Past USA tours: Heading to the capital
With the Swans currently preparing for their seventh season in the Premier League with a 10-day training camp in Philadelphia and North Carolina, we take a look back at the club’s previous tours to America.
In the third part of the series, the Swans head Stateside in July 2016 . . .
Swansea City’s third American adventure came under the managerial guidance of Francesco Guidolin, who had helped secure the club’s top-flight status the previous campaign.
Based in Washington DC for 11 days, right in the shadow of the imposing White House, the tour took in two games against United Soccer League sides Charlotte Independence and Richmond Kickers.
Guidolin named a 23-man squad for the trip which included new signings Leroy Fer and Mike van der Hoorn, plus young talents Daniel James, Joe Rodon, Connor Roberts and Oliver McBurnie.
Euro 2016 quartet Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor, Lukasz Fabianski and Gylfi Sigurdsson were not part of the squad as they were given extra time off, along while Ki Sung-Yueng and Jefferson Montero, who were also rested following international commitments.
Swans' 23-man squad for US tour: Josh Vickers, Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Gerhard Tremmel; Stephen Kingsley, Connor Roberts, Angel Rangel, Kyle Naughton, Jordi Amat, Mike van der Hoorn, Federico Fernandez, Joe Rodon; Leon Britton, Jack Cork, Leroy Fer, Nathan Dyer, Jay Fulton, Adam King, Daniel James, Wayne Routledge, Kenji Gorre, Modou Barrow, Andre Ayew, Oli McBurnie.
The Swans got the tour off to a winning start with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Charlotte Independence.
Goals from Oli McBurnie, Kenji Gorre and a double from Wayne Routledge rounded off an excellent night's work in the humid heat of Ramblewood Stadium, North Carolina.
There was a first senior start for Swansea-born central defender Joe Rodon, 18, having been at the club since the tender age of eight. Daniel James, 18, also made his first senior start along with striker McBurnie, 20.
Swans (first half): Kristoffer Nordfeldt; Kyle Naughton, Stephen Kingsley, Joe Rodon, Federico Fernandez, Leon Britton (c), Jack Cork, Kenji Gorre, Nathan Dyer, Oliver McBurnie, Daniel James.
Subs: Josh Vickers; Angel Rangel, Connor Roberts, Jordi Amat, Mike van der Hoorn, Leroy Fer, Jay Fulton, Adam King, Wayne Routledge, Modou Barrow.
Swans (second half): Josh Vickers; Angel Rangel (c), Connor Roberts, Jordi Amat, Mike van der Hoorn, Leroy Fer, Jay Fulton, Adam King, Wayne Routledge, Oliver McBurnie, Modou Barrow.
Swansea’s second friendly, however, was certainly one to remember as they suffered a 2-0 defeat on a difficult night at the City Stadium where the game was suspended in the 42nd minute due to lightning.
As a severe storm swept in, heavy rain, winds and flashes of lightning forced the teams to remain in the dressing room for 95 minutes before play restarted.
And it always looked one of those nights for the Swans as an own goal from Jordi Amat set up Richmond Kickers for victory, with substitute Anthony Grant wrapping things up in Virginia.
Swans (first half): Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Connor Roberts, Kyle Naughton, Jordi Amat, Federico Fernandez, Leroy Fer, Daniel James, Jay Fulton, Wayne Routledge (c), Modou Barrow, Andre Ayew.
Subs: Gerhard Tremmel, Stephen Kingsley, Angel Rangel, Joe Rodon, Mike van der Hoorn, Leon Britton, Jack Cork, Adam King, Kenji Gorre, Nathan Dyer, Oli McBurnie.
Swans (second half): Gerhard Tremmel, Stephen Kingsley, Angel Rangel, Joe Rodon, Mike van der Hoorn, Leon Britton, Jack Cork, Adam King, Kenji Gorre, Nathan Dyer, Oli McBurnie.
It would prove to be a difficult campaign on British soil.
Guidolin would eventually part company with the club, as would American boss Bob Bradley, before Swansea’s third manager, Paul Clement, secured Swansea’s Premier League status.
