# 1968–69 Swindon Town F.C. season

The 1968–69 season was Swindon Town's third consecutive season in the Football League Third Division after relegation from Division Two in 1965. In what proved to be a historic season for Swindon as the club won its first major piece of silverware, the League Cup, beating Arsenal by three goals to one. Swindon Town also won promotion to Division Two and competed in the FA Cup.

## Third Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Watford (C) | 46 | 27 | 10 | 9 | 74 | 34 | 2.176 | 64 | Promotion to 1969–70 Second Division |
| 2 | Swindon Town (P) | 46 | 27 | 10 | 9 | 71 | 35 | 2.029 | 64 | Promotion to 1969–70 Second Division |
| 3 | Luton Town | 46 | 25 | 11 | 10 | 74 | 38 | 1.947 | 61 | |
| 4 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 46 | 21 | 9 | 16 | 60 | 45 | 1.333 | 51 | |
| 5 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 53 | 49 | 1.082 | 49 | |

## Matchday squads
### Division Three line-ups

| Date | Opposition | V | Score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 17/08/68 | Stockport County | H | 1–0 | Downsborough | Thomas | Trollope | Smart | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Noble | Jones | Smith | Rogers | |
| 24/08/68 | Hartlepool | A | 0–0 | Downsborough | Thomas | Trollope$_1$ | Smart | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Noble | Jones | Butler | Smith | Penman$_1$ |
| 27/08/68 | Reading | H | 0–0 | Downsborough | Thomas | Butler | Smart | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Noble | Jones | Smith | Rogers | |
| 31/08/68 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 3–0 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | |
| 07/09/68 | Watford | A | 0–0 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | |
| 14/09/68 | Walsall | H | 1–0 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | |
| 18/09/68 | Bournemouth & Boscombe | A | 0–2 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | |
| 21/09/68 | Bristol Rovers | A | 1–2 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Blick | Harland | Heath | Smart$_1$ | Smith | Noble | Rogers | Jones$_1$ |
| 28/09/68 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 3–0 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Noble | Jones | Smith | Rogers | |
| 05/10/68 | Orient | H | 1–0 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Noble | Jones | Smith | Rogers | |
| 09/10/68 | Reading | A | 1–0 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath$_1$ | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | Jones$_1$ |
| 12/10/68 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 3–1 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Rogers | Smart | Jones$_1$ | Noble | Smith | Penman$_1$ |
| 19/10/68 | Torquay United | H | 2–1 | Downsborough | Dawson$_1$ | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | Penman$_1$ |
| 26/10/68 | Oldham Athletic | A | 3–2 | Downsborough | Thomas | Butler | Penman | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | Jones |
| 02/11/68 | Southport | H | 5–1 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Penman$_1$ | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | Jones$_1$ |
| 09/11/68 | Luton Town | A | 0–2 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | |
| 23/11/68 | Mansfield Town | A | 0–2 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | |
| 26/11/68 | Northampton Town | A | 6–2 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Blick | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | |
| 14/12/68 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 1–0 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Penman | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble$_1$ | Rogers | Jones$_1$ |
| 21/12/68 | Torquay United | A | 1–0 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Penman | Smart | Smith | Noble$_1$ | Rogers | Heath$_1$ |
| 26/12/68 | Orient | A | 0–1 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Penman$_1$ | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | Heath$_1$ |
| 11/01/69 | Southport | A | 1–1 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler$_1$ | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Penman | Smith | Noble | Rogers | Smart$_1$ |
| 18/01/69 | Luton Town | H | 0–0 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Smart | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Noble | Jones | Penman$_1$ | Rogers | Trollope$_1$ |
| 24/01/69 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 5–3 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Jones | Noble | Rogers | |
| 28/01/69 | Oldham Athletic | H | 5–1 | Downsborough | Dawson$_1$ | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Jones | Noble | Rogers | Smith$_1$ |
| 01/02/69 | Barnsley | A | 1–1 | Downsborough | Thomas | Trollope | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Jones | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | Heath |
| 04/02/69 | Hartlepool | H | 1–1 | Downsborough | Thomas | Trollope | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Rogers | Smart | Jones | Noble | Smith$_1$ | Heath$_1$ |
| 15/02/69 | Barrow | A | 3–0 | Downsborough | Thomas | Trollope | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Jones | Noble | Rogers | |
| 18/02/69 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 1–0 | Downsborough | Thomas | Trollope | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath$_1$ | Smart | Jones | Noble | Rogers | Dangerfield$_1$ |
| 22/02/69 | Rotherham United | H | 1–0 | Downsborough | Thomas | Trollope | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Smith | Smart | Jones | Noble | Rogers | Blick |
| 25/02/69 | Gillingham | H | 1–0 | Downsborough | Thomas | Trollope | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Smith$_1$ | Smart | Jones | Noble | Rogers | Heath$_1$ |
| 01/03/69 | Northampton Town | H | 1–0 | Downsborough | Thomas | Trollope | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Jones | Noble | Rogers | |
| 05/03/69 | Gillingham | A | 0–2 | Downsborough | Thomas | Trollope | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Jones$_1$ | Noble | Rogers | Penman$_1$ |
| 08/03/69 | Stockport County | A | 1–2 | Downsborough | Thomas | Trollope | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Penman | Noble | Rogers | |
| 22/03/69 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1–2 | Downsborough | Thomas | Trollope | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath$_1$ | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | Penman$_1$ |
| 25/03/69 | Barnsley | H | 2–0 | Downsborough | Dawson | Trollope | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Penman | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | |
| 29/03/69 | Watford | H | 0–1 | Downsborough | Thomas | Trollope | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Dawson$_1$ | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | Penman$_1$ |
| 04/04/69 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 2–1 | Downsborough | Thomas | Trollope | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | |
| 05/04/69 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 1–1 | Downsborough | Thomas | Trollope | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Dawson | Smith | Noble | Rogers | |
| 08/04/69 | Bournemouth & Boscombe | H | 3–0 | Downsborough | Thomas | Trollope | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | |
| 12/04/69 | Bristol Rovers | H | 2–2 | Downsborough | Thomas | Trollope | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | Penman |
| 15/04/69 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 1–0 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath$_1$ | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | Penman$_1$ |
| 19/04/69 | Walsall | A | 2–0 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Penman | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | |
| 22/04/69 | Mansfield Town | H | 1–0 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Penman | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | |
| 02/05/69 | Rotherham United | A | 1–1 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath$_1$ | Penman | Smith | Noble | Rogers | Jones$_1$ |
| 05/05/69 | Barrow | H | 2–0 | Downsborough | Dawson | Trollope | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Smith | Penman | Jones | Noble | Rogers | |
$_1$ 1st Substitution

