The Big One: Bristol Rovers

Saturday brings the long awaited trip to the Memorial Stadium for the huge local derby between Swindon and Bristol Rovers. And if the locality of the event isn't fuel enough for a hot-tempered afternoon of football, Swindon-born, former Town trainee and son of legend John, Paul Trollope will be hoping to turn over the club where his father built his legacy, a career spanning 40 years combining roles of Defender, Coach and Manager.

John Trollope is one of few in the footballing world to ply his trade at one solitary club, and with the club being that of his hometown, the achievement is made even more spectacular - a feat that you rarely see in today's modern game. Trollope holds the record for the number of league appearances made for one club - 770 games between 1960 and 1980, an accomplishment which saw John receive an MBE. John was also part of the inaugural League Cup winning team of 1969.Trollope announced his retirement at the end of the 1978/1979 season, taking up a backroom staff role. However, with an appalling start to the 1980/1981 season, Trollope's ability was called upon again and the defender came out of retirement, a move which would allow him to break the appearance record. After finally retiring for a 2nd time at the end of that season, Trollope then became manager of Swindon Town early on in the following season. However, Trollope's ability as manager didn't match that of his playing days, and with a tight budget in place, Trollope led Town to their first ever relegation to division four, and was replaced towards the end of the 1982/1983 season.

Though a slight tarnish on an illustrious Wiltshire career, this wasn't the end of Trollope. Lou Macari appointed Trollope as assistant manager in 1985, and remained at the club as youth team coach as the Swindon Town hotseat housed the likes of Ossie Ardiles, Glenn Hoddle, John Gorman and Steve McMahon. Today, Trollope plays a similar role helping out youth teams in the area, notably the Swindon Town Centre of Excellence's Under-15's and a part-time position helping Rovers with their youth setup.

Paul's footballing career would take him on a completely different path than that of his father's. Having begun life as a trainee at the County Ground in 1989, he was deemed surplus to requirements and moved to Torquay United. Over the years Trollope would grace 6 more clubs' wage-bill, making a healthy amount of appearances for the likes of Derby, Fulham and Northampton, before signing for his final club, Bristol Rovers, in 2004. During his 2nd season he became player-caretaker-manager, before later becoming "First-team Coach" in a joint bid to manage the club alongside Director of Football Lennie Lawrence. Though making few appearances, Trollope didn't officially retire his playing career until the end of the 2007/2008 season after maintaining a mid-table position in League 1, and an impressive cup run which saw them get knocked out in the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup, a feat that hadn't been achieved for 50 years. Trollope has just recently extended his contract at the Memorial Stadium until the end of the current season, and has officially changed his title from "First-Team Coach" to "Manager".
Rovers are Swindon's 2nd oldest Rivals, having first played competitive football in the Western League in 1897. From 1899 to 1953 the two teams met each other in league fixtures season after season. Unfortunately, the intense rivalry the extensive history of the two teams has built can spill over on occasions, such as in December 2006 following a season high attendance of over 10,000 at the County Ground watching a home win. Seats in the Arkell's stand were ripped up and used as missiles between both sets of supporters during the game. 11 people were reportedly arrested. At the reverse fixture, 20 Bristol Rovers fans attacked Swindon fans in a pub beer garden before the game, bringing a prompt end to talks regarding a possible ground-share between the two teams.

As for Saturday, lets hope that the rivalry can stay on the pitch with a high-tempo good old-fashioned derby game. Town go into it off the back of an impressive performance and 3-2 victory over Leyton Orient which catapulted us back into the playoffs with two games in hand. Bristol Rovers suffered a 1-0 defeat away at Colchester, but find themselves a position below Swindon, and one out of the playoffs in 7th place. The last time these two met was towards the climax of last season in April 2009, with Swindon sealing a 2-1 victory in front of just under 11,000 at the County Ground. Two goals from super striker Simon Cox sealed another season of League 1 football for Town.

Town have a virtual clean bill of health prior to derby day, with a full strength side expected to be named, probably to include the likes of David Lucas, Kevin Amankwaah, Scott Cuthbert, Gordon Greer, Jean-Francois Lescinel, Jon-Paul McGovern, Simon Ferry, Jonathan Douglas, Alan Sheehan, Billy Paynter and Charlie Austin. I imagine Austin will get his first taste of the Swindon-Bristol derby as his partnership with Billy Paynter continues to blossom, though 18 year old Danny Ward will be looking for a chance to impress before he returns to Bolton in January.

The game has been made ALL-TICKET for Swindon Town fans making the short journey, a common security measure employed for such derby games. Town ticket office are expecting 1000+ to cheer on The Robins on Saturday with tickets expected to sell out fast. I've got mine, so get yours!! And here's to hoping for another wedding party to crash after the game!

Come on you Reds!