STFC News
SWINDON TOWN: You can be heroes - Di Canio
6:00am Tuesday 7th February 2012
PAOLO Di Canio has urged his players to grasp the chance to write their names into the Swindon history books by beating Barnet tonight and send the Robins through to the final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at Wembley.
Town host Barnet at the County Ground with all to play for after the two sides drew 1-1 at Underhill in the first leg of the area final back on January 10.
Simon Ferry and Phil Smith are the only players left on Swindon’s books who were in the squad the last time Town played at Wembley in 2010 League One play-off final, while Paul Benson has played, and scored, at the national stadium while at Dagenham & Redbridge.
But on the whole, there are few opportunities during a player’s career to play at Wembley and Di Canio believes that alone will be all the drive his squad needs to beat Barnet tonight.
“There are millions of players who play football but just a few thousand have the chance to play at Wembley,” he said.
“This is the chance for these players to put their name in a frame that will be forever in the history of this club and for that reason it is easy for me to prepare the players for this game.”
Tonight’s game has certainly caught the imagination of the Swindon fans, with well over 7,000 tickets sold by the close of business yesterday and the club are anticipating a crowd of over 10,000 tonight.
But Di Canio has issued one final rallying call to urge fans to shun watching the game on television in favour of making the trip to the County Ground.
He added: “We have already sold a good number of tickets but for anyone who still does not have a ticket and lives a few hundred metres from the County Ground, then why not come to the game and feel the emotion?
“The fans can sometimes underestimate the fact that they are very crucial and the players feel their support.
“I am hoping that we can have 10,000 or so there then it will be amazing. We need their push because the game will be hard.
“The fans’ support will be crucial if we have a tough moment and the players need that extra push. I insist, please come to the County Ground.”