Good afternoon all and welcome to our final fixture of the season as we host Charlton Athletic at the Swansea.com Stadium.
I know for Vitor and the players, their focus will be firmly on making sure we round things off with a positive performance and result to take into the summer, but bidding farewell to the 2025-26 season does also offer a time for reflection.
The last 12 months has been a period of change for us as a club, but I think we are ending the season in a stronger position than we were when we started it and that is the most important thing as we aim to keep moving forward.
There have been some tremendous highlights on and off the pitch. I think the game where Snoop Dogg paid his first visit to the stadium provided a memory that everyone that was here will hold with them for a long time. The atmosphere and sense of occasion around that evening was on another level and underlined just how Snoop, Luka Modric and Martha Stewart can help raise the profile of our club.
In terms of on the pitch, our goal of the season nominees from Wednesday night’s awards was a reminder of some of the special moments that we have all shared together over the course of the season. I feel that shortlist must have been up there with any club in the country in terms of the quality on display.
Some of the goals we have scored and the football we have played at times has been really impressive and we hope there is more to come as we continue on our journey of progression.
But the other factor that struck me at the awards the other night, and has made a big impression on me since I joined, is just how powerful this club is when we have everyone pulling in the same direction.
Internally, we have a great group of staff who are aligned on driving us forward across all parts of the business and your support, understanding and passion is equally as important as we look to kick on. If we are to be successful, we are going to need everyone to contribute in their own way.
We have that feeling and positivity at the moment and we really want to hold onto that as long as possible.
I would like to congratulate all the winners at the awards in midweek, all of whom were thoroughly deserving of the accolades they received, as well as extending our gratitude to our partners and sponsors who helped make the evening possible.
I also want to extend my best wishes to Martyn Margetson and Joe Allen as they prepare for their final game with the club.
Both have given Swansea City years of sterling service and it goes without saying that we will miss their considerable presence and expertise.
They will always be welcomed with open arms here at the Swansea.com Stadium and I know you will make sure they are given a very fond and warm farewell today.
Last but certainly not least, I want to thank each and every one of you for the support you have given our football club over this last year.
We have felt it here in our stadium, but also up and down the country and at all the various events we have held over the course of the year.
Your passion is what drives us all forward, so thank you, and my thanks to all the players and staff who have worked tirelessly over the 2025-26 campaign.
We have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we look toward the 2026-27 season with plenty of reasons for optimism.
Enjoy the game,
Tom Gorringe
CEO, Swansea City
Good afternoon everyone and the warmest of welcomes to you all as we finish off the 2025-26 season against Charlton Athletic at the Swansea.com Stadium.
We are hoping to round off the campaign on a winning note, and make sure we take this feeling of positivity and connection into the summer ahead.
I think we have a number of reasons to be encouraged by the work we have put in as a group over these last six months, with the prospect of further improvements and developments to come because as a team you are always evolving and always looking to take steps in the right direction.
I want to thank you all for the very warm welcome you have given to me, my family and our staff since we joined this great football club.
We have found Swansea City to be a lovely place to live, and it was obvious from day one just how passionate everyone within this city is about the football team.
We have a lot of hard work ahead, but I am confident we have put the foundations in place that can hopefully help us deliver a team you are excited to watch and that can bring us success.
Speaking of success, I want to congratulate all the awards winners from Wednesday night’s player awards evening.
Zan Vipotnik won three awards for his outstanding season and is on course to surely win the Championship Golden Boot, and he deserves all the accolades for all the hard work he has put in every day over the season.
All winners deserved their recognition across all elements of the club, and it was an evening that underlined just how special Swansea City is.
Congratulations to everyone involved in a successful evening. In the room, you could feel the presence and significance of our history, and that was so inspiring because we want to honour that history and identity in what we build here on and off the pitch. It only added to the immense pride I already feel at being given the opportunity to be part of Swansea City.
Last, but certainly not least, I want to pass on my best wishes for the future to Martyn Margetson and Joe Allen as this will be their final game as part of our coaching staff.
They are two people who have given outstanding service to Swansea City, and myself and our whole staff, and they leave us with our gratitude and nothing but the very best of wishes for whatever the future holds.
Enjoy the game,
Vítor Matos,
First Team Head Coach
Welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium today for our final game of the season against Charlton Athletic.
It really doesn’t seem like it was almost nine months ago that we kicked off our league campaign and, despite a nervous few weeks late last year before Vitor Matos came in as our new head coach to calm everyone’s nerves, we are in with a decent chance today of achieving our highest points total since the 2022-23 season.
However, what is more pleasing for me is how Vitor and the players haven’t allowed the season to just peter out with arguably not a whole lot to play for in the past few weeks.
We are right up there with the form teams of the Championship and that augers well for the all-important pre-season training programme so that Vitor and his team of coaches can have the time they need to get the team ready for what could quite possibly be one of the most exciting seasons the Swans have had in the Championship for a number of years.