### F.A. Cup line-ups

| Date | Opposition | V | Score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 16/11/68 | Canterbury City | A | 1–0 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | Jones |
| 07/12/68 | Grantham | A | 2–0 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Rogers | Smart | Jones | Penman | Smith | |
| 04/01/69 | Southend United | H | 0–2 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Trollope$_1$ | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | Penman$_1$ |
$_1$ 1st Substitution.

### League Cup line-ups

| Date | Opposition | V | Score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13/08/68 | Torquay United | H | 2–1 | Downsborough | Thomas | Trollope | Smart | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Noble | Jones | Smith | Rogers | |
| 04/09/68 | Bradford City | A | 1–1 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | |
| 10/09/68 | Bradford City | H | 4–3 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows$_1$ | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | Jones$_1$ |
| 24/09/68 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 1–0 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Blick | Harland | Heath | Noble | Jones | Smith | Rogers | |
| 16/10/68 | Coventry City | A | 2–2 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | |
| 21/10/68 | Coventry City | H | 3–0 | Downsborough | Butler | Thomas | Penman | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | |
| 30/10/68 | Derby County | A | 0–0 | Downsborough | Butler$_1$ | Thomas | Penman | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | Dawson$_1$ |
| 05/11/68 | Derby County | H | 1–0 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | |
| 20/11/68 | Burnley | A | 2–1 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | |
| 04/12/68 | Burnley | H | 1–2 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | |
| 18/12/68 | Burnley | A | 3–2 | Downsborough | Dawson | Thomas | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath$_1$ | Smart | Smith | Noble | Rogers | Penman$_1$ |
| 15/03/69 | Arsenal | N | 3–1 | Downsborough | Thomas | Trollope | Butler | Burrows | Harland | Heath | Smart | Smith$_1$ | Noble | Rogers | Penman$_1$ |
$_1$ 1st Substitution.

### Appearances

    Last updated 18 August 2014
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Division Three | Division Three | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| | DF | ENG | Mick Blick | 2 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | Frank Burrows | 58 | 1 | 44+0 | 1 | 3+0 | 0 | 11+0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Joe Butler | 55 | 1 | 42+0 | 1 | 2+0 | 0 | 11+0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | David Dangerfield | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Owen Dawson | 41 | 0 | 29+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 8+1 | 0 |
| | GK | ENG | Peter Downsborough | 61 | 0 | 46+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 12+0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Stan Harland | 61 | 2 | 46+0 | 1 | 3+0 | 0 | 12+0 | 1 |
| | MF | ENG | Don Heath | 52 | 2 | 34+4 | 2 | 2+0 | 0 | 12+0 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Chris Jones | 27 | 8 | 18+5 | 7 | 1+0 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Peter Noble | 60 | 20 | 46+0 | 16 | 2+0 | 0 | 12+0 | 4 |
| | MF | SCO | Willie Penman | 26 | 2 | 13+7 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 | 2+2 | 1 |
| | FW | ENG | Don Rogers | 60 | 30 | 45+0 | 22 | 3+0 | 1 | 12+0 | 7 |
| | MF | ENG | Roger Smart | 55 | 15 | 40+1 | 9 | 3+0 | 0 | 11+0 | 6 |
| | MF | ENG | John Smith | 54 | 11 | 38+1 | 7 | 3+0 | 1 | 12+0 | 3 |
| | DF | WAL | Rod Thomas | 59 | 0 | 44+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 12+0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | John Trollope | 23 | 1 | 19+1 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |