The Ultimate Honour

TOWN’S past and present greats are set to be honoured ahead of this weekend’s game against Morecambe as the club launches its official Hall of Fame.

Swindon Town FC will present the first three inductees, legends Don Rogers, John Trollope and Paul Bodin, at the County Ground this Saturday.

Overall a panel of judges picked a list of 58 legends, which includes past players who have not only represented Swindon Town on the field of play but have also made a significant contribution to the development of the club as a whole.

Don Rogers, who was also on the seven-strong judging panel, said he was proud to be among the first names on the illustrious list.

He said: “I’m just pleased to be on the list, as well as have a stand named after me, and be around to see it.

“I think it’s a great idea to have a Hall of Fame and a lot of people will have a lot to say. It was very tricky - the discussions we had about it were very interesting and I think we have a good selection.

“It probably took us about 12 hours overall to come up with a list and I’m sure someone will say ‘why is so and so not on there?’ But that’s what it is all about.”

Former manager and left-back John Trollope MBE said he was delighted with the final decision.

“I’m honoured to have made it on to the first list they have brought out. Obviously having spent a large part of my working life here I hoped to have had a chance,” he said.

“I think if you are going to have a Hall of Fame you want people who have come up through the ranks and I don’t think you can say because someone played in the 1900s they shouldn’t be in there too.

“How can you compare football in 1879 to now because you will never see them play together. It’s about people who have represented the club and every era was important.”

The committee, formed in October this year, was made up of ex-players Rogers, Trollope and Bodin, club historians Paul Plowman and Dick Mattick, chairman of the STFC Supporters Club Roger Bunce and BBC Wiltshire’s Shaun Hodgetts.

The committee whittled down a list of approximately 1,300 players who have represented the club since its formation back in 1879.

Rogers, Trollope and Bodin will receive their commemorative blue and red ties on the pitch from the club’s interim Chairman Jeremy Wray.

The next stage will see the remaining 55 players announced in the Adver and as part of an extended two-hour BBC Wiltshire show which will be aired on Friday, December 30 from 6pm.

Then in January 2012, a shortlist of 10 players will go to a fans’ vote, run in conjunction with the Adver, the results of which will see the top two enter the Hall of Fame.

A commemorative board will be placed in main reception honouring these players and it is hoped that Hall of Fame members or their relatives will attend a match at The County Ground to honour this achievement.

Comments(36)

SeanG92 says...
5:55pm Thu 15 Dec 11

Well done to all the guys who have got into the hall of fame. How long before Di Canio joins them?

Redhouse Red says...
5:56pm Thu 15 Dec 11

If Leon Clarke is not in there with Vincent pericard. I'll not renew my season ticket

smirg kcab says...
6:05pm Thu 15 Dec 11

Steven Ritchie will be on the list I take it?
I hear they are going to unveil a statue of vincent pericard.but that fell through as they could not afford a bronze treatment table
Onwards and upwards

smirg kcab says...
6:05pm Thu 15 Dec 11

Steven Ritchie will be on the list I take it?
I hear they are going to unveil a statue of vincent pericard.but that fell through as they could not afford a bronze treatment table
Onwards and upwards

jamesaltea says...
6:27pm Thu 15 Dec 11

Perhaps a CD of this radio show could be made and sold through The Adver and in the Club Shop, profits to this years chosen charity perhaps ? Add to it a small soft back book/magazine with pictures and profiles and I'm sure a few stats as well. Sort of stuff that collectors love.

HardwickeRed says...
8:55pm Thu 15 Dec 11

Another example of things going so well behind the scenes. Fantastic idea and i`m sure these guys will get the reception they deserve on the pitch saturday. Well done to all involved.

Pinehurstred says...
9:09pm Thu 15 Dec 11

SIR DON ROGERS..
Thats all i need to say

Malkym says...
9:32pm Thu 15 Dec 11

SeanG92 wrote:
Well done to all the guys who have got into the hall of fame. How long before Di Canio joins them?
Behave -you're getting carried away - its for former players not managers!!

Malkym says...
9:35pm Thu 15 Dec 11

Pinehurstred wrote:
SIR DON ROGERS.. Thats all i need to say
Agreed I'll be singing "there's only one Donald Rogers" on Saturday!

Malkym says...
9:46pm Thu 15 Dec 11

Malkym wrote:
SeanG92 wrote: Well done to all the guys who have got into the hall of fame. How long before Di Canio joins them?
Behave -you're getting carried away - its for former players not managers!!
..and if it were for managers - he'd have to file in behind, Head, Williams, Mcmahon, Hoddle, Ardiles, Macari who all achieved honours as managers. Let's hope he can join that club at the end of the season.

stfcknowitall says...
10:51pm Thu 15 Dec 11

paul caddis will be in it in a few years mark my words!!

mancrobin says...
10:53pm Thu 15 Dec 11

Howard Fleming.

Malkym says...
10:55pm Thu 15 Dec 11

mancrobin wrote:
Howard Fleming.
or even Harold!!

steve. says...
11:26pm Thu 15 Dec 11

Malkym wrote:
mancrobin wrote:
Howard Fleming.
or even Harold!!
or Jan Fleming

joey butler says...
11:57pm Thu 15 Dec 11

Sir Joey Butler!!

Oxon-Red says...
1:13am Fri 16 Dec 11

joey butler wrote:
Sir Joey Butler!!
Who :-)

My guess is that all of the 1969 Cup winning side are in there, including you Joe, but who else ?

