Hi everyone and welcome once again to the Swansea.com Stadium as we host Blackburn Rovers under the lights.
While we were disappointed not to take all three points against Birmingham at the weekend, I think it was again clear to see the game-by-game improvements the squad are making as they, Vitor and our wider coaching staff have the opportunity to spend more time working on the training pitch.
The aggressive nature of our work without the ball has been evident from the moment Vitor arrived at the club, but we are also now seeing clear indicators of a greater attacking threat in the final third and we are creating chances with regularity during games.
To this point, since Vitor joined us, we are top in the league for counter pressures and we are third for PPDA (passes per defensive action), both are metrics that we discussed as key performance metrics for the team.
We have also created the third most chances in the league over the past 10 games.
Of course, the key is to make sure we take as many of them as possible when they arise, but the fact we now look a more dangerous proposition is only going to be a positive for us.
We are producing a brand of football that is full of energy and endeavour, and is also enjoyable to watch. The atmosphere in the stadium on matchdays, and your response to the efforts of the players underlines that.
If we can have a similar performance and atmosphere tonight, then that will give us the best possible chance of extended our unbeaten record at home.
We recognise that will not be easy, no game in the Championship is. We face a Blackburn side who, like us, are keen to put points on the board to start to propel them up the table, but we certainly want to build on the feeling of positivity and a growing momentum around the club at the moment.
Last night I was delighted to see our under-18s progress in the FA Youth Cup with a 2-1 win away to Leeds United. A goal from Callum Jones and winner in the last minute of extra time from Billy Clarke will see us progress to the next round.
A huge congratulations to everyone within the team and the coaches, parents and support for continuing to help play their part in the development of our stars of the future.
The academy remains a core focus for us moving forward. Our recent technical board meeting (which Vitor attended) provided a clear focus and strategy for the academy moving forward. We have already seen the benefits of this with the under-21s getting increased exposure to the first-team through joint sessions and there are further plans to expand opportunities throughout the age groups.
We hope that moving forward that this will lead to more first-team opportunities for the best young talent at the club helping us be as efficient and self-sufficient as possible.
Away from the action on the pitch, I want to take a moment to recognise the staff who helped the Swansea.com Stadium become Levyâs Venue of the Year across all the locations they are in partnership with across the UK, Ireland and Europe.
That success is a testament to the strength of our working relationship and the manner in which club and Levy staff dovetail so effectively across our hospitality, food and beverage, and events and conferencing offerings.
I want to congratulate everyone who has contributed to this success, and hope we can continue to build on this award by giving all who visit our home the best possible experience.
Thank you again for all of your continued support,
Tom Gorringe
CEO, Swansea City
Good evening all and welcome as we face Blackburn Rovers at the Swansea.com Stadium.
It is another quick turnaround following our game here against Birmingham City just over 72 hours ago, and that is a big part of the challenge of the Championship.
We took a point on Saturday and, while we were frustrated we did not win the game after hitting the crossbar three times and then conceding while down to 10 men, we felt there was a lot we could take from our performance. I thought the first half, in particular, was probably the best 45 minutes since I joined the club.
It was good to see us creating chances and becoming more of a threat as an attacking side.
We are becoming a more dangerous team, then it is about efficiency and taking the chances.
We are going in the right direction, I am really happy with the boys and the tenacity and character they are putting on the pitch.
They are resilient and they, along with the fans and the staff, are really buying into the idea of how we want to play.
We are increasing our possibilities to score, and this comes from our press, the counter press, being dominant with the ball and this allowing us to be closer to the opposition goal.
You also need balance, of course, and thatâs how we can continue to get more chances. We feel we are going in the right direction and it is down to us to keep going.
Our focus has been on learning from the game, and making sure we recover well to be ready for another important game tonight.
Every fixture in this division feels like a big game at the moment because of how close everything is in the Championship.
So it is important that we quickly recover and move forward with the right focus and mentality for this game and make sure we make the improvements we need.
Your support has been brilliant and I know you will be loud, proud and right behind us again tonight.
Before I finish, I also want to congratulate everyone involved in our under-18sâ brilliant victory over Leeds United in the FA Youth Cup last night. This club is rightly proud of its academy and the players we develop, and to beat a Category One side away from home is a fantastic achievement.
Enjoy the game,
VĂtor Matos,
First Team Head Coach
Good evening and welcome to everyone for this Championship clash with Blackburn Rovers at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Both sides come into this game knowing that points are needed to move them further towards safety with Blackburnâs last Championship victory a 2-0 home win over Millwall on December 20.
Since then, they have not won in six league and cup games, and arrive in Swansea on the back of a 3-0 defeat at Championship high-fliers Ipswich Town on Saturday.
Those league results have seen Valerien Ismaelâs men drop to 20th in the league table on 28 points ahead of tonightâs clash, only one point ahead of Norwich in the final relegation spot.
Vitor Matosâ Swansea team are five points better off in 16th place after Saturdayâs 1-1 draw with Birmingham City.
The Swans are six points clear of the drop zone and are undefeated at home in the league in five games, but after Saturdayâs draw there was a clear feeling an opportunity had been missed following a decent showing.
Once again, a side was there for the taking but the failure to finish Birmingham off - having hit the bar three times - would have disappointed the Swans boss.
The Swans had been looking for a fifth straight home win under Vitor, so there is no doubt the side is heading in the right direction, and thatâs why there was so much disappointment at the end of a game that the Swans had been unable to put themselves clear of the visitors before Patrick Robertsâ equaliser.
That there was so much disappointment suggests the fans believe the Swans are on the up, too, but against Blackburn tonight, they simply have to be more ruthless and take the chances to make the game safe.
On a personal note, I would like to thank Swansea City Supportersâ Trust chairman Dave Dalton for giving me the opportunity to work with the Trust as a co-opted board member on my return from Australia, where I have been living for the past 20 years.
I was working on the South Wales Evening Post when the Trust was formed in 2000 in a bid to attempt to oust Tony Petty. Thankfully the Trust helped the club get out of that hole and itâs fantastic to see the progress made in the past 25 years.
The club has come a long way since those dark days under Petty and itâs hard to believe that was a quarter of a century ago. I was there when the first meetings were held and to see what the Trust is doing now for the club and its supporters is nothing short of remarkable.
Having been on the outside looking in, to now have the privilege of working with the Trust, I can see just how much they do. They still need more members and itâs not expensive to join, so I would urge all Swans fans to get on board. It literally just takes a few minutes to do online here: https://www.swanstrust.co.uk/join-the-trust/.
I have always loved the night games under lights at the Vetch Field and the Swansea.com Stadium, especially against the bigger clubs. There is no doubt Blackburn are a big club, having won the Premier League in 1995.
But they will not be so confident after their string of results, so itâs important that the three points come our way tonight and we can continue the unbeaten home league run under Vitor Matos, so letâs hear that Swansea roar tonight.
Come on you Jacks.
Phil
As part of a ongoing feature in our digital matchday programme for the 2025-26 campaign, we are calling on all Swans fans to share their memories and experiences of supporting the club this season by submitting your stories and pictures. We will publish a selection over the course of the season, and you can share your stories with us through the link below.
Ar ddiwrnod y gĂȘm heddiw dwiân troiân 26 oed ac yn ystod fy mywyd gymharol fyr hyd yma dwi wedi gweld yr Elyrch yn fy nghyffroi, siomi a gwneud i mi gwestiynu os ydw iân iawn yn feddyliol. Ond o gwmpas adeg fy mhenblwydd dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf mae sawl canlyniad wedi aros yn y cof, felly dwi am siarad am dri oâr rhai sydd yn sefyll allan mwyaf i mi wrth ddathlu blwyddyn arall yn gwylio Abertawe.
15 Ionawr 2012 Abertawe 3-2 Arsenal
Y peth cyntaf syân sefyll allan am y gĂȘm hon yw bod fi bron heb fynd. Roedd hiân ddydd Sul a diwrnod ar ĂŽl aros lan trwyâr nos yn chwarae FIFA gyda ffrindiau ac roeddwn iân hollol flinedig y diwrnod nesaf. Ond roedd Arsenal yn ymweld ag Abertawe, tĂźm roeddwn i wedi edmygu ers tro ac roedd y ffaith bod Thierry Henry nĂŽl gydaâr clwb ar fenthyg a chyfle iâw weld yn chwaraeân fyw yn gyfle rhy dda i golli. Roân iân cwympo i gysgu yn y car ar y ffordd iâr gĂȘm, ond unwaith oân i yn y stadiwm roeddwn i yn sicr wedi deffro. Dechreuodd Arsenal y gorau trwy sgorioân gynnar, a dwi dal yn cofio dad yn dweud âbydd cefn dost âda Michel Vorm heddi o bigoâr bĂȘl allan oâr rhwyd.â Mor anghywir oedd hynny wrth i ni ddangos ein dawn wrth gadw meddiant a symud y Gunners o gwmpas y cae.
Nathan Dyer yn ennill cic oâr smotyn cyn i Sinclair sgorio i unioniâr sgĂŽr ac yna Dyer yn troiân sgoriwr wrth iddo glipioâr bel heibio Wojciech Szczesny i roi ni ar y blaen. Doeddwn i ffili creduâr peth, ond roedd y dathlu heb baraân hir iawn wrth i Theo Walcott wedyn sgorio. Ond roedd hiân llai na funud cyn i bas gwych Gylfi Sigurdsson ganfod Danny Graham, ac roedd ei ergyd isel i gornel y rhwyd wedi rhoiâr Elyrch ar y blaen eto. Am gĂȘm, am awyrgylch ac am ganlyniad. Roedd y gĂȘm honno wedi dangos i mi beidio byth colli gĂȘm heblaw bod rheswm da.
23 Ionawr 2013 Abertawe (2)0-0(0) Chelsea. Rownd gyn-derfynol Cwpan Carling
Does dim angen i fi mynd i fanylder am y rhesymau pam bod y gĂȘm hon yn aros yn y cof. Ond dwi mynd i gadw ffwrdd o Charlie Morgan ac Eden Hazard a ffocysu ar beth roedd hwn yn ei olygu i ni fel clwb. Roedd y gĂȘm gyntaf yn Stamford Bridge yn hollol anghredadwy. Fiân cofio eistedd yn y tĆ· gyda fy rhieni ar noson ysgol yn methu credu bod niân ennill yn erbyn Chelsea a cham yn agosaf at chwarae mewn rownd derfynol Cwpan Carling.
Roedd y gĂȘm hon yn enfawr - roedd pawb yn gwybod byddai Chelsea yn ceisio ymosod oâr munud cyntaâ a dial am y gem gyntaf yn Llundain. Ond yr Elyrch oedd gyda rhan fwyaf oâr meddiant, yn rheoliâr chwarae. Un peth fiân cofio oâr noson yma oedd Michu yn rhedeg yn ddi-ffael ar ĂŽl pob un peth. Nid oedd yn rhoiâr ffidl yn y to o gwbl ac roedd yn benderfynol o redeg ar ĂŽl popeth. Roedd Chelsea yn bygwth, roedd yn rhaid i Gerhard Tremmel ein hachub wrth i Oscar a Ramires fynd yn agos, ac roedd Angel Rangel wedi clirioâr bĂȘl oddi ar y llinell o beniad Gary Cahill. Wrth iâr gĂȘm mynd yn ei blaen mater o ddal ar oedd hi, a pheidio rhoi unrhyw gyfleoedd i Chelsea. Pan oedd y chwiban olaf wedi cael ei chwythu roedd dathlu enfawr yn y stadiwm, a fi yn 13 oed yn methu credu bod gen i gyfle i fynd i wylio Clwb PĂȘl-droed Dinas Abertawe yn chwarae yn Wembley ETO. Diwrnod iâw chofio.
30 Ionawr 2018 Abertawe 3-1 Arsenal
Fe ddaeth y canlyniad yma yn ystod dyddiau heriol iâr clwb. Canlyniadau gwael ar y cae a bygythiad go iawn i ni ddisgyn lawr iâr Bencampwriaeth ar y pryd. Roedd y fuddugoliaeth hon wedi ein codi allan oâr safleoedd disgyn, ac ein hail fuddugoliaeth yn olynol ar ĂŽl curo Liverpool yn Anfield. Roedd cymaint o chwaraewr gwych yn y garfan yma; Lukasz Fabianski, Alfie Mawson, Jordan Ayew, maeâr rhestr yn un hir. Ond y seren yn y gĂȘm hon oedd rhywun sydd bellach ddim yn un o ffefrynnau cefnogwyr yr Elyrch, Sam Clucas. Ei ergyd ef yn dilyn pas gwych gan Alfie Mawson oedd wedi unioniâr sgĂŽr wedi i Nacho Monreal sgorioâr gĂŽl gyntaf.
Yn yr ail hanner Abertawe oedd y tĂźm gorau, ond fe ddaeth yr ail gĂŽl yn hollol annisgwyl trwy gamgymeriad gan un o golwyr gorauâr Uwch Gynghrair. Ceisiodd Petr Cech clirioâr bĂȘl ond fe aeth rhyw dwy lathen i Jordan Ayew, oedd gydaâr dasg syml o basioâr bĂȘl i gefn y rhwyd. Ni fyddaiâr drydydd gĂŽl wedi dod heb waith gwych Ayew wrth garioâr bĂȘl heibio amddiffyn Arsenal iâr byline cyn trosglwyddo'r bĂȘl i Clucas ergydio trwy sawl corff yn y cwrt chwech ac ymestyn mantais Abertawe. Roedd y dyddiau hynny dan Carlos Carvalhal yn rhai rhyfedd braidd. Ei ddywediadau gwallgof cyn gemau oedd weithiauân gweithio a weithiau ddim. Yn anffodus disgyn oâr Uwch Gynghrair oedd ein hanes y flwyddyn honno, ond roedd sawl atgof melys oân cyfnod yng nghynghrair gorauâr byd.
The start of the 2025-26 season marked 20 years since Swansea City moved into our Swansea.com Stadium home.
To mark the anniversary, club historian Gwyn Rees is profiling members of the first Swans squad to grace the stadium during the 2005-06 campaign. This time, he looks at the career of Kevin McLeod, a talented, exciting winger who burned brightly but briefly in a Swansea shirt.
It took something special to take the limelight off Lee Trundle during his time at Swansea City, but for the opening weeks of the 2005-06 season, Kevin McLeod did just that with his display on the pitch and the goals he scored.
Unfortunately this exceptional show of his undoubted talent was brief and shortlived, but is still remembered well by Swans fans who witnessed it.
Born in Liverpool in 1980, Kevin began his career as a trainee at Everton's academy in 1996. He graduated through the various age groups to push for contention for the first team squad by the 2000-01 season and, though he made five substitute appearances for the Toffees, regular first-team opportunities proved limited.
Eventually he moved on to Queens Park Rangers in March 2003 on loan where his manager was the enthusiastic and eccentric Ian Holloway, and during his short time at Loftus Road he featured in all of their final eight league games of the season, and the play-offs as the side reached the Division One final at the Millenium Stadium, where they agonisingly lost 1-0 to Cardiff City.
McLeod did sign a new one-year deal at Everton, but the die was cast and at the beginning of the new season he went back to QPR, this time in a full-time move for a fee of around ÂŁ250,000.
He played 40 times in that season for the Rangers, but most of his appearances were off the bench, and towards the end of the following season he was persuaded by former assistant manager at Rangers - Kenny Jackett - to sign for the Swans.
This was the final season at the Vetch Field, and Kevin's 11 games came at the end of an historic period in the clubâs history, with the team gain automatic promotion with a third-place finish to sign off from their famous old home in style.
The move to the New Stadium â now the Swansea.com Stadium â after promotion saw an enthusiasm and excitement not seen for many a long year and Jackett and his players started the new era in fine fashion.
McLeod was at the forefront, netting seven goals in the first six fixtures, including a hat-trick in a 7-1 thumping of Bristol City.
Unfortunately for the player and the Swans, this early season form was not to last and by March of 2006 the player was disciplined and put on the transfer list for unacceptable behaviour, which included being seen out drinking the night before a game.
The relationship between player and manager never recovered, and in April things got worse for McLeod when he fractured his ankle amidst the teamâs battle to make the play-offs.
He played in the second half of extra time against Barnsley in the final at the Millenium Stadium, but was in Colchester colours by the time the 2006-07 season rolled around.
He spent two seasons at the Essex side, but his final season there saw the side face the disappointment of relegation. McLeod turned down the offer of a new contract at Colchester, moving on a free transfer to Brighton and Hove Albion.
After a promising start to life in Sussex, Kevin found injuries restricting his playing time, and by January 2010 he was released by the club.
This began a period of uncertainty for Kevin, and over the next 12 months he made appearances for Wycombe, Redbridge, Braintree and finally Thurrock before working as DJ in recent years.
Blackburn Rovers were founded in 1875 and became a founding member of The Football League in 1888.