However, today is all about enjoying our final game at the .com for a few weeks, and with no pressure on either side I’m hopeful we can see a few goals to send everyone away for the summer in an optimistic mood.
I hope everyone has enjoyed reading our programme notes again this season, which as well as being included in the club’s digital programme and on our website, are also printed on the rear of the teamsheets that members and supporters can pick up from our Trust kiosk near the Club Shop before our home games, with all donations going towards our chosen charity partners.
As always, the wide variety of Trust work and regular meetings with the club management team and ownership group will continue over the summer. We are also in the final stages of completing the new International Wall of Fame and the relocated Robbie James Wall of Fame, both of which will be unveiled over the summer outside the stadium reception entrance. More news on this will be announced in the coming weeks.
A couple of weeks ago we released our and Kieran Maguires views on the club’s accounts for the 2024-25 accounting period in our latest Trust Podcast - more details here: https://www.swanstrust.co.uk/trustcast/swans-trust-podcast-with-kieran-maguire/
Looking ahead it will be soon be time for members to consider putting themselves forward for election to the Trust Board. We will be announcing more details of that process in June but in the meantime I would strongly encourage members who feel they have the time to help us in our work and responsibilities to give it some thought and to find out more by visiting our Trust Elections page on our website: https://www.swanstrust.co.uk/about/trust-documents/trust-elections/.
We are also looking to appoint a new Trust Secretary over the summer following Dave Jones’ decision to step down from the board a few weeks ago. Dave kindly took over the role from retiring secretary Paul Barrett last summer, and we are indebted to the hard work and time he has committed to the Trust and our members since he joined the board back in August 2024. If anyone is interested in learning more, please get in touch with us at info@swanstrust.co.uk.
Earlier this week the club held its Annual Awards Dinner in the Brangwyn Hall and once again it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. The Trust proudly continues to sponsor the Lifetime Achievement Award and this season we were delighted to present it to Tony Avo for his many years of service at the club.
Tony has been a committed and devoted servant of Swansea City for more than three decades and has held a number of roles within the club, ranging from academy coaching to playing a part in the signings of the likes of Joe Allen, Connor Roberts and Ollie Cooper. More recently Tony helps out with kit provision in the academy and assisting the club’s matchday ball retrieval team, for which my youngest son Tyler has been a proud member over the past season.
It was therefore an honour for us both to present Tony with his award as deserved recognition for one of Swansea City’s true unsung heroes. Thank you Tony.
More details on the evening and all the award winners can be seen on the club’s website: https://www.swanseacity.com/news/zan-vipotnik-scoops-awards-hat-trick-swansea-city-player-awards-evening
Can I also take this opportunity to wish both Martyn Margetson and Joe Allen our sincere thanks and very best wishes for the future after the recent announcements they will be leaving their respective coaching roles after today’s game.
Finally, I would like to thank all our Trust members and the Jack Army for your support over the past season and also extend a personal thanks to every one of our Swans Trust board members for all their continued dedication in the many areas of work we are involved with. Have an enjoyable break everyone.
Dave
LAPS OF HONOUR
Llangyfelach U12's
Rosehill Community FC U12s
Penlan AFC U13s
Birchgrove Colts U13s
Morriston Town AFC U14s
Gower Galaxy U12s
OUR JUNIOR JACKS
The start of the 2025-26 season marked 20 years since Swansea City moved into our Swansea.com Stadium home.
To mark the anniversary, club historian Gwyn Rees is profiling members of the first Swans squad to grace the stadium during the 2005-06 campaign. This time, he looks at the career of the man who led the Swans into their new home. A man who is sometimes overlooked in the Swansea story, but who played a crucial role in starting the club's rise through the divisions; Kenny Jackett.
Kenny Jackett was born in Watford in January 1962 to a father, Frank, who had played for Watford in the late 1940s through to the early 1950s.
At the tender age of 12 Kenny would himself join the Hornets and steadily progressed through the various age groups, finally making his first-team debut at 18 in a game against Sunderland.
A skillful left footed player, he was part of the Watford side under Grayham Taylor who won promotion to the First Division.
With the likes of John Barnes and Luther Blissett in the side, Watford surprised the pundits by finishing runners-up to the dominant Liverpool team, and a season later Jackett was part of the Watford side who reached the club’s first FA Cup final, only to lose to Howard Kendall’s Everton at Wembley.
Along with his successful playing time at club level, due to his Welsh born father Kenny also qualified to play for the Dragons. He made his debut in 1982 against Norway and playing his final game in April 1988 in a friendly defeat to Sweden.
All in all the player featured 31 times for Wales, with only injury problems preventing him from adding to his tally.
A regular on the team sheet for a decade, Kenny unfortunately began having problems with his knee, and after undergoing a series of operations to try and cure his problem he was forced to finish his playing career prematurely at just 28 years of age.
Upon his retirement, Jackett remained at Vicarage Road and became a member of the coaching staff. He would eventually go on to become manager in 1996 as Taylor moved into a director of football role.
The following summer Taylor returned as manager and Kenny became his assistant, and the pair led Watford to successive promotions that saw them reach the Premier League in 2000.
Gianluca Vialli would succeed Taylor, and that left Kenny on his way out the door at the club he had served with such distinction.
A stint as Ian Holloway’s assistant with QPR followed, before he became Swansea manager in 2004, as he took over from Brian Flynn.
His first full campaign in charge was Swansea’s last at the Vetch Field, and he helped ensure the club bade farewell to its home with promotion from League Two and FAW Premier Cup success.
A disciplinarian, who valued fitness, focus and application, he drove high standards and the Swans continued to be upwardly mobile in his second season, with the club now in its new stadium.
Football League Trophy success against Carlisle United was secured at the Millennium Stadium, but the Swans suffered heartbreak at the same ground a few months later as they lost the League One play-off final on penalties against Barnsley.
Afte that setback, Jackett's third season at the club saw the team have mixed results on the pitch, and the manager surprised everyone when he resigned from his post in February 2007.
Following on from a short stay as reserve team manager at Manchester City, Jackett returned to full-time management at Millwall, where in his second season they won promotion to the Championship via a play-off win over Swindon Town.
He soon once again led Millwall to Wembley, this time in the FA Cup semi-final, where they lost to Wigan Athletic, and at the season’s end he resigned from his position.
Since leaving Millwall he has guided Wolves to promotion back to the Championship, and also managed at Rotherham, Portsmouth, Gillingham and Leyton Orient, but health issues have forced him to take time away from the game in recent years.
Charlton Athletic were established in 1905 and have spent four separate periods in the top-flight of English football, most recently between 2000 and 2007.
During that period, under the tutelage of Alan Curbishley, they enjoyed a league high finish of seventh. They have also enjoyed FA Cup success on one occasion, lifting the trophy in 1947.
Recent times have seen them flit between League One and the Championship, and they are back in the second tier this term having secured promotion courtesy of victory over Leyton Orient at Wembley in the play-offs.
THE VALLEY
Built: 1919
Location: Charlton, London, SE7
Capacity: 27,111
Welshman Nathan Jones took charge at The Valley in February 2024 with Charlton at risk of relegation from League One, but just over a year later had them back in the Championship.
Jones is best known for his two spells in charge at Luton. After a successful first spell between 2016 and 2019, during which he oversaw back-to-back promotions, Jones departed for Stoke but endured a difficult spell in the Potteries.
He returned to Luton in 2020, guiding them to Championship safety, and then helping them flourish in the second tier and winning the EFL Championship manager of the year award in 2022 before departing for Premier League Southampton.
His spell with Saints was shortlived, but he has revived Charlton's fortunes since arriving in south-east London.
As a player Cardiff-born Jones played most of his career in the lower leagues for Brighton & Hove Albion and Yeovil Town, amassing over 150 appearances for each. In total Jones had a career spanning 488 appearances and 12 goals over a 17-year period.
Experienced midfielder Greg Docherty has been Charlton's skipper since joining the club in the summer of 2024.
A former Scotland Under-21 international, Docherty first emerged at Hamilton Academical having joined the club at the age of nine and worked his way through the ranks to become an important first-team regular.
A move to boyhood club Rangers followed in 2018, but found game time hard to come by at Ibrox, although he enjoyed successful loan spells with Shrewsbury Town and Hibernian.
He joined Hull in 2020 and helped them to win League One and return to the Championship in his first season with the Tigers.
He made nigh on 150 appearances for them before being released when his contract expired, whereupon he made the move to the Addicks.
Defender Lloyd Jones has been an accomplished performer at Charlton and has been a key figure for them this season, having found a home at The Valley after something of a nomadic career.
A Plymouth and Liverpool academy product, Jones had loan spells with Cheltenham Town, Accrington Stanley, Blackpool and Swindon while with the Anfield club before making a permanent switch to Luton under Jones.
He rarely featured across three seasons and was loaned to Plymouth and Northampton, before the latter made the move permanent.
Jones was a regular for Cambridge United between 2021 and 2023, and has been a regular for the Addicks since arriving in the summer of 2023, helping them to promotion via the play-offs last term.
Sonny Carey has enjoyed a fine first season with the Addicks, scoring eight goals for his new club following his summer arrival from Blackpool.
The attacking midfielder began his career in the youth ranks at Norwich, but was let go by the Canaries and had spells in non-league with Norwich United, Wroxham and King's Lynn before Blackpool signed him in 2021.
He made the most of his second chance in the EFL ranks, making 11 Championship appearances in his first season before becoming a regular over the following campaigns as the Seasiders dropped into League One.
His ability to drive forward with the ball and directly commit defenders has been one of the hallmarks of Charlton's campaign.
Striker Lyndon Dykes' experience has made him a valuable acquisition for the Addicks following his January arrival from Birmingham City.