Allan, Digby, Jan aga, Animal, Mayes, Eastoe, Rowland, McClaughlin, Fridge, Summerbee, Hunt, Fleming, Horlock, Rideout...

Are there any you would hope are not listed ? Mine would be Mackay.

Great idea though.

COYR

newburymike says...
5:18am Fri 16 Dec 11

The don !

Farteaboy says...
6:09am Fri 16 Dec 11

The Don is of course the greatest we have ever had and ever will have.

...but Mossy, Shaun Taylor and the great David Bamber (oh yes) were my personal favourites...

ftb

Lazaat says...
6:17am Fri 16 Dec 11

Foregone conclusion, Don Rogers! We shall never see the like of him again in a Town shirt; he was like a thoroughbred stallion in a field of carthorses! I was very privileged to watch the great 'man' throughout his entire Swindon career, very privileged indeed!

mrclick says...
6:19am Fri 16 Dec 11

ray mchale - a true unsung hero

Lazaat says...
6:44am Fri 16 Dec 11

mrclick wrote:
ray mchale - a true unsung hero
I remember him, yes a very good player and under rated.

Chish and Fips says...
7:22am Fri 16 Dec 11

My first hero was Mike Summerbee when I first started going out to the CG....... Then Sir Don ..... Mel Nurse ...... Sam Parkin

Stickshaker says...
7:47am Fri 16 Dec 11

Malkym wrote:
Pinehurstred wrote: SIR DON ROGERS.. Thats all i need to say
Agreed I'll be singing "there's only one Donald Rogers" on Saturday!
If I remember correctly the chant was ''Donald..........Do
nald Rogers...oooh....ahh
h!''
Hell, that was 45 years ago!

Roy Carter says...
7:49am Fri 16 Dec 11

Roy Carter, obviously ....

I expect to see Colin Calderwood in there too, great shout from mrclick for Ray McHale.

I think managers should be in there too, especially Sam Allen - manager for over 30 years and a win % up there with the best.

Helpme234 says...
7:52am Fri 16 Dec 11

Shaun Taylor the next by a mile for me

dreamofacleansheet2 says...
8:04am Fri 16 Dec 11

Surely Fleming gets in the top 3, he played for England, the road up from the roundabout is named after him. Of course he won't get in because as with these polls recent players always poll higher.

Some others: Chalkie White, Duncan Shearer, Simon Cox, Nicky Sumberbee (never forget him making Dennis Irwin look like a division 4 player), Mills from way back and under no circumstances Jerel Ifil despite others views up there with Pericard in not fit to where the shirt!

RedBrum says...
8:16am Fri 16 Dec 11

Glen Hoddle played, managed and designed the kit back in the day!

burley01rs says...
8:22am Fri 16 Dec 11

Dont forget Maurice Owen, he was a great servant and played centre half for Bert Head's babes

burley01rs says...
8:50am Fri 16 Dec 11

I have been trying to remember the name of the winger we bought from Wigan.
Now it has come to me Arnold D'Arcy.
Funny that

Malkym says...
9:02am Fri 16 Dec 11

Lazaat wrote:
mrclick wrote: ray mchale - a true unsung hero
I remember him, yes a very good player and under rated.
...and a real gent to talk to as it happens.

Blazing Riff says...
9:03am Fri 16 Dec 11

So easy to overlook some of our 'greats'. Here's a few more - who could forget Rod Thomas (Welsh International), Stan Harland, Frank Burrows, John Smith (the midfield general), Peter Noble and his late goals, Peter Downsborough for his Wembley heroics, Bobby Woodruffe and his mega long throw ins...the list goes in!

Wilesy says...
12:58pm Fri 16 Dec 11

smirg kcab wrote:
Steven Ritchie will be on the list I take it? I hear they are going to unveil a statue of vincent pericard.but that fell through as they could not afford a bronze treatment table Onwards and upwards
A few more statues were due to be unveiled at the County Ground, however Dossevi's statue went missing, AOB's statue had a chicken's head but thats also now missing, and Prutton and Douglas's statues got delivered to Old Town

STFC Tony says...
1:28pm Fri 16 Dec 11

What no Alan Reeves??? Surley Darren Bullock should be in there. On a much more serious note. Mark Walters!

Rod Thomas 1969 says...
4:09pm Fri 16 Dec 11

The great Rod Thomas, Maurice Owen,
George Hunt Mark Walters Peter Downsbourgh John Smith Jimmy Allen the list just goes on and on to name just a few.

Malkym says...
7:29pm Fri 16 Dec 11

STFC Tony wrote:
What no Alan Reeves??? Surley Darren Bullock should be in there. On a much more serious note. Mark Walters!
Mark Walters!! Do me a favour! How many games did he play!!

There have been many legend candidates mentioned above but I don't see how Walters is up there with them!

joey butler says...
9:33pm Fri 16 Dec 11

Oxon-Red wrote:
joey butler wrote:
Sir Joey Butler!!
Who :-)

My guess is that all of the 1969 Cup winning side are in there, including you Joe, but who else ?

Allan, Digby, Jan aga, Animal, Mayes, Eastoe, Rowland, McClaughlin, Fridge, Summerbee, Hunt, Fleming, Horlock, Rideout...

Are there any you would hope are not listed ? Mine would be Mackay.

Great idea though.

COYR
Oxon-Red,

For many years the fantastic player you are referring to was known as ''Joey Butler'', in discussion and also in all the songs at the matches. I was there!

You were clearly not at any of those matches, so in the absence of anything remotely intelligent to say, please get back in your box.

click2find

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