Swindon Town will train at their home stadium next week as the club's search for a permanent training base continues. The League Two side will use the Nigel Eady County Ground for sessions on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday as they prepare for upcoming home fixtures, the Swindon Advertiser reported this week.
This temporary arrangement follows advice for the club to leave its normal training base at Beversbrook in Calne. An investigation suggested the pitches there had become hard due to hot weather and lack of rain, which was thought to be contributing to a spate of injuries this summer. The initial move was meant to last two weeks, but with the weather unchanged, a return would not help. The long-term plan for where Swindon Town trains remains undecided.
Why can't Swindon Town stay at the County Ground?
Using the County Ground as a regular training venue is not a viable option. Head Groundsman Matt Povey would not get his normal preparation time for matchdays if the pitch was constantly in use. The club invested heavily in the surface last summer, when it was stitched, and ruining it is a risk they cannot take. Manager Ian Holloway acknowledged the strain this places on his ground staff. "We will be at the ground. The groundsman certainly didn't want me to, and I feel for him," Holloway said. He added a clear warning about the long-term impact: "We've got to try and make sure that we don't do that after next week, because the pitch will be ruined."
What is the club's history with training grounds?
Finding a proper training ground has been a long-standing issue for Swindon Town. Chairman Clem Morfuni mentioned building one in his first message after taking over. In June 2024, CEO Anthony Hall stated the club was actively pursuing a new base. The club has a multi-year contract with Beversbrook, but the current situation may provide an opportunity to find a different location. Historically, the team has trained at various sites including Wanborough and the Wiltshire Hotel. Facilities at Marlborough College and Bath University have also been noted as potential benchmarks.
How does this affect Swindon Town's season preparation?
The training uncertainty comes at a challenging time for the Robins. They are preparing for home matches against Port Vale and Colchester United. Their recent form has been mixed, with one win and two losses in their last three outings. The most recent result was a 3-0 defeat away to Oldham on 29 August 2026. The club finished the 2025 League Two season in 9th place with 75 points from 46 games, scoring 70 goals and conceding 59. They ended the campaign 12 points behind champions Bromley. You can view the full standings for last season's table.
What happens next for Swindon Town?
CEO Anthony Hall is leading the search for a new training location but has not yet found a solution. The immediate focus is on preparing the squad at the County Ground for the week ahead. The next fixture is an away trip to face York on 12 September 2026. Fans can track the team's schedule on our fixtures page. The ongoing search for a stable training environment is a critical piece of off-field planning that the club must resolve to support the squad's development and performance throughout the season.
