John Trollope (footballer)

John Trollope (born June 14 1943) was a footballer and manager who served Swindon Town loyally for over twenty years.

Related Topics:
June 14 - 1943 - Footballer - Manager - Swindon Town

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A Swindon Town legend, Trollope holds the record for the number of league appearances made for one club - turning out for the Town in 770 games between 1960 and 1980, an achievement which saw him receive the MBE.

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Trollope made his debut for the club on 20th August 1960 in a 1-1 draw with Halifax, when he was aged just seventeen. He missed just two matches that season. Trollope was an ever-present in the side in the 1962/1963 season - a trend which continued for seven seasons . A run of 368 consecutive matches was brought to an end in August 1968, when he sustained a broken arm in a match at Hartlepool. He didn't return to the team until January - by which time he had missed most of the Town's amazing League Cup run. He only appeared in the competition twice that season - in the first game against Torquay, and in the victorious final at Wembley.

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Trollope continued to be a regular member of the side right up until the 1978/1979 season, when he made sixteen appearances. He announced his retirement at the end of the season, and moved into the club's backroom staff. However, after an appalling start to the 1980/1981 season, Trollope was pushed back into action - a move which allowed him to break the appearance record - previously set at 764 appearances by Portsmouth's Jimmy Dickinson. He finally retired from the playing staff at the end of that season, and was immediately installed as the club's new manager.

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His time as manager was far from successful - working on a shoestring budget, he led Swindon to their first ever relegation to Division Four. He made way for Ken Beamish near the end of the 1982/1983 season.

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Even this wasn't the end of Trollope's times at Swindon - he was appointed assistant manager to Lou Macari during Easter 1985, and he took charge of the youth team under Ardiles, Hoddle, Gorman and McMahon.

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His son Paul Trollope became a Wales football international.

Related Topics:
Paul Trollope - Wales football international

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