Disaster!

Tonight's game against Watford is off, after an early morning check on the County Ground pitch revealed it was holding puddles - even before the expected torrents of rain due later. Normally, pre-season friendlies only offer the danger of sunstroke (afternoon in the sun, too many beers, y'know the score), but tonight the players were more likely to drown thanks to all this seasonal weather we're enjoying. Rather than risk injuries, and a wrecked pitch before the season even starts, it was decided to call the whole thing off. Which means it's Brookside or the flamin' Commonwealth Games on the telly after all. Bum.

(Afterthought: what about all our Brian Tindle songs? Crying same, I tell you. A crying shame)

Looking forward to tonight

... and hoping for a bigger crowd than on Saturday. I suspect we'll get one: midweek, weather nothing special, and let's face it: a game of football has got to be a better prospect than Brookside or chuffin' Commonwealth athletics on the telly (even if the opening ceremony last week was pretty damned good). You can find the Adver preview of the match here. It makes the point that Watford are the second "troubled" side to visit the County Ground in a week, after Wimbledon. Perhaps putting it another way would be easier: are we likely to be visited by any sides which are not troubled this season? Do put any suggestions in the comments box below...

Dykes signs for Town

Nice piece in today's Adver about Darren Dykes. The former Buckingham Town midfielder (ex Spurs and Orient youth player) has benefited from a late growth spurt in his late teens which has given him his third chance at a pro career. "Only a couple of weeks ago I was looking at a newspaper which listed the hundreds of players looking for a League club. So you can imagine how I felt when Andy King phoned to say that he wanted to offer me a contract," he told the paper.
Don't hold your breath for him appearing in the first team in a hurry - yesterday Andy King was quick to try and take the pressure off the youngster's shoulders - but, given he plays on either flank or as part of a front three, he could be a useful asset in the medium term.
By his own admission he needs to get fit first - he's only been part-time with Buckingham Town - and that will take a few weeks. Which means the left wing position remains a problem for the start of the season.

Swindon Town 1 Wimbledon 1

Only 1,275 turned up to watch Town's first home pre-season game, and you can read about it in the Adver here. The point of note is the continuing stalling from Chelsea over the future of Sam Parkin. He scored again at the weekend - he looks like the kind of goal poacher we really need - but the London side has yet to make a decision on any long-term loan deal. Today Andy King says he'll give up on the youngster if something isn't in place in time for Sporting Gijon's visit on Sunday, and turn his attention instead to one of two young Sunderland forwards - neither of whom will be Michael Reddy. The second story suggests there are real problems at Chelsea, which are hampering the deal. It appears Parkin's mad keen to get a taste of first team action at the County Ground - and with his current form, we're just as keen to see him here.

More on Miglioranzi

Meanwhile, from the inbox, "Bertie" Brothers writes in to kindly pass on some info on Stefan Miglioranzi, our great new unknown quantity from Portsmouth. "He has a good 'football brain'", says Bertie, an exiled Town fan who lives down in Gosport, "distributes the ball well, played his best games for Pompey at the heart of the defence."

The bad news? It sounds like he's got a bit of the Bobby Howe about him - "he apparently lacks pace, tends to 'daydream' and get caught in possession," says our spy.

Still, Bertie says a lot of Pompey fans were disappointed to see him go, which gives me a lot of hope we might have found the ball player we need for the middle of the park. Fingers crossed!

Trust says: "MK no way"

Great to see the Supporters' Trust encouraging all football fans in Swindon to turn out at tomorrow's game against the Milton Keynes Franchise Football XI. It's a clever solution, and much better than the proposed boycott of the match, which would only have harmed Town.

This way, the point is made to the Wimbledon owners very clearly, and Town is helped by getting a decent turnout. Looks like the weather will even be good, which should help swell numbers, and with a big crowd I'll bet Town will lay on a display of silky football to convert thousands of stayaway fans, and persuade us all our season tickets are, in fact, good value. Hmm... or am I dreaming? :-)

The Trust, which is looking for volunteers willing to help with leaflets to turn up at 1.30pm, issued a statement at 5.02am (!) today which reads:

"TrustSTFC, the Swindon Town Supporters' Trust have urged all football fans in Swindon to attend Saturday's friendly match against Wimbledon FC and protest at the club's proposed move to Milton Keynes. The move, in the face of bitter opposition from fans and the local council and community, was sanctioned by a three-man FA Commission in May in direct contravention not
only of common sense and the fans' wishes, but also of FA and League rules. "As football fans, we are horrified by this ruling which effectively tear a long-established and respected club away from it's roots, fans and community and opens the way for the "franchising" of football clubs across the country. This is a horrific move, which makes Wimbledon FC the pariahs of
the football league" stated Trust chairman Tony Norris.

