Player Profile

“FBT” was signed on loan from Burton Albion in August 2022 when it became abundantly clear that Town’s summer recruitment had failed to involve a suitable left full back, thanks to the injury to Reece Devine, the deployment of Tyrese Shade significantly further forward and Remeao Hutton and Marcel Lavinier both preferring the right hand side. Perhaps understandably, there were more than a few grumbles when he signed that Swindon had fallen far enough to be taking fringe players on loan from Burton, but he acquitted himself superbly in red and white and soon became a fan favourite.

His debut away at Carlisle was solid, rather than spectacular, but FBT displayed a defensive stability well beyond that being displayed by Town’s far more attacking right sided full backs, as well as being genuinely excellent in the air: putting the club in the slightly unusual position of having their main target man from attacking set pieces being their left full back. He scored his first Town goal in his fourth game, a low effort from just outside the box giving Town a draw against Stockport.

Blake-Tracy was the unlucky man in one of the more comical incidents of Town’s season against Gillingham in January: Gillingham defender Max Ehmer blasting the ball into his face from less than a yard away, only for the referee to add insult to injury by awarding a penalty to Gillingham for “handball” despite FBT’s nose being roughly the same colour as his shirt. Generally though, he was a calming presence in the otherwise rather untrustworthy Town defence, even when asked to step in at centre-back for significant parts of the season, and Town were delighted to secure his permanent signing in January on a two-year deal.

Come the end of season awards, FBT’s consistency and effort saw him more or less sweep the Player of the Season categories: winning Swindon Advertiser Player of the Year, OSC Player of the Year and SAS Travel Player of the Season, and coming second in the Disabled Supporters Club award to Jonny Williams.

Blake-Tracy started his second season, 23/24, as one of two marauding outside centre backs in manager Michael Flynn’s three at the back system, with he and Udoka Godwin-Malife either side of Tom Brewitt. Given an unusual amount of freedom to get forward, Blake-Tracy and Swindon started the season like a runaway train, and while there were clear warning signs that having only one of your three central defenders showing any interest in defending could lead to trouble, it was fun while it lasted. Emblematic of this approach was his 94th minute winner away at Forest Green in Town’s second league game, a cannoned strike from just outside the box as he ran forwards onto a loose ball.

It wouldn’t last: Town’s form tailed off badly as summer gave way to autumn, and Town’s neglect of defensive solidity became more problematic, with FBT as culpable as the rest of the team. Rumours swirled that he was unhappy with goings on behind the scenes, which were given serious impetus when Blake-Tracy as club vice captain was passed over for the armband which was instead given to Jack Bycroft - in his ninth professional game of men’s football - when Charlie Austin was unavailable.

Whilst his contract had an option for a further season, player and club agreed to part ways at the end of the 2023/4 season and Blake-Tracy was quick to find a new club, joining promoted side Mansfield ahead of their League One campaign. He had a bit of a swing at those running the club in the media, saying that “things need to change and there are people at the club who are probably not qualified enough to be there” - a message amplified by the club’s Supporters Trust who were making similar arguments at the time.

Playing Record

Senior

Career details

Club	Details
Dereham Town Dereham Town
Lowestoft Town Lowestoft Town	rptd July 2nd, 2016 ; transferred out (June 2017)
King's Lynn Town King's Lynn Town	June 2017 (transferred in , £2,400 )
Peterborough United Peterborough United	July 1st, 2019 (announced May 21st, 2019) (unattached, compensation); released (rptd May 11th, 2021)
Burton Albion Burton Albion	July 1st, 2021 (announced June 18th, 2021) (unattached); transferred out (January 31st, 2023)
Swindon Town Swindon	August 10th, 2022 (loan)
Swindon Town Swindon	January 31st, 2023 (transferred in, undisclosed fee); released (rptd May 2nd, 2024)
Mansfield Town Mansfield Town	July 1st, 2024 (announced June 3rd, 2024) (unattached)