Good evening and welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium as we turn our attention to the Carabao Cup.

Tonight is a short break from league action as we welcome Premier League side AFC Bournemouth to SA1.

Last week we held our first opening training session in four years here at the stadium, and it was a resounding success. The day also saw more than 4,500 fans in attendance to watch training and experience the family fun day, with the feedback being tremendous.

I was very sorry to miss it, as I had to leave Swansea unexpectedly, but I know we have set a very solid foundation for what will surely become a prominent annual event in our community.

Giving our young fans the opportunity to see their heroes up close will have further cemented the bond between them and the club, which will be incredibly valuable for us going forward.

As everyone is aware, this is the final week of the summer transfer window which will close at 11pm on Friday.

It has been a busy window for the club so far, with both incomings and outgoings, and I can assure you all that we are working hard to add to our squad before the deadline.

The departure of Joel (Piroe) has naturally taken a chunk of goals out of Michael’s team, so that is an area that will need to be addressed.

Friday will also see another deadline, this time for 2023-24 season tickets.

I have been overwhelmed by how passionate our supporters are in the short time I’ve been here, so if you’re still thinking about purchasing a season ticket then head HERE for all the information you need.

In the meantime, keep backing Michael and the players with the same energy you have done so far as we prepare to face Premier League opposition tonight.

Enjoy the game,

Andy

Good evening and welcome to the Swansea.com Stadium for our Carabao Cup tie against Bournemouth.

We know facing Premier League opposition will provide us with a stern test, but it is one we are looking forward to and it provides us with another opportunity to implement what we are working hard on in training.

We also want to have the right reaction after what was a frustrating defeat against Preston at the weekend.

I felt we put ourselves in a good situation, we took the lead and we were in total control of the game.

But we then went away from the things that had put us in a winning position.

That comes down to mentality, no-one is going to give you a win at this level, so you have to be prepared to stay aggressive and stay on the front foot.

They went 4-4-2 and went more direct and we had a poor 20 minutes and it cost us a positive result.

There were positives in the performance, we showed some of the things we have been working on, particularly in the first half.

But the bottom line is we need to be able to see out games like that.

Away from on-field matters, I want to thank everybody who came to the club's open training session and family fun day last week.

It was great to see so many of our younger fans in attendance; and the players and myself enjoyed getting the chance to meet many of you to pose for pictures and sign autographs. 

That relationship between you, our supporters, and our team is so important and we want to put in a positive performance tonight.

Enjoy the game,

Michael 

Welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadum for our second-round Carabao Cup tie against Premier League Bournemouth.

Like the previous round against Northampton Town this will be another ideal opportunity to gain more valuable game time and for Michael Duff to learn more about his new squad of players.

On that note, with the closure of the summer transfer window now just a few days away - a welcome relief to many I’m sure – we take this opportunity to wish Joel Piroe, our topscorer over the past two seasons, every success following his recent move to Leeds United.

Many supporters will I’m sure be disappointed to see Joel leave but, as he was into the final year of his contract, this was probably in the best interests of all concerned.   

Next week the Trust Board will be convening again, and inviting club chairman Andy Coleman along to update us all on his first few weeks of living and working in Swansea.

This will allow us to ask questions that you have been emailing in to us at supporters@swanstrust.co.uk, as well as discussing a range of other issues we are aware of.

On a really positive note, we were delighted at how well the return of last week’s open training session and family fun day went at the stadium.

This is something we have been encouraging the club to lay on again for a couple of seasons, so to see it all come to fruition so successfully was a testament to the hard work of everyone at the club and also to head coach Michael Duff for allowing his players to engage so fully with the hundreds of families who attended.

Another piece of news I’m sure you will be pleased to hear is that the work we have been planning to refurbish the former players and officials’ entrance at the old Vetch Field is starting this week, and we are hugely grateful to Travis Perkins and local building contractors Edmunds Webster Ltd for their help and support.

The work is expected to take a few weeks to complete and, once finished, we hope it will be somewhere that supporters can visit and remind themselves of some of their fondest memories at our former home.

If you’d like to learn a little more about the project, or make a small donation, please go to the story on our website here: https://www.swanstrust.co.uk/news/vetch-field-former-players-entrance/

Something else we have been working closely with the club on over the past few weeks is finalising the next Global Jacks event in Swansea, and I’m delighted to confirm this will now take place between the dates of March 1 and March 3, 2024. More details have already gone out to all our known Supporter Group contacts and those already on our Global Jacks database. If you’d like to learn more or be added to our mailing list, please send us an email to globaljacks@swanstrust.co.uk.

Can I personally thank everyone who has already renewed or joined the Trust this season, as well as those who signed up at the open training day last week. The new digitalised method has made the renewal process much more efficient, and we are now in the process of reconciling our records for all members who kindly pay us by standing order.

Members and supporters can still renew or join by post, or by visiting the Trust Pod on matchdays, and we still accept payments by cash, card and cheque. We are an inclusive society and every member of the Jack Army is very welcome and encouraged to join the Supporters’ Trust.

By doing so you could have a voice in the running of our club and be involved in some of the exciting initiatives that are lined up for the rest of the Trust calendar. Again, look out for updates throughout the season, or come and have a chat with us at the Pod on a matchday to find out more.

I hope you enjoy this evening’s game.

Dave

Swansea City Women players Jess Williams and Chloe Bull surprised participants at the Swansea City AFC Foundation’s girls-only Soccer Camp in Penyrheol.

Williams and Bull handed out certificates and prizes for the aspiring footballers, as well as posing for photos, signing autographs and answering questions from attendees.

The camp offers girls aged five to 12 the opportunity to take part in football drills, challenges and games with other girls, with the Foundation’s FAW-qualified coaches leading the sessions.

Williams was excited to see so many young girls engaging in football and hopes the game continues to grow.

“It was really good to see all the girls here enjoying themselves, and it’s great to see how many girls are getting involved in football,” said Williams.

“The game is growing, as you can see with the World Cup. It’s giving a lot of little girls hope and obviously the following of women’s football is growing, so it’s really good to see girls given these opportunities.”

The Foundation will be hosting another girls-only soccer camp on September 1, as well as additional soccer camps. throughout the remainder of the summer. Click HERE to find out more.

Jerry Yates' header helped Swansea City remain unbeaten on home soil as Michael Duff’s side played out a draw against Coventry City at the Swansea.com Stadium.

The home side had trailed to Matty Godden’s finish late in the first half, but responded almost immediately through Yates’ near-post finish as the striker netted his second goal of the season.

The home side had chances to claim victory, with Jay Fulton, Harry Darling and Joel Piroe all having sights of goal as it ended all-square in SA1.

The Swans had shown one change from defeat at West Bromwich Albion, with Charlie Patino handed a first start in place of Ollie Cooper.

Swansea City: Carl Rushworth; Harry Darling, Ben Cabango, Nathan Wood; Harrison Ashby (Azeem Abdulai 81), Jay Fulton (Joe Allen 81), Matt Grimes (captain), Charlie Patino (Liam Cullen 81), Josh Key; Jerry Yates (Josh Ginnelly 85), Joel Piroe.

Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Jamie Paterson, Mykola Kuharevich, Kyle Naughton, Ollie Cooper. 

Coventry City: Ben Wilson, Jay Dasilva, Bobby Thomas, Kyle McFadzean (captain), Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Ben Sheaf, Haji Wright (Ellis Simms 79), Joel Latibeaudiere, Matty Godden, Milan van Ewijk (Liam Kelly 69), Josh Eccles.

Unused Substitutes: Brad Collins, Luis Binks, Jake Bidwell, Ryan Howley, Bradley Stretton, Justin Obikwu, Kai Andrews.

Referee: Bobby Madley

Attendance: 16,736

Harrison Ashby’s first senior goal was not enough for Swansea City as Preston North End claimed all three points at Deepdale.

Wing-back Ashby had finished off a superb sweeping move to fire Michael Duff’s side ahead in Lancashire, while Jay Fulton and Jamie Paterson would later go close to adding to Swansea’s tally.

However, Andrew Hughes would head in an equaliser before Duane Holmes smashed home the winner with 11 minutes to play.

Preston North End: Freddie Woodman, Liam Lindsay, Will Keane, Alan Browne (captain), Mads Frokjaer (Ben Woodburn 90), Jordan Storey, Andrew Hughes, Ryan Ledson, Duane Holmes Jack Whatmough 84), Kian Best (Ali McCann 62), Brad Potts.

Unused Substitutes: Dai Cornell, Greg Cunningham, Patrick Bauer, Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile, Noah Mawene, Josh Seary.

Swansea City: Carl Rushworth, Harry Darling, Ben Cabango, Nathan Wood; Harrison Ashby (Azeem Abdulai 80), Jay Fulton (Joe Allen 80), Matt Grimes (captain), Charlie Patino (Ollie Cooper 71), Josh Key; Jerry Yates (Mykola Kuharevich 83), Liam Cullen (Jamie Paterson 71).

Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Brandon Cooper, Kyle Naughton, Cameron Congreve.

Referee: Josh Smith

Mykola Kuharevich says he is honoured to have the chance to play for Swansea City, and is looking forward to showing the Jack Army exactly what he is about.

The 22-year-old Ukrainian striker has joined on a three-year contract – with the option for an additional 12 months – from French club Troyes.

He made his debut for the Swans as a substitute in the Carabao Cup win over Northampton, and also got valuable minutes and a goal under his belt for the club's under-21s last week.

The Swans new number 19 came through the youth ranks in his homeland with FC Volyn Lutsk, before moving to top-flight side Rukh Lviv where he scored four goals in 24 league appearances before making his move to Troyes, who are part of the City Football Group, in 2021.

Kuharevich made his debut for the French club against Ligue 1 giants PSG, and went on to spend 14 months on loan with Belgian club OH Leuven.

Another loan move to Hibernian followed last season, where the 6ft 4in striker scored five goals in 15 appearances for the Easter Road side, despite missing part of the campaign with a knee injury.

Now he has arrived in SA1 to add to Michael Duff’s forward options, and having grown up watching the Swans playing in the Premier League, he has no doubt about the size of the club he has joined.

“My impressions of the club are so good. I’m so happy to be here, it’s such a big club and it’s an honour to be here,” he said.

“Everything looks nice, the facilities are good, I think it’s a nice place to work.

“It’s a big club, only five years ago they were in the Premier League. People who watch football will know about this about this club so I’m happy to be here.

“I spoke to the manager before I came here. It was a good conversation. It was important for me to speak to him before to see how I’m going to fit in, but that went well and I’m happy to be here.

“I think it’s a top place to develop both as a player and as a team. For me, I just want to be successful here, do my best every day and help the team to reach our goals and of course, as a striker, I want to score as much as I can.

“I think football in this country suits me. The physical side suits me, but also clubs in the UK have unbelievable fans. They always push you and encourage you and this helps you play to your best and get your best results.

“But I don’t like to talk about myself as a player really. I just want to show what I can do on the pitch and in the games. I’ll leave it for the fans to decide.”

Kuharevich, who hails from the village of Udrytsk on the border with Belarus and has represented his country at under-21 level, has been playing his football in France, Belgium and Scotland while war has raged in his homeland following Russia’s invasion.

That conflict, which has been ongoing for 524 days, has been widely condemned by the international community.

And Kuharevich spoke of the difficulty of being away from home at such a difficult time.

“It’s so difficult to be away from home. You are always thinking about the situation in Ukraine, thinking about how it’s going and you read the news,” said the striker, who met with Ukrainian refugee Marianna - who works in Swansea's matchday hospitality team - last week ahead of their nation's independence day on August 24.

“I just want to say that the war is still going, it’s not over. Everyone in the world has to stop it as fast as possible to allow people in Ukraine to just live normally.

“I really appreciate the UK and Welsh Government for supporting the Ukrainian people.

“They are countries who have helped a lot, and me and all Ukrainians really appreciate that. It’s a second home for me and many people here.”

Earlier this week, Mykola Kuharevich met Mariana, a member of the stadium's hospitality team who had to leave Ukraine with her children after the war began. 💙💛 pic.twitter.com/aOLy5XkT5U

— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) August 24, 2023

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Josh Ginnelly and Mykola Kuharevich got more valuable minutes under their belt and got on the scoresheet as they helped Swansea City Under-21s to a handsome victory against Crewe Alexandra at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Sam Parker – fresh from signing professional terms with the Swans – scored his first goal for the under-21s by netting the opener 20 minutes in, arriving at the far post to convert an excellent cross from Joel Cotterill.

Ginnelly doubled the lead after the break with a composed finish, before turning provider to set up Kuharevich for a tap-in, while substitute Iwan Morgan added a fourth late on.

Nathan Robinson got a late consolation for the Railwaymen as they suffered defeat on their travels.

Swansea City Under-21s: Ben Hughes, Sam Parker, Ben Blythe, Azeem Abdulai, Filip Lissah, Kai Ludvigsen, Cameron Congreve (Mitchell Bates 80), Joel Cotterill (captain), Mykola Kuharevich (Iwan Morgan 60), Josh Ginnelly (Kyrell Wilson 60), Nathan Tjoe-A-On (Liam Smith 46).

