Archive

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PLAY-OFFS 2015: 'Blades' strike got us going,' say Town goal heroes

TOWN'S goalscorers Nathan Byrne and Sam Ricketts both concluded that Sheffield United’s goal actually served to steady their side as they fought back to win late on at Bramall Lane. Byrne, whose injury-time goal delighted the 1,179 travelling fans

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PLAY-OFFS 2015: Cooper lavishes praise on ‘brilliant’ side

SWINDON Town manager Mark Cooper has heaped praise on his young side after they stuck to their principles to clinch a vital goal advantage for the second leg of their play-off semi-final. However, the County Ground boss is not resting on his laurels

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PLAY-OFFS 2015: Blades' Clough feels ref justice

REFEREE Darren Bond bore the brunt of Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough’s post-match frustration as he saw his side give away a 1-0 lead to leave them with it all to do in Wiltshire on Monday. Clough turned his eye to the stands to berate referees

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Do you have any hidden treasures?

Henry Ward Beecher 1813-1887: "Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as me or animals. Some seem to smile, some have a sad expression, some are pensive and diffident, others again are plain, honest and upright“ When I look at into my world

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SKY BET LEAGUE ONE: Grayson pleased by Presotn response

PRESTON boss Simon Grayson was pleased to see his side silence some of their critics with victory at Chesterfield in the League One play-off semi-final first leg. Grayson's men surrendered second spot on the final day of the regular season as defeat

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Batchelor fitness a concern as Robins trump Aces

SWINDON Robins boss Alun Rossiter is sweating over the form and fitness of skipper Troy Batchelor following their 48-42 victory at home to Belle Vue Aces this evening. The Robins’ success was their third in a row in the Elite League, all of which

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Election 2015 in Wiltshire: LIVE

1:28pm David Cameron has promised voters "we are on the brink of something special in this country" as he returned to Downing Street as a Prime Minister with a Tory Commons majority for the first time. The premier

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THE CHEQUERED FLAG REPORT: Swindon Robins 48 Belle Vue Aces 42

SWINDON Robins made it three straight victories in the Elite League with a classy victory at home to Belle Vue Aces last night. Peter Kildemand made an emphatic return to the Abbey Stadium, with the Dane bagging 12 points at number one on his first

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FULL TIME REPORT: Sheffield United 1 Swindon Town 2

NATHAN Byrne handed Swindon the advantage in the first leg of the play-off semi finals as his injury time strike handed Town a 2-1 win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. In a game which was dominated in large periods by the hosts Town rode

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PLAY-OFF FIRST LEG PLAYER RATINGS: Sheffield United v Swindon Town

ADVER Sport's Tom Bassam hands out the ratings from Town's dramatic 2-1 win at Bramall Lane. Wes Foderingham Gave assurance to his defence with solid handling and reliable distribution. Made a great stop to deny Done in the second half. 8

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Night of glamour and glory for our winners

INNOVATIVE motoring firm Anthony Best Dynamics came out on top at this year’s Wiltshire Business of the Year Awards, as the best of Wiltshire’s businesses were celebrated last month. The Bradford on Avon company won the prestigious Overall Excellence

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Night of glamour and glory for our winners

INNOVATIVE motoring firm Anthony Best Dynamics came out on top at this year’s Wiltshire Business of the Year Awards, as the best of Wiltshire’s businesses were celebrated last month. The Bradford on Avon company won the prestigious Overall Excellence

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BADMINTON HORSE TRIALS: Nicholson in front

NEW Zealander Andrew Nicholson has put himself firmly on course to post the glaring missing entry in his stellar career portfolio by taking early charge of this year's Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. Marlborough-based Nicholson has completed

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SPEEDWAY LIVE: Swindon Robins v Belle Vue Aces

11:09pm That's your lot for this evening. Thanks for your company. Don't forget to join Dan Barnes for tomorrow's trip to Coventry Bees. Goodnight. 10:59pm YOUR VIEW

