 Match programme cover from second-leg | |||||||
| Event | 1969 Anglo-Italian League Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| First leg | |||||||
| |||||||
| Date | 27 August 1969 | ||||||
| Venue | Stadio Olimpico, Rome | ||||||
| Second leg | |||||||
| |||||||
| Date | 10 September 1969 | ||||||
| Venue | County Ground,Swindon | ||||||
1970 → | |||||||
The1969 Anglo-Italian League Cup was a football cup competition held between clubs in England and Italy won bySwindon Town. It was the inauguralAnglo-Italian League Cup competition.
The origin of the Anglo-Italian League Cup (also known as theAnglo-Italian Cup Winners' Cup[1] and billed on the match programme as theInternational League Cup Winners' Cup) was to rewardSwindon Town withEuropean football in lieu of their ineligibility for theInter-Cities Fairs Cup following their victory in the1968–69 League Cup, beatingArsenal in thefinal. TheFootball League Cup had been changed in 1967 so the winner would be awarded a place in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup;[2] however, teams outside theFirst Division were not permitted in the competition.[3]Queens Park Rangers wonthat year's final but were omitted from the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup as they were in theThird Division.[3][4] When Swindon, another third division club, won theLeague Cup two years later the Anglo-Italian League Cup was organised as a way of compensating them for the ruling that prevented them competing in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.[3]
The competition consisted of a single two-legged match against the Italian teamA.S. Roma who had won theCoppa Italiathat season.[5][6]
The final was played over two legs, with A.S. Roma drawn to host the first game in Rome. The second leg was played in England.
| A.S. Roma | 2–1 | Swindon Town |
|---|---|---|
Enzo 43' (pen.)Cappellini 68'[nb 1] | (report) | Noble 52' |
         Roma |    Swindon Town |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Roma relied on attacking tactics in the early stages of the game, forcing Swindon to defend and rely on counter-attack moves to break the dead-lock. The first half was characterised by the many attempts on goal by Roma's centre-forward Enzo saved by Swindon goalkeeperDownsborough.[9]
In the 12th minute Roma were denied apenalty.Peiro had fed a pass through toCappellini and, as theinside-right cut into thepenalty area, he appeared to be sent full-length by atackle from Harland. Instead of the expected penalty, English referee Kevin Howley gave Swindon afree-kick.[9]
Shortly before half-time,Elvio Salvori, the Romahalf back, dived over the outstretched leg of Roger Smart.[6] A penalty was awarded, whichFabio Enzo converted. Just two minutes later, the half-time whistle sounded.
Then, as Salvori broke into the penalty area, he literally threw himself over the outstretched leg of Smart. Much to the dismay of the Town players, the referee immediately awarded a penalty from which Enzo scored.[9]
The second half was more evenly contested, and Swindon equalised throughPeter Noble who sliced a chipped free-kick from John Smith just out of the grasp of the Roma goalkeeper,Alberto Ginulfi.[9] Roma responded with a period of concerted attack and were rewarded whenRenato Cappellini headed home a cross from a corner, which proved to be the winner. Swindon pressurised the Italian defence for the final 10 minutes of the game but could not equalise,[6] A.S. Roma won 2–1.
Swindon Town | Roma |
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For the second leg, Roma attempted to hold onto their lead with a defensive formation.[10] It took Swindon five[nb 2] minutes to pull level on aggregate, whenArthur Horsfield volleyed home a cross from John Smith. The game remained at 1–0 until the 70th minute, when Horsfield added his second andDon Rogers scored the third two minutes later.[12]
With Roma pushing forward to get back into the game, Horsfield completed hishat-trick in the 89th minute – meaning Swindon Town had won 4–0 on the night, and 5–2 on aggregate.[12]
The gate receipts were reported as being£8794.19s,[12] equivalent to around £182,840 in 2025.[13]
Impressed with the competition and spirit of both fans and clubs, theItalian FA organised another Anglo-Italian competition for later the same season.[6]This was to be the1970 Anglo-Italian Cup, a competition that Swindon Town won. A.S. Roma were later Anglo-Italian Cup champions in 1972.
He played in the two-legged win over AS Roma in the Anglo-Italian Cup Winners' Cup
