You’ll match our heroics of 1969 (From This Is Swindon Town FC)
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You’ll match our heroics of 1969
8:20am Thursday 22nd March 2012 in Wembley 2012
Wing wizard Don Rogers, hero of the 1969 League Cup final win over Arsenal, is backing Paolo Di Canio’s team to triumph at Wembley on Sunday
TOWN legends have drawn parallels between the 1969 double-winning team and Paolo Di Canio’s current crop as they look forward to this weekend’s Wembley date.
The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final against Chesterfield this Sunday will be the first Wembley cup final for the club since the famous 3-1 win against Arsenal.
That team, which included John Trollope and Don Rogers, also went on to win the old third division that season and a league and cup double is on the cards for the Reds this season too, with Town lying seven points clear at the top of League Two.
Rogers, whose two injury-time goals sunk the Gunners in ’69, said he was looking forward to returning to Wembley.
He said: “We are probably just about favourites this time. Last time against Arsenal we were underdogs and that’s probably better sometimes.
“It doesn’t matter who you are at Wembley as anyone can win on the day.
“I’ve watched most of the home games this season and we’ve just been the better team.
“It’s great this week for the pros. They will want to win but if not they’ve still got the league. It’s very similar to ’69.
“We did not feel the pressure – there is no pressure going to Wembley and it will be a great day out for the players.”
Stalwart defender Trollope, who played 889 times for Town, said Di Canio shared certain qualities with ’60s manager Danny Williams.
He said: “To get to Wembley is a great achievement and really they are doing a very similar thing to what we did. Hopefully they will do the double.
“I think Paolo has given them the spirit and you can see his passion on the touchline. He also works them very hard.
“When we played against Arsenal they had the internationals and we were thinking if they hit form they should beat us.
“But we were a fit bunch and that was one of Danny’s things.
“It’s also the emotional side of it because the occassion can be a drain. I can certainly see the parallels between the two sides.
“This current team has a great spirit and I would fancy them to win at Wembley.”
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