Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
When The Vics Made A National Final
Swindon Town’s Wembley Wonders of 1969 are quite rightly recognised as the greatest team the town has known. But, while Don Rogers, Roger Smart and company became the first side from Swindon to taste success in a national knockout cup, they were only the second side bearing the town’s name to have reached the final of such a competition. Instead, the honour of being the first lies with the forgotten heroes of non-league Swindon Victoria. And it was nearly a century ago that they ventured to the final of the FA Amateur Cup, where they lost 4-2 to Bishop Auckland at Middlesbrough’s Ayresome Park.

The Victoria name lives on to this day with the Victoria in Malmesbury Victoria resulting from the Victoria side merging with Malmesbury Town following the 1974-75 season, their journey in the 1920-21 season, despite ending in defeat,  can only be described as remarkable.  It began in the qualifying rounds, and unconvincing victories over Spencer Moulton (3-2), Chippenham Town (3-1) and Peasedown (3-1 in a replay) secured a place in the first round proper, where the Vics were drawn to play against Clandown at their Wootton Bassett home. This tie took place on New Years Day, and the Victoria side saw in 1921 in some style, thrashing the Bath-based outfit 8-0.

The second round gifted the Wiltshire League team a trip to the south coast where they would face the Royal Marine Light Infantry side at Gosport. The Vics once again dominated but could only muster a single goal – from captain Billy Dawson. This though was enough to send them into the last 16 where the Swindonians were paired with Athenian League heavyweights Bromley – semi-finalists a season prior and winners in 1910/11. Sterling defensive play and a Poole penalty in the dying stages saw them through to the quarter finals though, where they were presented with the long journey north to face Northumberland side Willington. Another fantastic performance later and they were in the semis as Victoria snatched a 2-1 win, the goals coming from an own goal courtesy of the home side’s keeper and Eggleton. There the Vics were drawn against Isthmian League Leystonstone, who had disposed of Oxford City as well as Wimbledon, in the semi-finals. Going into the match – played on neutral territory at Reading’s Elm Park – the Vics were not on their best form, and this seemed to have carried over as they trailed by a goal at the break having been completely outplayed.  Yet, a fortunate equaliser from Cooper got them on level terms before a wonder strike from Rees put them ahead. Blunsden then capped off the comeback with a simple third.

History had been made as Victoria became the first team in Amateur Cup history to reach the final having had to negotiate the qualifying stages. But in their way in the showpiece stood the mighty Bishop Auckland – who made 18 trips to the final in all.  After another lengthy trip up north – the team almost didn’t make it to Middlesbrough due to a miners’ strike – the Vics wilted in front of a crowd of over 25,000. A Roberts strike cancelled out the Bishop’s second minute goal, but the eventual winners raced into an unassailable 4-1 half time lead. A Poole penalty offered hope late on, but it was not to be. Reaching the FA Amateur Cup final – in only their third ever appearance in the competition proper - should have been the beginning of something special for Swindon Victoria, just like Chippenham Town’s run to the FA Vase final a few years back.

The Vics certainly seemed poised to go on to bigger and better things in the non-league game too. In addition to being Amateur Cup runners-up, they came narrowly close to reaching the First Round proper of the FA Cup and went onto win both the Wiltshire County League and Senior Cup that same season. History also appeared to be on their side. The Amateur Cup honours board reads not only like a who’s who of non-league football, but also includes names such as Middlesbrough, Wimbledon, Wycombe Wanderers and Barnet.  Yet the Vics were only to make two more appearances in the main rounds of the competition, before the decision to pay players – thus revoking their status as amateurs – saw them barred from entering.  From there on, the club suffered a slow and painful demise. Only a couple of seasons were spent in the Western League during the twenties before a return to local football and then the eventual merger, which was brought about primarily by their lack of a permanent home.
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