Rovers have spent most of their existence in the top-flight of English football, winning three league titles - the most recent of which came in the 1994-95 season under Sir Kenny Dalglish.
The Lancashire club have also won six FA Cups and one League Cup, with the latter being their most recent major trophy after they beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at the Millennium Stadium in 2002.
Rovers were last in the Premier League 12 years ago, and did have a solitary season in League One during the 2017-18 campaign, but returned to the second tier at the first time of asking.
They have been in the Championship ever since.
EWOOD PARK
Built: 1882
Location: Nuttall Street, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 4JF
Capacity: 31,367
Frenchman Valerien Ismael was appointed as Rovers boss in February of this year, replacing John Eustace.
Ismael had also served as Watford boss during the 2023-24 season, but departed Vicarage Road in the March of that campaign.
He previously had the reins at Besiktas and West Bromwich Albion, but his biggest success as a coach in the English game came with Barnsley.
After succeeding Gerhard Struber, he led the Tykes to the 2021 play-offs where they were beaten by the Swans in the semi-finals.
During his playing career, Ismaël enjoyed spells with Strasbourg, Crystal Palace, Lens, Werder Bremen, Hannover 96 and Bayern Munich.
The former centre-half has vast managerial experience, most notably leading Austrian side LASK to their first-ever Champions League play-off. IsmaĂ«l has also had stints in charge of Hannover 96, VfL Wolfsburg II, F.C. NĂŒrnberg, VfL Wolfsburg and Apollon Smyrnis.
Former Norwich man Todd Cantwell was named Rovers skipper following the departure of Lewis Travis.
Now 27, Cantwell began his career at Carrow Road and worked his way up to senior level. He made 129 appearances for the Canaries, helping them win the Championship in 2019 and 2021.
The creative midfielder went on to join Rangers in January 2023, spending 18 months at Ibrox and winning the Scottish League Cup before moving to Blackburn in the summer of 2024.
He enjoyed an excellent first season in Lancashire, contributing three goals and seven assists, and is a key attacking fulcrum.
Full-back Ryan Alebiosu was on the books at Arsenal and featured for their under-21s in the EFL Trophy, but did not make a senior appearance for the Gunners.
Having gained experience during loan spells with Crewe and Kilmarnock, he made a permanent move to Belgian club KV Kortrijk in 2023.
With Kortrijk struggling he spent the second half of last season on loan with St Mirren, and he has excelled during his first season in the Championship, being linked with Premier League clubs as a result of his fine form.
He has just returned from the African Cup of Nations, where he was part of the Nigeria squad.
Defender Sean McLoughlin has been a regular for Rovers since arriving from Hull City over the summer.
The 29-year-old Irishman, who hails from Cork, made his senior debut for his hometown club having been part of their youth set-up earlier in his fledgling career.
His performances soon attracted the interest of clubs across the Irish Sea, and he joined the Tigers in 2019, spending the first half of that upcoming season on loan in Scotland with St Mirren.
He returned to Hull in January 2020 and made the first of his 129 league appearances for them the following month against Reading.
McLoughlin's aerial ability and unfussy approach to dealing with his defensive duties and have made him a reliable Championship performer, and he continues to exhibit those qualities at Ewood Park.
Japanese forward Yuki Ohashi netted 10 goals in all competitions for Blackburn last season as he made an impressive start to life in the Championship, and has scored six more this term.
The 29-year-old forward made the move to English football after spells with Shonan Bellmare and Sanfrecce Hiroshima in his homeland.
He has also won two caps for his country and his guile and movement have made him a handful for Championship defences.
When I first started taking an interest in football as a young child in the early 1970s, I remember being fascinated by club crests.
Especially when I noticed some of them had strange writing on them which I didnât recognise as English or Welsh.
Of course, I later learned the language was Latin and what the words actually meant.
It struck me that some of the Latin mottos on the crests were more fitting than others.
For example, Evertonâs âNil satis nisi optimumâ translates to âNothing but the best is good enoughâ.
Iâm sure there have been times over Evertonâs 148-year history when their fans have questioned the appropriateness of the motto!
Meanwhile, the Latin words on this eveningâs opponentsâ crest â âArte et laboreâ, translate to âby skill and labourâ, which I personally think is an excellent motto for a football club.
Skill and hard work are probably two of the qualities us football fans value more than any other in our teams.
If the players show us skill and effort, they surely canât go far wrong in earning our support.
Of course, Blackburn and Everton, arenât the only clubs with a splash of Latin on their club crests and badges.
Spursâ motto is âAudere est facereâ, which translates as âTo dare is to doâ.
Whenever, I hear the English version, for some reason I imagine Del Boy saying it â âTo dare is to do, Rodney, to dare is to doâ!
Another of the Latin footballing motos which stand out is Gillinghamâs âdomus clamantiumâ which translates as âhome of the shouting menâ.
Again, like Blackburnâs motto, I think it is particularly apt for a football club, although perhaps not 100 per cent diverse these days. Although Iâm not sure why the tenants of the Priestfield Stadium believe they are more deserving of this claim than any other club.
When Blackburn played Wrexham on New Yearâs Day, I was surprised by the badge which adorned the kit the Lancashire club was wearing to celebrate its 150th anniversary.
Iâd assumed the modern club badge and its motto dated back in some guise or another to the clubâs formation way back in 1875.
But I noticed the specially designed anniversary kit had a very distinctive large blue Maltese Cross on it and no motto.
Although the motto had previously been used temporarily, the original version of the current club badge, bearing âArte et Laboreâ wasnât introduced until the 1990s.
Iâd always assumed the Latin mottos dated back to the end of 19th century when the earliest professional clubs like Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday and others were first formed.
