As far as play-off teams go, Swindon Town can certainly be among those to claim they live up to the competition’s reputation for drama and excitement.
A 6-5 penalty shootout semi-final defeat by Port Vale in 2022 and a 5-5 second-leg draw with Sheffield United in 2015 will live long in the memory of Town fans for various reasons.
But it is two experiences in the 1990s for which they will be remembered by many.
Having finished in their highest league position of fourth in the second tier in 1990, Swindon disposed of Blackburn Rovers over a two-legged semi-final to reach the final at Wembley.
The club had been under investigation since January 1990 for alleged financial irregularities, although the outcome of the inquiry was not due until after the final.
In the first year of a one-off final being played at the national stadium, Swindon faced Sunderland, who had beaten rivals Newcastle in the semi-finals.
Alan McLoughlin’s deflected 25th-minute goal won the game for Swindon and confirmed promotion to the top flight for the first time in their history – or so they thought.
Ten days later, the club was found guilty of 35 counts of illegal payments. Instead of celebrating promotion, they were relegated two divisions, which was reduced to one on appeal, with Sunderland going up instead.
Three years later, Swindon were back at Wembley with another chance to reach what was now the Premier League.
Under player-manager Glenn Hoddle, the Wiltshire side were 3-0 up and cruising against Leicester City, only for the Foxes to score three goals in 12 second-half minutes.
Paul Bodin became Swindon’s hero six minutes from the end, slotting home a penalty to finally settle the tie.
Redemption had come for Swindon, while for Bodin there was to be heartbreak six months later when he missed a penalty for Wales in a crucial World Cup qualifier against Romania.
