Swindon Town have been in existence since 1879 and are 134 years old this year, however due to the formation of the initial Football League in 1888 being made up. In 1894 they became a professional club but had to wait until 1920 until they entered the Football League when they became founder members of the new Division Three.
The Blades and the Robins had to wait until 1969-70 Second Division campaign until we would first meet in the league. We had faced Town on three processional occasions previously in the FA Cup. Our first cup exploits together came in January 1908 when after a 0-0 draw at the County Ground United lost the reply 3-2 in extra-time at the Lane despite goals from Arthur Brown and Bert Lipsahm.
This however wasn’t the first meeting of the two teams, in November 1892, Arthur Watson scored a hat-trick as United recorded a 6-0 friendly win over their opponents.
Our FA Cup misery continued in 1921 when Town beat United 1-0 in Wiltshire. They were to continue their dominance over their Sheffield rivals when they were finally pitted against one another in the league; Swindon winning both games (1969-70) by two goals to one. In August 1970 another 2-1 score-line, this time by United was enough to secure their first victory of the two teams.
The Third Division season of 1980-81 saw both clubs record their highest victories against one another; on 6 September the Blades won 3-0 at the Lane and on Valentine’s Day the Robins acted revenge in a 5-2 (Andy Rowland treble) win on their home soil.
Whilst the pair has met mostly in the middle two tiers of the Football League, only one season has been played in top flight. Following their eventual promotion top the Premier League in 1993 the Blades became there first ever opponents in this Division, Jan Fjortoft (54 minutes) had cancelled out John Reed’s (11) earlier goal, but Pat Bodin (66) put through his own net and Adrian Littlejohn (78) completed the scoring in a 3-1 win.
Whilst the Robins had early dominance in our encounters, United have only been beaten once since 1987 (16 meetings), that solo defeat came in February 1997 when a David Holdsworth double set Town on their way to a 2-1 win. Although a Blades defender he was unfortunate enough, whilst already one goal behind to head the ball past his own keeper; Alan Kelly – he later netted at the right end but his goal wasn’t enough.
Statistically Swindon have only ever beaten United once at Bramall Lane – this came on 9 February 1970 when Town recorded a 2-1 win. The Blades have won nine games in the twelve matches played in S2.
United and Town played out encounters against one another last season, they drew 0-0 at the County Ground on 6 November which at the time was enough to push the Blades to top of the league and latter on in the campaign, when United was chasing automatic promotion in interim manager Chris Morgan’s first match in charge goals from Chris Porter and Dave Kitson set-up a splendid 2-0 victory.
|
At Sheff. Utd. (13) |
At Swindon Town (13) |
|||||
|
Results |
Total |
% |
Results |
Total |
% |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
10 |
76.92 |
Swindon Town |
6 |
46.15 |
|
|
Swindon Town |
1 |
7.69 |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 |
15.38 |
|
|
Draws |
2 |
15.38 |
Draws |
5 |
38.46 |
|
|
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
26 |
2.00 |
Swindon Town |
23 |
1.77 |
|
|
Swindon Town |
11 |
0.85 |
Sheff. Utd. |
16 |
1.23 |
|
|
On Neutral Ground (0) |
Overall (26 matches) |
|||||
|
Results |
Total |
% |
Results |
Total |
% |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
0 |
0.00 |
Sheff. Utd. |
12 |
46.15 |
|
|
Swindon Town |
0 |
0.00 |
Swindon Town |
7 |
26.92 |
|
|
Draws |
0 |
0.00 |
Draws |
7 |
26.92 |
|
|
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
0 |
0.00 |
Sheff. Utd. |
42 |
1.62 |
|
|
Swindon Town |
0 |
0.00 |
Swindon Town |
34 |
1.31 |
|
|
Records |
|||||
|
Highest Aggregate |
7 |
Swindon Town |
5 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
1980/1981 |
|
Highest Sheff. Utd. score: |
3 |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 0 |
Swindon Town |
1980/1981 |
|
Highest Swindon Town score: |
5 |
Swindon Town |
5 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
1980/1981 |
|
Season |
Date |
Home |
Score |
Away |
Competition |
|
2012/2013 |
Sat 13 Apr |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 0 |
Swindon Town |
League One |
|
Tue 06 Nov |
Swindon Town |
0 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League One |
|
|
1999/2000 |
Sun 07 May |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 2 |
Swindon Town |
League Division One |
|
Sat 23 Oct |
Swindon Town |
2 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
|
1998/1999 |
Sat 09 Jan |
Swindon Town |
2 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
Sat 08 Aug |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 1 |
Swindon Town |
League Division One |
|
|
1997/1998 |
Mon 13 Apr |
Swindon Town |
1 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
Sat 13 Dec |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 1 |
Swindon Town |
League Division One |
|
|
1996/1997 |
Sat 01 Feb |
Swindon Town |
2 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
Tue 26 Nov |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 0 |
Swindon Town |
League Division One |
|
|
1994/1995 |
Sat 15 Apr |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 2 |
Swindon Town |
League Division One |
|
Tue 27 Dec |
Swindon Town |
1 - 3 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
|
1993/1994 |
Sat 04 Dec |
Swindon Town |
0 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Premiership |
|
Sat 14 Aug |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 1 |
Swindon Town |
Premiership |
|
|
1989/1990 |
Sun 10 Dec |
Swindon Town |
0 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
Tue 12 Sep |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 0 |
Swindon Town |
Second Division |
|
|
1987/1988 |
Sun 20 Dec |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 0 |
Swindon Town |
Second Division |
|
Sat 22 Aug |
Swindon Town |
2 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
|
1980/1981 |
Sat 14 Feb |
Swindon Town |
5 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Third Division |
|
Sat 06 Sep |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 0 |
Swindon Town |
Third Division |
|
|
1979/1980 |
Sat 03 Nov |
Swindon Town |
3 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Third Division |
|
Sat 18 Aug |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 1 |
Swindon Town |
Third Division |
|
|
1970/1971 |
Sat 19 Dec |
Swindon Town |
3 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
Sat 22 Aug |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 1 |
Swindon Town |
Second Division |
|
|
1969/1970 |
Mon 09 Feb |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 2 |
Swindon Town |
Second Division |
|
Sat 11 Oct |
Swindon Town |
2 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |