Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the Swansea.com Stadium for our final home game of this first block of Championship fixtures.
This is our fifth game in just 15 days in what has been a relentless beginning to the season, but one we have navigated positively.
There was of course disappointment at seeing our unbeaten start to the season come to an end with defeat at Southampton in midweek, but looking over our first six fixtures as a whole â including our pre-season preparations and squad building during the transfer window into that equation â the progress we are making is clear to see.
That has been reflected in Vitor winning the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month award for August. It is typical of Vitor that he wanted to share the award with all the first-team staff and to make sure they receive the credit they deserve for all their efforts during a particularly busy part of the year.
That togetherness and having everyone pulling in the same direction is going to be key if we are to get to where we want to be as a club, so congratulations to Vitor and everyone connected with our first-team and football operations.
We have an opportunity to continue building that feeling of belief and positivity as we look to bounce back from defeat in midweek.
There plenty of lessons for us to learn from the result at Southampton, and one of the key things in the Championship is to be able to bounce back from setbacks or disappointments when they arrive.
Over the course of 46 games, you will have moments go against you, have days where you are not at your best, and thatâs to be expected in such a competitive division.
But if you are able to show the resilience and humility to improve and respond, then those qualities will stand you in good stead.
Burnley possess a strong squad with a number of players boasting Premier League experience so we know this will be a tough test this afternoon, but it is one we are all looking forward to.
One man who is also looking forward to today is Ken Wright, who we had the pleasure of welcoming to our Fairwood Training Ground earlier this week.
Ken is a lifelong Swansea fan, who can remember watching the likes of Ivor Allchurch and Cliff Jones strut their stuff at the Vetch in the 1950s.
He has recently received the wonderful recognition of being a Guinness World Record Holder, after his decades of service to refereeing.
Remarkably, Ken has been officiating for 63 years which makes him the longest-serving referee in the history of the game. Not only that, but Ken continues to referee numerous games in our local leagues every week. Indeed, after visiting us on Thursday he had a game to head to that evening, and another on Friday.
Itâs a brilliant achievement and people like Ken are so important and they are the lifeblood of our game. Thankfully he has granted himself a rare Saturday of to be our guest at todayâs game, and there will be a presentation for him on the pitch so please show your appreciation for him and his brilliant achievement.
This week, we have also been subject to an initial audit of our academy as we look to make the switch back to Category One status. Although this audit is earlier in the season than we would have liked, the team, led by Ryan Davies, have done an incredible job in showcasing our academy in the best light.
We will not know the outcome of this process for some time, but I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone in the academy for all of their hard work and dedication during this period.
This audit comes as the EFL released our annual academy audit for 2025-26 which reviews the output of academies and compares them to others.
For us, the numbers are positive, with an academy player in every teamsheet over the course of the season compared to an EFL average of 71%. Some 98% of our teamsheets had two or more club developed players included, compared to an EFL average of 38%, with a season average of 2.7 club developed players against an average of 1.54 across the EFL.
We also had an average of 1.43 club developed players in the starting 11 compared to an EFL average of 0.7.
In addition, it was great to see our womenâs team enjoy a positive start to the season with a 3-1 win over Cardiff. Following the new investment in the summer, there is a lot of excitement around the programme and we are looking to continue to invest in the team and ensure that we put the best possible talent pathway in place.
I also want to take a moment to thank all the supporters who took part in the consultation process and vote regarding a minor amendment to our primary club crest.
The final figures saw the amendment approved with 66 per cent of votes in favour of removing the text from the clubâs primary badge, while the clubâs secondary badge will now be the version with the âSwansea City AFCâ text.
This amendment will come into full effect for the 2027-28 season and will see our home shirt display the swan crest without text, similar to that seen on this seasonâs away and third kits.
Additionally we will use the more digitally-friendly badge without text more prominently on our website, app and publications, with some of these changes coming into effect during the 2026-27 season.
Finally, as a club we will pause today to remember those who sadly lost their lives in the Gleision Colliery accident, which occurred on September 15, 2011 just a few miles from this stadium.
We send all our love to the families and friends of Charles Breslin, David Powell, Phillip Hill, and Garry Jenkins, and I know we will all join together to pay our respects ahead of kick-off.
Enjoy the game YJBs,
Tom Gorringe
CEO, Swansea City
Good afternoon everyone and a warm welcome to you all as we face Burnley here at the Swansea.com Stadium.
We are looking to make sure we show the right response and performance after losing to Southampton in midweek.
We lacked our usual intensity and aggression in the first half, which allowed them the time on the ball we did not want to give them. They have quality players, and are one of the best sides in the division and they punished us.
In the second half I felt we were much more like ourselves, we got the goal and we were pushing and looking to try and make it 2-2 only to suffer a goal on the counter-attack.
Of course it is never a good feeling to lose, but these situations also give you the opportunities to learn and improve. Itâs always important to know why you get the outcomes you do in games, and it is part of the process of us developing as a side.
We now face a Burnley side who, I feel, should have more points in the table than they do.
They have been effective with the ball, and they have players with experience of this division and of playing in the Premier League, so this will be a difficult game.
But the challenge for us now is to make sure we show the resilience to bounce back at the first opportunity, because this is important over the course of a long season.
We have made a good start to the season, and the reason for that has been that we have gone game by game, we have been fully focused on what the next test in front of us is, and we have poured everything we can into each and every moment.
That did not change after the wins we have had this season, and it will not change now we have suffered a first league defeat. We have to move forward again with this mentality and it will give us the best chance of achieving positive results.
Itâs also this mentality that saw us recognised with the manager of the month award for August. I understand it is my name that gets attached to the award, but it is not simply down to me.
The award is an indication of the hard work that each and every member of staff and each and every player has put in over this period, starting when we came back for pre-season, and continuing right through to where we are now.
There is a lot we can improve on, and to be where we are in the table does not count for anything now as nothing is decided until the end of the season, but I want to dedicate the award to everyone who has played their part in us making a positive start, and we want to continue to build from this.
I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate a special guest who is joining us at the game today; Ken Wright. Myself and the players got the chance to meet Ken earlier this week when he paid a visit to the training ground to celebrate his achievement in becoming the Guinness World Record holder as the longest-serving referee in football.
Ken has been officiating for 63 years and continues to referee numerous games a week at the age of 78. His enthusiasm for the game is an example to us all and we congratulate him on his award.
Enjoy the game,
VĂtor Matos,
First Team Head Coach
Good afternoon pawb. Welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium for a traditional Saturday afternoon 3pm kick-off, and with Burnley visiting us today it promises to be another exciting occasion.
There is always something special about weekend football in Swansea, families arriving early, the buzz around the stadium and that sense of anticipation that builds right up to 3pm.
Tuesday eveningâs defeat to Southampton was a tough one to take in, especially after the strong defensive foundations we have built over the opening weeks. We improved noticeably in the second half and Zan Vipotnik got us back into the game with his first goal of the campaign, a confident penalty after being pulled back by James Bree.
Our defensive organisation has been outstanding so far this season, and although we were unfortunately breached this time, it came after playing 449 minutes of league football without conceding, which is impressive on all counts.
The way the players have adapted, supported each other and maintained their discipline is a real credit to the coaching staff and all the work being done behind the scenes. It is still early days, but the signs are there that we can push on this season. The Championship is unforgiving and the games come thick and fast, but we have shown already that we can compete with anyone in this league.
Burnley will provide a tough test this afternoon. They have kept much of their identity from recent years. They are organised, physical and dangerous in transition and they will arrive here determined to make a statement. But with another strong home crowd behind us, I am confident we can rise to the challenge once again.
A couple of weeks ago, our Chair Dave Dalton shared a detailed update with our members, which supporters can read on the Trust website here. We also have several events coming up, including supporting local author Niall OâBrien with the launch of his new Swansea Town/City Football Club Comprehensive Player A-Z book, and hosting our next Global Jacks weekend here in Swansea.
The latter is a brilliant opportunity for supporters living further afield to reconnect, enjoy the Norwich home game on October 10, and then an opportunity to travel to London for the Millwall away fixture a few days later.
If youâd like to know more, just drop us an email at globaljacks@swanstrust.co.uk
Thank you, as always, to everyone who continues to support the Trust and to all members who have renewed or joined this season. It only takes a few minutes to sign up online, or you can visit us at the Trust kiosk before any home game where you can also pick up a copy of our programme notes and the official team sheet.
This season, all donations received on matchdays go directly towards the excellent work of the Swansea Veterans Hub, supporting veterans, serving personnel and their families across our communityâŚâŚSo, enjoy the game, enjoy the atmosphere, and letâs all play our part in keeping up this fantastic start to the season.
Wayne
The Swans DSA - Disabled Supporters' Association was formed back in 2010.
We aim to ensure all disabled support have their best matchday experience - both home and away, and are the link between disabled supporters and the club.
We are an independent group of volunteers who care, support and help all our DSA members and friends.
Our monthly coffee mornings are going from strength to strength and itâs great to see so many members and carers of all ages, with varying disabilities, mental health conditions, or loneliness joining together for a few hours of friendship, fun, companionship, inclusivity and feeling that they âbelong.â We are a critical friend to so many, and our level of fan engagement is fantastic.
We can communicate through Welsh, English, widgit, easy read and basic sign language, and itâs important to remember how much the word âhelloâ can mean to people.
We are once again proud sponsors of the Sensory room, and have donated sensory equipment and toys as well as a sensory bag to each attendee of the room. This is in addition to donating radar keys, wheelchairs and ear defenders.
We award a DSA player of the season each year and hold many competitions and events, including a âguess the time of the first goalâ for all our members.
If you would like to hear more, please contact us on secswandsa@gmail.com
MATCHDAY SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE TRIAL CONTINUES FOR BURNLEY FIXTURE
Swansea City is trialling a new matchday shuttle bus service that will be available to all home fans, and free for season ticket holders, Jack Army members, seasonal hospitality guests and younger supporters to travel on.
The introduction of the service is part of an effort to alleviate the impact of the loss of a number of matchday parking options due to circumstances beyond the clubâs control.
The shuttle bus service came into effect immediately for our first home Championship fixture against Sheffield United, and will be trialled for every home fixture over the remainder of 2026. Further details on the service for today's fixture against Burnley can be found below.
We appreciate this will mean a change to long-held matchday routines for a number of supporters, but the loss of such a significant number of parking spaces which we are not able to directly replace immediately, means we have to explore new matchday travel options.
We remain in regular ongoing discussions with numerous third-party sites and operators, as we continue to explore options that we hope will provide greater matchday travel choices for supporters in the future.
On this note, we are pleased to confirm that an agreement has been reached that will see the former Virgin Media site once again be available for matchday parking for home matches.
The club places on record its sincere thanks to JustPark for their support and assistance in working to provide Swans fans with a safe, affordable location to park their vehicles when attending games at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Spaces are only available on a match-by-match basis and can be booked at the link below. The cost for a match-by-match booking is ÂŁ12.29 per vehicle, which includes the booking fee.
Swansea City Matchday Parking | JustPark
Shuttle service routes
There will be buses running along two routes. These will commence from two hours before kick-off for travel to the Swansea.com Stadium, and then run for an hour following the final whistle.
Route 1 (City Centre)
Route 2 (Fabian Way)
Pricing
Supporters should note that travel on the service does not include parking arrangements, and so fans will need to pay for parking separately and independently at whichever site they choose to leave their vehicle in order to join the bus service.
The shuttle service only offers return journeys, and there will be no provision to purchase one-way or single tickets.
Prices are ÂŁ5 per adult, but a number of supporters will be able to travel on the service for free if they meet any of the following requirements:
- Are a 2026-27 season ticket holder (will require presentation of a digital or physical season ticket card at point of purchase).
- Are a 2026-27 Jack Army member (will require presentation of a digital membership card at point of purchase).
- Are aged under 18.
- Are a seasonal hospitality guest (will require presentation of matchday accreditation at point of purchase).
Please note, payment to use the service will be by card only. A ticket/wristband will be issued at the point of purchase and this must be worn in order to access the return services following the game.
Additionally, anyone under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Feedback
Once supporters have had the opportunity to use the shuttle bus matchday service, we would appreciate any feedback on any improvements that can be made.
Supporters can leave us their thoughts using the form in the link below.
You can find further information regarding the matchday shuttle bus service HERE.
For Lawrence Vigouroux, the start of the 2026-27 season has already provided plenty of reasons to look back with pride.
The Swansea City goalkeeper reached a significant milestone against Southampton in midweek, making his 100th appearance for the club since arriving at SA1 in the summer of 2024.
It is a landmark that reflects the consistency Vigouroux has brought to the Swansâ goal, having established himself as the clubâs first-choice goalkeeper from the moment he arrived from Burnley.
âItâs an amazing feeling, says Vigouroux. âItâs come around really quick. When you join a club, you obviously want to play as many games as possible, but you donât necessarily think about getting to 100.
âI just want to thank all the staff for trusting me, and my teammates as well for making it a really good experience. To reach that number is something Iâm really proud of, and hopefully there are plenty more to come.â
The 32-year-old has been a key figure during his time in SA1, starting every league game during his first season and helping Swansea record 14 clean sheets in the 2024-25 campaign.
His consistency has continued into the current campaign, with the Swans making an excellent defensive start to the season.
Before the trip to Southampton, Swansea had conceded just once in their opening five Championship matches and had kept four clean sheets, giving them the best defensive record in the EFL at that stage.
âClean sheets are something every goalkeeper wants,â Vigouroux explains. âItâs something that we work on a lot on the training ground. We work really hard on that, and to see it working on a matchday is the best thing for us.
âBut theyâre never just about the goalkeeper. The forwards, midfielders and defenders all play their part. Everyone makes a big contributionâ
That collective mentality has been evident throughout the opening weeks of the campaign, with Vigouroux providing an assured presence behind a defence where competition for places has been fierce.
For a goalkeeper, consistency is often as important as spectacular saves, and Vigouroux has increasingly become a calming presence behind the Swans.
âIâm a goalkeeper that does love to make saves,â he admits. I think the most important thing is the concentration as a showstopper.
âEven if Iâm only making one or two saves, just making sure I can execute those to the best of my ability will help the team go on and win games.â
But Vigouroux believes there is still another level to come from him this season.
Despite already reaching the century mark in Swansea colours, the goalkeeper feels he can produce the best form of his career yet, with his performances at club level also driving ambitions on the international stage with Chile.
âI feel really good at the moment,â he says. âItâs been really good and Iâm really enjoying it, and I feel like Iâm playing quite well. A lot of it is down to the team in front of me. They make it easier for me.
âI want to continue performing to the highest level I can for Swansea, and hopefully that can give me opportunities with Chile as well.â
Representing his country remains a major ambition for Vigouroux, who is determined to continue putting himself in contention on the international stage.
âFirst and foremost, the most important thing for me is club football,â he acknowledges. âWithout that, then you donât get the opportunity to play for the national team.
âI have to give a lot of thanks to Swansea because they gave me an opportunity, a platform to play at a really good level. When I signed here, it was the first time I ever played in the Championship.
âThat gave me the platform to get called up with the national team, and now being able to represent them has been a dream. I can only do that by performing well here, and thatâs the most important thing.â
His route to reaching a century of Swansea appearances has been anything but straightforward.
After coming through the youth systems at Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, Vigouroux spent time with a number of clubs before making his name at Leyton Orient. There, he helped the club win promotion from League Two before earning a move to Burnley in the summer of 2023.
His spell at Turf Moor lasted just one season and, although he did not make a competitive first-team appearance, it provided valuable experience of life inside a Premier League environment.
A year later, the opportunity to join Swansea arrived, giving Vigouroux the chance to establish himself at Championship level and begin what has now become a century of appearances in SA1.
âIâve really enjoyed it,â he admits. âThere have been some really, really good moments, some other difficult moments, but moments that I feel like not just me, but the whole team, has overcome together.â
He made 48 appearances in all competitions during his first season, quickly becoming an important member of the squad and earning the clubâs Best Newcomer award.
âI just wanted to get through game by game and, luckily enough, Iâve been able to rack them up. Iâm at 100 now, and hopefully I can continue for a lot longer.â
Since then, Vigouroux has become one of the most established members of the Swansea squad, with his 100th appearance providing another marker of his importance to the side.
He also captained the Swans for the first time in the 2-0 victory over Watford earlier this month.
âIt was a massive privilege for me â he recalls. I didnât really expect it, but Iâm quite experienced within the group, so I think I can help a lot of the younger players. It was something that was really special for me and my family too.â
Saturdayâs meeting with Burnley adds another interesting layer to the occasion.
Although Vigourouxâs time with the Clarets was relatively short, his experience at Turf Moor remains another important part of the journey that eventually brought him to Swansea.
âItâll be a good game. Theyâve got really good players all over the pitch,â he says. â I know a few of them, and Iâm really looking forward to seeing them after the game as well.
âHopefully we can put on a good performance and get three points at home, which is what I think our fans deserve. Loads of them went all the way to Southampton, and we can only thank them for that.â
The Southampton defeat brought Swanseaâs unbeaten start in the Championship to an end, but Vigouroux knows there is little time to dwell on the result, with Burnley arriving just days later.
âWeâve just got to keep doing what weâve been doing. That got us to where we were earlier in the season. Itâs only been six games. Weâve just got to keep doing the same things.
âWeâve got a manager who has his way of playing, and weâve all bought into it brilliantly, I think. Hopefully, we can get another three points on the weekend.â
For Vigouroux, the milestone is about more than simply reaching 100 appearances.
It represents the journey that brought him to Swansea, the opportunity he was given and the consistency that has allowed him to establish himself as one of the clubâs most trusted figures.
âHopefully, another 100,â he smiles. âFor me honestly, Itâs just to play as much as I can and to help the team as much as I can, not just on the pitch, but also off it.
âBe a good, positive person at the training ground, and just keep being the person that got me to this place in my career right now.â
A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
To celebrate the launch of Swansea Cityâs new away kit, which pays tribute to the strips worn during the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons, we look back at two memorable campaigns in the clubâs history.
Club historian Gwyn Rees takes us back to the Vetch Field, revisiting the stories, characters and memorable moments from those seasons, continuing with the start of the 1996-97 campaign.
Under pressure manager Molby, finally had something to smile about after the long trip to Doncaster saw the team win by the only goal of the game through Dave Penney right on the stroke of half time. The hosts were bottom of the division at kick off, and in a game of poor quality, it was the Swans who after scoring late into the first half, soaked up a lot of pressure applied by the Yorkshire side to win at the ground for the first time in twenty-five years.
After securing the season's first away win of the season a week before, hopes were high that the team could keep up the momentum with the visit of Hull City to the Vetch Field. Back in defence central defender Keith Walker had shown his quality to the side after a contract dispute, and it would be needed against a Hull side who could boast the only unbeaten record in the division. After a poor opening half hour, the Swans finally began to test the visitors goal, with Penney and Coates both seeing Hulls keeper Carroll make valuable saves. But midway through the first half the Swans were thankful to keeper Freestone, who dived to his right to keep out a firmly struck penalty from Warren Joyce. The second half it was all one-way traffic, but for all the home sides possession, the quality wasn't there to break a disciplined Hull defence.
A midweek trip to London and Leyton Orient saw the side lose for the first time in three games, but the manner of the loss, conceding eight minutes from the end of the game that they were in control of for large parts angered manager Molby.
A return to the Vetch Field saw the side face a Colchester United team who at kick off sat three places below the Swans in eighteenth place. The game was only four minutes old when youngster Damien Lacey had the misfortune to score an own goal, but through sheer determination Steve Torpey equalized twenty-five minutes later with an unstoppable shot from the edge of the penalty area. As had been the case through most games this season, the Swans tend to have plenty of possession but lack the cutting edge to turn possession into goals. Though the supporters also had eyes on the off-field matters, where once again the club has been put up for sale by Chairman Doug Sharpe.
The side collected another valuable point away at Mansfield Town, with a creditable 0-0 draw, but having found a formula in defence that has tightened it up since the early season games, the problem lies in attack where the chances go begging. Not that many went begging in a game with both sides sadly lacking in any creativity.
Once again, the side collected a valuable point away at Hartlepool United, with another 1-1 draw. A poor taken corner by the Swans was cleared down field where Chris Beech and Stephen Halliday exchanged passes, with Halliday cutting in from the right side scored with a low left foot shot. That was on the half hour, but just three minutes later came the talking point of the game, when Shaun Chapple was left writhing in agony on the ground near the halfway line. Chapple needed to by stretchered off, and Molby entered the field of play to have words with the official, who duly sent him off, leaving his assistant Billy Ayre in the dugout. Torpey equalised with a superb header early in the second half, while the rest of the game saw an ugly display of petulance from both sides that saw a host of players from both sides receiving yellow cards.
PAST MEETINGS - SWANS V BURNLEY
As Swansea City get set to lock horns with Burnley, we take a look back at four memorable home victories against the Clarets in years gone by.
Swansea 1-0 Burnley
Premier League | February 10, 2018
Ki Sung-Yueng struck nine minutes from time to give Swansea City a priceless 1-0 victory over Burnley at the Liberty Stadium.
The Clarets had the better chances before the break, but Swansea improved after half-time and eventually found the breakthrough when Kyle Naughtonâs forward run led to Jordan Ayew teeing up Ki, who fired a low effort into the bottom corner.
The win extended Carlos Carvalhalâs sideâs unbeaten run to nine games in all competitions and lifted them two points clear of the relegation zone.
Kiâs goal was his first Premier League strike since May 2016, ending a run of 37 games without scoring in the competition. It was also Swanseaâs third consecutive home league victory, having won just two of their previous 11.