Which got me wondering, if Blackburn didnât permanently introduce their motto onto their shirts until the 20th century, perhaps the Swans could introduce one in the 21st century.
And if we were to have one, what would it be?
Well, the City of Swansea already has a Latin motto on its coat of arms â âFloreat Swanseaâ, which translates to âSwansea Flowerâ or âMay Swansea Flourishâ, which wouldnât be the worst motto in the world to have on the club badge.
But then my imagination started running away with me.
I started to think of some modern phrases connected with the Swans or the city which might make impressive sounding Latin mottos.
Before we go any further, please let me explain that Latin was being withdrawn from the West Glamorgan Education Committee curriculum by the time I got to secondary school in the late 1970s.
My knowledge of the language is virtually nil. As a result, some of the translations may not be entirely accurate, may be subject to some poetic licence, or Google translate was just plain wrong!
So, before we go any further, my sincerest apologies to any Latin scholars out there.
Mea culpa, as you might say! But some of them do look quite impressive, even if they make absolutely no sense!
So here are my very much tongue-in-cheek suggestions. Which do you think would look best on the famous white shirt?
Oppidum foedum amoenum: Ugly lovely town â a description of Swansea by poet Dylan Thomas in âReminiscences of Childhoodâ.
Ambitio magni momenti est: Ambition is critical â a phrase originated by another Swansea-based poet and writer David Hughes, which was popularised in the cult film âTwin Townâ.
Non potest adiuvare in amorem incidere apud te: âI Canât Help Falling in Love with Youâ â an Elvis Presley song popular amongst the Jack Army.
Superbe cygnus esse: Be proud to be a Swan â popular Swans slogan which was used during the building of the new East Stand at the Vetch and on the matchday programme.
Superbia Walliae â The Pride of Wales â well, we just are, arenât we!
Pastillum botello fartum ad merendam, pueri: Hot dogs for tea, boys! Another reference to a line from the film âTwin Townâ, which, for the uninitiated, is set in Swansea.
Natare auferet: Swim away - if you know, you know!
Unum nihil ovium ********: One nil to the sheep ******** - the Jack Armyâs reply to the hugely original chant every single visiting team tries to taunt us with â until we take the lead.
On second thoughts, perhaps itâs best if we leave the Latin to the linguists and the likes of todayâs visitors.
Or perhaps we could adopt a Welsh motto â Dal Dy Dir (hold your ground or stand your ground) has long been featured on a flag in the East Stand here. It definitely beats my attempts at Latin anyway!
Come on you Swans, or should that be Agite vos Cygni!
Booking is now open for Swansea City AFC Foundationâs February Soccer Camps.
The February school half-term is approaching quickly, starting on Monday February 16 with Soccer Camps running every day in various locations.
Find the Foundation in Ammanford, Cefn Hengoed, Bishopston, Penyrheol, Llanelli, Pembroke or Llandarcy to enjoy a day filled with football fun.
Soccer Camps run between 10am and 2:30pm and young Jacks will learn new skills in the morning by taking part in technical drills and activities, before putting their skills to the test in the afternoon during mini games and tournaments.
Spaces are limited so be sure to book soon to avoid missing out.
First football shirt you owned?
England
Best player you've played with?
Matt OâRiley
What's your go-to cheat meal?
Nando's
Who's the joker in the dressing room?
Vigs
If you weren't a footballer, what would you be?
Unemployed
Who's your top artist on Spotify right now?
Morgan Wallen
Can you name Welsh word?
Araf (slow)
Toughest opponent you've faced?
Man City
Favourite holiday destination?
Portugal
Who's your hometown club?
Wigan
Favourite football memory?
Last min winner (Cardiff)
While there is much hard work ahead over the second half of this 2025-26 Championship season it is telling that when Marko Stamenic is asked about the improvement in Swansea Cityâs home form under Vitor Matos there is one word that is at the forefront of his answer: personality.
There are other words that could be uses, such as energy, enthusiasm and desire, but personality is arguably the biggest thing that has stood out as the Swans have gradually and incrementally made steps game by game.
The head coach is a big personality as supporters themselves will have recognised. Passionate and positive, yet humble and hard-working.
Those are qualities that have been reflected in recent performances, particularly on home turf where the Swans have won four and drawn one of their last five heading into tonightâs game against Blackburn.
Those are underlined statistically, with Swansea having created the third-most chances in the Championship across the last 10 league games, as well as leading the division for successful counter-pressures
Midfielder Stamenic has been among the players who has stood-out since the appointment of the Portuguese, and he acknowledges the positive impact he has made since his arrival from Maritimo.
âAs a group we are enjoying working with him,â he said.
âWe really like him. He is clear in the ideas he brings, and he has a real personality and itâs really been a big and important change for us.
âI think you can see that has translated into our performances in games with the energy we are showing, the fight we are showing and the aggression we are showing other teams. Itâs an enjoyable way to play.
âI think thatâs what being a Swansea team is about and weâre looking forward to trying to continue to improve and follow what he wants from us.
âMost importantly, I feel we are becoming consistent with our performances which shows we keep building. We just need to turn these chances and performances in to wins.
âWe all believe these performances will translate into results, weâre past the midway point in the season now, so weâve got to turn it around.â
Stamenicâs excellent form has come following a challenging time for the New Zealand international.
His father Nikola passed away in October, and he dedicated his first goal for the Swans â in the December victory over Oxford â to his memory.
And Stamenic says he and his family are very grateful for the support they have received from the football family following their loss.
âIt means a lot, it is always emotional thinking about that, about someone so close to me and close to our family,â he said.
âThat goal was definitely dedicated to him, the hard work we had together as a family to get me to where I am now. There is a huge part missing for me but I know he is watching from above.â
Nikola hailed from Novi Sad in Serbia, but he and his family fled the region in the 1990s amidst the brutal conflict of the Yugoslav civil war.