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We’re going places

Flightlink Executive Travel is cruising in top gear during its 21st year as the company celebrates a number of new contract wins and the successful completion of their first 21st anniversary challenge. Flightlink launched in 1994 and has been led

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Apprentice is given a chance to build career

AN apprenticeship has led Lauren Mann, 18, from her Swindon classroom towards achieving her dream of working as an estimator for construction company Beard. Lauren first became interested in training with Beard when, as a Year 9 student at Dorcan

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LAW: with Lauren Harkin

The case involving Jeremy Clarkson’s attack on his producer prompted online petitions to persuade the BBC to renew Clarkson’s contract – in spite of the misconduct allegations against him. This has sparked public debate about whether it is appropriate

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Jobless helped to do it themselves

A successful partnership has given more than 200 unemployed people from across Wiltshire the opportunity to lift their careers to new heights. TBG Learning, a work programme provider, is working with 24-7 Recruitment in Swindon to support local

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FINANCE: with Simon Tombs

LAST month Monahans’ first Manufacturing Breakfast of 2015 shone the spotlight on the world class career opportunities that are on offer to young people considering apprenticeship programmes. BMW’s head of Apprentice and Associate Training Programme

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A million-selling year on the tiles

Year-end accounts show 32.8 per cent year-on-year growth at the Wiltshire based lightweight steel roofing tile firm Metrotile UK. The Chippenham company enjoyed sales of just over £7.1 million in its year 2014/15 which came to a close at the end

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FINANCE: with Warren Shute

There has been a lot of great news surrounding pensions of late, however keep an eye on how much you have saved. The Lifetime Allowance is the maximum amount of pension savings that you can make tax-free over your lifetime. This is currently £1.25

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Wheel maker is gathering speed

CHIPPENHAM manufacturer Dymag is looking to take on more than 200 extra workers after winning a government grant and loan package worth more than £7m. Dymag, whose turnover is less than £500,000 a year, is to receive a £3.3m grant and a loan of

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The stars’ bar that keeps on growing

Entrepreneur Tim Goodman has built a unique growing business – a bar for hire that utilises living plants as part of its design. A self-confessed horticulturalist with a love of beer, Tim’s Living Bar – believed to be the only one in the UK - incorporates

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Sign up to be supermarket's chosen charity

CHARITIES have until Monday to shackle the influence of more than 300 superstore employees eager to back their cause. The Sainsbury’s Local Charity of the Year scheme is into its seventh year, and the supermarket in Oxford Road, Stratton, is letting

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Matt LeBlanc: There won't be a Friends movie

Friends star Matt LeBlanc says he doesn't think there will be a Friends movie. The actor stars in series four of Episodes which airs on BBC2 this month and was pleased with David Schwimmer's cameo in the series.

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With just a few hours left to vote we bring you 10 things you probably didn't know about elections

WITH voting in Swindon being 'extremely busy', queues forming before the polling stations opened this morning, we bring you some fascinating election statistics. 1/ 73 - the number of constituencies visited by Conservative leader David Cameron

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TV presenter Melinda is looking for best landscape gardener

SWINDON sweetheart Melinda Messenger is scouring the area for the best landscaping job in town. Messenger, 44, is the face of a new campaign by timber and builder merchant Travis Perkins, which aims to celebrate the best of professional landscaping

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Former Swindon man is shot dead by in Bahamas

THE shooting of a former Swindon man after a late-night robbery in the Bahamas last week has sparked a manhunt. Gary Vanhoeck, 44, whose son, 24-year-old Chris, lives in Swindon, was pronounced dead by local police on May 1 after armed robbers

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Polling stations busy as Swindon turns out for vote

WITH just under six hours remaining to vote, the polling stations around the town continue to be busy. Despite a few morning showers, the weather has largely cleared which historically will encourage people to turn out. A second rush is expected

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Special school in running for awards

A NORTH Swindon special educational needs school has been shortlisted for two national awards in recognition of their achievements and their role in the community. Uplands School in Tadpole Lane, which works with teenagers with severe or profound

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MATCHDAY LIVE PLAY-OFF SPECIAL: Sheffield United v Swindon Town

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£1m in scattered cash closes Swindon road

A LORRY carrying more than £1m in cash has spilled its load across a West Swindon road and forced a closure this afternoon. Shortly after 1.30pm, a Loomis lorry was seen braking hard on the southbound entry to Renault roundabout before cash trollies

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Driving test examiner Ian Walters jailed for life after murdering wife in motorway smash

A MAN has been jailed for life for murdering his wife by deliberately steering their pick-up truck off a motorway at up to 84mph. Ian Walters claimed to remember nothing of the 130-mile (209km) journey leading up to the crash on the M1, which saw

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PREDICTIONS LEAGUE: Play-Off Semi Final Sheffield United v Swindon

PREDICTIONS LEAGUE: Pay-Off Semi Final Sheffield United v Swindon The end of season lottery can now begin. The players are all rested and hopefully spoiling for some serious competitive football. We will need to be at our very best to get past

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Death-crash driver Arnie Rogers loses bid to have 10-year driving ban cut

TOP judges have thrown out a bid by death-crash driver Arnie Rogers to have his decade-long driving ban reduced because the 23-year-old is a danger to the public behind the wheel. Hit-and-run driver Rogers was jailed for six years and eight months

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LIVE NEWS: Thursday, May 7

10:14pm Both Swindon's seats are currently occupied by Con MPs. It would take a 7.05% swing for Lab to take north and 3.3% for them to take south. — @CJJournalist 07 May 2015 10:12pm

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Vote sooner rather than later as queues expected at Swindon polling stations

PEOPLE are being asked to vote sooner rather than later so as to avoid queues later on in the day as turnout is on track to be the highest for years. Voters were waiting to get into polling stations across the town this morning and there has been

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X Factor star has Technicoloured dream come true

Former X Factor star Amelia Lily talks to MARION SAUVEBOIS about her daunting new role in classic musical THIS business we call show is notoriously unpredictable as Amelia Lily can attest. One minute she was in the studio working on her album

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Swindon Art aims to help support Goldenhar charity

PEOPLE who lived and died thousands of years before the Bible was written are helping young people with a rare medical condition. Their conduit is a Swindon artist who has spent many years researching and charting ancient sites such as Stonehenge

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PARKLIFE: Finding the big 4-0

Tim Kaye, of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, writes about a new challengeKeep learning – the 40 species challengeImproving self-esteem and social interaction are just two of the benefits from learning something every day. The Wiltshire and Swindon Biological

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Why you must go and vote in the General Election today...

SO AFTER what seems like an eternity of campaigning and a rainforest worth of leaflets, the big day is finally here. Swindon has been showered with attention from both of the major parties eager to win the votes of residents. The Conservative

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Former Swindon man shot dead in late-night Bahamas robbery

A FORMER Swindon man was shot dead in a late-night robbery in the Bahamas, sparking a manhunt for his killers. Gary Vanhoeck, 44, whose son, 24-year-old Chris is still thought to live in Swindon, was pronounced dead by local police on Friday, May

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Carpenters Story is only just begun in Swindon

FROM the stable that brought you the Illegal Eagles, Phil Aldridge presents a sensational new production of The Carpenters Story.With Aldridge’s lavish arrangements, stunning vocal harmonies and Claire Furley’s uncanny portrayal of Karen Carpenter, The

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More people get set to plan venturesin their retirement

WHAT are you looking forward to when your main career comes to an end? Easing back a bit and taking a dream holiday? Or planning to throw yourself into a new, exciting business venture?Well, more and more of us may be doing the latter, according to new

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Poundland wants to scoop up 99p stores

DISCOUNT store Poundland has invited the competition authorities to move to a full review of its proposed tie-up with rival 99p Stores. Poundland wants to buy its closest rival in an agreed deal worth £47.5m in cash and £7.5m in shares. Initial

