LEAGUE CUP WINNERS
Swindon won the first major trophy in their history, with a shock 3-1 victory over Arsenal in the League Cup Final, after a battling performance on a Wembley pitch more suited to mud wrestling than football.
Though Arsenal had most of the play, they struggled to breach the Swindon defence after choosing a formation which, for most of the match, saw them play with just Bobby Gould up front. When they did manage to get through on goal, still they were prevented from scoring by the heroic Peter Downsborough, who, by the admission of the Arsenal assistant manager Don Howe, had the game of his life. At the other end, the Swindon front-line caused havoc in the Arsenal defence - of the eleven goal attempts that the Town created on the day, just one was off target - and that one hit the post!
Swindon made the breakthrough in the first half. After a long ball into the box looked as if it would be cleared up by the Arsenal defence, a mix-up between Ian Ure and 'keeper Bob Wilson allowed Peter Noble to square the ball into the box. As Peter Simpson slid to clear it away, the ball ricocheted back off Roger Smart, and with Wilson in no mans land, the ball trickled into the net, to put the Town 1-0 up.
Just as it was looking as though the cup was on it's way to Swindon, Arsenal grabbed an equaliser with just four minutes to go. Downsborough ran out from the goal to intercept an Arsenal through ball, but as he cleared it, the ball hit Gould and went high into the air - Gould then beat Stan Harland to it to head into the empty net. As he celebrated, Gould was seen to be crying, which he later claimed was due to the almighty kick in the chest he had just received from Harland in his attempts to clear the ball!
It was extra time when Swindon's superior fitness really showed, and they began to take control of the game. First, a superb cross from Don Heath was met with a diving header by Smart, which was turned onto the post by the outstretched arm of Bob Wilson. From the resulting corner, a goalmouth scramble ensued, and Don Rogers poked the ball home.
It was Rogers who put the game beyond Arsenal's reach in the second period of extra time. As the Gunners pushed forward for another equaliser, Swindon won the ball thirty yards from their own goal. Roger Smart picked the ball up, and played it forward to Rogers, who timed his run to perfection to beat the offside trap and put him through on goal. As Wilson came out to meet him, Rogers flicked it round him and stroked the ball into the empty net, leaving Wilson flailing in the Wembley mud.
All that was left was for Town captain Stan Harland to climb the Wembley steps to receive the trophy from Princess Margaret - Swindon had written themselves into football's history books as only the second Third Division team to win the League Cup - a feat which has not been achieved since.
OTHER STATISTICS | Arsenal | Swindon |
- | | |
TOTAL GOAL ATTEMPTS | 22 | 11 |
Saved | 5 | 6 |
Blocked or deflected | 3 | 1 |
Hit woodwork | 1 | 1 |
Off target | 12 | 0 |
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CORNERS | 14 | 8 |
FOULS AGAINST | 7 | 15 |
OFFSIDE | 5 | 8 |
THROW-INS | 64 | 39 |
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
The teams are led onto the pitch
Danny Williams and Bertie Mee lead the two teams onto the pitch.
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
Smart scores!
Roger Smart bundles the ball home to put Swindon in the lead.
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
Smart celebrates the opener
Smart celebrates his goal, as the referee points to the centre circle.
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
Burrows celebrates Smart's goal
Frank Burrows celebrates Swindon's opener.
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
Rogers wheels away, having made it 2-1
Don Rogers wheels away in delight after putting the Town 2-1 up.
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
Burrows hugs Rogers
Frank Burrows celebrates after Rogers' goal.
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
Smart celebrates Rogers' first goal
Roger Smart leaps up, as Rogers' effort hits the net.
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
The Wembley scoreboard
The Wembley scoreboard says it all.
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
Harland receives the trophy
Captain Stan Harland receives the trophy from Princess Margaret.
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
Harland lifts the cup
Stan Harland becomes the first Town player to lift a major trophy.
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
Williams & Harland hold the cup
Manager Danny Williams and captain Stan Harland show the trophy to the fans.