Norris continued, "This friendly match is the first match against league opposition that Milton Keynes Wimbledon will have played since the FA Commission's ruling and we would urge all football fans in Wiltshire (whether they usually follow Swindon or not) to join us in expressing their disgust at the way in which Mr Koppel and the Milton Keynes Wimbledon owners are prepared to discard their own supporters".

Well said.

Elsewhere, read ex Don Alan Reeves' comments on the game in the Adver.

Worthington Cup draw

Wycombe will visit the County Ground in the first round of the Worthington Cup. The game will be played in the week beginning September 9, making the evenings of Tuesday 11 or Wednesday 12 the most likely dates. It's not the easiest of draws but, hey, at least we don't have to play in a preliminary round - that dubious honour has fallen to Bristol Rovers and Boston United, who have to fight it out at the end of next month.

Friendly: Hereford 2 Swindon Town 3

Sounds like it was a thriller at Hereford last night. They, of course, ran us very close late last year in the FA Cup, and according to chris_l's excellent report on Rivals, we were fortunate to come away with the win.
Chris seems pretty savvy and his comments about the various performances are very interesting. Sam Parkin scored, but didn't look the answer to our striking prayers, it seems. Likewise, Eric Sabin netted for the second game in a row, but it was a sitter and he was otherwise awful. In the middle, the Swindon fans present got a first glimpse of Miglioranzi. Although it's perhaps a bit early to judge his, Chris's suggestion that he could be "Hewlett in disguise" fills me with dread - does Stefan also have a comedy run?
And Chris doesn't hesitate to add to the Mystery That Is Juan Cobain by suggesting the Argentinian defender had another useful game. Has anyone seen this guy play badly for the first team yet?
Patrick R posted his thoughts only a few minutes later on Rivals, and his report makes slightly more uplifting reading: Parkin, he thought, looked the biz, and Miglioranzi played well in midfield. One point where both correspondents agree? Eric Sabin's performance, alas. "Sabin has pace, is a great bloke to talk to, but couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo," says Patrick. Which pretty much sums things up.
Update: The Adver runs Andy King's comments on the match. He's on the hunt for a left-sided midfielder still. They haven't put up their match report yet, but the printed version pretty much echos Chris_L's comments above.

Newport IoW 1 Swindon Town 6

In Town's first senior pre-season match, Town ran out convincing 6-1 winners. Eric Sabin, Neil Ruddock, Steve Robinson, new boy Sam Parkin and Danny Invincibile all netted in the second half, topped off by a Newport own goal. Word has it that Sam Parkin had a good match, as well as scoring. Links to reports as and when they appear...
Update... Nathan has posted the fullest report I've seen so far...
Update number twoThe Adver's back from the weekend, and has posted a report as well. Andy King sounds pretty pleased with the way things have gone, although it's still unclear as to whether Sam Parkin will join on loan from Chelsea or not.

Oh dear...

Regular readers know I was a Bobby Howe fan, when he was on his game. Alas, it looks like he had a stinker while on trial with Mansfield. He's still on the hunt for a new club...

And finally...

This just in: "DUBLIN (Reuters) - A Gaelic football team has been disbanded after players were caught on a hotel security camera playing pool naked during a late night drinking session...
It was also claimed that one player roamed around the Northern Irish hotel in a pair of frilly lace knickers."
Wonder if Guinness will continue showing that Gaelic football ad on telly?

New Town strip unveiled

Danny Invincible is pictured modelling the new Town strip for next season on the official site today. It looks OK, although I'm not sure if the collar really is as loose as it looks on him, or if he's done something with it (like turn it up) for the benefit of the camera... what do you think? Leave your verdict below...

Strips through the ages

While we're talking about strips, this is well worth a look: Daniel Castle's excellent Shirtcity site, newly renovated, lovingly pictures Swindon Town's shirts from the 1980s to today. A nice touch is that Daniel has put a few words about the club's history next to the shirt's pictures - it's interesting to tally the on-pitch fortunes of the club with the shirt designs. Alas, Town were no less hostage to fashion fortune than any other side in the 1980s, I'm afraid...

