Stat Attack: Notts County v Swindon Town

Notts County have met Swindon Town on 61 occasions, the first time being 103 years ago in the FA Cup. On that day in January 1911, the Robins beat the Magpies 2-0 at the County Ground.

Of the 61 clashes, 23 have been won by Notts, 25 by Swindon, and 13 have been drawn.

The club was founded in 1879 by Reverend William Baker Pitt. Yes, you read that right!

Whilst curate of Christ Church, the high church of Swindon, Pitt formed Swindon Association Football Club to provide recreation for young men in his parish.

Swindon won the Southern League championship in 1910-11, earning themselves a Charity Shield clash with Football League champions Manchester United. This, the highest-scoring Charity Shield game to date, was played on 25 September 1911 at Stamford Bridge with Manchester United winning 8–4! Some of the proceeds of this game were later donated to the survivors of the Titanic.

During World War II, The War Department – the government body responsible for the supply of equipment to the armed forces in the UK – took over the County Ground in 1940, where for a while prisoners of war were housed in huts placed on the pitch. For this, the club received compensation of £4,570 at war’s end.

Swindon Town were the first League club to use floodlights, having had them installed in 1951. The County Ground is also the only football stadium in the world with a Rolex watch acting as its timekeeper –the clock on the Stratton Bank stand featuring its name was erected to celebrate promotion in 1963.

Swindon have spent one season in the top flight, in 1992-93, during which Glenn Hoddle managed them. Sadly, they didn't do too well, being relegated at the end of the season after conceding 100 goals.

The most notable silverware in the Robins’ possession is undoubtedly the League Cup, won in 1969 after beating Arsenal in the final at Wembley.

Royle Family and Two Pints Of Lager actor Ralf Little was rumoured to be on trial at Swindon back in 2002, though the funnyman later claimed that he was just training with the squad. Pint-sized jazz singer Jamie Cullum is also a fan of the Robins.

On-loan midfielder Josh Vela is set to return to the County squad after recovering from a knock.

Notts are currently in 21st place, but are just a single point behind Crewe, Tranmere and Colchester. With just two games to go, it is do or die now for the Magpies.

Meanwhile, Swindon Town will need a win on Saturday to maintain their slim chances of reaching the play-offs.

Alex Pritchard will play the final game of his loan spell from Tottenham Hotspur, while Lee Cox is hoping to keep his starting spot after scoring the winner against Bradford City last Saturday.