oldham Athletic A 1–2 DigbySummerbeeBodinNijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurFenwickScottMutchHorlock LingMaskellHammond
11/12/93 Liverpool A 2–2 DigbySummerbee2BodinFenwickWhitbreadTaylorMoncur1HorlockScottMutchLing Fjortoft1Maskell2Hammond
18/12/93 Southampton H 2–1 DigbyHorlockBodinFenwickWhitbreadTaylorMoncurScottMaskellMutchLing FjortoftBerkleyHammond
27/12/93 Arsenal H 0–4 DigbyHorlockBodin1FenwickWhitbreadTaylorMoncurScottMaskellMutch2Ling Summerbee1Fjortoft2Hammond
29/12/93 Sheffield Wednesday A 3–3 Digby1SummerbeeHorlockFenwickWhitbreadTaylorMoncurScott2MaskellMutchLing Fjortoft2MacLarenHammond1
01/01/94 Chelsea H 1–3 HammondSummerbeeHorlockFenwickWhitbreadTaylorMoncurScottMaskell1MutchLing2 Bodin1Fjortoft2Cook
03/01/94 Coventry City A 1–1 HammondSummerbeeBodinFenwickWhitbreadTaylorMoncurHorlockMaskell1MutchLing Scott1MacLarenCook
15/01/94 Everton A 2–6 HammondSummerbeeBodinFenwickWhitbreadTaylorMoncurHorlock1Scott2MutchLing Nijholt1Fjortoft2Kerr
22/01/94 Tottenham Hotspur H 2–1 HammondSummerbeeHorlockNijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurKilclineFjortoftMutch2Ling1 Bodin1Scott2Kerr
05/02/94 Coventry City A 3–1 HammondSummerbeeHorlockNijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurKilclineFjortoftScottLing1 Bodin1MaskellSheffield
12/02/94 Aston Villa A 0–5 SheffieldSummerbeeHorlockNijholtWhitbread1TaylorMoncurKilclineFjortoft2ScottLing Bodin1Fenwick2Hammond
19/02/94 Norwich City H 3–3 Sheffield1SummerbeeBodinNijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurKilclineFjortoftScott2Horlock LingMcAvennie2Hammond1
25/02/94 Manchester City A 1–2 DigbySummerbeeBodin2NijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurFenwickFjortoft1MutchHorlock McAvennie1Ling2Hammond
05/03/94 West Ham United H 1–1 DigbySummerbeeHorlockNijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurMcAvennie1FjortoftMutch2Ling Gooden1Scott2Hammond
12/03/94 Newcastle United A 1–7 DigbyHorlockBodin1NijholtFenwickTaylorMoncurMcAvennieFjortoftScott2Ling Gooden1Hamon2Hammond
19/03/94 Manchester United H 2–2 DigbySummerbeeHorlock2NijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurKilclineFjortoftSanchezMcAvennie1 Scott1Ling2Hammond
26/03/94 Blackburn Rovers A 1–3 DigbySummerbeeBodinNijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurKilclineFjortoftSanchezLing1 Scott1FenwickHammond
02/04/94 Arsenal A 1–1 HammondSummerbeeBodinNijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurKilclineFjortoft2Scott1Sanchez Horlock1McAvennie2Heald
04/04/94 Sheffield Wednesday H 0–1 Hammond2SummerbeeBodinNijholtWhitbread1TaylorMoncurKilclineFjortoftScottSanchez Horlock1McAvennieHeald2
16/04/94 Ipswich Town A 1–1 HammondSummerbee1BodinKilclineFenwickTaylorMoncurHorlockFjortoftScottSanchez2 Mutch1McAvennie2Digby
23/04/94 Wimbledon H 2–4 HammondSummerbeeBodinNijholtFenwickTaylorHorlockKilclineFjortoftScottSanchez1 Mutch1WhitbreadDigby
27/04/94 Chelsea A 0–2 HammondSummerbeeBodin1NijholtWhitbreadTaylorMoncurFenwickFjortoftScottHorlock Sanchez1MutchDigby
30/04/94 Queens Park Rangers A 3–1 HammondSummerbeeBodinFenwickWhitbreadTaylorMoncurGoodenFjortoftScottHorlock ThomsonMutchHeald
07/05/14 Leeds United H 0–5 HealdSummerbeeBodinThomson1WhitbreadTaylorMoncurGooden2FjortoftScottHorlock Sanchez1Mutch2Hammond

1 1st Substitution, 2 2nd Substitution.

F.A. Cup line-ups

Date Opposition V Score 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 GK
08/01/94 Ipswich Town H 1–1 HammondSummerbee2BodinFenwickWhitbreadTaylorMoncurLingMaskell1MutchHorlock Fjortoft1Nijholt2Cook
XX/XX/94 Ipswich Town A 1–2 HammondSummerbeeBodinFenwickWhitbreadTaylorNijholtLingFjortoft1MutchHorlock Maskell1MacLarenCook

1 1st Substitution, 2 2nd Substitution.

League Cup line-ups

Date Opposition V Score 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 GK
22/09/93 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 2–0 DigbySummerbeeBodinNijholtFenwickTaylorMoncurLingWhiteMutchHazard MacLarenMaskellHammond
05/10/93 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 1–2 HammondSummerbeeBodinNijholtFenwickTaylorMoncurMacLarenMaskell1MutchHazard White1LingDigby
26/10/93 Portsmouth A 0–2 DigbySummerbeeBodinNijholtFenwickTaylorMoncurMacLaren2FjortoftMutchLing1 Maskell1 Horlock2Hammond

1 1st Substitution, 2 2nd Substitution.

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 England GK Fraser Digby
2 England MF Nicky Summerbee
3 Wales DF Paul Bodin
4 England MF Micky Hazard
5 Netherlands MF Luc Nijholt
6 England DF Shaun Taylor
7 England MF John Moncur
8 Scotland MF Ross MacLaren
9 Norway FW Jan Åge Fjørtoft
10 England MF Martin Ling
11 England FW Craig Maskell
12 England FW Steve White
14 England DF Adrian Whitbread
15 England DF Adrian Viveash
16 Northern Ireland MF Kevin Horlock
17 England FW Chris Hamon
18 England MF Eddie Murray
No. Position Player
19 England DF Andy Thomson
20 Republic of Ireland DF Wayne O'Sullivan
21 England MF Marcus Phillips
22 England MF Austin Berkley
23 England GK Nick Hammond
24 England DF Lee Middleton
25 England FW Andy Mutch
26 England DF Terry Fenwick
27 England FW Keith Scott
28 England MF Ty Gooden
29 England GK Shane Cook
30 Scotland GK Stewart Kerr (on loan from Celtic)
31 England DF Brian Kilcline
32 Scotland FW Frank McAvennie (on loan from Celtic)
33 Northern Ireland MF Lawrie Sanchez
34 England GK Paul Heald (on loan from Leyton Orient)
34 England GK Jon Sheffield (on loan from Cambridge United)

Starting 11

Only considering Premiership starts

References

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