They chose to settle in New Zealand, where Nikola would meet Markoâs mother, who is of Samoan heritage.
While Stamenic has height and physical presence that suggest he could have been an All Black rather than playing for the All Whites, it was always football that captured his imagination as a youngster.
Having made the brave decision to commit to a move to Europe in the wake of the Covid pandemic, he has featured for some of the continentâs most notable clubs, including Copenhagen, Red Star Belgrade Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos.
He won silverware with three of those four clubs, and at international level he helped New Zealand qualify through the Oceania play-offs for the upcoming 2026 World Cup finals.
The finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico will mark just the third time New Zealand have featured in the showpiece.
Stamenic can remember watching a squad including former Swan Rory Fallon at the 2010 tournament as a kid, and while he knows he has a job to focus on with Swansea first, he is excited at the prospect of being involved on the gameâs biggest stage.
âIt was definitely a surreal feeling when we qualified,â he said.
âI remember watching the 2010 World Cup (in South Africa) with my father, waking up early for the games. I think we were the only unbeaten team in that tournament because Spain lost one of their group games on the way to winning it.
âIâd say to my dad, âI really want to be there with New Zealand one dayâ. They are really fond memories, and I know Rory Fallon â who was here at Swansea â was in that squad.
âWe may not be the biggest nation in terms of population or area, but weâve always punched above our weight and weâre proud of it.
âNew Zealand is slowly seeing the potential of our little nation doing well at the World Cup.â
Late drama ensured Swansea City progressed to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup thanks to a thrilling 2-1 extra-time victory over Leeds United at the LNER Community Stadium.
A last-minute goal from Billy Clarke sealed the Swansâ passage to the next round following a superb performance against a Category One academy.
Prior to the additional period the Swans had taken a deserved first-half lead through Callum Jones, with Carrick Nkinko and Callum Mills threatening shortly before the interval for the hosts.
Nkinko scored an equaliser shortly after the hour mark, but as the second half wore on it was Swansea who looked the more likely to find a winner.
They could not manage it before the original 90 minutes was up. However, Clarke slotted home in the final moments of extra time to seal a famous victory for the age-grade side.
The Swans had made the perfect start when a clearance from Brogan Popham was superbly brought under control by Jones on the halfway line. He then drove past several Leeds players before curling a fine effort into the corner to continue his excellent recent form.
Swansea continued to create chances and looked dangerous on the counter as Caio Ifans drove down the left before picking out Jones inside the area. The winger was initially stopped by the Leeds defence, but the rebound fell to Harlan Perry, who ran onto a first-time effort from outside the box that blazed over the bar.
It was Nkinko who looked the most threatening for the hosts and he went close to finding an equaliser after a slick team move saw the winger get into space on the edge of the area. Cutting onto his left foot, he looked to pick out the far corner, but his effort drifted wide.
The winger continued to cause problems down the Swansea left in the final 10 minutes of the half, taking on Popham before delivering a great ball into the back post to Mills, who found the side netting from close range.
Leedsâ best chance arrived moments later when Morris played Will Firth through down the left. The Leeds captain drove into the area and went one-on-one with Tom Wright, but his effort lacked power and was comfortably saved by the Swansea goalkeeper.
Leeds started the second half strongly, with two early chances falling to the hosts inside the opening minute. A curling effort from Nkinko crashed against the crossbar, before a follow-up strike from Mills, 15 yards out, flew over the bar.
Despite continued pressure from the hosts, Swansea looked to threaten on the counter, with Josiah Kallicharan winning the ball in midfield before playing Jones through on the break. His cross into the area was only half-cleared, falling to Alfie Jones who fired over the bar.
But the hosts got an equaliser with 25 minutes remaining after Morris fed Nkinko, who had looked dangerous throughout, on the right side of the area. The winger then unleashed a curling effort which took a deflection and crept past Wright to level the scores.
With fatigue beginning to show and the tempo dropping, the hosts were handed a golden chance to take the lead with 15 minutes remaining. Morris won the ball high up the pitch from Ben Phillips and raced through on goal, but Wright did well to make himself big and produce a crucial save with his foot.
The Swans looked the more likely to find a winner in normal time, with Callum Jones going close after being played in down the left by Perry only to see his effort hit the side netting.
Perry then delivered a cross into the area that Leeds failed to clear. The ball deflected off a defender and bobbled just past the post for a corner to ensure extra time was required.
Leeds forward Mills carved out the only chance of the first period, with his curling effort turned around the post by Wright.
But it was the Swans who would claim victory in dramatic fashion as Clarke won the ball high up the pitch before summoning the energy to drive past three Leeds defenders and slot the ball into the corner of the net beyond Oliver Wood.
The hosts were then reduced to 10 men after Kenneth Mensah was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Harvey Gray as the Swans claimed another notable scalp.
Leeds United Under 18s: Oliver Wood, Will Firth (Aiden Thompson 115â), Louie Philpott, Loui Whitehead, Luke Matykiewicz, Jacob Howard (Elton Simo 110â), Carrick Nkinko (Louie Dudley 109â), Samuel Alker, Jack Morris, Callum Mills, Kenneth Mensah.
Substitutes not used: Josh Woolfrey, Jacob Watson, Isaac Bridge, Joe Bhaskaran.
Swansea City Under 18s: Tom Wright, Billy Clark, Caio Ifans (Kaven Bloniarczyk 90â), Carter Heywood (Bobo Evans 90â), Brogan Popham, Ben Phillips (Jack May 112â), Kai Rhodes (Harvey Gray 67â), Harlan Perry (captain), Josiah Kallicharan (Alex Godfrey 67â), Alfie Jones (Lukas Murphy 117â), Callum Jones.