Andre Ayew and Andy King made their debuts from the bench, while Nick Pope denied Jordan Ayew and Tammy Abraham went close to a second late on.
Swansea 3-2 Burnley
Premier League | March 14, 2017
Fernando Llorente struck twice, including a stoppage-time winner, as Swansea City completed a remarkable comeback to beat Burnley 3-2 at the Liberty Stadium.
Llorente opened the scoring after just 12 minutes, rising highest to head Paul Clementâs side in front.
The advantage lasted only eight minutes, with Burnley awarded a controversial penalty after Burnley player Sam Vokes handled inside the Swansea area. Andre Gray made no mistake from the spot to restore parity.
Gray then struck again shortly after the hour mark, putting the visitors in front and leaving Swansea facing defeat.
The Swans refused to give up, however, and Martin Olsson quickly brought the sides level with a superb finish.
There was still time for one final twist, as Llorente rose to meet a cross deep into stoppage time and powered home a dramatic winner.
Swansea 1-0 Burnley
Premier League | August 23, 2014
Nathan Dyerâs first-half finish was enough to maintain Swansea Cityâs perfect start to the 2014-15 Premier League campaign.
Having already stunned Manchester United at Old Trafford on the opening weekend, Garry Monkâs side followed that up with another victory at the Liberty Stadium.
Burnley proved stubborn opponents, but Swanseaâs wide players regularly caused problems, with Dyer and Wayne Routledge threatening the Claretsâ defence.
The breakthrough arrived in the 23rd minute when Dyer raced onto Gylfi Sigurdssonâs pass before keeping his composure to beat Tom Heaton.
That proved to be the only goal of the contest as Swansea secured back-to-back victories to begin the season.
Swansea 1-0 Burnley
Championship | August 28, 2010
Scott Sinclair opened his league account for Swansea City as Brendan Rodgersâs side edged past Burnley at the Liberty Stadium.
Sinclair had already found the net in a League Cup victory over Tranmere earlier that week, and he needed only eight minutes to make his mark against the Clarets.
The winger finished off a move created by Alan Tate to give the Swans an early advantage, while Stephen Dobbie and Darren Pratley both went close to extending the lead.
Burnley had opportunities of their own, with Jack Cork, then on loan with the Clarets from Chelsea, firing over the bar.
The game became increasingly feisty after the break, with both Pratley and Tyrone Mears dismissed after collecting two yellow cards apiece.
Despite being reduced to nine outfield players between the two sides, Swansea held on to secure another important victory during a campaign that would ultimately end with promotion to the Premier League.
CLUB CONNECTIONS
Leighton James
Leighton James is one of the most notable links between Swansea City and Burnley, enjoying successful spells with both clubs while also becoming a key figure for Wales.
James made his Burnley debut in 1970 and helped the Clarets win the Second Division title in 1973. After spells with Derby County and Queens Park Rangers, he returned to Turf Moor before joining Swansea in 1980.
He immediately made an impact, scoring 15 league goals in his first season and netting a famous long-range strike against Preston North End that secured promotion to the First Division.
James helped Swansea finish sixth in the top flight in 1981-82 and won two Welsh Cups before leaving for Sunderland in 1983. He later returned to Burnley for a third spell, making 335 league appearances and scoring 67 goals for the Clarets across his three spells. He also won 54 caps for Wales.
Tommy Hutchison
Tommy Hutchison is another notable link between Swansea City and Burnley, representing both clubs during a remarkable career.
The Scotland international joined Swansea in 1985, just two months before his 38th birthday, and briefly served as player-manager. He returned to playing duties and helped the Swans win promotion in 1987-88 before lifting the Welsh Cup in 1989.
Hutchison made 178 league appearances for Swansea, with his final outing coming against Southend United in March 1991 at the age of 43 years, five months and 19 days. He remains the oldest player to represent the club.
Earlier in his career, he had made 92 league appearances for Burnley, scoring four goals. His extraordinary career also included more than 1,000 first-team appearances and selection for Scotlandâs 1974 World Cup squad.
Connor Roberts
Connor Roberts is a more recent link between the two clubs, rising through Swanseaâs academy before becoming a first-team regular and eventually moving to Burnley.
Born in Neath and raised in Crynant, Roberts joined the Swans at nine and made his senior debut against Wolves in the FA Cup in January 2018. He went on to make 152 appearances, scoring 11 goals and winning the Supportersâ Player of the Year award in 2020-21.
Roberts joined Burnley in August 2021 and played a key role in their 2022-23 Championship title win, earning a place in the EFL Team of the Season.
He has also had major tournament experience with Wales, featuring at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.
Established in 1882, Burnley Football Club were one of the founding members of the Football League.
They have won two top-flight titles, with the first coming in 1921 after a remarkable 30-match unbeaten run, while their second arrived in 1960. They also lifted the FA Cup in 1914.
Burnley have now enjoyed six spells in the Premier League since the competition was formed in 1992, most recently returning to the top flight in 2025.
However, their latest spell lasted just one season, with the Clarets relegated in 2026 after finishing 19th.
They had previously returned to the Premier League as Championship champions in 2023, before suffering relegation the following year.
TURF MOOR
Built: 1883
Location: 52-56 Harry Potts Way, Burnley, Lancashire BB10 4BX
Capacity: 21,944
Nicky Hayen took charge of Burnley in July 2026, signing a three-year deal after a managerial career that has taken him from Belgium to the Cymru Premier and back to the top of Belgian football.
The Belgian enjoyed his biggest success with Club Brugge, initially taking charge as caretaker manager in March 2024. He quickly transformed the sideâs fortunes, guiding Brugge to the Belgian championship before being handed the job on a permanent basis that summer.
Hayen has a strong connection to Wales, having been appointed manager of Haverfordwest County in December 2021. He became the first Belgian manager to work in the Cymru Premier, helping the Bluebirds secure their top-flight status before returning to Belgium six months later to take charge of Club Bruggeâs Under-23 side.
Before moving into management, Hayen enjoyed a playing career spanning more than a decade, featuring for Sint-Truiden, RBC Roosendaal and Oud-Heverlee Leuven before becoming a player-coach at Dender EH. His time at Dender marked the start of a coaching career that has now led him to Turf Moor.
Club captain Josh Cullen has been a key figure in Burnleyâs rise since joining the Clarets in 2022, helping the club win the Championship title in his first season at Turf Moor.
The midfielder played 50 games during that campaign and was named both the Club Player of the Year and Playersâ Player of the Year. He has since established himself as a leader in the side, committing his future to Burnley with a new three-year contract in August 2023.
Cullen came through the West Ham academy after joining at the age of nine and spent 15 years with the Hammers, with loan spells at Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic providing valuable Football League experience. He helped Charlton win promotion to the Championship in 2019 before leaving West Ham for Anderlecht in 2020.
It was in Belgium that Cullen linked up with former Anderlecht boss Vincent Kompany, captaining the side during a two-year spell before moving to Burnley. The Republic of Ireland international made 44 Championship appearances in Burnleyâs 2024-25 promotion campaign, contributing two goals and an assist.
Kyle Walker joined Burnley in May 2025, signing a two-year deal to reunite with former Tottenham and England team-mate Scott Parker at Turf Moor.
The experienced right-back has enjoyed a trophy-laden career with Manchester City, winning six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League. He has also made 410 Premier League appearances and was named in the competitionâs Team of the Year on four occasions.
