Swindon Town supporter attends 2000th consecutive match

In a quite simply amazing show of dedication and passion, Swindon Town fan Derek Elston reached the landmark of attending 2000 consecutive matches, when he watched the 'Robins' play this weekend.

Elston has made six trips to Wembley, witnessed six promotions and seven relegations and even opted to hop aboard a waterbus once, all so that he did not once miss watching Swindon Town play. 

The last time supporter Elston missed a match, Saturday 5th December 1981. 

The run began with an FA Cup second round win over Sutton, and reached the landmark 2000th match in the same competition this weekend, although Swindon would lose to sixth-tier Woking. 

Perhaps even more remarkably, Elston does not even originate from Swindon or even the surrounding area, having lived between Northampton and Watford during his life. 

Speaking on his record, Elston told 'BBC Sport':My parents had friends that lived in Chiseldon, just outside Swindon. I always had interest in trains and Swindon was the main works on the Great Western Railway, so I chose them. The first game I got to was in 1967 - I was on something like £4.50 a week as an apprentice, so games were very few and far between."

With a 140 mile round trip for every home match, Elston will be pleased that Swindon Town are due to play just down the road at Northampton on Boxing day.

Now retired, the former auto-electrician was presented with a signed shirt and cakes to commemorate the special occasion. 

 

December 4, 2018

Elston's record encompassed many milestones in the history of Swindon Town; trips to Ascoli and Venezia in the Anglo-Italian Cup, a season in the Premier League and even Glenn Hoddle in a 'Robins' jersey, Elston really has seen it all.

Having also kept all the match programmes that he bought for every match day, Elston also has a 7,000 strong pin collection, and has seen Swindon Town play home and away against every side in England's top four divisions.

Elston added: "I never set out to do this, it just happened. It's just what I do - I go to the football every Saturday and Tuesday. As long as I'm fit, able and enjoying it I'll still go."