Return of the Spartans...

Following Jed McCrory ousting Lee Power and making an unlikely return to take full control as Swindon Town FC's owner in May 2015, a section of supporters are incensed and decide that enough is enough and turn their backs on the Robins.

Led by the board of the Swindon Town Supporters Trust, a new club is formed in June 2015 with 1,200 members. This club follows the model established by other supporter-led clubs in being owned and run by supporters, with elections every two years.

Taking the name of the founding of STFC in 1879, supporters founded their new supporter owned club as Swindon AFC.

The club nickname is 'The Spartans' and the colours are green, white and blue - both inspired by the founding and early Southern League history of STFC. All kits are inspired by the early history of STFC...

Swindon AFC will play at The Croft - a local recreation ground and one of the original homes of STFC. The capacity of the ground is 3,000 with 250 seats. Again, in homage to STFC the Spartans name their temporary training ground 'The Quarries' (again an early ground of STFC in the 1880s).

The club have been admitted into the National League South for the 2015/16 season following the withdrawal of Concord Rangers, however Swindon AFC have the lowest reputation of the division and a squad of Swindon-based players (added automatically by the game).

The new board of Swindon AFC quickly assemble a backroom team of unemployed former STFC players willing to help the new supporter owned club:

• Director of Football - Chris Ramsey
  
• Assistant Manager - Alan McLoughlin
  
• Head of Youth Development - Fitzroy Simpson
  
• Fitness Coach - Jerel Ifil
  
• Coach - Dave Hockaday
  
• Chief Scout - Martin Ling
  

In the most surprising move by Swindon AFC, the new manager is Ron Smith, who is the former membership secretary of the Swindon Town Supporters Trust with no footballing experience other than playing FM.

Will Swindon AFC immediately drop out of the National League South in May 2016?

Will Swindon AFC ever play a competitive derby against Swindon Town?

This game has been created through the FM editor and not the 'create-a-club' feature

Reserved

2015/16 National League South - July

A pre-season thrashing by your u21 team isn't the best start, so some of the youngsters are duly promoted.

Both games against National League sides showed we can be competitive, even if the bookies have us down at 5000/1 to get promoted this season.

As our reputation is very low, only players seeking to join on a non-contract basis are interested in signing which is highlighting this will be a tough season and not one that I can count towards decent squad building.

2015/16 National League South - August & September

Probably my worst run of results in FM history as we are defeated in the opening ten games of the Conference South season.

Some games, such as the opener vs Eastbourne and vs Truro, were very late winners by the opposition which gave some hope, however my quickly assembled side were useless.

With 13 signings arriving throughout this period the team are slow to settle, until, finally, a change in formation and Havant & Waterlooville are humiliated in a goalless draw and our first point of the season.

So 11 games gone and a ten point gap to safety, can we even win let alone secure our National League South status..?