Who are you?
Hi, I’m Neil Hutchings and I’m a lifelong Town fan. I was born and bred in Swindon and remain local to this day.

Whats your day job?
I’m an electrical engineer by trade but have spent the last twenty-five years in management and director roles. I spent 23 years at SSE before joining an energy solutions business developing and constructing solar farms. These days, I run my own consultancy business specialising in infrastructure and renewable energy.

How long have you been a Swindon fan?
I remember my parents taking me to my first game in 1980. The noise, the excitement, the chants. I can’t remember a thing about the game itself, or who we were playing but it made its mark and I’ve been following Swindon Town ever since. With the odd year missing here and there, I’ve been a season ticket holder for 25 years. My wife and son also hold season tickets and it’s been great watching him catch the Swindon bug as I did when I was his age.

Why did you join the STFC trust board ?
Together with the Official Supporters Club, the Trust are the long-term guardians of what it means to be a Swindon Town supporter and I joined the Board to support their goals. So much has been achieved since Clem arrived in town but there is still much to be done. We can’t continue with the rollercoaster ride which is Swindon Town (on and off the pitch!) – we need some stability and security and that will take time. Having watched from the side-lines for many years, it felt like it was time to role up my sleeves and get stuck in.

What expertise do you bring to the Trust board?
I’m a motivated team player who doesn’t take no for an answer! As well as bringing my business and organisational skills to the Board, I’m an experienced Project Director with a background in commercial management and negotiation. But most importantly, I’m a passionate Town fan who wants the best for the club and its fans.

Whats your vision for the football team on the pitch?
Short term – we desperately need to get out of league 2! Medium term – a couple of seasons of stability in league 1. Longer term – we have to build the foundations to support a sustainable life in the Championship.

Whats your proudest moment as a Swindon fan?
Its too easy to talk about the Wembley finals (well, the good ones at least). For me, some of my top Swindon memories have come from the play-off semi-finals. Away at Tranmere in 1993 and Charlton in 2010 are definitely up there. Flint’s equaliser at Brentford in 2013 and the mayhem behind the goal is up there as well, even though we lost that one.

Who has been your favorite ever Swindon player and Manager?
Too many to pick from! Jan Age Fjortoft has to be up there for me – I can still see his airplane celebrations in my mind after all these years. But when you think back, we’ve been blessed with some incredible talent, and I hope that continues in the years ahead. As far as favourite manager goes, I know he nearly bankrupted us but the sense of passion, excitement and pure craziness which Paolo Di Canio brought to the club is unlikely to be matched!

Whats your overall vision for Swindon Town Football Club?
A stable, secure club, open to all, playing attractive football and holding its own in the Championship. But its also about developing the next generation of fans and engaging with the wider community – only then should we expect the stadium to be full, week in, week out.