Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to you all as we take on Coventry City at the Swansea.com Stadium.
This promises to be an exciting contest, particularly given our excellent home form over recent months.
We boast the fourth-best home record in the Championship this season, and our unbeaten run in SA1 is now in double figures.
We take on a Coventry side sitting at the top of the table, and who look destined to be playing their football in the top-flight next season as they lead the way heading into the final run-in.
It’s a great test for us and a real opportunity to showcase the progress we have made against a team who have set the standard for much of the campaign.
We have the Sky Sports cameras in attendance once again, although hopefully coverage of this fixture will be more balanced than what we witnessed around our game at Wrexham last weekend.
While I don’t think anyone would dispute that we want to continue to grow the profile of the EFL product, the means by which we do so should be balanced and impartial.
In my view, the build-up to and coverage of the game itself left a lot to be desired on those particular scores.
With the production being done by Rob and Ryan’s own production company, all of the guests and focus was on their team, there were celebrations with David Prutton - the face of Sky’s EFL coverage - and the advert for the commentary of the game failed to mention that we were playing at all.
It felt to myself and a number of members of our staff that we were very much an afterthought and that our hosts were given priority at every opportunity, and as a club we would strongly suggest that greater critical thought is given to how these situations are handled moving forward. This is a position that I will discuss with the EFL next week.
It was certainly a very busy period on the field with three games in six days, and that underlined the importance of the partnership we recently announced with Therabody.
To be able to partner with a large global brand that also aids our competitiveness on the pitch through their state of the art recovery equipment is hugely beneficial to the club. Given the demands of the Championship, particularly highlighted last week with our travel pressures, recovery is vitally important to ensure that we can continue to perform.
This week also saw us agree a new contract with Zan Vipotnik, which is set to run through to 2030.
Zan has enjoyed an absolutely outstanding campaign, and his goals have been central to so many of our best moments across the season. It was only right that we recognise and reward his contribution while also protecting one of our biggest assets.
Zan is really enjoying his football at Swansea City and I have no doubt he is eager to finish the season on a high and get himself to that 20-goal mark, while he is still leading the race for the Championship’s golden boot award.
Let’s hope he can add to his tally this afternoon and we can keep this excellent home run going.
Last, but certainly not least, today's fixture is our designated Unite for Access feature.
Unite for Access is a campaign from Level Playing Fields which seeks to raise awareness and drive equality to create a more inclusive matchday for disabled sports fans.
As a proud ambassador of our club's Disabled Supporters' Association, who work fantastically well with staff at the club to meet the needs of our disabled supporters, I want to thank everyone connected with the DSA for their ongoing support and guidance in helping Swansea City be a football club that is inclusive and accessible for all.
Campaigns like this enable us to shine a spotlight on our facilities, which include EFL-leading activations such as our permanent matchday BSL interpreter.
Enjoy the game and thank you for your continued support.
Tom Gorringe
CEO, Swansea City
A very warm welcome to you all as we return to the Swansea.com Stadium to face Championship leaders Coventry City.
This is an exciting challenge for us to face. When you are playing a team who is top of the league, and has been in that position for a long time, you know you are going to need to produce a very good performance, you are going to have to concentrate and focus throughout the 90 minutes, and you are going to have to get the small details right.
Our boys have been outstanding at home, to put together a run of eight wins and two draws is not an easy thing to do in a division as competitive as the Championship.
We are pleased by what we have been able to do in front of our own fans at our stadium, but what has gone before will not get us a result today, so it’s about focusing on the here and now, and I know you will continue to give us tremendous support as you always do.
We were disappointed with the result against Wrexham in our last game, but I was not disappointed with our performance.
I thought in the first half we played well, with and without the ball. They did not have many opportunities and we created chances and got into good positions, and we could have a penalty.
Unfortunately we did not take ours, and they scored, and it changed the context of the game in the second half.
It was a hard way to end a tough week with three games in six days, and two of those being long and difficult away trips. If you lose, people may say these things are used as excuses, but it is a fact.
We travelled nearly 650 miles in three days, and that would be a challenge for any team. I thought the way the boys approached that challenge was excellent and to take six points from the nine available was a positive, even though we wanted more and we continue to want more.
I was asked after the game at Wrexham what we had to play for over the rest of the season but, as I have always said, there is everything to play for.
We are playing to become the team we want to be, we are playing to fight for the badge and for our supporters, we are playing with a commitment to the journey we are on and what that journey will help us become.
We will not get to where we want to be as a team without this mindset and without this mentality. We have had this approach and it has helped us make steps in the right direction. We must keep going.