Walker has won 96 England caps and was included in the UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament in 2024. His pace, strength and attacking ability have made him one of the Premier Leagueâs most accomplished defenders of his generation.
Born in Sheffield, Walker began his career with boyhood club Sheffield United before loan spells with Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa helped pave the way for a move to Tottenham. He later established himself at Manchester City, before spending last season on loan with AC Milan and subsequently joining Burnley.
Aaron Ramsey joined Burnley from Aston Villa in August 2023, signing a five-year deal.
The winger made his Premier League debut against his boyhood club Villa shortly after arriving at Turf Moor, but a serious injury midway through the 2023-24 season disrupted his progress and limited his involvement the following campaign.
Ramsey came through Villaâs academy alongside his brother Jacob, signing his first professional contract in 2021. He also won the FA Youth Cup and Under-19 European Championship with England, having represented his country at every level up to Under-20.
Loan spells with Cheltenham Town, Norwich City and Middlesbrough provided valuable senior experience, with Ramsey catching the eye in the Championship before earning his move to Burnley.
A recent arrival at Turf Moor, Jamie Vardy brings a wealth of experience to Burnley, joining the Clarets after a season in Serie A with Cremonese.
The 39-year-old striker is one of the most decorated forwards of the modern era, having scored 200 goals in 500 appearances for Leicester City and played a starring role in their remarkable 2015-16 Premier League title triumph.
Vardy also won the Premier League Golden Boot in 2019-20 after scoring 23 goals, while he earned 26 England caps during a career that has also taken him into the Champions League.
His route to the top was far from conventional. Released by Sheffield Wednesday as a teenager, Vardy worked his way through non-League football with Stocksbridge Park Steels, FC Halifax Town and Fleetwood Town before earning a ÂŁ1 million move to Leicester in 2012.
Y Clwb Cymraeg | The Welsh Club
Croeso i gornel Gymraeg Clwb PĂŞl-droed Dinas Abertawe. Ym mhob rhaglen gallwch ddysgu geiriau a brawddegau newydd, dathlu hanes y clwb a helpu i hyrwyddoâr iaith yma yn Abertawe.
Welcome to Swansea Cityâs Welsh language corner. Whether youâre a fluent speaker or just starting to learn, each programme will help you discover new Welsh words and phrases whilst celebrating the people, stories and culture that make the Welsh language such an important part of our club and city.
Y Cyswllt Cymreig | The Welsh Connection
Mae dau o ffefrynnauâr Jacs wedi gwisgo crys Burnley dros y blynyddoedd.
Cafodd Leighton James, o Lwchwr, yrfa wych gydaâr Clarets cyn dod adre i Abertawe a helpuâr Swans i gyrraedd y brif adran yn 1981. Chwaraeodd 54 gwaith dros Gymru hefyd.
Yn fwy diweddar, daeth Connor Roberts drwy academiâr Swans a chwarae 152 o gemau iâr clwb cyn symud i Burnley yn 2021. Mae Connor hefyd wedi cynrychioli Cymru, gyda 64 cap hyd yma.
Dau Jac. Dau Gymro. Dau ffefryn gydaâr Swans aâr Clarets.
Oeddech chiân gwybod? | Did you know?
Sgoriodd Leighton James 10 gĂ´l mewn 54 gĂŞm dros Gymru, gan gynnwys y gĂ´l fuddugol enwog oâr smotyn yn erbyn Lloegr yn Wembley yn 1977! đ´ó §ó ˘ó ˇó Źó łó ż
Leighton James scored 10 goals in 54 games for Wales, including the famous winning penalty against England at Wembley in 1977! đ´ó §ó ˘ó ˇó Źó łó ż
Cwis y Dydd | Matchday Quiz
Profa dy allu cyn y gĂŞm - faint alli di gael yn gywir? | Test your knowledge before the game â how many can you get right?
- Beth yw enw stadiwm Burnley?
A) Turf Moor
B) Deepdale
C) Ewood Park
- Ym mha flwyddyn enillodd y Swans Gwpan y Gynghrair?
A) 2011
B) 2013
C) 2015
- Pwy sgoriodd gĂ´l gyntaf Cymru yng nghystadleuaeth Ewro 2016?
A) Gareth Bale
B) Joe Allen
C) Ashley Williams
Geiriau i helpu | Words to help
Enw - Name
Stadiwm - Stadium
Blwyddyn - Year
Enillodd - Won
Cwpan y Gynghrair - League Cup
Pwy - Who
Sgoriodd - Scored
GĂ´l gyntaf - First goal
Atebion | Answers
- A â Turf Moor
- B â 2013
- A â Gareth Bale
Yr ymateb sy'n cyfri
Mae colli yn rhan o bĂŞl-droed. Y ffordd mae tĂŽm yn ymateb i golled sy'n gallu dweud llawer mwy amdano.
Daeth rhediad heb golli Abertawe yn y Bencampwriaeth i ben nos Fawrth, wrth i Southampton ennill 3-1 yn St Mary's. Roedd hi'n noson anghyfarwydd i'r Elyrch ar Ă´l dechreuad mor gadarn i'r tymor, gyda'r tĂŽm hefyd yn ildio am y tro cyntaf mewn 449 munud o bĂŞl-droed cynghrair.
Doedd VĂtor Matos ddim yn cuddio rhag y perfformiad. Dywedodd fod Southampton wedi bod yn well, yn ymateb yn fwy sydyn ac yn fwy ymosodol yn yr hanner cyntaf.
Ond roedd yr ail hanner yn llawer agosach at yr hyn mae Matos eisiau ei weld gan ei dĂŽm; mentro mwy, mwy o reolaeth a mwy o awydd i ymosod. A'i neges ar Ă´l y gĂŞm oedd mai adborth yw colled: cyfle i ddysgu beth sydd angen ei wella cyn ceisio gosod y safon eto yn erbyn Burnley.
Felly, mae'r cyfle i ymateb yn dod yn gyflym.
Mae Burnley yn wrthwynebwyr cyfarwydd, ac mae digon o atgofion o'r gemau rhwng y ddau glwb. Enillodd yr Elyrch 1-0 gartref ac oddi cartref yn nhymor yr Uwch Gynghrair 2014-15, cyn buddugoliaeth gofiadwy o 3-2 yn Abertawe yn 2017.
Ond yn fwy diweddar, y Clarets sydd wedi cael y llaw uchaf. Maen nhw wedi ennill y pedair gĂŞm ddiwethaf rhwng y timau, gan gynnwys buddugoliaeth 2-0 yn Abertawe ym mis Mawrth 2025.
A bydd wyneb cyfarwydd iawn ymhlith eu carfan y tro hwn.
Mae Jamie Vardy, sydd bellach yn 39 oed, wedi dychwelyd i bĂŞl-droed Lloegr drwy arwyddo i Burnley tan ddiwedd y tymor. Ar Ă´l 13 mlynedd gyda Leicester City, lle enillodd yr Uwch Gynghrair a Chwpan FA Lloegr, treuliodd y tymor diwethaf yn yr Eidal gyda Cremonese.
Mae'n ychwanegu tipyn o brofiad â a pherygl â at dĂŽm Burnley sy'n gobeithio newid yn eu ffawd.
