David Wallis, also published as Dave Wallis, is a longtime Swindon Town supporter and writer. He began writing about the club in the 1980s, initially through letters to the local press. His work subsequently expanded to magazine articles, match previews, reports, an opinion column, and website coverage. He also contributed to Swindon’s matchday program for approximately twenty-five years, building a publication record closely connected with the club.
His first book, Swindon Town Football Club: The Fans’ Choice, appeared in 2007. Later books examine successive periods in the team’s history: Swindon Town: The Lou Macari Years covers a transformation beginning in 1984, while Swindon Town’s Journey to the Premier League follows the subsequent pursuit of top-flight soccer. The books draw on interviews with people involved as well as Wallis’s perspective as a supporter.
David Wallis Books
| Book | Year | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Swindon Town | 2025 | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Swindon Town’s Journey to the Premier League | 2026 | Description / Buy at Amazon |
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The two recent histories connect developments on the field with the consequences of financial and administrative decisions. Macari’s period brought promotions and renewed ambition; the following years included a promotion initially denied because of financial irregularities and a later successful return to Wembley. Wallis uses individual recollections to explain how those events were experienced within the club rather than limiting the account to season summaries.
Soccer Books
Swindon Town: The Lou Macari Years: Wallis follows Lou Macari’s five years in charge of Swindon Town, beginning with his arrival as player-manager in 1984. Interviews with Macari accompany accounts of promotions, important matches, and the development of players who later achieved wider recognition. The book also considers the investigation into the club’s financial dealings and the consequences accompanying a period of unusual sporting progress. Published in 2025.
The account includes Macari’s career before Swindon and follows important players beyond his departure in 1989. A diary of the Football League investigation connects events on the field with the financial practices under examination. Wallis also compares the club’s circumstances in 1984 and 2024, using the fortieth anniversary of Macari’s arrival to assess the longer significance of that period.
Swindon Town's Journey to the Premier League: The Robins' Incredible Rise to the Top: This history follows Swindon’s attempt to reach the top division through the managerial periods of Ossie Ardiles, Glenn Hoddle, and John Gorman. A Wembley victory followed by punishment for financial irregularities precedes a second successful promotion campaign and the challenge of Premier League competition. Interviews with five key players explain the sacrifices, setbacks, and recovery behind the team’s journey. Published in 2026.
Building on the previous history, the book explains how promotion ambitions survived the loss of the place initially earned under Ardiles. Hoddle’s team eventually secured the step up that had been denied three years earlier. The narrative continues into Gorman’s preparations for facing Premier League opponents, showing that reaching the division introduced another set of sporting and organizational demands.
Swindon Town Football Club: The Fans' Choice: This book approaches Swindon Town history through the players chosen by supporters for their contributions across a season. Wallis examines the individuals fans regarded as especially influential and places their performances within the club’s successes and difficulties. The focus on supporters’ selections connects personal achievement with the collective experience of watching a team through a full campaign. Published in 2007.