When you play for a proud club like ours, there is no shortage of motivation and that will never change.
I want to also take this opportunity to congratulate Zan Vipotnik on signing a new contract with the club.
Zan has enjoyed an excellent season, and his goals have been very important for us. He is a young player, hungry to learn, and he knows there are areas he can continue to improve in.
He deserves this reward for the level he has shown, and it also means we have some protection and security as a club when it comes to the future.
Hopefully Zan can continue to enjoy his football and help us have a positive end to the season.
Enjoy the game.
Vítor Matos,
First Team Head Coach
Good afternoon everyone. It’s great to be back at the Swansea.com Stadium again for this fixture against Coventry City.
We’d like to extend a warm welcome to Frank Lampard, his team and all the travelling supporters joining us this evening.
Last weekend’s defeat to Wrexham was a tough one to take and the disappointment across the fanbase showed just how much the result meant to all of us.
It was a frustrating evening, but even in a difficult game there were moments that highlighted the character within this squad and the reaction from the players afterwards made it clear how determined they are to put things right.
Football moves quickly and this game gives us the perfect chance to respond. Coventry have been really strong this season, but we’ve seen time and again how powerful this stadium can be when the team and supporters pull together.
Our home record has been a real positive this season and the backing from the Jack Army has played a huge part in that. With another big Championship crowd expected, it’ll be great to see everyone coming together again and bringing the energy that makes this club what it is.
We’d also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ben Cabango and Liam Cullen on their inclusion in the latest Wales squad for the World Cup play-off against Bosnia & Herzegovina. It’s always great to see our players recognised at international level and it reflects the hard work they continue to put in for club and country.
With that in mind, here’s a reminder that bookings are now open for the Player Awards Evening, one of the standout events of the season and a brilliant chance to celebrate the squad’s achievements: https://www.swanseacity.com/news/player-awards-evening-2025-26-book-your-place
Finally, we’d love to see more supporters, especially younger fans, getting involved with the Trust. A strong and diverse membership helps ensure supporters have real influence in shaping the future of Swansea City. You can join at: https://www.swanstrust.co.uk/join-the-trust/
Enjoy the game!
Come on the Swans!
Teo
As part of a ongoing feature in our digital matchday programme for the 2025-26 campaign, we are calling on all Swans fans to share their memories and experiences of supporting the club this season by submitting your stories and pictures. We will publish a selection over the course of the season, and you can share your stories with us through the link below.
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 Shaun MacDonald, a Wales international who came through the ranks to reach senior level with the Swans.
Brought up in the Blaenymaes area of the city in June 1988, it felt like Shaun MacDonald was always destined to begin his professional football career with his local club.
Starting by working his way through the youth ranks before joining the first team squad in 2005, MacDonald made his senior debut in August of that year in a 3-1 defeat away at Reading in the League Cup.
At just over 6ft, his height and physical presence marked him out compared with the likes of Andy Robinson, Leon Britton and Darren Way; the other players fighting for a regular midfield place in the first team.
His maiden season as a full-time professional was also Swansea’s first at their new stadium, and at the campaign’s end he had made 15 appearances, including playing four times in the Football League Trophy competition; although he did not feature in the final at the Millenium Stadium as the Swans claimed victory over Carlisle United.
That season also saw him represent his country at under-19 level and make his debut for the under-21s in a 5-1 win over Estonia at the Racecourse. In total, MacDonald would make a record 25 appearances for the national age-grade side.
A Welsh senior debut arrived in a 4-1 defeat away to Switzerland in 2010, while he was on loan with Yeovil Town.
That stint was one of five loan spells MacDonald had with the Glovers while on the books of the Swans between 2009 and 2011.
Despite his connection and deep affection for Swansea, having been unable to command a regular spot in the side the player made the hard decision to leave the club in search of more game time, and he ultimately moved to the south coast to join Bournemouth in a deal worth £125,000.
At the Cherries he became a consistent performer in midfield, and was part of a squad that won back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League for the first time in the club's history.
Shaun made his Premier League debut as a substitute against Manchester City in October 2015, playing a total of three times in the top division, before being given a free transfer at the end of the season and joining Wigan Athletic.
That move saw him back in the Championship, and he was once again a regular for the Latics before he suffered a broken leg in a defeat against Reading in April 2017.
MacDonald would miss the entirety of the following season, and he would eventually join Rotherham United in the summer of 2019.
But his time at the club was dogged by illness and the misfortune of suffering another broken leg, and he would leave the south Yorkshire side when his contract expired.
