On This Day – 31st May
It was on this day back in 1993 that Swindon Town won promotion to the Premier League, beating Leicester City 4-3 in the First Division Play Off Final at Wembley.
Three years earlier, Swindon had beaten Sunderland 1-0 at Wembley to gain promotion to the old First Division. A few days later, promotion was taken away from them due to financial irregularities and Sunderland took their place in the top flight.
Player/Manager Glenn Hoddle had guided the team to Wembley after beating Tranmere Rovers 5-4 on aggregate in their Semi Final. They had finished in the table, with Newcastle United and West Ham United finishing first and second to claim the two automatic promotion places.
Leicester had finished the season in sixth place and had beaten Portsmouth 3-2 in the other Play Off Semi Final. Portsmouth had missed out on automatic promotion to West Ham by goal difference, so could count themselves very unlucky. Their fans would have to wait another ten years to see their club reach the top flight.
It was Hoddle who opened the scoring in the unforgettable match, side-footing the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the penalty area.
Craig Maskell doubled Swindon’s lead just two minutes into the second half with a fierce shot from ten yards out. He hit the ball across Leicester goalkeeper Kevin Poole and in off the far post.
Six minutes later, Shaun Taylor nodded in Swindon’s third after some poor defending by Leicester from a corner.
Julian Joachim thumped in a shot from close range on 57 minutes after Steve Walsh hit the post with a header. This invigorated Leicester and they scored in the 68th and 69th minute from Steve Walsh and Steve Thompson to level the scores.
In the 83rd minute, Swindon substitute Steve White was brought down by Kevin Poole inside the area. Referee David Elleray had no alternative than to point to the spot and left back Paul Bodin scored with the resulting penalty kick.
Swindon had a terrible season in the Premier League. They won only five of their 42 league matches and finished the season rock bottom with 30 points. They have never returned to the top flight.
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