As Swindon go in search of another trophy for the cabinet, the corresponding weekend in 1910 saw the club attempt to get to the final of the game’s premier cup competition – the FA Cup.

There was no Wembley Stadium in those days, the final being staged at the Crystal Palace.

But Southern League Town had a chance of getting there, having beaten three League sides – Burnley, Tottenham and Manchester City – on the way to the semi-final. There they faced Newcastle United at neutral White Hart Lane, the fixture being scheduled for Easter Saturday.

Sam Allen was able to name the same side that had been victorious in those three previous ties, but the secretary-manager was handed a needless problem by the Southern League when they insisted that Swindon fulfil an away fixture at Bristol Rovers on Good Friday – 25 March – just 24 hours before they were due to play in London!

But Sam had no intention of risking one of his troops picking up an injury, so Town sent a side to Eastville that included six players who were making their first League appearance of the season.

Centre-forward George Rushton had just re-joined the club from Brentford, goalkeeper ‘Tich’ Hemmings had not played for 23 months, while inside-forward Billy Boland and centre-half Teddy Hornby were never to appear again.

The only experienced man in the defence was left-half Peter Chambers, but the patched up side managed to keep out Rovers in a goalless draw.

However, the Southern League were less than amused with Swindon’s team selection on the day and duly issued the club with a £60 fine!

Had the Bristol game been postponed, Town would still have been asked to pay compensation, as a rearranged midweek afternoon fixture would have attracted considerably fewer customers than one on a Bank Holiday.

But having netted over £2,000 from their three home Cup ties, they still showed a handsome profit.

And the club could now enjoy a cut of a similar figure taken from a 33,000 crowd at White Hart Lane.

Both sides were in the top five of their respective divisions, with Newcastle being the reigning League champions, but Town matched their north-east rivals for much of the game. The Railwaymen went close to taking the lead when a long range drive by Billy Silto was heading for the bottom corner, but Jimmy Lawrence in the United goal somehow got a hand to it to concede a corner.

There was an even better chance for Swindon on the hour when Bob Jefferson raced down the wing and supplied a perfect cross for Freddy Wheatcroft, but his first-time shot hit the outside of the upright and bounced to safety. That proved to be the turning point in the game as Newcastle struck twice in as many minutes, through Jock Rutherford and Jimmy Stewart.

Town’s quest for Cup honours was over and so it was back to League duty and the challenge for top spot.

And next on the fixture list 98 years ago? Bristol Rovers at home. - by Paul Plowman