AS the midday sun-shone brightly on the County Ground car park hundreds of town fans revelled in their assembled glory.

Smiles adorned most of their faces with both young and old, women and men, anticipating the biggest match since the mighty town was almost sunk two and a half seasons ago by debt and poor management.

Now, little more than 100 matches since the club were rescued by Andrew Fitton, STFC’s lads are on the cusp of hitting the pinnacle of League One and beyond.

And town’s army showed their support as 14 coaches and 3,200 fans rumbled 91 miles down the M4 to the Addick’s 27,111 capacity stadium – The Valley, in Charlton, South London.

Super-fan Iris Higgs, 69, who has been supporting the squad for 45-years said if town make it to Wembley on May 29 to play either Huddersfield or Millwall it will be the biggest match since town beat Leicester 4-3 despite Leicester coming back from 3-0, or since town beat Sunderland 1-0 from a deflected shot at the same hallowed ground in 1990.

She said: “It’s so great to see us all together like this again, I have been with this team through thick and thin and haven’t missed a game home or away for years.

“I think we are not only going to make it to Wembley but I think we are going to win there.”

Doug Smith, an electrician, thanked Fitton and manager Danny Wilson for their efforts in not only bringing the team back from the brink but into the play-offs.

He said: “It’s a huge day for Swindon, I was there for the Don Rogers show and when they beat Leicester and I think if these boys win at Wembley it will be in the club’s top five moments.”

Stuart Clark, a painter decorator from Taw Hill, predicted town would eventually face Millwall at Wembley.

He said: “My heart wants us to face Huddersfield, but I think it will be Millwall at Wembley.

“With 3,200 fans travelling today though, if that match happens we will be extremely vocal you can count on that.”

<<p> Die-hard fans flock to the Valley to push Robins to glory

EXULTATION was felt throughout the crowd gathered at the Steam Railway and countless other pubs across Swindon last night.

Thousands of town fans were left not knowing whether to laugh or cry by the end of the first half – when things were looking down for the boys in blue.

But it was all flipped upside down in the second half with a nervy performance by numerous players – including JP McGovern, Danny Ward and substitute goal-keeper Phil Smith.

The lads then followed through – to the delight of Swindon Town’s army of fans – with a clutch performance during a penalty shoot-out in which they scored each attempt to beat off Charlton.

In return they will now get the chance to head to Wembley on the bank holiday weekend to face either Millwall or Huddersfield – with the chance of promotion to the Championship.

As he celebrated the victory with the town fans around him Matthew Simms, 21, a bartender from Walcot, said: “When we went down to 10-men it was a bad time but then when they went down to 10 men it was a huge relief for us all.

“There were a few controversies in between and the odds were against us but it all added to how emotional it all was. We have had three penalty shout-outs this season and we lost them all, so I was pleased with the guts they showed.

“I am a young lad so this is my greatest Swindon Town moment right here.

“I just loved how emotional the whole thing was and I am just waiting now to get my tickets to Wembley.”

Meanwhile, throughout the match’s delight and despair, Liam McGlynn, 21, said: “Absolutely brilliant, they didn’t play too well in the first half but they definitely made up for it.

“When they won it there was loads of jumping around and high-five flying around the bar.

“I am going to make the trip to Wembley.”

Town veterans viewpoint

FORMER Swindon Town hero Paul Bodin was left stunned after the Robins ousted Charlton in the League One play-off semi-final last night. Stephen Darby’s penalty ensured the County Ground side hit five out of five in the shootout and progressed to a showdown at Wembley against either Millwall or Huddersfield. And Bodin, who hit the winning penalty when Swindon beat Leicester in the 1993 First Division play-off final, was shocked and impressed by the manner in which the players despatched their spot kicks. “Obviously they practise penalties but they just looked so calm. It was unfortunate for Nicky Bailey (Charlton) that he missed but it seemed to galvanise us. “They placed their shots and now we are back at Wembley again.” Meanwhile, ex-Town boss Lou Macari praised the character of Swindon’s players for surviving 25 minutes of the match a man down, after Gordon Greer was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Deon Burton. “In the second half they battled away and got their reward which was extra time,” said Macari. “I thought they dug in when they went down to 10 men in the second half and really deserved it. “It’s tough when it goes to penalties because it’s in the lap of the gods, you just hope that your players keep their cool. “I doubt he (Bailey) has ever taken a worse penalty in his life, but that one miss was enough to get Swindon to Wembley.” Macari added that he felt Greer’s sending off was harsh, but agreed with the referee’s verdict on Miguel Llera, dismissed for preventing a goal-scoring opportunity late on. “I thought Gordon Greer got the ball but he left his foot in, and it caught the opposition player in the chest.”