Transfer update

It's quite exciting to be thinking about some new faces arriving, after a close season when (so far) only the exit has been unlocked at the County Ground. So here's the situation: Sam Parkin is expected to sign on loan from Chelsea shortly. Similarly, former Portsmouth midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi should sign up for a month-to-month deal pretty soon too. Talks continue with Bolton midfielder David Norris and his dad - reading between the lines of Andy King's "deal on the table" comment in today's Adver, it seems the sticking point might be money. Which makes today's final piece of transfer speculation, heard on Wiltshire Sound's sport update this morning, all the more surprising: Paul Trollope, who only moved from Fulham to Coventry City on a free transfer in March, has been spoken to by Andy King regarding a possible move. Trollope is a Welsh international (five caps) but was born in Swindon and spent the opening years of his career at Town. I'm guessing here, but Coventry's perlous cash situation could mean the left-sided midfielder could move on a free, and he'd be a good asset - but he must be on much more cash than he could possibly expect at Town, surely?

WorldNet: so near, yet so far

Now back in Swindon after a fantastic weekend of football, drink and third-degree sunburn at WorldNet, the huge annual tourney for members of football club mailing lists. Your Swindon Town team managed a very respectable performance indeed: yesterday, after a setback against Fulham in the first game, we managed a 1-1 draw with a physical (and gobby) Ayr United side in the second group tie, followed by a 0-0 more-exciting-than-it-sounds draw with Lincoln in mid afternoon. Had we managed just one goal in our final game, we'd have topped the group. As it was, we came bottom - it was that tight.

Into the plate competition today (the tourney for everyone who didn't make the main cup compeition), we got a pretty damned fine 2-0 win against Crewe: particularly amazing given our late-night pro-footballer style antics on Saturday night around the various fleshpots of Leeds. But, into the final 16 of the plate, the subsequent match against Dunfermline - in the midday sun - was one too far. They ran out deserving 2-0 winners.

Just back in from the long drive south, so no idea who won: more details than you really want, plus a picture or two, later. But in my first visit to WorldNet since the Early Days in 1998 in a horrifically wet Middlesbrough, it was great to see the tourney still so popular, and I'm sure the Swindon lads are looking forward to next year (and hoping to rope in a few more players).

Tip 'o' the hat to the two Dumbarton lads who joined the Swindon cause and played their part in the team, despite drinking almost record-breaking amounts of Stella for the 48 hours of the tourney, including for breakfast. And, finally, lots of credit to Town organiser Steve Kaczmar who, as well as organising a fantastic weekend despite more drop-outs than even Sven's had to handle, also obligingly ended up top scorer too.

Pulling on the colours

So it's the final kit wash before heading up to Leeds for the annual WorldNet tourney this weekend, where supporters from all the UK's league football clubs get together and play each other for a trophy. Steve Kaczmar has been doing a great job organising the Swindon side for the event - despite various hitches and last-minute withdrawls, we'll still have a side for the weekend. Be sure to come back on Monday, when I should have had a chance to get the photographs processed down the road, and scanned into the log for all to see... and wish us luck.

Team training, nothing happening

A fine example of wringing a long-ish report out of absolutely nothing from the Adver today, as we learn that David Norris and Sam Parkin have yet to decide if they want to spend next season with Swindon.

Sporting Gijon to visit the County Ground

The official site reports that Sporting Gijon are to visit Town on Sunday August 4 (kick-off 3pm). The Spanish first division side isn't quite as glamorous as Primera Liga Espanyol, who were the original opposition lined up for that day, but it should still be a pretty entertaining clash. And, frankly, the prospect of any football at the moment has the Log's mouth watering.

There's only one Stefani Miglioranzi

TeamTalk reports that out of contract Portsmouth midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi is set to join Town on a month to month deal. There's not a great deal known about the US-eligible player, other than the fact that Harry Redknapp described him as looking like Franz Beckenbauer in the sweeper's role. In case you think he's just referring to a passing physical resemblance to the World Cup winning, rentaquote "Keiser", he added: ''Miglioranzi is my type of player. He likes to play from the back and looked good.'' But not that much of his type of player that he wanted to offer a new contract, it seems... Miglioranzi (try singing that name after a pint or five of 3Bs) could get a longer-term deal if he does well, says King.
Meanwhile, the new-look Adver reports Andy King is going to try and persuade Chelsea's young striker Sam Parkin to accept a season-long loan at the County Ground... by putting him through five days of pre-season wind, rain and toil at Southport this week. Parkin turned out 40 times for Northampton Town last season, but bagged just four goals, so if this week doesn't put him off at least he should fit in fine alongside Eric Sabin and Danny Invincible.
King also hopes to bring 20-year-old Bolton midfielder David Norris to the County Ground, and there's a suggestion that Wycombe's Paul Emblen may come for a two-week trial too, but deals for those two seem a bit further off.