I'r Elyrch, serch hynny, mae'r dasg yn syml: dysgu o nos Fawrth, rhoi'r golled gyntaf y tu Ă´l iddyn nhw, a dangos bod y dechrau da hwn yn fwy na dim ond rhediad o ganlyniadau.
Fel y dywedodd Matos: âPan rydych chi'n colli, rydych chi'n cael adborth.â
Nawr cawn weld beth mae'r Elyrch wedi'i ddysgu.
Swansea City Under-21s were held to a 2-2 draw by Huddersfield Town in the Premier League Cup on Monday night.
Cameron Ashia gave the visitors the lead just before half-time at the Joma High Performance Centre, but the Swans turned the game around after the break as Thomas Woodward and Ben Lloyd put Anthony Wrightâs side ahead.
However, Patrick Key struck six minutes from time to earn Huddersfield a share of the spoils.
Wright made six changes to the side that beat Hull City last Tuesday, with Tom Iorpenda seeing his first action in a Swansea shirt following his move from Huddersfield last week.
It was Huddersfield who had the first chance of the night, with Jahkyah Blake hitting the crossbar after meeting a teasing cross from Ashia on the right.
Swansea soon settled and began to create openings of their own. Iorpenda picked out Joe Davies inside the box, but his low effort was blocked before Sebastian Dabrowski saw a cross-shot take a deflection and clip the underside of the bar.
The Swans went close again midway through the half when good link-up play between Davies and Lloyd saw the latter work his way through the Huddersfield defence, although he could only glance his effort wide.
Lloyd was involved once more before the break, forcing Francis Hurl to react quickly as his effort stung the goalkeeper's fingertips.
But Huddersfield went ahead on the stroke of half-time. Ashia's low strike found a way through a crowded penalty area and beyond Evan Watts at the far post.
Swansea came out quickly after the restart and were level within seven minutes. Woodward brought down a cross from Parker before firing a well-struck volley past Hurl to draw the side level.
The turnaround was complete just a few minutes later. Lloyd raced down the left before spotting Hurl off his line and producing a clever finish from distance to put the Swans in front.
Swansea continued to control much of the play and nearly added a third when Woodward broke through and fired into the side-netting. Harlan Perry then came close with 15 minutes remaining, reacting quickest to a loose ball on the edge of the box, but his low volley was diverted well.
The Swans had a big chance to put the game beyond Huddersfield late on. Woodward spread the ball wide to Lloyd, whose low cross picked out substitute Bobby Lewis. The forward's first-time effort looked destined for the net, only for Hurl to produce an excellent block to deny him a first under-21sâ goal.
And Swansea were made to pay moments later. Huddersfield levelled with six minutes remaining when Key produced a smart finish after the Swans failed to clear a low cross, giving Watts no chance.
An unbelievable save from Hurl denied a vicious header from Woodward who rose highest from Billy Clarkeâs deep cross late on, as Wrightâs men had to settle for a point in SA1.
Swansea City: Watts, I. Jones, Dabrowski (Robinson 46â), Heywood (Fanning 69â), Parker (C), Iorependa (Lewis 80â), Clarke, Perry (Rhodes 88â), Davies, Woodward, Lloyd.
Substitutes: Collins, Johnston, Asemokhai.
Swansea City Under-18s were held to a draw by Barnsley after the visitors came from two goals down at the Joma High Performance Centre.
Bobo Evans' strike from distance early on had the Swans ahead inside 10 minutes before in-form Ioan Johnston tapped home the second the other side of the break.
Noah Saunders' strike halved the deficit in the 70th minute, before Marli Eric's close range goal earned his side a point in the closing stages.
Swansea remain unbeaten following previous high-scoring league wins against Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan Athletic.
It was an even start although Barnsley had the best of the early chances when Noah Town headed over from a free-kick.
But Evans, with his second goal in as many games, struck wonderfully from Kaleab Meron's lay-off to open the scoring for the hosts.
Swansea dominated the momentum from then on and almost doubled their lead as Alex Godfrey's close-range effort was blocked by Barnsley keeper Oliver Mead.
However, moments later, Godfrey was forced off due to a knock with Kamron Williams taking his place.
Defensively, the duo of Archie Quick and Jack May stood tall to deny pressure from the Reds, intercepting consecutive attacks from Jason Takasongo.
The Swans came forward again. Johnston - fresh off a hat-trick from Oxford United in midweek - saw his strike saved by Mead before Sol Baker's rebound was sent over the bar.
Substitute Williams was next to see an effort saved as lovely team build-up involving Meron and Baker set the defender up before Mead made a sharp save.
Before the break, Kaven Bloniarczyk defended well, heading and clearing away danger from a pressing Barnsley side. Down the other end, Evans looked for a second only to see his low strike flash across the face of goal.
Barnsley started the second period on the front foot, almost finding the leveller with 20 seconds played, but Thomas Wright produced a fine, diving save to palm away Town's tight-angle effort.
The Swans soon added their second goal, this time through Johnston, as the young striker made no mistake to tap home from inside the box
Dempsey Singer fought to add a third from the left flank, but his curling strike flew high and wide. Johnston then looked to turn provider with a fast run down the wing, setting up Ifan Harding but the substitutes shot is parried away by mead.
The visitors pulled one back with 20 minutes to go with a long-range finish from Saunders, and it sparked a period of dominance for Barnsley as Oliver Roebuck's header almost found the target.
But the visitors found the leveller In the closing stages after a deflected shot off the bar fell to the foot of Eric, and he turned it into the bottom corner to level the proceedings.
Swansea City Women kick-started their Genero Adran Premier campaign with a 3-1 victory over south Wales rivals Cardiff City at the ThermaGlaze Ground.
Chloe Chiversâ superb free-kick and a Shannon Evans own goal gave the Swans a two-goal advantage at the break, before Emily Richards added a third shortly after the restart.
Gillian Keenan pulled a goal back for the Bluebirds late in the second half, but the Swans saw out the contest to begin the new campaign with three points.
The victory also saw Swansea win their first fixture against Cardiff for nearly two years
Cardiff started strongly, with new signing Keenan having an early sight of goal. The forward fired a low effort from inside the box, but Amelia Forkings got down quickly to make the save.
Keenan went close again soon after when she met Mackenzie Oldenâs delivery into the box, but the forward could not direct her effort on target as it drifted narrowly wide of the post.
However, it would be the Swans who took the lead just after the 15-minute mark. Chivers lined up a free-kick from 25 yards before smashing an effort in off the crossbar to open her account for the season.
The Swans doubled their advantage just minutes later. A powerful drive from Quianna Wheeler was halted by the Bluebirds defence, but the loose ball deflected off Shannon Evans and beyond Grace Olsen in the Cardiff goal.
As the Bluebirds looked for a route back into the contest, Evans almost made amends for the earlier own goal with a superb effort from distance, but Forkings was equal to it with an excellent save to deny the midfielder.
Chivers continued to threaten at the other end, driving in from the left before unleashing a powerful effort into the side-netting.
The Swans number 10 remained a threat after the interval, this time driving down the right before drilling an effort towards the far corner which drifted narrowly wide.
Swanseaâs positive start to the second half was rewarded with a third goal. The ball fell to Emily Richards 20 yards from goal, and the midfielderâs first-time effort bounced in front of Olsen before finding the back of the net.
The game slowed down in the second half as the Swans looked to manage their advantage and see out the final 30 minutes.
