Following last week’s announcement that the £2.3m stadium deal was complete, we spoke with Swindon Town player Joe Tomlinson about his memories of the County Ground and his thoughts on the recent purchase.
“Firstly, I would just like to say how proud I am of my relationship with the Swindon Town Supporters’ Trust,” Joe begins. “They have become a lot closer to me since they started sponsoring me last season and after I returned to play for Swindon in the January transfer window.”
Joe recently visited Croft Primary School on behalf of the Trust as part of a joint initiative with the Swindon Town Community Foundation. You can read about it by clicking here.
Joe then reflected on his earliest memories of the County Ground. ” Back in 2004 I attended my first STFC ‘Football in the Community’ fun week, hosted by Clive Maguire & John Holloway, where I was fortunate enough to be selected as ‘Kid of the Week’ and had a small trophy presented to myself on the County Ground pitch with Mums & Dads standing in the Town End.”
Over the next few years, Joe played a few matches for Wroughton Juniors on the pitch during local league finals and continued to watch many Swindon Town league and cup matches with his Dad from the side stands or sometimes in the Town end. “It’s a special place to me, so it’s been great to learn so much more about the Swindon Town Supporters’ Trust and the hard work carried out to get us to a position of purchasing the County Ground in partnership with the Club, I think it’s fantastic!” Joe said.
The purchase of the stadium means a lot to Swindon Town supporters, and Joe understands why. “For all Town fans, this place means the world so I can understand why they would want one of the new voting shares and to be part of it” he says. “The County Ground has heralded so many great memories, and I’m sure now its future is secured, it will continue to do so forever more. It’s our ground, our pitch, our home and our fortress!”
Following the recent purchase of the stadium, now is the perfect time for Swindon Town supporters to buy a voting share and have a say in the County Ground’s future at www.votingshare.com. By doing so, fans can play an active role in shaping the club they love and ensure that the stadium is developed in the best way for Swindon Town and its supporters, for generations to come.