MacDonald did join Crewe in 2021, but made just a handful of appearances before electing to retire from the professional game.
He went on to play for Penybont and Trefelin in the Welsh leagues, whilst also working as a postman.
Singers FC was formed in 1883 by a group of men at the Singer Factory Gentleman’s Club, and five years later they changed the team name to Coventry City. After 11 years competing in the Southern League, they were elected to the Football League in 1919.
Between 1925 and 1958 Coventry spent their time between non-league and the EFL but, under the guidance of manager Jimmy Hill, they manufactured a meteoric rise in the early 1960s and reached the top tier for the first time in 1967.
The Sky Blues remained there for 34 years before suffering relegation in 2001. They dropped to Sky Bet League One just over a decade later and, in 2017, they were relegated to League Two.
The appointment of Mark Robins as manager (for the second time) proved to be a shrewd one. They spent just one season in the fourth tier under him before earning promotion via the play-offs in 2018. The Sky Blues went on to become champions of the curtailed 2019-20 League One season on a points per game basis.
They have impressed since returning to the second tier and were beaten play-off finalists when they lost to Luton Town back in May 2023, and again missed out in the play-offs when beaten by eventual winners Sunderland last term.
They look well on course to end a 25-year absence from the top-flight as they hold a handy lead at the summit of the Championship with only the final run-in ahead.
Coventry's only major trophy came in 1987 when they defeated Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 to win the FA Cup, with Keith Houchen's diving header proving one of the iconic Wembley goals.
And the Sky Blues progressed to the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since their 1986–87 FA Cup victory with a 3–2 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers during the 2023-24 season.
COVENTRY BUILDING SOCIETY ARENA
Built: 2005
Location: Jimmy Hill Way, Rowleys Green, Coventry CV6 6GE
Capacity: 32,609
Chelsea legend Frank Lampard took over from Mark Robins in November 2024 as he returned to coaching in the Championship for the first time since his first managerial position with Derby County.
He got the Sky Blues within sight of a top-flight return last season, before their play-off semi-final agony against Sunderland, and he seems all-but certain to guide them to promotion this time around.
A former Swansea player, Lampard made 11 appearances for the south Wales side in 1995-96 during a loan spell from West Ham.
The former midfield maestro amassed over 600 career appearances in the Premier League with Manchester City, Chelsea and West Ham, netting 177 times in the process.
Lampard has won every major club honour with the former England international claiming three league titles, as well as four FA cups, two League cups, a Europa League and Champions League victory over a decorated 21-year playing career.
He took Derby to the play-off final, but they suffered defeat to Aston Villa.
He took charge at Chelsea in that summer of 2019 and won plaudits for introducing a number of academy products as they finished fourth and reached the FA Cup final.
They started the following season strongly but he left Stamford Bridge in January 2021, going on to manage Everton, dramatically guiding them to Premier League survival in 2022 courtesy of a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace.
After leaving Goodison Park, he returned to Chelsea as interim manager, before making the move to the Sky Blues.
Matt Grimes has taken over the Coventry captaincy following the departures of the likes of Liam Kelly, Kyle McFadzean and Ben Sheaf over the last couple of seasons.
Grimes joined the Sky Blues from the Swans in January 2005, bringing to an end just over a decade in SA1, which saw him rack up 333 appearances and serve as club captain from the summer of 2019 until his departure.
The midfielder skippered Swansea to consecutive play-off appearances and to four south Wales derby wins in a row.
He first came through the ranks at Exeter City, making his senior debut aged 18 before joining Swansea in 2015.
Grimes also had loan spells with Blackburn, Leeds and Northampton while on Swansea's books.
Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth is a familiar face to Swansea City fans having had an impressive loan spell with the Swans during the 2023-24 season.
Rushworth – an England Under-21 international who was part of the squad that won the European Championships in 2023 – started his career with hometown club Halifax before making the move to Brighton in 2018.
He went on to have loan spells with Worthing, Walsall and Lincoln City, making 85 EFL appearances over his stints with the latter two clubs.
He joined the Swans after being part of Brighton's squad for the Premier League Summer Series in the United States.
Rushworth spent last term on loan at Hull, and has been an important figure for the Sky Blues during their promotion push.
Bobby Thomas has been a standout performer in Coventry’s promotion push, and is in contention to make a return from a calf injury that has seen him miss the alst three games for the Sky Blues.
The defender signed his first professional contract with Burnley, having also spent time in the academies of Everton and Crewe Alexandra, but made just a single senior appearance for the Clarets and spent much of his early career gaining experience out on loan.