Cardiff would find a late consolation when Ffion Priceâs corner was met by Keenan, who headed home, but the Swans comfortably saw out the remaining minutes to secure all three points.
Swansea City Women: Amelia Forkings, Lauren Davies, Quianna Wheeler(Taite Trivett 61'), Ellie Lake, Emily Richards(Aoife Sheridan 71'), Sammy Wynne(Lily Deacon 80'), Aimee Deacon, Chloe Chivers, Caitlin Seaborne, Caitlin Williams, Jessica Williams (C).
Substitutes not used: Opal Rayner, Maisie Miller, Monet Legall, Lowri Jones
Cardiff City Women: Grace Olsen, Ffion Price, Hannah Power(Anna Houghton72'), Gillian Keenan, Lily Billingham(Seren Thomos-Condon 85'), Mackenzie Olden, Kerry Walklett, Shannon Evans, Maddison Perrott(Scarlett Baker-Perry 85'), Ella Hilliard, Haile Richards.
Substitutes not used: Daniela Kosinska, Mia Malone Thierry-jo Gauvain, Anuka O'Hare.
Swansea City Women midfielder Emily Richards savoured an extra-special moment after her goal helping her hometown club to a 3-1 victory over Cardiff City in the south Wales derby.
The Swansea-born midfielder produced a superb strike from 20 yards to net the Swansâ third goal and help Yzzy Taylorâs side secure all three points in their Genero Adran Premier opener.
Chloe Chivers had broken the deadlock with a superb free-kick, before pressure from Quianna Wheeler forced Shannon Evans into an own goal just minutes later to double the Swansâ advantage.
Richards added the Swansâ third five minutes into the second half, finding the net with a superb first-time effort from 20 yards, and scoring against the Swansâ local rivals carried an added significance.
âI am chuffed. A derby-day goal as a Swansea girl, what more could you want? It's a great feeling," she said.
âThe team performance was absolutely outstanding. Everyone fought for each other and we got the result to prove it.
âWe started the game really well. Chivers is a free-kick expert, she nailed it, and then for Quianna to run into the box and cause pressure for the second goal was great. It gave us a foundation and I thought we thoroughly deserved all three points.â
Richardsâ goal came as she picked up possession on the edge of the area before firing a superb effort beyond the Cardiff goalkeeper.
And the midfielder admitted there was only one thing on her mind when the opportunity presented itself.
âI could see the ball on the edge of the box and I thought, âWhy not?â," she added.
âI fancied it. I love a goal on derby day and thankfully I took my chance when it was there, it went in and Iâm so happy.â
The victory also marked the Swansâ first competitive fixture at the ThermaGlaze Ground, and Richards was full of praise for the collective effort that went into delivering a winning start at their new home.
âEveryone from the players to the staff, was absolutely fantastic," she continued.
Everything we did was set up really well, we came out and put in a performance, and everyone at this club should be really proud of themselves."
Iâm the great grandson of Billy McCandless, the Swansea City manager between 1948-1955, and I am a lifelong Swans fan. Iâm the father of a three-year old boy and working part-time as a GP while living with an incurable brain tumour. I have the chance of life-extending Immunotherapy treatment in Germany but itâs expensive. Please see my Just Giving Page, Huwâs Your Daddy, please read, share and help if you are able. My family and I will be eternally grateful. Diolch yn fawr iawn. Fundraiser by Huw McCandless : Huw's Your Daddy - Huw McCandless
Tate has Sanfilippo syndrome, a form of childhood dementia. We are doing everything we can to raise the money needed for treatment that would save his life. If you look for Savingtate on social media you can follow along on our journey. As part of our efforts we are holding a charity football match in Pontardawe on Saturday, September 27 and details can be found in the image above x â Tate and Tammy
Shwmae Junior Jacks,
Welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium!
Weâre so happy you could join us this afternoon as we take on Burnley. Are you ready for the action Junior Jacks? We sure are!
Todayâs Take Five quiz is about the visitors and a little bit of general knowledge. Click the button below to test your knowledge.
Our score prediction for todayâs match is 2-1 to the Swans and we think Opoku and Vipotnik will score!
What do you think the score will be?
Uppa Swans,
Cyril and Cybil
As a huge fan of cricket as well as football, I love this time of year when both sportsâ seasons overlap for a few weeks.
So, I was looking forward to the prospect of Glamorgan starting a County Championship match on Tuesday morning and the Swans travelling to Southampton later that day.
Glammyâs four day game was scheduled to finish on Friday with the Swans due to play again this afternoon. What a great sporting week.
Well, that was the plan anyway!
The first day of Glamorganâs match at Cardiffâs Sophia Gardens saw them skittled out for just 69 runs, while Warwickshire rattled up 154-3 to put the visitors in a commanding position at the close of play.
Never mind, there was always the Swans match to look forward to later in the evening.
Ah well, hopefully Glamorgan could rally and cheer me up on Wednesday!
At least they succeeded in putting the Swans result into perspective.
The Welsh county suffered one of the most comprehensive defeats in its 138 year history - losing by an innings and 257 runs before the end of Wednesdayâs play.
For those of you who donât get the âins and outsâ of the summer sport, Glamorganâs defeat was roughly in the ball park of a 10-0 hammering at home in football.
While the Swansâ 3-1 reversal at St Maryâs was disappointing in that it ended our unbeaten start of the season, it was not the end of the world.
And despite the huge margin, Glamorganâs defeat on Wednesday wasnât the end of the world either.
Itâs sport. Teams will win and they will lose. Itâs how they react to those setbacks which matter. Itâs the same in football and cricket despite the huge differences between the sports.
The late great Leighton James, who was a fan favourite with both the Swans and todayâs opponents Burnley, like me had a huge affection for both football and cricket.
Iâm sure, as an outspoken radio pundit in later years, Leighton would have had plenty to say about this weekâs football and cricket action!
When the mercurial winger was at Turf Moor, he also turned out for Burnley Cricket Club and Lowerhouse Cricket Club in the Lancashire League, if and when his footballing duties allowed.
According to former Swans and Wales team-mate Dai Daviesâ autobiography, one of Leightonâs favourite sporting tales was about the time he faced the great Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee.
The talented batsman also played for and captained his hometown club Gorseinon, of the South Wales Cricket Association, which like the Lancashire League has attracted a number of international cricket stars. He also became a respected umpire.
Connor Roberts is another Swans and Clarets star who has been known to pull on cricket whites.
Itâs great to see the Swans Academy product and Wales international back in the Burnley squad following his long-term injury absence.
But word has it Roberts was a talented young all-rounder with Llandarcy before hanging up his batting gloves and bowling boots to focus full-time on football with the Swans.
Itâs a decision many budding footballers and cricketers have had to make as the demands of each sport at the professional level have increased.
But there was a time when numerous players excelled at both sports at the very highest level. A dozen players have represented England at football and cricket.
Up until the end of the last century, it wasnât uncommon for players to play at professional level in both.
Next Saturday the Swans head to Lincoln City where the multi-talented defender Phil Neale played 327 league games between 1975 and 85.
On the cricket pitch, he enjoyed a hugely successful career with Worcestershire where he captained them to two Sunday League titles and two County Championships.
Meanwhile, former Huddersfield Town, Carlise United and Doncaster Rovers midfielder Chris Balderstone also played cricket for Yorkshire, Leicestershire and England.
