Getting To Know You - Swindon Town

Last updated : 21 October 2002 By Robert Craven
Bart Griemink
Bart Griemink
Squad Number: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 30 Height: 6ft 3ins Weight: 15st 2lbs
Born: Holland
Career (152 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): WKE (no figures available), Birmingham City (20/0), Barnsley [loan] (0/0), Peterborough United (58/0), Swindon Town [loan] (4/0), Swindon Town (70/0).
This Season (Total Appearances/Goals): 15/0
Details: Tall 'keeper who has represented the Netherlands at Under-21 level. Began his English career at Birmingham City under former Blues boss Barry Fry, and re-joined him two years later at Peterborough having failed to hold down a regular spot at St. Andrews. He never quite kept hold of the goalkeeper's Jersey at London Road, and after a trail signed for Colin Todd in 2000. Almost failed to commit for this season, despite missing only one game last year and almost winning the Player of the Year Award.

Gareth Edds
Squad Number: 2
Position: Defender
Age: 21 Height: 6ft Weight: 12st
Born: Sydney, Australia.
Career (16 League Appearances/ 1 Goal): Nottingham Forest (16/1)
This Season (Total Appearances/Goals): 12/0
Details: Right-back from Australia who is a product of the hugely successful Nottingham Forest Youth Academy. Was a trainee at the City Ground before signing professional terms five years ago, but in that time made just 16 League appearances and after a trial with the Robins, moved to Swindon prior to start of this campaign.

Johnnie Jackson (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
Squad Number: 3
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Age: 20 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 12st 11lbs
Born: Camden
Career (0 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Tottenham Hotspur (0/0)
This Season (Total Appearances/Goals): 7/1

Details: Jackson was one of the star performers in the Spurs side that came to Roots Hall and gave United a 4-1 drubbing in pre-season, rounding his own display with the fourth goal. He has played for England Under-20's, and was replaced by Neil Jenkins at half-time in England's three-nil victory over Finland in March. Highly recommended by Glenn Hoddle, who believes he will be a first-team regular at Tottenham in a couple of years.

Matthew Hewlett
Squad Number: 4
Position: Midfielder
Age: 26 Height: 6ft 2ins Weight: 12st 12lbs
Born: Bristol
Career (194 League Appearances/ 10 Goals): Bristol City (127/9), Burnley [loan] (2/0), Swindon Town (65/1)
This Season (Total Appearances/Goals): 10/0
Details: Attack-minded midfielder who was widely tipped for success before injury got in the way. Indeed, he represented England at Youth level whilst at Bristol City, where he played the bulk of his career. Susceptible to a recurrent knee injury, which meant that his first season at the City Ground was cut short, but last season saw almost a full recovery.

Adam Willis
Squad Number: 5
Position: Defender
Age: 26 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 12st 2lbs
Born: Nuneaton
Career (87 League Appearances/ 1 Goal): Coventry City (0/0), Swindon Town (77/1), Mansfield Town [loan] (10/0)
This Season (Total Appearances/Goals): 11/1
Details: Central defender who was signed for free from Coventry five years ago. During his time with Town he has been told that he could leave by former boss Jimmy Quinn after a loan spell at Mansfield, but after the arrival of Colin Todd he fought for his place and has been reasonably successful in doing so. Has doubled his career goal tally this season.
Andy Gurney

Andrew Gurney
Squad Number: 6
Position: Defender
Age: 28 Height: 5ft 8ins Weight: 10st 8lbs
Born: Bristol
Career (282 League Appearances/ 28 Goals): Bristol Rovers (108/9), Torquay United (64/10), Reading (67/3), Swindon Town (43/6)
This Season (Total Appearances/Goals): 12/2

Details: Swindon's club captain, a short right-back who has attacking tendencies, hence his decent goalscoring record. Started out at local side Bristol Rovers, earning a century of League games before moving to Torquay. After two years at Plainmoor he moved to Reading for £100,000, but he fell out of favour and moved to Swindon on a Bosman ruling a year ago. Has been a regular since, and has contributed vital goals.

Jimmy Davis (on loan from Manchester United)
Squad Number: 8
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Age: 20 Height: 5ft 8ins Weight: 11st 5lbs
Born: Bromsgrove
Career (0 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Manchester United (0/0)
This Season (Total Appearances/Goals): 10/1

Details: Another England Under-20 player, currently on a three-month loan deal from Manchester United, where he is well down the pecking order. Can play as a striker, but also likes to play on the right of midfield. Has scored in the prestigious Toulon tournament.

Sam Parkin
Squad Number: 9
Position: Forward
Age: 21 Height: 6ft 2ins Weight: 13st 3lbs
Born: Roehampton
Career (62 League Appearances/ 12 Goals): Chelsea (0/0), Millwall [loan] (7/4), Wycombe Wanderers [loan] (8/1), Oldham Athletic [loan] (7/3), Northampton Town [loan] (40/4)
This Season (Total Appearances/Goals): 12/5
Details: Hot prospect who had an excellent goalscoring record at Millwall and Oldham before last season when he found the net just four times in forty appearances for Northampton. Indeed, at Millwall he smashed four goals in seven games, including two on debut and another in the next game. Went one better at Swindon, hitting a hat-trick on the opening day of the season to lead his side to a 3-1 victory over Barnsley. The physical frontman failed to win a first-team place at previous club Chelsea behind the masses of foreign stars at Stamford Bridge.