The Scotland international has three goals and three assists to his name in 19 appearances for Charlton.
Born in Australia to Scottish parents, Dykes played for Mudgeeraba, Merrimac, Queen of the South, Redlands United, Gold Coast City and Surfers Paradise Apollo, before returning to Queen of the South and featuring for their seniors from 2016.
During part of his time back in Australia he had worked for a sportswear company and had unsuccessful trials for A-League teams.
He excelled for Queen of the South, dovetailing superbly with ex-Swan Stephen Dobbie in attack, before joining Livingston in 2019 and making his move to the Championship with Queens Park Rangers in 2020.
He spent four years at Loftus Road, making 165 appearances and scoring 37 goals in all competitions and went on to join Birmingham in League One in 2024.
Dykes helped the Blues return to the Championship at the first time of asking, but left for The Valley with first-team opportunities proving harder to come by this term.
Sitting down to write today’s programme notes, I have to admit I wasn’t in the best of moods.
At the final whistle today, the long close season stretches ahead . . . and no Wales at the World Cup to help fill the football gap.
‘This is going to be a cheery read,’ I thought to myself.
Fortunately, the song ‘Reasons to Be Cheerful Part 3’ also popped into my mind.
So, I decided to follow Ian Dury and The Blockheads’ lead.
To be fair, it didn’t take long to list some reasons to be cheerful and lift my spirits.
Looking ahead, there’s plenty to be positive about for us Swans fans.
Obviously, in an ideal world, everyone would love the club to either be promoted by now, or at least be involved in the play-offs.
But cast your mind back just a few months and it looked like we would be dragged into a far different finale to the season at the opposite end of the table.
On November 22, just two days before Vitor Matos was confirmed as Alan Sheehan’s replacement, the Swans were 20th in the league table having won just four matches.
A victory this afternoon, would be our 18th of the season and could potentially secure a top-10 finish, depending on results elsewhere.
There is no doubt the Portuguese has had a positive influence on the team’s fortunes since his appointment.
Matos has already discussed his plans to strengthen his squad during the close season.
Given the improvements the former Liverpool elite development coach has achieved after taking over halfway through a season, I’m genuinely excited to see what he can do following what is likely to be a busy summer on and off the training pitch.
Who knows what will happen during the annual summer transfer merry-go-round.
But as things stand, the squad is spearheaded by one of the hottest goal-scoring properties in British football.
Žan Vipotnik has had a fantastic season. The first Swans striker to score 25 goals in all competitions since Wilfried Bony in the 2013-14 season.
It’s been a genuine pleasure to watch the Slovenian striker finding the net so many times this season – and almost breaking it with that free-kick against Sheffield Wednesday!
There’s bound to be speculation about his future over the summer. We all know prolific strikers are the Holy Grail for football clubs. As a result, they are also worth their weight in gold – especially when they’ve recently signed a new contract.
So any suitors setting their sights on the man who is famous for his binoculars celebration better have deep pockets!
Talking of Žan’s long-sighted celebration, it was great to see it being replicated the other day by Swans teammate Kyrell Wilson, who is currently on loan at Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership.
The pacy winger scored an absolute screamer of a half-volley against Celtic which Vipotnik – the man with dynamite in his boots - would have been proud of.
I’ve enjoyed hearing reports of Wilson’s exploits north of the border alongside fellow young Swans loanee Filip Lissah this season.
Lissah has been earning rave reviews at Falkirk Stadium, where he won the club’s player of the month award for November.
The duo aren’t the only Swans youngsters impressing in Scotland’s top-flight.
Cameron Congreve has been starring for Dundee, where the wide man was described by pundits as one of the club’s outstanding performers this season following a brilliant long range curling effort against Hibernian. Attacking midfielder Joel Cotterill has also been making his mark at The Dark Blues.
Closer to home, local boy Ben Lloyd has been gaining valuable experience at Newport County and played a vital part in their huge relegation battle against Oldham last weekend, scoring an equaliser and setting up the injury-time winner.
It’s great to see these youngsters, and others, thriving on loan. Of course, it will be up to Matos and his staff to decide if they are involved in the first-team squad here next season.
But the number of minutes they have enjoyed in first team football this season has got to be a positive ahead of next term.
And, of course, it’s been brilliant to see Sam Parker shining in the first team here during the latter part of this season.
Very few things cheer me up more as a Swans fan than seeing a home-grown young Welsh player making his mark in the first team.
Off the field, things have been looking positive too.
Reports of an application to build huge new fan zone at the Swansea.com Stadium by the club’s owners have been a source of excitement amongst fans in recent weeks.
And, of course, there has been the celebrity input from the likes of footballing superstar Luka Modrić, multi-millionaire businesswoman Martha Stewart and the incomparable Snoop Dogg.
Casting my mind back to Snoop’s appearance here for the Preston game will forever bring a disbelieving smile to my face.
And what about his vow to turn Swansea into Wales’ answer to Las Vegas?
Far be it from me to question Snoop’s judgement, but personally I see Swansea more suited to becoming Wales’ answer to Monte Carlo given its coastal location.
Either way, having someone like Snoop Dogg wanting to “bring a little fun for my people in Swansea” has got to be a good thing if it comes off.
Meanwhile, on the international football front, I would have loved to have seen our Welsh internationals strutting their stuff at the World Cup this summer.
The penalty shoot-out defeat in the play-off semi-final against Bosnia-Herzegovina still stings.
But I’m hoping to at least partly console myself by cheering on a Swans contingent when the action kicks off across the pond.
My fingers are firmly crossed that the likes of Cameron Burgess, Marko Stamenic, Jisung Eom and Ricardo Santos are involved in their respective countries’ campaigns in the Americas.
So, thank you to the late Ian Dury for inspiring me to look for reasons to be cheerful ahead of the long close season break.
On the subject of music, it’s 50 years ago this summer since British music legends The Who played iconic concerts at The Vetch and the home of today’s visitors, Charlton Athletic
On Bank Holiday Monday, May 31,1976, the legendary band performed to an estimated crowd of more than 60,000 at The Valley.
Less than two weeks later, on June 12, Roger Daltrey and the boys rolled in to Swansea where they drew a capacity crowd to the Vetch.
In between they also played a concert at Celtic’s Parkhead Stadium on the three date tour which was entitled ‘The Who Put the Boot in’.
The Swansea concert is still fondly recalled in the city by misty eyed Mods of a certain age.
There may even be some older fans in the away end today who were in Swansea back in June 1976.
Many concert-goers with legitimate tickets were turned away from The Valley concert due to counterfeit tickets swelling the crowd above the ground’s capacity.
As compensation, they were given tickets for the Swansea concert and free buses were laid on to transport them to south Wales.
Hopefully the home team won’t be so welcoming to our visitors from London this afternoon!
C’mon you Swans!
Win World Cup or win Champions League?
World Cup
Home or Away Kit?
Away Kit
Last Minute Winner or Penalty Shootout Win?
Last Minute Winner
Late Kick-off or Early Kick-off?
Late Kick-off
30-Yard Screamer or Team Goal?
30-Yard Screamer
Grass or 4G?
Grass
Can you name Welsh word?
Bore Da, Araf, Prynhawn Da
VAR or No VAR?
VAR
Zan Vipotnik scooped a hat-trick, including being named Swansea City Supporters’ Player of the Season for the 2025-26 season, at the club’s annual awards evening.
The Slovenian striker had enjoyed an outstanding campaign, scoring 25 goals in all competitions, while his league tally of 23 is set to win him the Championship’s Golden Boot award.
His exploits saw him come out on top when the Jack Army were asked to vote for their best player of the season, while Vipotnik was also selected as Men’s Players’ Player of the Season by his teammates and, unsurprisingly, scooped the Top Goalscorer prize at the Brangwyn Hall.
“It is very special for me to win these awards, for sure it means a lot to me, it's been an amazing night" he said.
"A lot has changed in a year. When we were here last year I did not need to get up from my table, now I am fortunate enough to stand here with three awards.
“It has been a good season for me. It was not always easy, especially at the start, but I was able to come through this and show what I can do. I am proud of the progress I have made.
“But I also want to thank my teammates and the staff, because for sure they have also played an important part in me ending the season with so many goals.”
The Men’s Best Newcomer prize was claimed by Ethan Galbraith, with the versatile midfielder having enjoyed a superb first season in SA1 having arrived from Leyton Orient last summer.
The Women’s Best Newcomer award went to Eilish Mitchell, who has impressed with her consistent performances in defence and midfield for the Swans.
The Swansea City Women squad chose midfielder Maddy Murray as their Players’ Player of the Season as she helped them secure a third-place finish in the Welsh top-flight and a place in the Welsh Cup final.
Chloe Chivers narrowly beat Aimee Deacon to the Top Goalscorer title, ending the campaign with 19 goals in all competitions, with 16 coming in the league.
The Under-21s’ Player of the Season was Thomas Woodward, with the midfielder enjoying another goal-laden campaign and being named on the bench for the senior side’s recent fixture at Queens Park Rangers having been part of an elite training group within the Swans academy.
Defender Carter Heywood picked up the Academy Player of the Season award after a campaign where the 17-year-old has thrived across all age categories, been a regular for the under-21s and helped the under-18s reach the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup.
Off the field the Swansea City Supporters’ Trust Lifetime Achievement award went to Tony Avo.
A committed and devoted servant of Swansea City for more than three decades, Avo has held a number of roles within the club.
Those have ranged from academy coaching, to playing a part in the signings of the likes of Joe Allen, Connor Roberts and Ollie Cooper, helping with kit provision in the academy and assisting the club’s matchday ball retrieval teams, and the award was deserved recognition for one of Swansea City’s true unsung heroes.
The Alan Curtis award - given to those who have made an outstanding contribution to the club - went Kris O’Leary.
O’Leary recently marked 30 years since he made his senior debut for the Swans at Bradford in March 1996, and in total he would make 334 appearances, experiencing everything from the fight for Football League survival to promotions, play-offs finals and FAW Premier Cup success.
After moving into coaching, O’Leary helped the Swans to League Cup success in 2013 and an eighth-place Premier League finish in 2015, before later returning to the club as part of the academy coaching set-up in 2020.
He was promoted to the first-team staff again in 2021, being involved in two south Wales derby doubles, and continues to as a coach in Vitor Matos’ set-up.
The evening included a vote to decide the club’s Goal of the Season award.
There were a dozen options to choose from following a campaign littered with stunning strikes, but there could only be one winner and was Liam Cullen's long-range strike to seal victory over Stoke City in March.
Last, but certainly not least, Kev Johns, was recognised as the club’s Community Champion for his years of tireless service to the football club and the wider community.
For years Johns has been the voice of the Swans, at the Vetch and the Swansea.com Stadium, but his reach has been felt far beyond the football club, including his work as an ambassador for causes such as the Swansea Bay Health Charity and Maggie’s.
We wish Kev well as he continues to recover from a recent mini-stroke, and we cannot wait to have him back with us at the Swansea.com Stadium next season.
Swansea City would like to thank all its sponsors and partners for their support over the course of the season and of tonight’s event, which was sponsored by Ammcom.
Under-21s’ Player of the Season (sponsored by Shy Sheep) – Thomas Woodward
Academy Player of the Season (sponsored by Joma) – Carter Heywood
Community Champion (sponsored by the Disabled Supporters’ Association) – Kev Johns
Women’s Players’ Player of the Season (sponsored by Owens Group) – Maddy Murray
Women’s Top Goalscorer of the Season (sponsored by Peter Lynn & Partners) – Chloe Chivers
Women’s Best Newcomer (sponsored by Kwiff) – Eilish Mitchell
Men’s Best Newcomer (sponsored by Kwiff) – Ethan Galbraith
Men’s Top Goalscorer of the Season (sponsored by Peter Lynn & Partners) – Zan Vipotnik
Goal of the Season – (sponsored by HGV Drivers) – Winner picked from video shortlist on the night
Men’s Players’ Player of the Season (sponsored by Owens Group) – Zan Vipotnik
Supporters’ Player of the Season (sponsored by Shirgar Welsh Butter) – Zan Vipotnik
Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by the Swansea City Supporters’ Trust) – Tony Avo
Alan Curtis Award (sponsored by Aquasafe) – Kris O’Leary
Swansea City Under-21s advanced to the quarter-finals of the Professional Development League play-offs as first-half goals from Thomas Woodward and Blair McKenzie sealed an impressive win over Newcastle United at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Midfielder Woodward, fresh from recently being on the bench for the senior side, scored an impressive solo strike to open the scoring as he drove forward before firing home emphatically.
He was also involved in the second goal, with his firm strike being tipped onto the post, with McKenzie stooping to head home the rebound.
In an open contest, the Swans had chances to further extend their lead while Newcastle struck the post through Sean Neave with the best of their opportunities.
But it is the Swans who deservedly claimed a place in the last eight of this new competition, and they will wait to see who they draw after seeing off Premier League 2 Category One opposition in fine fashion.
The visitors had enjoyed the first sight of goal when Neave planted a header over the bar after rising to meet a Kyle Fitzgerald corner at the near post.
At the other end Josh Pescatore had to stretch to reach a good cross from Morgan Bates, and his header lacked the power to trouble Newcastle keeper Aidan Harris.
Much of the early going was dominated by the midfield battle as the two sides fought for control, but it was a moment of quality from Woodward that broke the deadlock.
The midfielder won the ball and drove forward with white shirts in support, but took the responsibility of shooting on himself as he reached the area, and his firm finish left the keeper with no chance.
But Newcastle continued to offer a threat, McKenzie making an important covering challenge on Fitzgerald, before Park Seung-soo whistled a low effort just wide of the Swansea goal.
Woodward was soon involved again, forcing an outstanding save from Harris after a corner had been half-cleared to him, but the keeper had no luck as the ball struck the upright and allowed McKenzie to nod home the rebound.
Despite doubling their lead, Swansea still needed to defend resolutely at times, with Iestyn Jones getting himself in the way of a goalbound Anthony Munda strike.
Woodward had a low shot deflected wide of the post to deny the Swans a third, but the hosts still held a handy two-goal cushion at the break.
Newcastle knew they would need a strong start to the second half, and they twice got Neave into promising situations around the edge of the Swansea area, but he was unable to make the most of either.
However, he went closer when Newcastle won the ball high up the pitch and countered quickly, sending a low right-footed shot beyond the grasp of Joe Collins but against the base of the post.
Swansea settled again after that uncertain period, and a lovely exchange of passes between Pescatore and Bates ended with the latter getting away a low shot from the edge of the area that Harris gathered in.
Pescatore then flashed a strike over the bar after making room for a shot at the end of a rapid Swansea counter-attack.
Newcastle's final chance of staging a late comeback came and went when Collins made an outstanding stop to parry away Munda's firm strike from Park's intelligent pull-back as the hosts made sure of their place in the next round.
Swansea City U21s: Joe Collins, Thomas Searle (Carter Heywood 76), Callum Deacon, Milo Robinson, Blair McKenzie, Iestyn Jones, Josh Pescatore, Dan Watts (captain), Morgan Bates, Yori Griffith (Billy Clarke 76), Thomas Woodward (Harlan Perry 46).
Unused Substitutes: Evan Anderson, Josiah Kallicharan.
Referee: Greg Rollason
Captain Jess Williams wants the hurt of an agonising Welsh Cup final defeat to serve as motivation for Swansea City Women to start turning narrow defeats into statement victories next term.
The Swans had looked on course to end a promising season with silverware when they raced into a 3-0 lead against Cardiff City at Rodney Parade, as Chloe Chivers, Aimee Deacon and Maisie Miller found the net,
However, three goals in barely 15 minutes turned the game on its head as a brace from Fiona Barry either side of a Shannon Evans header brought the sides level and led to a penalty shootout.
The Bluebirds ultimately came out on top, converting all five of their spot-kicks, while Stacey John saw her effort saved by Ceryn Chamberlain in her 250th and final appearance for the Swans, as Cardiff secured a 5-4 shootout victory.
It was a heartbreaking way to round off a season where Swansea have made signfiicant progress, and Williams knows the key next season is going to be for this side to take the next step and regularly beat rivals Cardiff and league champions Wrexham.
“I think we dominated the game like we have three or four times this season, but unfortunately it didn’t fall our way," she said.
"It’s always hard to lose on penalties, but we ended up in that position because our heads dropped for 10 minutes, we conceded three times, and that’s something we need to improve going into next season.
“We can be immensely proud of how far we’ve come this season. Anyone who has watched us will know we’ve come on leaps and bounds. We’ve improved week by week, and to be in this final and go toe-to-toe with Cardiff shows how far we’ve come as a squad.
“I SAID TO THE GIRLS AFTER THE GAME THAT, AS MUCH AS IT HURTS RIGHT NOW, THIS IS SOMETHING TO BUILD ON.
"We know where we need to improve and what our strengths are, and if we build on that going into pre-season after a break, I’m sure we’ll be competing right at the top next season.”
Williams also praised the support of the Swans fans, who once again backed the side in strong numbers.
“The fans were great. All season we’ve spoken about how much their support means to us, and to see so many here was amazing. We can hear them on the pitch, and their backing never goes unnoticed," she added.
The final also marked the end of the careers of three Swansea stalwarts in John, Steph Turner and Lucy Finch, all of whom hung up their boots after the final.
Williams paid tribute to the trio, highlighting their contributions to the club and the relationships built along the way.
“They’ve put blood, sweat and tears into this badge for years. I’m so proud to have shared the pitch with them, and they should be immensely proud of everything they’ve achieved," said Williams.
“They’re not just teammates, they’re friends for life. They may be leaving the pitch, but they’ll always be part of this club and its family.”
I’m really not sure how we got to the last game of the season, but we’re here. Today we welcome Charlton Athletic to the Swansea.com Stadium, a side safe in the Championship thanks to a win over play-off chasing Hull City last weekend.
As campaigns go, this one for us has had the customary highs and lows, from flirting with the play-offs to concerns about relegation and all the messy stuff that happens either end of those two extremes.
As always, the fans are the constants and whatever the results, our support remains.
I certainly feel we’re finishing the season in a far better place than I feared we would as we headed into the winter months. And that’s in no small part thanks to the ‘new’ gaffer.
Vitor Matos arrived in November, a relative unknown and with a great deal of expectation on his shoulders after a disappointing start to the season. He was five months into his first senior management role with second tier Maritimo in his native Portugal.
It has certainly been a brighter few months as the gregarious former Liverpool elite development coach once again swapped the Portuguese sunshine for the unpredictable British weather. His infectious smile and positive demeanour certainly seems to have brought a different atmosphere to life in SA1 and I’m sure we’re all looking forward to seeing what he can do with a full pre-season under his belt.
I was fortunate enough to be at the awards evening on Wednesday and the atmosphere in the Brangwyn Hall, a new venue for the event, was up-beat as fans discussed the season and their hopes for the new campaign, which will be upon us before we know it.
Club captain, Ben Cabango, acknowledged that it had been an ‘up and down’ season as he stood on the stage next to Matos. He said it was an honour to wear the armband for Swansea City and he praised the impact of the head coach.
“The second half of the season has been really good, it’s been really positive since Vitor’s come in, the gaffer. We’ve found consistency which is one of the hardest things in the Championship, so to get that we have something to build on going into next season.”
And of course, it was entirely fitting that Mr Consistency himself, Zan Vipotnik, scooped three of the awards. He was obviously going to get the top goalscorer prize after finding the back of the net 25 times so far, and the fact that he was awarded both supporters’ player of the season and players’ player of the season said it all. How different this campaign would have looked without him.
He is apparently hoping to add another three this afternoon. (If you were at the awards evening, you’ll know why!) Let’s hope he manages it and we get to the final whistle with a win to celebrate and an acknowledgement that there is indeed a lot to be optimistic about for the future of this club.
Enjoy the break, Jacks. We’ll be back before we know it.
JULIE KISSICK
A big happy 40th Birthday to our amazing dad/husband/Lee, have the best day, we love doing life with you and couldn't do it without you, here to many more adventures together. Love you Chloe, Lowri, Griff, Eiry and Catherine!
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This is Tate, Tate is a local 5 year old with a rare terminal condition called sanfillipo syndrome (CHILDHOOD DEMENTIA). Life changing treatment is available in America for £1.5m, we are looking to raise funds and awareness for him. You can donate here: www.savingtate.co.uk. Thank you
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IN MEMORY
In memory of Peter Hagerty, 81, lifelong swans supporter who sadly passed away 6th of April 2026. Family is in attendance, come on the Swans!!
Once a Jack, Always a Jack.
We are all Jacks is Swansea City’s 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 – 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 – 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 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.
PLAYER SPONSORS
Shwmae Junior Jacks,
Welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium!
We’re so excited to see you today Junior Jacks, but we’re very sad that it’s the last game of the season!
We’ve had such a great time this season, can you choose a favourite moment? - We can’t... there’s just SO many.
Have a great summer Junior Jacks, we can’t wait to see you again next season!
For one last time this season, have a go at the Take Five quiz to test your knowledge about the season.
Our score prediction is 2-0 to the Swans and we think Vipotnik will score both goals!
What do you think the score will be?
Uppa Swans,
Cyril and Cybil
Head Coach Vitor Matos
1 Andy Fisher
2 Josh Key
4 Jay Fulton
5 Ben Cabango (c)
6 Marko Stamenić
7 Melker Widell
8 Malick Yalcouye
9 Žan Vipotnik
10 Jisung Eom
14 Josh Tymon
15 Cameron Burgess
16 Ishé Samuels-Smith
17 Gonçalo Franco
18 Gustavo Nunes
20 Liam Cullen
21 Leo Walta
22 Lawrence Vigouroux
23 Ricardo Santos
25 Joel Ward
27 Zeidane Inoussa
29 Paul Farman
30 Ethan Galbraith
31 OIlie Cooper
33 Adam Idah
35 Ronald
40 NUMBER RETIRED IN MEMORY OF BESIAN IDRIZAJ
41 Sam Parker
42 Dan Watts
43 Yori Griffith
44 Thomas Woodward
54 Iestyn Jones
Head Coach Nathan Jones
1 Thomas Kaminski
2 Kayne Ramsey
3 Macaulay Gillesphey
5 Lloyd Jones
6 Conor Coventry
7 Tyreece Campbell
8 Luke Berry
10 Greg Docherty ©
11 Miles Leaburn
14 Sonny Carey
15 Conor Coady
16 Josh Edwards
17 Amari’I Bell
19 Luke Chambers
20 Zach Mitchell
21 Tiernan Brooks
23 Charlie Kelman
24 Matty Godden
25 Will Mannion
26 Joe Rankin-Costello
28 Collins Sichenje
32 Reece Burke
37 Ibrahim Fullah
41 Harvey Knibbs
44 Harry Clarke
77 Jayden Fevrier
99 Lyndon Dykes
Referee: Will Finnie
Assistant Referee 1: Alistair Nelson
Assistant Referee 2: Nick Hopton
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 Modrić, Snoop Dogg, Martha Stewart
FIRST-TEAM STAFF
Head Coach - Vitor Matos
Assistant Head Coach - Ryan Maye
Head of Goalkeeping – Martyn Margetson
First Team Coach - Kris O'Leary
Head of Medical - Dr Jez McCluskey
Staff: Leon Britton, Joe Allen, Toze Mendes, Goncalo Ricca, Diogo Mendeiros, Ailsa Jones, Matt Murray, Thomas Gittoes, Michael Eames, Shaun Baggridge, Adam Mahoney, Patrick Orme, Lewis Binns, Chris Watkins, Jack Oliver, Harri Mathias, James Cole.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Chief Executive Officer: Tom Gorringe
Head of Operations and Facilities: Andrew Davies
Head of Football Operations and Administration: Ben Greenwood
Head of Commercial: George Alston
Head of Media and Communications: Andrew Gwilym
Head of Safeguarding: Rebeca Storer
HR Manager: Nicola Butt
Head of Facilities: Gordon David
Head of Supporter Services: Hayley Ford
Head of IT: Jonathan Jones
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, 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.