Despite fans still not being allowed back into stadiums, a few loyal season ticket holders were given the opportunity to get up close to the League Two trophy thanks to the Tackling Loneliness Together programme. 

The programme is part of a nationwide programme launched by the EFL, being run by 32 clubs across the country. The programme has consisted of the Foundation making regular phone contact with the club’s some 600 season ticket holders that are aged 70 above, to check and see how they’re doing, to talk about football, and offer some support in the time of the pandemic, as well as holding Zoom group chats with Town stars such as Noël Hunt, and Paul Caddis. This is a continuation of our work during the lockdown, which saw us deliver food parcels across Swindon on behalf of the Town Council. 

In the latest phase of this programme, we’ve been able to go out to some of these season ticket holder’s homes for a socially distanced chat face-to-face, and for the most recent of these visits, we had the League Two silverware in tow!

Bob, one of the Season Ticket Holders receiving a visit from the trophy, said: 

“It’s great to see it up close, and to get this opportunity while the ground is still closed off to us supporters. I remember going down to see it when we won it the last time under DiCanio. I wasn’t expecting at all for the club to get in contact when they did, and it’s been lovely. It’s just great to know they haven’t forgotten about their fans. It’s great work that the Community Foundation does, it really is.”

Phil Doble, Senior Development Officer, said: 

“This year has been tough on everyone, and none have felt it more than the elderly. Tackling Loneliness Together is a great scheme because it allows us to not only to meet our older fans and build stronger relationships with our community, but also identify those in our community that may need additional support. It’s a real privilege to see their faces light up when they see the trophy, it’s like they’re schoolboys visiting the County Ground for the first time again.

For more information on our Tackling Loneliness Together programme, please contact Phil@​STFCfoundation.​com.