Substitutes not used: Jakub Nowak.
Swansea City defender Ellie Lake believes the Swans remain firmly in the hunt for the Genero Adran Premier title following their 3-0 victory over The New Saints at the M&P Group 3G.
Lake scored the final goal of the contest to extinguish any hopes of a visitorsâ comeback, making it two goals in two matches for the full-back after also finding the net in the Welsh Cup before the New Year against CPDM Llanystuwmdy.
The result confirmed Swanseaâs place in the top four with two games remaining of phase one of the season - a significant milestone after narrowly missing out on a spot in the Championship phase last term - while also extending their unbeaten league run to two matches.
Lake admitted goals do not come around often for her, but was delighted to contribute again, adding that her greater satisfaction came from helping the side correct last seasonâs disappointment and secure a top-four finish this time around.
"I am really happy. Obviously last year the girls didn't manage to get top four so to get it this year was the main priority and to do it with two games to spare is a testament to the girls," she said.
âI think in the first 20 minutes TNS came at us all guns blazing, so we had to weather that storm and show we can defend as well as attack. Once we started creating chances, we knew we werenât going to miss, and keeping a clean sheet is huge as well. Overall, it was a good nightâs work.
âIâll be honest, my goal was meant to be a cross. I saw Deacs [Aimee Deacon] coming in, so I thought Iâd sling one into the box and hope for the best. I think her run has confused the goalkeeper and itâs gone all the way in.
âI usually average about two goals a season, so to get two in two matches is great for me. I enjoy getting forward and helping the team higher up the pitch just as much as defending, but itâs nice to chip in with some goals - especially as I donât score many!
"I think the result means that everything is still all to play for really. We are still within distance of the top two so we need to make sure that we win the two remaining phase one games to stand us in good stead, and then hopefully we can beat anyone in front of us during phase two."
Such awful recent news to find out that Terry Yorath had died. Like so many others, I extend my condolences to his family at this awful time. I felt so sorry for Terryâs daughter Gabby Logan, who was presenting Match of the Day when she got a call about her dad and had to leave mid programme. The call that no-one ever wants to take and one I am sure she would have preferred to be private.
Terry was a humble man who didnât crave the limelight, in fact he seemed to avoid it, particularly after his coaching career ended. But it was clear from the obituaries and the thousands and thousands of social media comments, that he made a huge impact on many people.
As Swans fans we remember Terry fondly. He is someone who is woven into the fabric of our club for what he did here and he had a similar impact on his beloved Wales.
His famous daughter referred to him in a social media post as: âOur Dad a warrior on the football pitch, captaining club and country, a kind-hearted and generous man off it, would have hated all the attention. (Well, most of it).â
That description summed Terry up for so many people and what followed it was a succession of messages from people who had encountered Terry in one capacity or another, and who wanted to share what they remembered of him.
I was particularly moved by the number of Swans-related comments on Gabbyâs Instagram post, including from former players like Ian Love and Martyn James, who was given his first contract by Terry back in the 80s.
Martyn wrote: â(Your) Dad gave me my professional contract at Swansea when he was manager here. I will be forever grateful to him for that, some great memories of his time down here. RIP Gaffer.â
Perhaps the most moving was from author Rhys Thomas, who recalled meeting Terry at the training ground, which was situated not far from the Gower campsite he and his family were staying at.
As a young seven-year-old Rhys asked Terry, who was managing the side at the time, if he played for the Swans. His reply was âI would if I could, kid.â He then asked the young lad if he was looking for autographs. Rhysâ reply to Gabbyâs post goes on:
âI said I was and so he did one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. He took me into the changing rooms where he got all the players to sign the sheet of paper I had with me. I still remember it so well, all the players sitting on the benches, the paper being passed around, each player smiling at me when they signed.
âThe memory of that act of kindness has stayed with me my whole life and I can tell you that as a little kid I remember the feeling of awe for this man who had done this for me, and how he commanded that room.âFrom that day on I always had a special place in my heart for the Jacks, but I had an even bigger one for your dad.â
What a lovely memory to share. RIP Terry.
JULIE KISSICK
We are all Jacks is Swansea Cityâs commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion both within the club and throughout the local community.
Working with international and local charities, as well as supporter groups, Swansea City strives to ensure that a visit to the Swansea.com Stadium is a welcoming experience for everyone regardless of sex, sexuality, gender identity, religion, race, disability, or age.
The club takes a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, harassment, victimisation, bullying and abuse.
REPORT IT â IN THE STADIUM
Supporters are encouraged to report instances of abusive and discriminatory language within the stadium by using the anonymous text and Whatsapp number (07886 276015) providing details of the incident and your location in the stadium.
Messages will be charged at the standard rate for your network provider.
The details from the message will be received at the match control room, where any necessary investigation and/or action will be taken.
The club will also record the mobile number of the individual reporting an incident to aid with any inquiries.
Supporters can also use support@swanseacity.com to report instances of discrimination.
An audio commentary service is available for blind and partially sighted fans â provided by Radio City, the Swansea University Health Board Hospital Radio Service.
Radio City has a long association with the football club dating back to the days when the club was known as Swansea Town.
Since moving to the Swansea.com Stadium, the broadcaster has provided a live descriptive commentary service for free at all Swansea home matches, meaning that blind and partially-sighted supporters in both the home and away ends can follow the action.
In order to book a headset for the match, supporters can contact the accessibility team in advance by emailing accessibility@swanseacity.com, or contacting the ticket office from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm by calling 01792 616629 and selecting option one.
Supporters can also book headsets in person in advance at the ticket office, or on the day by speaking to a Disability Liaison Steward on the day.
To learn more about Radio City, visit www.radiocity1386am.co.uk.
