History of Swindon Town F.C.

The History of Swindon Town F.C. stretches back to 1881 and earlier; the club has won League, National and International competitions in its history and played in the FA Premier League.

Foundation

Swindon Town Football Club was founded by Reverend William Pitt between 1879 and 1881, with the club officially using the former date.

Confusion over the original date arose in the mid-1990s and continues to arouse controversy, with the club accepting the earlier date and then reverting to the original during the late 21st century.

Former club statistician Paul Plowman researched the early history of the club during the period 1990 -95 and discovered newspaper reports of a game in 1879 between Swindon Association Football Club and Rovers F.C..

Reverend Pitt, who was 23 at the time, was the curate of Christchurch; Swindon's central church. He was appointed Rector of Liddington Church in 1881 and severed his ties to the club.

Plowman was given the role of Swindon Town Retail Manager in 1995 and the kit for the 1995-96 season carried an "Est. 1879" tag, since removed.

Further discoveries include an after dinner speech at the Southern League championship celebrations in 1911 made by Reverend Pitt in which is recalled:

"It was in the autumn of 1879 that some young fellows......

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