Our 2026/27 competitive campaign begins this weekend, as the Bluebirds welcome Swindon Town to CCS in Round One of the Carabao Cup.
Cardiff City vs. Swindon Town
Carabao Cup Round One
Saturday, 8th August 2026
3pm KO
Cardiff City Stadium
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KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | CLUB PROFILE
Travelling to South Wales on Saturday, Swindon Town are previous winners of this competition, having lifted the trophy back in 1969 after defeating Arsenal in the Final.
Formed in 1879, Swindon were Western League champions in 1998/99 and Southern League winners in 1910/11 and 1913/14, before joining the Football League in 1920.
Division Three mainstays for over 40 years, the 1960s saw the Robins experience a period of success. They won promotion to Division Two in 1962/63, and then enjoyed a memorable 1968/69 campaign. As well as winning another promotion to return to the second tier, they also lifted their first major trophy.
Facing Arsenal at the old Wembley, Roger Smart scored the opening goal after 35 minutes, and it looked to be enough to clinch the trophy, only for future Bluebirds boss Bobby Gould to net a late leveller which took the Final to extra time. Don Rogers was the hero for Town, scoring a brace to send the League Cup to Wiltshire.
The late 1980s and 90s saw another major rise for Swindon, who won promotion all the way from Division Four to Division One between 1985/86 and 1992/93. Inaugural members of the Premier League, the Robins were unfortunately relegated after a sole season in the top flight.
In recent years, Town have bounced between League One and League Two, currently finding themselves in the fourth tier. Their most recent promotion was in 2019/20, when ex-City forward Eoin Doyle fired them into League One with 25 goals, but, like their Premier League campaign, they were relegated at the end of the behind-closed-doors 2020/21 term.
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | ON THE TOUCHLINE
Ian Holloway took charge of Swindon Town back in October 2024, his tenth managerial role in the EFL.
A midfielder in his playing days, Holloway began his career with Bristol Rovers, making over 100 league appearances before joining Wimbledon. He returned for a second spell with Rovers in 1987, playing over 200 times, but departed for London once again, this time with Queens Park Rangers, in 1991.
Holloway spent five years at Loftus Road before a third spell at the Mem, recording another 100+ appearances in three years. This was a position as player-manager, with Holloway leading Rovers to a Play-Off finish in 1997/98. He retired in 1999 to concentrate on management, and was soon on the move once again.
Returning to QPR in 2001, Holloway led the R's to the 2003 Division One Play-Off Final, but fell to Lennie Lawrence's City side at the Millennium Stadium, with Andy Campbell scoring our famous winner. It wasn't long before Holloway and QPR did taste promotion, though - they finished second behind Plymouth Argyle to return to the second tier.
Argyle was Holloway's next destination as a manager - he spent just over a year at Home Park before joining Leicester City in 2007. However, after the Foxes were relegated to League One in 2008, he resigned his position.
Blackpool were next on the Holloway hit list, where the experienced boss would enjoy perhaps his career-best achievement. The Seasiders were unfancied in the Play-Offs, but defeated the Bluebirds to reach the Premier League in 2010. A trio of London clubs followed for Holloway - he took charge of Crystal Palace, Millwall and QPR again.
In 2019, Holloway was appointed as boss of Grimsby Town, and also committed to becoming a shareholder in the club. He resigned in December 2020, and Grimsby were relegated out of the EFL the following year. Almost four years later, Holloway returned to management with Swindon, and is now entering his third season with the Robins.
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | SUMMER SO FAR
After narrowly missing out on the League Two Play-Offs last year, mainly due to an awful run of late season form, it has been a frustrating summer for Town fans as they prepare for the upcoming campaign.
Ten players departed the County Ground at the end of last season, including former Wales international Billy Bodin and ex-Bluebird favourite, Junior Hoilett. Holloway has so far added six players to his squad, with three permanent transfers and three loans.
Town signed Port Vale defender Mitch Clark, Oxford United centre half Stephan Negru and Fleetwood Town midfielder Matty Virtue on free transfers during the off-season, and have since topped up their squad with loan acquisitions. Defender James Debayo arrived from Hull City in early July, with two more new faces through the door this week: attacker Joseph Hungbo from Wigan Athletic, and defender Sam Inwood from Bolton Wanderers.
The Robins played seven matches as part of their pre-season preparations. Their summer series got underway with a 4-0 win over local neighbours Swindon Supermarine, before a 1-0 victory over Spanish side Costa City out in Alicante.
Town suffered three defeats on their return to England, losing to Chippenham Town (1-0), Crystal Palace (5-1) and Bristol City (3-1). However, they concluded their friendly fixture with two wins: Swindon beat Leyton Orient 2-1 at home, and then defeated Forest Green Rovers 4-1 on the road.
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | LAST TIME OUT
Saturday's clash is a carbon copy of our Round One fixture from last season, which saw Swindon travel to CCS on Tuesday, 12th August 2025.
City took the lead on that occasion through Cian Ashford, who was able to stab home from close range after Joel Bagan had met Isaak Davies' corner kick.
Rubin Colwill doubled City's lead before the break, scoring a marvellous free-kick from range which flew past Connor Ripley.
Holloway's side hit back in the second half, with a well-taken finish from Princewill Ehibhatiomhan getting Town back into the contest. However, the Bluebirds held on to progress to the next round, eventually reaching the Quarter Final of the competition.