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
Williams & Harland show their delight
Williams & Harland show their delight.
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
The team show the cup
The rest of the team get their hands on the cup.
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
The team parade the trophy
The victorious Swindon team parade the trophy around Wembley.
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
Programme
The programme from the Final.
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Sunday, March 16, 1969
Harland shows the cup at the Civic Reception
Back in Swindon, Stan Harland shows the cup at the Civic Reception.
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Sunday, March 16, 1969
The mayor sees the cup
At the Civic Reception, Stan Harland shows the trophy off to the Mayor of Swindon.
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Saturday, January 31, 1970
Rover - Famous Goals
The front cover of Rover magazine, with an illustration of Rogers' second goal.
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Saturday, March 1, 1969
IT WILL BE ARSENAL'S THIS TIME
Click to view a newspaper report of Swindon's 3-1 win at Arsenal in the 1968-1969 season.
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Saturday, March 8, 1969
SWINDON ON A DOUBLE
Click to view a newspaper report of Swindon's 3-1 win at Arsenal in the 1968-1969 season.
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Saturday, March 8, 1969
WILLIAMS - FROM THE PITS IN YORKSHIRE TO A CUP FINAL DREAM
Click to view a newspaper report of Swindon's 3-1 win at Arsenal in the 1968-1969 season.
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Saturday, March 8, 1969
SWINDON'S GOLDEN GOALS ON THE WAY TO WEMBLEY - AND TWO THAT GOT AWAY!
Click to view a newspaper report of Swindon's 3-1 win at Arsenal in the 1968-1969 season.
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Saturday, March 8, 1969
THE PLAYER SWINDON WOULDN'T SELL FOR £100,000!
Click to view a newspaper report of Swindon's 3-1 win at Arsenal in the 1968-1969 season.
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Saturday, March 8, 1969
TWELVE YEARS SPAN SWINDON'S TRIUMPHANT RISE TO GLORY
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Saturday, March 8, 1969
LAST LINE OF DEFENCE FOR THE MEN FROM SWINDON
Click to view a newspaper report of Swindon's 3-1 win at Arsenal in the 1968-1969 season.
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Saturday, March 8, 1969
THREE MORE OF THE DIVISION 3 MEN TO WATCH
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Saturday, March 8, 1969
SWINDON STARS ON THE BALL
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Saturday, March 8, 1969
ARSENAL HEAD FOR EUROPE - AND THE START OF A NEW ERA
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Saturday, March 8, 1969
WEMBLEY '68 - A DEFEAT ARSENAL PLAN TO AVENGE
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Saturday, March 8, 1969
IAN URE
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Saturday, March 8, 1969
GUNNERS DETERMINED TO MAKE NO WEMBLEY SLIPS THIS YEAR
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Saturday, March 8, 1969
SEMI-FINAL ACTION AS ARSENAL MEET SPURS
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Saturday, March 8, 1969
FRONT LINE FLIER: GEORGE GRAHAM
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Saturday, March 8, 1969
ARSENAL TRY AGAIN!
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Monday, March 10, 1969
THE FINALISTS
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Monday, March 10, 1969
STEAK AND CUP IS SWINDON'S ORDER
Click to view a newspaper report of Swindon's 3-1 win at Arsenal in the 1968-1969 season.
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Monday, March 10, 1969
5-0? IT'S COMING AGAIN - MEE
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Monday, March 10, 1969
WEMBLEY DANGER MAN - DON ROGERS
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Monday, March 10, 1969
ARSENAL v. GIANT-KILLERS
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Monday, March 10, 1969
FINAL STARS ON THE BALL
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Monday, March 10, 1969
SWINDON'S JOHN PLAYS A HOME GAME …WHILE FRANK BECOMES A SPECTATOR
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Monday, March 10, 1969
MEET THE FINALISTS
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Tuesday, March 11, 1969
RIVALS FOR LEAGUE CUP
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Tuesday, March 11, 1969
THRILLS THAT MARKED THE ROAD TO WEMBLEY
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Tuesday, March 11, 1969
POWER-DRIVE: THAT CLIFF-HANGER OF A SEMI-FINAL
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Tuesday, March 11, 1969
THE GUNNERS: WHEN THE GLORY FADED AT HIGHBURY
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Tuesday, March 11, 1969
WOUNDED PRIDE OF A FALLEN CLUB MAKES SWINDON'S JOB MUCH HARDER
Click to view a newspaper report of Swindon's 3-1 win at Arsenal in the 1968-1969 season.
