Season 1908-1909
A number of significant signings are made, and they result in further improvements on the pitch - Norwich are thrashed 10-2 in September, and Swindon achieve their highest ever Southern League position, ending as runners-up to Northampton. There is no progress in the cup though, as the Town are knocked out at the first hurdle by Plymouth.
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Season 1907-1908
Future Swindon legend Harold Fleming arrives at the club - and when he scores twice on his reserve debut, he is thrust straight into the first team. Jock Walker also signs from Rangers, and their effect is immediate - Fleming finishes as top scorer with seventeen goals, and the Town improve by 12 league places to finish fifth in the table. They also have their best ever run in the cup, getting to the Third Round, before being knocked out by Wolves. Billy Tout gets married on the last day of the season - but still manages to turn out for the Town in the afternoon, helping them to beat Q.P.R. by eight goals to three.
Season 1906-1907
After just one season in the United League, the Town decide to resign from it - the Southern League is increased from 18 to 20 teams, and the Town finish 17th. They don't qualify for the FA Cup either, Burslem Port Vale knocking Swindon out in their only qualifying match.
Season 1905-1906
Swindon enter another league, and play in the United League as a secondary competition to the Southern League. They finally qualify for the proper competition of the FA Cup, for the first time since the qualifying competition is introduced. The adventure doesn't last long though, Brighton beating them 3-0 in their first First Round game since 1887. The league campaign is just as uninspiring, despite the arrival of Billy Tout, Swindon finish 15th, just four points off the bottom of the table.
Season 1904-1905
Despite the arrival of Freddy Wheatcroft, who features prominently over the coming decade, the Town slump back down the league, finishing 16th of 18. With no Test Matches, Wellingborough's terrible record is enough to keep them up. In the cup, the Town score one more than the previous year - winning 7-0 at Whiteheads of Weymouth, and a reserve team put eight past Longfleet St. Mary's, on the same day as the first team play Brentford in a Southern League fixture! They are still denied entry to the First Round proper though, as they are humbled 2-1 in the final qualifying round by Green Waves, an amateur team from Plymouth.
Season 1903-1904
Another slight improvement, the Town finish in mid-table, but still don't qualify for the cup. After scoring fourteen goals in the first two rounds, they go out to Plymouth in the fifth qualifying round. FIFA is formed in May.
Season 1902-1903
It’s the first season where the current pitch markings are used - and the Town improve slightly, finishing 12th, but well clear of the relegation spots. The best action comes in the FA Cup though, as Swindon thrash Chippenham (5-0), Yeovil Casuals (4-0), Poole (7-1) and Whiteheads (9-0) - but still they fail to qualify for the proper competition, when they are beaten by Barnsley in an Intermediate Round.
Season 1901-1902
After problems in obtaining the correct green dye for the club's shirts, the board decide to change to a new strip - and the Town appear for the first time in a dark red or maroon outfit. The change does them no good whatsoever - and they finish bottom of the Southern League, with a measly seven points from thirty games - and they are thrashed on numerous occasions, including a 10-1 reverse at Kettering. Surprisingly though, they manage to avoid relegation again, when they beat Fulham 3-1 in a Test Match. Swindon also finish bottom of the Western League, drawing two and losing fourteen of their sixteen games - and they decide to resign from the competition at the end of the season.
Season 1900-1901
After the good finish in the previous season, the Town suffer a huge slump - finishing second from bottom in the Southern League table, and last of all the teams who completed the season (Chatham Town resigned after ten games). They are forced into a Test Match against Brentford at Reading, and again luck plays it's part - with the score at 0-0, the game goes into extra time - and bad light stops play. Both teams are allowed to take their place in the Southern League Division One the following year. Goalkeeper Bob Menham scores a penalty in a 6-0 win over Staple Hill in the cup, but the Town still fail to qualify, thrashed 5-0 in the Fifth Qualifying Round by Bristol Rovers. The Western League campaign is a disaster as well - having been extended to nine teams, the Town finish ninth with just six points.
Season 1899-1900
The Town begin the new century with their highest finish to date, when they end up in fifth position in a seventeen team division. The Western League only has four teams, and Swindon finish third.