REFLECTING on my time covering the ups and downs of Swindon Town before writing my final column, I struggled initially to find an overarching theme.

No doubt my time in and out of the County Ground press box has allowed me see some drama.

There have been enough goings on at Swindon Town in the last 18 months to fill a lifetime at a less-entertaining club to cover.

There have been heated discussions with the chairman on the touchline, reconciliations, bans, winding-up petitions, death threats, sackings, Wembley heartbreak and somewhere amongst all of that, some football too.

Not all of it has been fun, but some of it has.

The play-off semi-final is something I will never forget, the atmosphere for the West Country derby victory over Bristol City was incredible and watching Rohan Ince’s volley (albeit against Town) in the League Cup defeat to Brighton was a delight.

Sadly, the only constant during my time covering Town has been division. Relations between the Advertiser and the club have been almost non-existent. That is as frustrating for a reporter as it is for a reader.

The local football club can be the heartbeat of its community if it so desires, but for whatever reason, those at the County Ground, Football in the Community aside, continue to miss a trick.

Individually, there is plenty of good amongst the players - some do great work for the club as ambassadors.

For whatever reason, their employers do not want to make a song and dance about it.

It is very sad when you ring up the club for a comment on story that puts the club in a good light, only to be shunned.

Football should be bringing people together.

Too often - and not just in Swindon, it is used to split people.

Club turns on journalists, fans turn on journalists, fans turn on players, players turn on fans, fans turn other fans. It is a big ugly circle.

I truly believe Swindon Town could follow in the footsteps of clubs like Bradford City or Brighton and become a pillar of the community again.

It will just take a little bit of goodwill from club, paper and fans alike.

Over to you.