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Tuesday, March 11, 1969
SIZING THE ODDS
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Tuesday, March 11, 1969
ARSENAL HAUNTED BY QPR'S WIN OVER WEST BROM
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Tuesday, March 11, 1969
THE WINNING TEAM FROM VAUXHALL!
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Tuesday, March 11, 1969
THE GOAL THAT EARNED SWINDON A PLAY-OFF
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Tuesday, March 11, 1969
RELAXING BEFORE THE BIG MATCH
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Tuesday, March 11, 1969
DON HEATH IS A PLAYER WITH AN EXTRA INCENTIVE
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Tuesday, March 11, 1969
THE FAMOUS WEMBLEY STADIUM
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
FACE TO FACE
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
HERE COME WEE DARLINGS!
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
EUROPE OUR GOAL
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
CUP PARADE
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
THE GREAT LEVELLER
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
EXTRA TIME FOR ARSENAL
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
SMART ROCKS ARSENAL
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
FINAL SHOCK FOR TOWN
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
GOAL - THE WORLD'S GREATEST SOCCER WEEKLY
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
IAN URE BADLY WANTS THAT LEAGUE CUP MEDAL
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
SIX WEEKS' SLOG TO SEE SWINDON
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
MCLINTOCK IS STILL HOPING
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
IT MUST BE ARSENAL
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
BOBBY'S GOING TO MAKE IT A MATCH FOR ARSENAL TO REMEMBER
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Saturday, March 15, 1969
LOGIC SUGGESTS ARSENAL AND ADMIRATION SWINDON TOWN
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Sunday, March 16, 1969
SWINDON CELEBRATE WEMBLEY TRIUMPH
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Sunday, March 16, 1969
SWINDON HIT BACK TO CRUSH ARSENAL
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Sunday, March 16, 1969
ROGERS… AND OUT!
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Sunday, March 16, 1969
SWINDON SHOOT DOWN THE MIGHTY GUNNERS
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Sunday, March 16, 1969
HE'S PETER THE GREATEST!
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Sunday, March 16, 1969
SWINDON'S CRUSHERS
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Monday, March 17, 1969
SWINDON'S SUPERDAY
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Monday, March 17, 1969
CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT GAME
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Monday, March 17, 1969
SWINDON'S DREAM COMES TRUE
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Monday, March 17, 1969
SWINDON TURNS OUT IN FORCE TO SAY 'WELL DONE'
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Monday, March 17, 1969
THE MOMENT THAT MADE IT ALL WORTH WHILE
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Monday, March 17, 1969
THE GOALS THAT BROUGHT THE CUP TO SWINDON
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Monday, March 17, 1969
JUBILATION AND DISMAY
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Monday, March 17, 1969
THOMAS CHECKS ARSENAL RAID
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Monday, March 17, 1969
SWINDON GLORY DAY
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Monday, March 17, 1969
THIS IS OUR MOMENT
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Monday, March 17, 1969
WEMBLEY'S ANGER AND ECSTASY
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Monday, March 17, 1969
THE SHAME OF ARSENAL
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Monday, March 17, 1969
THIS IS WHY ARSENAL WERE FLATTENED
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Monday, March 17, 1969
RESILIENCE OF SWINDON TELLS IN EXTRA TIME
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Saturday, March 22, 1969
SWINDON'S SOCK-IT-TO-'EM STRATEGY SUCCEEDED
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Saturday, March 29, 1969
WEMBLEY HERO LEARNED THE HARD WAY
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