Life's a beach for Freddie Woodman

18th April
First team
Freddie Woodman

“I’ve had a few loan spells and they were good, but for me – and you can ask any of the new signings too – this club and city is the quickest place you can settle in.”

Freddie Woodman is reflecting on his time at Swansea City so far. He’s not just talking football, but also life off the pitch in the place he now calls home.

It’s fair to say the goalkeeper has made an instant impression during his time so far on loan with the Swans since arriving from Newcastle United last summer.

He has kept 11 cleansheets in 37 Championship appearances, on top of saving three penalties against Derby County, Fulham and Blackburn Rovers.

The 23-year-old, though, has made the most of life off the pitch as much as he has made on it.

Outside of the confines of football, fan favourite Woodman has embraced the city and its surroundings to ensure he is fully immersed in life as a 'Jack'.

Freddie Woodman

“It was a big change in lifestyle going from London to Newcastle and then to Swansea,” says Woodman, who started his professional career with Crystal Palace.

“The people here made it very easy to settle. They’re so nice and I felt I needed to see everything around me because I want to understand what life as a Jack is all about.

“We have beautiful beaches. I hadn’t actually been on a beach in Britain before I came to Swansea. I’m told there are a few around Newcastle, but I didn’t get around to seeing them.

“You can’t help but be on a beach here because you’re surrounded by them. I love Rhossili, Caswell and Langland Bay. There’s a few more I’ve been to, while I need to tick off Tenby and the Pembrokeshire coastline when this lockdown is over because I’m told it’s really nice there too.

“The boys keep telling me that I’ve got to have a BBQ on the beach too as that’s really popular.

“So it’s a great place to live and work because there’s so much to do here. I’ve fallen in love with south west Wales.

“I’m just looking forward to helping the team as much as possible when the season restarts as we have the quality to push into the play-offs during the remaining nine games.”