PAUL Bodin was not expecting to be playing much the last time Swindon Town won promotion to the then First Division.

Having seen his second spell at the club go south after back-to-back relegations, the full-back thought he was going to be replaced by Jason Drysdale, a £340,000 new signing from Newcastle United.

However, Drysdale made a poor debut against Hull, lasting only 56 minutes before being replaced by Bodin, with the Welshman doing enough to keep his spot for the next game.

At home against York, Bodin scored from the spot in a 3-0 win and never looked back. He made 43 appearances in league and cup, scoring twice more, in what turned out to be his last season with Town.

Though he was a vital piece in Glenn Hoddle’s jigsaw that took the Robins into the top tier, Bodin still remembers that season with great fondness.

“It was it a breath of fresh air because we’d come off two relegations,” he told the Advertiser. “There was a bit of gloom around, although Steve (McMahon) had come in around halfway through the season before and we’d gone down, there was a very good squad of players still left.

“That year we won the championship was a great year for me personally, but it was a tough season as well.

“We’d signed Jason Drysdale and I didn’t think I would play much, but I actually did play quite a few games.

“It was a shame it was my last season, but it was a good season to remember.

“There was a lot of confidence amongst the players who were there that we could bounce back. There was still a lot of players there who had actually played in the Premiership.

“With Steve McMahon’s fresh group of players he brought in as well, we all gelled and it was a very good campaign.”

With promotion looking likely crowds at the County Ground regularly topped 10,000 and Bodin remembers enjoying the return of positivity to Swindon itself.

“As the season progressed there was momentum and the crowds were definitely improving and there were some sell-out games at the County Ground, which was fantastic,” he explained.

“In the build-up to the Premier League there were lots of full houses, but it was great to get it back and see people smiling again around the County Ground.

“There was a real feelgood factor around the Town when the team’s doing well.

“It’s great playing in packed stadium, especially the big games when the opposition bring a couple of thousand and the whole ground is full.”

Nobody can deny Bodin was a big game player for Swindon, now he wants to see that streak in the current crop vying for promotion so they can take the club back to where he feels they belong.

“When you get the big games, like MK Dons will be, everybody vying for that second spot, with it live on the box that adds to the excitement of seeing all the cameras around the ground,” he said.

“Those are the games you want to play in, if you don’t enjoy playing in them, playing in front of packed houses then you’re not cut out to be a footballer.

“You need to thrive on those games, enjoy them and embrace them.

“It’s not always going to be like that, it would be great if they were, they’re the games you see the players who sometimes freeze and the players who excel.

“The prize of the Championship is there for everybody to see, for the players and the club and certainly for the supporters.

“I think Swindon is a Championship club and for whatever reason we have fallen out of it. Hopefully one day we will be able to reach the Premier League again, but I believe certainly Swindon is a good Championship club.”

The Advertiser approached Swindon Town about getting involved with the campaign, but they declined to respond.