The inclusion room at the Swansea.com Stadium is open every matchday for supporters who may require a quiet space during games.
Supporters will be able to attend live matches at the Swansea.com Stadium with the comfort of knowing there is a designated area should they need it. The room is available to any supporter that may require a quiet space.
The space will be monitored by a designated disability liaison steward and provides a safe space with a disabled toilet, a projector to watch the live game, and dignity packs for those who need it.
While some supporters who require a time away from the crowds may prefer to use this room as a quiet space, it will also be possible to watch the match live on a screen projected onto the wall meaning supporters who require the space for any reason donât have to miss a moment of the match action.
The room is located in the West Stand and, while supporters who feel they may benefit from the use of the space will be recommended to sit in that stand, it will be accessible for anyone in any part of the stadium.
Any supporter who feels overwhelmed by the matchday environment for any reason can gain access to the room by making themselves known to a steward or disability liaison steward.
PLAYER SPONSORS
Shwmae Junior Jacks,
Welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium!âŻâŻâŻ
WeâreâŻso glad you could joinâŻus under the floodlightsâŻtonight,âŻitâsâŻbeen a busy week here at the Swansea.com Stadium! Two games in four daysâŻâ we hopeâŻyouâreâŻas excited as we are Junior Jacks!âŻ
Todayâs Take Five quiz is about the visitors, Blackburn Rovers, and a bit of fun too! Click the button below to test your knowledge!âŻ
Our score prediction is 2-0 to the Swans and we thinkâŻWidellâŻandâŻEomâŻwill score!âŻâŻ
What do you think the score will be?âŻ
Uppa Swans,
Cyril and Cybil
Head Coach Vitor Matos
1 Andy Fisher
2 Josh Key
4 Jay Fulton
5 Ben Cabango (c)
6 Marko StameniÄ
7 Melker Widell
8 Malick Yalcouye
9 Ćœan Vipotnik
10 Jisung Eom
14 Josh Tymon
15 Cameron Burgess
16 Ishé Samuels-Smith
17 Gonçalo Franco
20 Liam Cullen
21 Manuel Benson
22 Lawrence Vigouroux
23 Ricardo Santos
24 Bobby Wales
25 Joel Ward
27 Zeidane Inoussa
29 Paul Farman
30 Ethan Galbraith
33 Adam Idah
35 Ronald
40 NUMBER RETIRED IN MEMORY OF BESIAN IDRIZAJ
41 Sam Parker
46 Arthur Parker
54 Iestyn Jones
Head Coach Valerien Ismael
1 Aynsley Pears
2 Ryan Alebiosu
3 Harry Pickering
4 Yuri Ribeiro
5 Taylor Gardner-Hickman
6 Sondre Tronstad
7 Augustus Kargbo
8 Sidnei Tavares
9 Makhtar Gueye
10 Todd Cantwell ©
11 Andri Gudjohnsen
12 Lewis Miller
14 Dion De Neve
15 Sean McLoughlin
16 Scott Wharton
17 Hayden Carter
18 Axel Henriksson
19 Ryan Hedges
20 Eiran Cashin
22 Balazs Toth
23 Yuki Ohashi
24 Moussa Baradji
25 Ryoya Morishita
26 Connor OâRiordan
28 Adam Forshaw
29 Mathias Jorgensen
30 Jake Garrett
31 Kristi Montgomery
32 Igor Tyjon
33 Jake Batty
34 Jack Barrett
35 Nicholas Michalski
43 George Pratt
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
Assistant Referee 1: Graham Kane
Assistant Referee 2: James Wilson
Fourth Official: John Busby
STAFF LIST
Honorary Club President - Alan Curtis MBE
Directors
Andy Coleman, Brett Cravatt, Jason Cohen, George Popstefanov, Chris Sznewajs, Tyler Morse, Nigel Morris, Todd Marcelle, Keith English, Martin Morgan, Paul Meller.
Chief Executive Officer: Tom Gorringe
Associate Directors: Diane Hughes
Minority Owners: Luka ModriÄ, Snoop Dogg, Martha Stewart
FIRST-TEAM STAFF
Head Coach - Vitor Matos
Assistant Head Coach - Ryan Maye
Head of Goalkeeping â Martyn Margetson
First Team Coach - Kris O'Leary
Head of Medical - Dr Jez McCluskey
Staff: Leon Britton, Joe Allen, Toze Mendes, Goncalo Ricca, Diogo Mendeiros, Ailsa Jones, Matt Murray, Thomas Gittoes, Michael Eames, Shaun Baggridge, Adam Mahoney, Patrick Orme, Lewis Binns, Chris Watkins, Jack Oliver, Harri Mathias, James Cole.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Chief Executive Officer: Tom Gorringe
Head of Operations and Facilities: Andrew Davies
Head of Football Operations and Administration: Ben Greenwood
Head of Commercial: George Alston
Head of Media and Communications: Andrew Gwilym
Head of Safeguarding: Rebeca Storer
HR Manager: Nicola Butt
Head of Facilities: Gordon David
Head of Supporter Services: Hayley Ford
Head of IT: Jonathan Jones
Head of Swansea City AFC Foundation: Paul France
CLUB STAFF
Football Operations & Administration Manager: Rebecca Gigg
Head of Partnerships: Lee Merrells
Head of Hospitality: Catherine Thomas
Head of Ticketing: Mari Tucker
Grounds Manager: Evan Davies
Club Ambassador: Lee Trundle
PROGRAMME PRODUCTION
Contributors: Andrew Gwilym, Rachael Tucker, Cerith White, Jack Otter, Sophie Davis, Mackenzie Squires, Sammy Wynne, Hayley Ford, Owen Morgan, Julie Kissick, Gwyn Rees, James Dow.
Designers: Callum Rothwell, Jac Elsey.