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Their boots are made for walking the hills and dales of Wiltshire

THEY have trodden every square inch of our region's stunning countryside, but The Ramblers are more than mere walking chums.Since its inception more than four decades ago, the Swindon and North East Wiltshire Ramblers Group has not only actively championed

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Al Murray is campaigning for your comedy vote in Swindon

As the nation goes to the polls today, The Pub Landlord is campaigning for your vote. MARION SAUVEBOIS reports TWENTY years ago Britain’s favourite publican Al Murray, The Pub Landlord, embarked on his one man mission as the King Cnut of Common

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MARTIN JONES: First save on the final day

THE exploits of Belford senior were something which entertained us during the last match of the season on Saturday. With the utmost respect, Tyrell’s big brother didn’t look the fittest player on the pitch as he jogged onto the turf mid-way through

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PLAY-OFFS 2015: Clough pleading for patience from home fans

NIGEL Clough has asked for patience from the Bramall Lane faithful ahead of tonight’s play-off clash with Swindon Town. The Blades have enjoyed an almost identically poor run-in as Swindon, matching a draw against Leyton Orient and a defeat to

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TRAVEL REVIEW: That circle of life is still unbroken

16 years after its debut, the West End’s Lion King is still as vibrant as ever. LIZ MACKLEY revisits the show, combining it with a stay at a top hotelI WAS only nine years old when I first watched Simba hunt the gazelles across a London West End theatre.Sixteen

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A deliciously dark tea is brewed for Ayckbourn farce in Swindon

IN the summer 1974 a well-intentioned tea party descends into chaos. Cue Alan Ayckbourn’s witty dialogue and mordant observations and there you have it –Absent Friends. Wealthy, unfulfilled housewife Diana arranges a gathering of old friends to cheer

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All about ... Wild Season — Goldsmack

Wild Season - GoldsmackFor those who like easy labels, lets go for The Velvet Overground! Why? Well, whilst at the core of the Goldsmack sound is a New York no-wave intensity, especially when guitarist Davide Tebaldi adds his gothic tinged vocals to

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Sounds Around Town with Dave Franklin

TOMORROW is one of those days that resonate throughout history. On May 8, 70 years ago, the world woke up to a Europe finally at peace after the ravages of war. Sixteen years prior, the St Valentine's Day Massacre made world headlines and,

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Return of the King to Swindon's Wyvern Theatre

MORE than six decades after Elvis Presley first walked into Sun Studios in Memphis as a teenage truck driver, the story of The King is being brought to life on stage with The Elvis Years.The energetic show is a complete theatrical experience, transporting

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Richard Herring tones down his comedy but still hilarious

“I’M prepared to kill myself for comedy.”Richard Herring is nothing if not wholeheartedly dedicated to his craft.And by the sounds of it, this is not a wildly exaggerated statement.Attempting to leap onto a settee - the eponymous hero of his latest show

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Exercise your democratic right to vote

TODAY we respectfully urge every one of our readers to exercise their democratic right to vote. Many, of course, need no such urging, as they always vote. Others are either reluctant to vote, or else have decided not to do so. Their unwillingness

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Stop gambling ads

THERE seems to be a huge amount of advertising for gambling on the television at the moment and I don’t believe that this is a good thing for British society. Gambling can lead to addiction and totally destroy homes and families. The people who

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Ice Age the real threat

SUE Birley is correct when she says climate change is real because there have been five major Ice Ages and many minor ones in between. The first Ice Age was over two billion years ago, and the most recent Ice Age ended 11,000 years ago. 200

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Walcot man, 43, facing GBH charge bailed

A MAN who is charged with carrying out a serious assault has been released on bail by a judge. Mark Dowman, of Derby Court, Walcot, is accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent on Tuesday, March 31. No charges was formally put to

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Seek help if in debt

AS I am sure you know, one of the biggest household problems many families face today is the problem of debt. Millions of people throughout the UK are falling into debt. Financial mismanagement puts a great strain on personal life. Many couples, because

