Episode Summary
Hosts
Graham Dunn, Jamie Rooney
Guest(s)
Release Date
21 September 2023
Duration
70 min
In this double-header episode of By Far The Greatest Team, hosts Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney journey back to the golden age of underdog triumphs, pairing the Italian pioneers of Genoa 1922–1924 with one of English football’s most romantic tales — Swindon Town 1968–1970.
Under the astute leadership of Danny Williams, Swindon Town — a modest Third Division side — produced one of football’s most extraordinary upsets. In the 1969 League Cup Final, they faced First Division powerhouse Arsenal at Wembley. Written off by almost everyone, Swindon defied the odds in torrential conditions to win 3–1 after extra time, with Don Rogers scoring twice and Roger Smart adding another. It remains one of the great cup final shocks in English football history.
Williams’ team combined discipline, spirit, and tactical innovation. He instilled a pressing, passing style far ahead of its time — a system based on unity, movement, and intelligent positioning. Against Arsenal’s complacency, Swindon’s hunger shone through, turning a muddy pitch into their stage of dreams.
Denied entry to European competition because of their league status, Swindon’s triumph nonetheless inspired the birth of the Anglo-Italian Cup — where they would again defeat Italian sides, including AS Roma, to claim yet another unlikely trophy.
This episode explores the making of a miracle: a working-class town, a visionary manager, and a group of players who dared to believe they could conquer giants.
Takeaways
Swindon Town 1969 remains one of football’s greatest giant-killing stories.
Danny Williams’ forward-thinking tactics rivalled elite managers of his era.
The team’s spirit and cohesion defined the essence of the underdog.
Denied Europe, Swindon still made history through innovation.
Their victory symbolised football’s enduring magic — where dreams defy divisions.
Swindon Town 1969: When the Underdogs Ruled Wembley
In 1969, Swindon Town, a modest Third Division side, produced one of the greatest shocks in English football history — defeating Arsenal 3–1 at Wembley to win the League Cup.
Managed by the visionary Danny Williams, Swindon played fearless, tactical football — pressing high, countering with speed, and attacking with flair. On a rain-soaked Wembley pitch, they battled toe-to-toe with Arsenal’s stars, refusing to be intimidated. After 90 minutes ended 1–1, extra time became the stage for local hero Don Rogers, who scored twice to seal immortality.
But their triumph brought bittersweet consequences. As a lower-division team, Swindon were denied entry into European competition — a decision that led directly to the creation of the Anglo-Italian Cup, designed to give smaller clubs a taste of continental football. Swindon went on to lift that trophy too, defeating AS Roma, completing one of football’s most romantic double acts.
This was more than a cup win — it was a story of belief, innovation, and defiance. Williams’ Swindon side proved that tactical intelligence and spirit could overcome the might of the elite.
Swindon 1969 weren’t just underdogs. They were visionaries — a team whose triumphs changed the football landscape forever.
Main Topics
Iconic Moments
Danny Williams’ tactical brilliance and leadership
The 1969 League Cup Final vs Arsenal
Don Rogers: the local hero who lit up Wembley
Swindon’s European exclusion and the creation of the Anglo-Italian Cup
The long-term legacy of Swindon’s greatest generation
1969 League Cup Final victory over Arsenal (3–1 AET)
Don Rogers’ dazzling extra-time brace at Wembley
Arsenal’s muddy downfall in one of Wembley’s most famous upsets
Creation of the Anglo-Italian Cup in response to Swindon’s European ban
Swindon’s Anglo-Italian Cup triumph over AS Roma in 1970
Danny Williams’ transformation of a small-town club into cup legends
Notable Manager
Danny Williams
Notable Players
Don Rogers, Roger Smart, John Trollope, Rod Thomas, Joe Butler, Peter Downsborough, Stan Harland, Willie Penman, Bobby Woodruff, Chris Jones, John Smith
Style of Play
4-3-3 Formation, Counter-Attacking, Pressing Triggers, Direct Transitions, Compact Defence, Underdog Spirit
Danny Williams’ Swindon Town 1968–1970 played with tactical sophistication and spirit rarely seen in the lower divisions. Deploying a fluid 4-3-3 formation that shifted into a 4-4-2 defensively, Williams demanded compactness, quick transitions, and collective movement — blending work ethic with imagination.
At the back, Stan Harland marshalled a disciplined defence supported by full-backs Rod Thomas and John Trollope, whose overlapping runs provided vital width. The midfield trio focused on balance — pressing aggressively, breaking up play, and launching swift forward transitions.
In attack, Swindon relied on the electrifying pace and precision of Don Rogers, whose ability to glide past defenders turned counterattacks into goals. Roger Smart’s tireless pressing and link play gave the team shape and purpose. Williams’ focus on fitness and tactical preparation was pioneering for the lower leagues — mirroring the modern philosophy of “outthink, outrun, outfight.”
Swindon’s play was direct yet intelligent. They combined long diagonals to stretch defences with sharp short passing through the middle, adapting seamlessly between control and chaos. Against Arsenal, their tactical discipline and adaptability were flawless — proving that a Third Division side could outplay and outwit a First Division giant.
Williams’ Swindon were not just cup winners — they were innovators, proving that intelligence and unity could overcome money and might.
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