Peterson follows in famous Swansea City footsteps
Swansea City confirmed the arrival of Swedish forward Kristoffer Peterson as the club’s new number 11.
The 24-year-old follows in the footsteps of a number of fine players to have worn that jersey for the Swans.
Here, we look at those who carried the number 11 with distinction in Swansea colours.
Brian Evans
Born in Brynmawr, Evans was signed for Swansea Town by Trevor Morris in July 1963. Evans made his debut against Derby County in September 1963 before going on to become a key member of the Swans team who reached the 1963-64 FA Cup semi-finals.
Some six seasons later, Evans played an integral role in the Swans’ promotion from the Fourth Division under the guidance of Roy Bentley.
The tricky winger was credited for his accurate crosses and eye for a goal and could often be seen causing havoc on either flank.
Scoring 57 goals in his 356 league appearances for the Swans, Evans, alongside Len Allchurch, supplied the Swans’ strikeforce of Herbie Williams and David Gwyther with the goalscoring opportunities to fire the side to promotion to the Third Division in the 1969-70 season.
The father of former Swans physiotherapist Richard, Evans left the Swans to sign for Hereford United at the end of the 1972-73 season, when financial troubles saw the Swans forced to offload a number of players.
He passed away in 2003 after a short battle with cancer.
Scott Sinclair
Sinclair signed for the Swans from Chelsea in August 2010, making his debut in a 4-0 victory over Preston North End less than a week later.
Initially wearing the number 21, he went on to score his first career hat-trick in September 2010, in a 3-1 win against Peterborough United in the League Cup as he quickly established himself as a fans’ favourite with his goalscoring exploits.
Sinclair netted 27 goals in his first season with the Liberty club, helping Brendan Rodgers’ side to the Championship play-offs.
Arguably his most memorable moment in a Swans shirt came in the 2011 Championship play-off final at Wembley, with Sinclair the hat-trick hero as promotion to the Premier League was secured.
The winger - now wearing the number 11 shirt - went on to score the Swans’ first Premier League goal with a penalty in a 3-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion.
Sinclair left the Swans in August 2012, signing for Premier League champions Manchester City on a four-year deal and currently plies his trade with Scottish champions Celtic.
Tommy Hutchinson
In 1985, Tommy Hutchinson became the oldest player to be signed for the Swans as he joined just two months short of his 38th birthday.
Not that age proved any problem as Hutchinson’s superb fitness levels often saw him leave players 15 years his junior for dust.
An influential player, Hutchinson mostly played on the left side of midfield and took the likes of Terry Phelan and Chris Coleman under his wing.
He returned from a broken leg in 1988 to guide the Swans to victory in the Fourth Division play-off final against Torquay United, and also played in both legs of the European Cup Winners’ Cup tie against Panathinaikos the following season.
His last match for the Swans came in March 1991 against Southend United. That outing, at the age of 43 years and 171 days, means Hutchinson remains the oldest player to play a league game for the Swans.
After making 178 appearances for the club, Hutchinson left SA1 in 1991 to join Merthyr as player/assistant manager.
Bob Latchford
Birmingham-born Latchford was a prolific goalscorer who was signed by John Toshack for £125,000 on the eve of the 1981-82 season as the Swans looked to strengthen their front-line options following their promotion to the First Division.
Thousands lined the stands of the Vetch Field in August 1981 to see the Swans’ first ever top-flight match against Leeds United, in a game that has gone down in the history books.
The game was level at 1-1 as the sides came out for the second-half, but that did not last long as - after just 45 seconds - Latchford netted to restore the hosts’ lead before completing his hat-trick within the next 10 minutes to claim the Swans’ first win in Division One.
Latchford went on to net 12 league goals as the Swans finished sixth in the top-flight and won the Welsh Cup.
Despite finding the net another 15 times the following season, the Swans were relegated, and Latchford would move to Holland’s NAC Breda in February 1984.
Cliff Jones
Born in Swansea in 1935, Jones began his football career with his hometown club, where he went on to make just under 200 appearances in all competitions and scored 54 goals.
At the age of 17, Jones signed for Billy McCandless’ Swansea Town in 1952. Originally an inside forward, Jones netted his first goal for the Swans against Leeds United in his third league game for McCandless’ side.
Jones developed into a rapid left-winger during the 1953-54 season which proved to be an inspired move, and his speed and courage marked him out as one of the greatest wingers of his time.
Jones had a good eye for goal and hit double figures in three of the following four campaigns, including a hat-trick against Bristol Rovers in December 1957.
Jones played in consecutive West Wales Senior Cup Final successes in the years 1955, 1956 and 1957.
His career at the Swans came to an end in 1958, when he signed for Tottenham Hotspur for £35,000, which was then a record fee for a winger.
He went on to help Spurs win the double under Bill Nicholson, with further successes coming in the FA Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup in the following seasons.
Jones was also part of the Wales side who reached the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup.