Unused Substitutes: Evan Watts.

Crewe Alexandra Under-21s: Tom Booth, Lewis Billington, Nathan Robinson, Zak Kempster-Down, Connor O’Riordan (Luca Moore 68), Billy Sass-Davies, Calum Agius, Regan Griffiths, Connor Evans (Lewis Nolan 86), Matus Holicek (Jack Parry 69), Max Woodcock (Rhys Allport 60).

Unused Substitutes: Travis Ziglam.

Swansea City Under-18s fell to defeat against Crewe Alexandra in their first away fixture of the 2023-24 Professional Development League campaign.

The hosts scored goals either side of the break, courtesy of Luca Moore and Rhys Allport to claim all three points.

The Swans had plenty of chances to bring themselves back into the game, but some good defensive work from Crewe kept them at bay.

There were four changes to the Swansea side that had won the opening game of the season against Peterborough United last time out, with Thomas Searle, Rohan Davies, Ramon Rees-Siso and Seb Dabrowski coming in for Jack Cooper, Thomas Woodward, Sammy Henia-Kamau and Aimar Govea. 

It was Dabrowksi’s first competitive start since November, after picking up an ankle injury which sidelined him for seven months. 

Meanwhile, Josh Pescatore and Teo Minchev were among the substitutes and in line for their debuts following their arrival from Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal respectively. 

The Swans started with great intensity, controlling the game, and a half-chance soon arrived as Callum Deacon's long ball fed Dabrowski, who in turn found Davies, but the forward could not get a shot away.

But It was the home side who took an early lead. Crewe moved forward in attack down the left before Moore took a touch and firing beyond Kit Martgetson to open the scoring.

However, the Swans responded well and carved out a good chance of their own. A fine one-two between Rees-Siso and Yori Griffith down the right ended with the ball being cut back for Davies, who blazed his right-footed effort well wide. 

Davies would soon go close again in search of the equaliser. Dabrowski played the Welsh forward in on goal but the Crewe keeper was equal to his low shot.

The away side continued to press but were indebted to Margetson as he tipped over Callum Hardy's efforts. 

Following the restart, the young Railwaymen got in on goal immediately and a brilliant save from Margetson denied Allport, who then also put the rebound wide.

The visitors rallied as Davies fired over, but Crewe were to double their advantage just beyond the hour mark. 

Possession was given up in the Swans half, and Allport found space in the box to tap the ball through the legs of Margetson. 

The Swans didn't stop in the search of a goal. Woodward headed wide with 10 minutes to go before Rees-Siso's close-range chipped shot was blocked by the Crewe keeper.  

Swansea City Under-18s: Kit Margetson, Jack Fanning (Bobo Evans), Arthur Parker, Jacob Cook, Callum Deacon (Captain), Thomas Searle, (Teo Minchev) Cameron Llewellyn (Josh Pescatore), Yori Griffith, Rohan Davies (Sammy Henia-Kamau. ), Ramon Rees-Siso, Seb Dabrowski (Thomas Woodward)

Substitutes: Ewan Griffiths.

Swansea City Women have completed a quintet of signings ahead of the 2023-24 season.

Chloe Bull, Steph Turner, Sophie Brisland-Hancocks, Kelsey Thomas and Sammy Wynne have all joined the Swans ahead of the Genero Adran Premier campaign.

Bull, Turner, Brisland-Hancocks and Wynne have all joined on semi-professional contracts.

Midfielder Bull joins the Swans after leaving Women’s Championship winners Bristol City Women at the end of their successful 2022-23 campaign.

The 28-year-old began her footballing career with Swansea City Ladies, as the team were then known, through the 2011-12 and 2012-13 campaigns, before having spells with Cardiff City Ladies and Cardiff Met.

Bull has also represented Wales, having made her debut for the national side against Hungary in 2016.

Defender Turner is back with the Swans following a success laden 12-year spell with Cardiff Met, having won six Genero Adran Premier titles with her previous side.

The move sees the defender return to the club, having helped the Swans lift the inaugural Welsh top-flight title during the 2009-10 campaign.

To add to her seven league titles, Turner also joins Swansea off the back of captaining Met to Adran Trophy glory last season, having beaten league champions Cardiff City Women in the final.

Brisland-Hancocks is another player to head back to Swansea from Cardiff Met Women, having spent seven years with the Swans before joining Met in 2019.

The midfielder helped the Swans to the 2016-17 Genero Adran Premier title before her departure, and joins off the back of winning the Adran Trophy last season.