Stefani Miglioranzi
Squad Number: 10
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Age: Height: Weight:
Born: Brazil
Career (League Appearances/Goals):
This Season (Total Appearances/Goals): 12/0

Details: Centre-back who has appeared at the County Ground mostly in the centre of midfield. Born in Brazil, but soon moved to the USA where he came through the ranks at college and then into Major League Soccer with Chicago Fire. Had a trial with Everton, but despite the Goodison Park club wanting his signature, he moved to Swindon.

Matthew Heywood
David Duke

Squad Number: 11
Position: Midfielder
Age: 23 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 11st 1lb
Born: Inverness
Career (74 League Appearances/ 3 Goals): Sunderland (0/0), Swindon Town (74/3)
This Season (Total Appearances/Goals): 15/0

Details: Regular left-sided midfielder. Excellent crosser of the ball who has the ability to take on (and beat) defenders. Has played as a wing-back in the past, and began his career at Sunderland. The Scotsman never played a League game for the Black Cats, but has established himself firmly in the Robin's plans.

Eric Sabin
Squad Number: 14
Position: Forward
Age: 27 Height: 6ft Weight: 12st
Born: Sarcelles
Career (62 League Appearances/ 8 Goals): Wasquehal (28/3), Swindon Town (34/5)
This Season (Total Appearances/Goals): 15/2

Details: Frenchman who has been compared by Swindon boss Andy King to Thierry Henry, although with his goalscoring record this far at the County Ground (seven goals in 49 League games), this prediction is not producing much fruit. Has blistering pace, and is prepared to work hard, but has yet to find his scoring touch.

Danny Invincibile
Squad Number: 16
Position: Midfielder
Age: 23 Height: 6ft Weight: 12st 2lbs
Born: Australia
Career (130 League Appearances/ 18 Goals): Brisbane Strikers (5/1), Marconi Stallions (39/2), West Ham United (0/0), Swindon Town (86/15)
This Season (Total Appearances/Goals): 11/2
Details: Former Australian Under-21 star who was recommended to Swindon by former west Ham boss Harry Redknapp. Never played a game at Upton Park, and came to English football with a dubious record, but at Swindon he has been a revelation, thrilling the crowds and scoring vital goals.

Craig Farr
Squad Number: 18
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: n/a Height: n/a Weight: n/a
Born: n/a
Career (0 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Swindon Town (0/0)
This Season (Total Appearances/Goals): 0/0
Details: Young goalkeeper who has been promoted to the bench by the departure of Steve Mildenhall during the close season. Will learn from Griemink between the sticks.

Matthew Heywood
Squad Number: 19
Position: Defender
Age: 23 Height: 6ft 3ins Weight: 14st
Born: Chatham
Career (78 League Appearances/ 5 Goals): Burnley (13/0), Swindon Town (65/1)
This Season (Total Appearances/Goals): 15/0
Details: Last season’s Player of the Year, Heywood was signed on a free transfer from Burnley. Tall defender who is (predictably) good in the air, but also a superb timer of a tackle. Much like our own Phil Whelan, he can be employed as a makeshift striker in a crisis. Ever present so far this season.

Alan Reeves
Alan Reeves
Squad Number: 22
Position: Defender
Age: 34 Height: 6ft Weight: 12st
Born: Birkenhead
Career (372 League Appearances/ 23 Goals): Norwich City (0/0), Gillingham [loan] (18/0), Chester City (40/2), Rochdale (121/9), Wimbledon (57/4), Swindon Town (136/8)
This Season (Total Appearances/Goals): 7/0
Details: Much-travelled and experienced centre-back who has sometimes filled in as a striker when required. Started off at Norwich, but didn't play for them and did not command a first-team spot until he joined Rochdale. Subsequently moved to Wimbledon, but fell out of favour and found himself at the County Ground. Was told he could leave before the start of the 2000/1 season, but fought for his place in pre-season and was rewarded with a first-team position. Since Andy King's management term he has struggled again, but still fights on.

Steve Robinson
Squad Number: 25
Position: Midfielder
Age: 27 Height: 5ft 9ins Weight: 11st
Born: Nottingham
Career (144 League Appearances/ 2 Goals): Birmingham City (81/6), Peterborough United [loan] (5/0), Swindon Town (58/2)
This Season (Total Appearances/Goals): 14/0

Details: Tough-tackling midfielder dynamo who has a poor disciplinary record, and a goalscoring on to match. Can play in the centre or on the right, provided he is not suspended. Another to have played under Barry Fry at Birmingham but moved to Swindon two years ago and hasn't looked back.

Alan Young
Squad Number: 26
Position: Forward
Age: 19 Height: 5ft 6ins Weight: 10st
Born: Swindon
Career (18 League Appearances/ 1 Goal): Swindon Town (18/1)
This Season (Total Appearances/Goals): 6/0
Details: Young is a local-born striker who has only found the net once in 24 League appearances so far. Represented England at Youth level, and scored goals for fun in the clubs Under 19 and Reserve sides. Expected to really break through this season.

Others who could feature:

Juan Cobain (#12): Attacking right-back who could have joined Sheffield Wednesday but chose the Robins instead. Argentinian player who has represented Boca Juniors.

Neil Ruddock (#15): Former Tottenham, West Ham and Liverpool hard man who gained his coaching badge last year and was playing as well under a bad tackle at Notts County ended his season.

David Bampton (#21): Youth starlet who signed professionally just a week or so ago without having played a game.

Nathan Edwards (#28): Signed professional terms prior to the start of the season after impressing for the second-string. Made his debut against our rivals Colchester in the LDV Vans Trophy last season.

Chris Collins (#30): Youth player yet to make his first-team debut.

Kevin Halliday (#31): Represented Town in the LDV last season, but not in the League. Probably the most experienced youngster, captaining the Under 19 side.