The Sky Bet Championship schedule can be hectic for todayâs players, but spare a thought for this true sporting all-rounder.
On September 15, 1975, Balderstone was playing for Leicestershire in their County Championship decider against Derbyshire at Chesterfield.
At the end of a long dayâs play, he was 51 not out. Not content with having put his side in a strong position on the cricket pitch, he jumped into a waiting taxi to take him the 30 miles to Doncasterâs Belle Vue ground.
By 7.30pm, he was taking the field for Rovers where he helped his side to a 1-1 draw against Brentford, becoming the only man to play league football and first class cricket on the same day.
The following morning, he went on to complete his century and take three wickets as Leicestershire clinched the County Championship.
Of course, the Swans have had their own share of players who have played both sports professionally.
They include Tony Cottey who started his sporting career at the Vetch.
Capped at Under-18 level for Wales and a member of the Swansâ Youth Championship winning side of 1982/83, Cotts signed as a professional prior to the 1984-85 season.
The former Bishopston Comprehensive pupil made his debut against York City that term, but made only three more senior appearances before being released by John Bond â a fate that also befell Dean Saunders, who went on to win 75 Wales caps and star for the likes of Derby County, Aston Villa and Liverpool!
Cottey, however decided to concentrate on cricket, despite being offered a three-month trial with Birmingham City. It proved a wise decision.
During 13 seasons with Glamorgan, he won the County Championship and the Sunday League, before moving on to Sussex, where he enjoyed a further six seasons and became one of only a handful of players to win the County Championship with different counties.
When not playing and coaching abroad during the winters, Cottey still laced his football boots with the likes of Merthyr Tydfil, Llanelli AFC and Ammanford.
Cottey has written a hugely successful autobiography entitled Thereâs Only Two Tony Cotteys, after a Glamorgan supportersâ chant inspired by the similarity of his name to the former England, Everton and West Ham striker Tony Cottee.
So, Iâm certainly not alone in my love of football and cricket. Fingers crossed the Swans can salvage something from my sporting week with a positive result this afternoon and help inspire Glamorgan to also bounce back over the next couple of weeks.
Come on you Swans!
Swansea Cityâs Former Playersâ Association is five years old. Iâve been fortunate enough to be involved with the FPA from its inception and, five years on, it continues to grow and support ex-players.
It was formed after the COVID pandemic, a really difficult time for so many, but an apt time for us to bring so many of those who wore the shirt together under the Swansea City umbrella.
The FPA is run by a dedicated group, including some of the clubâs best loved ex-players. Chair Lee Trundle, deputy Leon Britton and lifelong president Alan Curtis along with Esme Allchurch, widow of Swansea City great Ivor Allchurch, all of whom are passionate about supporting those who wish to maintain their connection with the club or reconnect with us.
The FPA exists to unite those who have worn the club shirt and want to continue or renew their links with the football club across a range of means, including joining us on matchdays.
Over the last few years, we have organised coffee mornings, sponsored walks, hospitality opportunities and tickets to home games, as well as opportunities for former players to access a range of support.
âThere was no Former Playersâ Association or the equivalent when Ivor was playing obviously, but the fact that we have one now is really important,â said Esme Allchurch.
âWe know how difficult things have been in the last few years with the cost of living going up and sometimes former players find themselves in difficulties they never anticipated.
âOur FPA has grown over each year, and it has been so good to see former players back at the club and feeling part of something they all played a part in building.
âWe want every ex-player to know that they are welcome at Swansea City, whatever era they are from and whenever they played for us. We have always been a family club and we know how important that is to people, especially as they get older and their circumstances might change.
âThey donât need to be local to Swansea, if they want to join us for a one-off match or they just want to be part of the association, they can do. We would love to have them involved.â
During the last five years, the committee has been instrumental in helping to raise funds to support former players experiencing financial hardship or needing medical support and also uniting those who may have moved away or lost links to Swansea City and their colleagues who played for the club.
We couldnât have done it without the support of the club, and our work has benefitted from their help, including during the end of season awards dinner when we get a chance to tell our current players and those in attendance about the work we do and of course, to raise money for the FPA.
The primary aim of an FPA is to promote friendship, support and charitable work, including fundraising by bringing together players from different generations and eras and fostering a sense of belonging and connection and at Swansea City we are passionate about that.
The FPA is free to join and is open to men and women who have played for Swansea City. Any former players wishing to join can do so HERE.
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.
Head Coach Vitor Matos
1 Andy Fisher
2 Josh Key
3 Jenson Seelt
4 Jay Fulton
5 Ben Cabango (C)
6 Marko Stamenic
7 Melker Widell
8 Elijah Just
9 Žan Vipotnik
10 Jisung Eom
12 Jeremy Monga
14 Josh Tymon
15 Cameron Burgess
16 Tom Iorpenda
17 Gonçalo Franco
20 Tiago Parente
22 Lawrence Vigouroux
23 Stephen Welsh
26 Filip Lissah
29 Paul Farman
30 Joseph Opoku
31 Ross Stewart
33 Adam Idah
35 Ronald
39 Evan Watts
40 NUMBER RETIRED
44 Thomas Woodward
46 Stephen Eustaquio
49 Moussa Yeo
50 Carter Heywood
Head Coach Nicky Hayen
1 Max Weiss
2 Kyle Walker
3 Max Alleyne
5 Reo Hatate
7 Jacob Bruun Larsen
8 Ugo Raghouber
9 Jamie Vardy
11 Zeki Amdouni
12 Dastan Satpayev
14 Connor Roberts
15 Anel Ahmedhodzic
17 Andreas Hountondji
18 Hjalmar Ekdal
19 Largie Ramazani
21 Aaron Ramsey
22 Oliver Sonne
23 Lucas Pires
24 Josh Cullen (c)
27 Armando Broja
28 Hannibal Mejbri
29 Josh Laurent
30 Lluc Castell
34 Jaydon Banel
37 Gregoire Coudert
44 Igor Julio
48 Enock Agyei
Referee: James Bell
Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Fox
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Leach
Fourth Official: Ross Martin
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
Head of Goalkeeping and analysis â Pedro Pereira
First Team Coaches - Kris O'Leary and Leon Britton
Head of Medical - Dr Jez McCluskey
Staff: 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
Sporting Director: Ben Stevens
Head of Operations and Facilities: Andrew Davies
Head of Football Operations and Administration: Ben Greenwood
Head of Media and Communications: Andrew Gwilym
Head of Safeguarding: Rebeca Storer
HR Manager: Nicola Butt
Head of Commercial: Katie Doyle
Head of Facilities: Gordon David
Head of Supporter Services: Hayley Ford
Head of IT: Jonathan Jones
CLUB STAFF
Football Operations & Administration Manager: Rebecca Gigg
Head of Partnerships: Lee Merrells
Head of Hospitality: Catherine Thomas
Head of Ticketing: David Enstone
Grounds Manager: Evan Davies
Club Ambassador: Lee Trundle
PROGRAMME PRODUCTION
Contributors: Andrew Gwilym, Rachael Tucker, Mackenzie Thomas, Cerith White, Sophie Davis, Mackenzie Squires, Sammy Wynne, Osian Cleaver, Hayley Ford, Owen Morgan, Julie Kissick, Gwyn Rees, James Dow.
Designers: Callum Rothwell, Jac Elsey.