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World's very different

RE ‘ST George was foreign’, of April 30 from Martin Webb. He writes: ‘Jennifer Morel, a pacifist, wrote this to the Imperial War Museum (date unknown), “The world is my country. I look forward to the day when there will be no frontiers. That’s my ideal

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Surgery is excellent

THE Care Quality Commission (CQC) is a safe haven for the ‘jobsworth’ who delights in exercising pedantry to a level which supposedly demonstrates their keen intellect. This is clearly shown in the comments attributed to them in connection with the

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Concerns over register

HOW can this happen? I have received a number of letters from Swindon Borough Council advising that a person I have never heard of has been added to the electoral register for my address. I contacted the council who advised that this person would be

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Days at Canadian lake inspired vet Bruce Fogle

A YOUTH spent at a Canadian lake was the inspiration for vet Bruce Fogle's love of nature, he told an audience at the Swindon Festival of Literature yesterday. The father of TV adventurer Ben gave a talk about his book, Barefoot at the Lake, at

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Roll up at Town Gardens

TOWN Gardens bowls club are holding an open day at their OId Town premises today and tomorrow, between 11.30am and 4pm. All ages are welcome and must wear flat, soft-soled shoes. Free refreshments will be available. For more information, visit

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Polls open with all eyes upon Swindon's count tonight

POLLING stations across Swindon opened at 7am this morning as the first wave of voters made their mark on the election, the town being the focus for much of the nation’s media tonight. Interest is high in one of the election’s key seats and, after

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PLAY-OFFS 2015: The Opposition Report

ADVER Sport's guide to Town's play-off rivals: Sheffield United. The Chalkboard NIGEL Clough has stuck with the 4-2-3-1 which has served him so well since Christmas and the one that undid Town in January. However the Blades boss has struggled

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PLAY-OFFS 2015: Cooper puts the pressure on Blades

AHEAD of the play-off first leg, Town boss Mark Cooper has put the pressure on his opposite number Nigel Clough to deliver. Despite guiding Swindon Town to a fourth-placed finish, eight points clear of tonight’s opponents, Cooper has claimed it

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Walcot's Hunt marches on in schools' championships

WALCOT boxer Drew Hunt became Western Counties Schoolboy champion with a decisive points win at the regional final in Bude. The 12-year-old took a unanimous points decision over Ben Jenkins from the Mayflower Club at 41.5kg. Both lads attacked

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PLAY-OFFS 2015: Town's leaders stand up

FOR Town’s two leaders, manager Mark Cooper and skipper Nathan Thompson, the next two games are arguably the biggest of their careers so far. Cooper led Darlington to FA Trophy honours and won titles in non-league and Thompson was part of the Town

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TOM ON TOWN: Time to see if Cooper’s plan spells out success

HE has told us throughout the last month to trust him and now is the time for Mark Cooper to deliver. Since about 9.40pm on April 14, the Swindon manager has been planning for this moment. He has made decisions which plenty have questioned, but

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Rossiter: No guarantee of Robins success despite being back to full strength

ALUN Rossiter says the luxury of being able to field a full-strength Swindon Robins side this evening is doesn’t necessarily mean that they will be able to trump Belle Vue Aces. Injuries have blighted the Swindon Robins’ Elite League campaign in

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Batch eyeing home hat-trick

TROY Batchelor reckons Swindon Robins have started to ‘get the ball rolling’ in their Elite League campaign. Alun Rossiter’s men have recorded back-to-back wins over King’s Lynn Stars and Wolverhampton Wolves at the Abbey Stadium in recent weeks

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£1k boost from Persimmon ‘will make huge difference’ to Swindon MS support group

A CHARITY which supports people suffering from chronic neurological conditions is set to benefit from a cash boost from a regional builder. The Swindon Therapy Centre for Multiple Sclerosis has received £1,000 from Persimmon Homes Wessex to carry