Wynne returns to Wales following her time with English third-tier side Oxford United Women, having captained the U's development team before netting her first senior goal in last season’s FA Cup.

The 21-year-old grew up in Swansea and was part of Swans Women's academy until the age of 13 when she joined Bristol City.

She spent five years with the Robins before making the switch to Oxford.

Thomas, meanwhile, signs for the Swans having spent the 2020-21 season with the club, before having spells with Aberystwyth Town Women and Carmarthen Town Women.

The 18-year-old shone with Carmarthen in the second half of last season, contributing 12 goals and 14 assists in just nine league games.

Date of birth
13/01/2002

Position:
Centre-back.

Right or left-footed:
Left-footed.

Nationality:
English.

Signed for Swans:
2022

Previous clubs:
Doncaster Rovers.

Best memory in Swans shirt:
My first game, pulling on the shirt for the first time against Sheffield Wednesday away, it was just a good feeling.

Favourite thing about Swansea:
Living by the sea as it’s been a new experience for me.

Football idol:
Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

Favouritue film:
White House Down.

Favourite Artist:
Ed Sheeran, I’m not really into music!

Cheat meal:
Chinese, salt and pepper chicken.

Best subject at school:
PE or maths.

Football bucket list:
Play for Manchester United.

Stadium you’d like to visit:
The new Tottenham Stadium.

First football memory:
Newcastle against Manchester United, we went for my sixth birthday, and United won 6-0. I supported them since then, so it has stuck with me.

First football shirt:
Manchester United shirt with Ronaldo on the back.

Have you played any other sports?
Rugby League.

Preferred squad number:
5

Favourite roommate:
Iwan Morgan, we spend loads of time playing Football Manager together.

Favourite video game:
Football Manager!

Aim for the season:
Either get around the first team or go out on loan to get some football at senior level.

Most famous person you’ve met:
Leon Britton.

What is an interesting fact about you:
I’ve never drank any alcohol in my life.

An audio commentary service is available for blind and partially sighted fans – 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. To learn more about accessible facilities at the stadium, please click here.

INCLUSION ROOM

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 don’t 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.

Chairman - Andy Coleman
Honorary Club President - Alan Curtis

Directors

Jason Levien, Andy Coleman, Nigel Morris, Brett Cravatt, Jake Silverstein, Sam Porter, Martin Morgan, Sian Davies (supporter director), Romie Chaudhari, Bobby Hernreich, Gareth Davies.

Director of Business and Legal Affairs: Sam Porter.
Associate Directors: Ceri Stone.

FIRST-TEAM STAFF

Head Coach – Michael Duff

Assistant Head Coaches - Alan Sheehan and Martin Paterson

Head of Goalkeeping – Martyn Margetson

First Team Coach - Kris O'Leary

Head of Performance – Tom Barnden

Head of Medical - Dr Jez McCluskey

Staff: Ailsa Jones, Bethany Chaddock, Matt Murray, Thomas Gittoes, Michael Eames, Shaun Baggridge, Connor Lawley, Jonathan Jones, Jono Aveston, Jake Dayus.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT GROUP

Paul Watson (Sporting Director); Andrew Davies (Head of Operations, Facilities & Development);
Gareth Davies (CFO);
James Chiffi (Head of Wellbeing & Development);
Josh Marsh (Head of Football Operations).

CLUB STAFF

Club Secretary: Ben Greenwood
Football Operations &
Administration Manager: Rebecca Gigg
Head of Retail: Andrea Morris
Head of Hospitality & Customer Services: Catherine Thomas
Head of Safeguarding: Rebeca Storer
HR Manager: Nicola Butt
Senior Commercial Sponsorship Manager:  Lee Merrells
Head of Commercial:
Richard Morris
Head of Media & Communications:
Ben Donovan
Ticket Office Manager: Lewis Bullen
Operations & Events Manager:
Lee Davidson
Facilities Manager: Gordon David
Grounds Manager: Evan Davies
Disability Access Officer: Catherine Thomas
Head of Swansea City AFC Foundation: Paul France
Club Ambassador: Lee Trundle

PROGRAMME PRODUCTION

Contributors: Ben Donovan, Andrew Gwilym, Sophie Davis, Hayley Ford, Fraser Dickson, Rachael Tucker, Cerith White, Rhys Kemish, Dom Hynes.

Designers: Callum Rothwell,
Jordan Morcom, Lewis Ward
Photography: Athena Picture Agency,
Natalie John-Davis, Alamy.