Name that tune

The official site is on the hunt for a song for the team to run out to at the start of the match. First important point: let's not go for something modern, ala Stoke (really, really naff).
How about Barry White's "You're the One" - you know how it goes: "you're the first, the last, my everything... the answer to all my dreams". Just about sums up the level of blind faith needed to follow Town, combined with a generation-trancending song that would just be perfect as Razor leads them out... It sure as hell beats the Jackson 5's Rockin' Robin as a motivational song (although I still want Rockin' doing that dance before kick off). You got any better ideas? Click below...

Sky buys Nationwide TV rights, again

This just in… Sky has bought up rights for live Nationwide league football today, in a deal worth £95m over four years.
Media Guardian reports that Sky Sports will show 60 live games a year from the three leagues, the Worthington Cup and LDV Vans Trophy. Timings for the live matches will be 5.35pm on Saturday afternoons, with some games on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons. This, of course, means an end to the hated Thursday evening kick-offs enforced by ITV last season. (Update: there's a slightly contradictory, but longer, report also now up at BBC News Online).
The value of the deal - just under £24m a year - shows how much ITV Digital (nee OnDigital) overbid for its rights back in 2000, albeit for a slightly more extensive package (the new Sky one does not include match highlights, yet). They paid over £100m a season over three years - but only got through one season's coverage before going bust in May.
The Football League is going to continue its pursuit in the courts of the remaining £178.5m value of the ITV Digital contract, plus £500m or more of damages against the entire ITV network.
As far as Swindon Town is concerned, I suppose it must be good news - some TV money is better than none - but unless the League wins its court fight, Town and many other clubs will still be substantially out of pocket on the original deal.

Chief executive: give us six months

We've seen it before, of course, but new Town chief Mark Devlin appears to be talking sense. He recognises that the last few years of turmoil have done huge damage to the club's relationship with supporters and the local business community, and admits it'll take a long time for things to be repaired. But he has set a target of Christmas for the green shoots of recovery (where have we heard that phrase before) to start appearing.
There are some interesting comments at the bottom of the story about the County Ground's safety certificate: it seems work is required before it will be granted. We all know that the council owns the CG, of course, charging a hefty annual rent to the club... and who's responsible for issuing the safety certificate? The council, funnily enough. There's an area for a nice conflict of interest.

King and Ruddock out shopping

Andy King and Neil Ruddock are both out of town today on the hunt for new players. Released Manchester United goalkeeper Nick Baxter is coming for a trial, and there's an unnamed Premiership midfielder who is mulling over a season-long loan deal - his club has already agreed to it.
King is also hoping to clinch a loan deal with a Premiership striker, although he's not telling the Adver who it is today. King's dropping hints: he's scored at first team level, and scored when out on loan last year, but it's beyond me. Do leave any suggestions as to who that might be by clicking on the comments link below...
Meanwhile Razor Ruddock's also off at one of his former Premiership clubs - West Ham or Liverpool, I presume - looking at a youngster who has yet to break through to the first team, in hope of bringing him on loan as well. All told, there could be four new faces at training tomorrow, with King basing his choices on what he sees there over a few sessions. Of training, that is. Not down the pub.

Become a (Millwall) player for a season

This is a great idea from Millwall, a club more noted for its thuggish fans than any great innovation in fundraising. They're holding an auction for the right to be listed as a Millwall "player" for a season: name on the squad list each game, take part in a training session, sit on the bench in a pre-season friendly, two season tickets, and various other bits and bobs. The auction is taking place here on QXL - the bidding stands at £2050 at the time of writing. Great for PR, and a dream come true for the lucky (and pretty rich) fan who wins.

Ogres? Who said anything about ogres?

Why is it that when Mark Devlin, Town's new chief executive, starts talking about there being no ogres waiting to snap us up as the club emerges from administration, I instantly start worrying about ogres? I mean - who we talking about here? I thought administration was supposed to sort them out...

But the prospect of Spanish giants Espanyol coming to the County Ground on August 4 will certainly get the turnstyles clicking, you'd hope. The side finished 14th in the Spanish first division last season and, assuming they bring the first team, they boast one or two players who'd comfortably fit into the "not bad" category... like Portugese international midfielder Paulo Sousa and £11m-rated striker Raul Tamudo. To name but two.