His first move came in the second half of the 2020–21 season, when he joined Barrow and enjoyed a run of consistent minutes, making 21 league appearances for the newly-promoted League Two side.
Thomas then returned to Burnley for 15 months before heading out on loan again, this time to Bristol Rovers. He marked his debut with a goal in a 2–2 draw against Morecambe and went on to make 19 League One appearances during the first half of the season. A further loan spell followed at Barnsley, where he helped the Tykes reach the play-offs, although they were ultimately beaten by Sheffield Wednesday in a dramatic Wembley final.
The 24-year-old made the first permanent move of his career when he signed for Coventry, and over the past three seasons has gone on to make more than 100 league appearances for the Sky Blues. Despite attracting significant interest last summer, Thomas remained at the club as they continue their push for a return to the Premier League.
Victor Torp is another Sky Blue who has been among the goals this season, netting eight times while also providing four assists for his teammates.
Born in Denmark, the midfielder began his career at FC Midtjylland, though opportunities were limited, with Torp making just one substitute appearance for the first team. He was instead sent out on loan, joining Lyngby for the 2020–21 season, where he became a regular fixture in the side despite suffering relegation on the final day of the campaign.
A further loan spell followed at Belgian outfit Kortrijk, although game time proved limited, with Torp making nine appearances across the season, five of which came from the bench.
The following summer, Torp made a permanent move to Norwegian side Sarpsborg 08, a transfer that proved pivotal in his development. He made an instant impact by scoring on his debut, but it was during his second season in Norway that he truly established himself as a key player, catching the eye with a series of impressive performances.
Those displays did not go unnoticed, and in 2024 Coventry City moved to secure his signature. Since arriving in England, Torp has continued to develop into an influential figure for the Sky Blues and has been one of their most consistent performers so far this term.
Watching an old episode of ‘The Big Match Revisited’, a name jumped out at me as Brian Moore introduced the teams and officials just before kick-off in the feature game.
The legendary commentator informed viewers that the referee for the First Division clash between Arsenal and QPR in 1975 was “Bill Gow, from Swansea”.
Hearing Gow’s name and the fact he was from Swansea made my ears prick up.
What it also did was remind me that referees are real people who come from real places – even Swansea!
They are not robots assembled in a factory on a business park just off the M4 at Stockley Park, where the dreaded VAR is based.
Referees are living, breathing human beings. They actually come from communities just like ours.
The referees of today are very different from those in Gow’s day. They are well-paid, full-time professionals.
But so are players, who are also susceptible to the odd lapse. However, for some reason, we tend to be more forgiving of players.
None of us get everything right all of the time.
The fact that players and referees are very well paid these days, doesn’t mean they are not susceptible to the odd lapse. It also doesn’t mean they are any better than their predecessors, but they are equally human.
Just like the players and officials from yesteryear, they are fallible – no different from the rest of us.
Gow, who was also known as John, like many referees of his time, was a full-time teacher during the week.
But on a Saturday, his every move would be scrutinised by tens of thousands of people attending the game live and by many more armchair ‘experts’ who would watch the highlights on Match of the Day that evening, or on The Big Match the following day.
On Monday morning, he would be back in front of a class full of kids at Bishop Vaughan Comprehensive in Swansea, where he was head of the science department.
The game I watched on ‘The Big Match Revisited’ was a high profile encounter at Highbury with Arsenal struggling at the lower end of the table and Rangers mounting a challenge for the First Division title.
There were a number of stars and big names that would become familiar at the Swans on show. The way they interacted with Gow showed they had the utmost respect for him as a referee.
The Arsenal team included England World Cup winner Alan Ball and former Swans loanee Jimmy Rimmer. The former Manchester United goalkeeper would return to south Wales later in his career after his time with Arsenal and Aston Villa where he won a second European Cup winners’ medal.
Meanwhile, QPR also featured players who would enjoy links with the Swans. Their midfield included future Swans manager John Hollins and England skipper Gerry Francis, who would enjoy a fleeting spell at the Vetch in 1984.
QPR full-back Dave Clement was the father of Paul Clement, who, of course, managed the Swans in the Premier League.
Among the names to go into Gow’s book during the home side’s 2-0 win were Rangers legend Stan Bowles and Arsenal’s hard man England defender Peter Storey.
This was just one of many big matches Gow presided over in a successful career which spanned from the mid-1960s to 1978.
During that time he officiated in more than 100 top-flight domestic games as well as 20 European fixtures, featuring the likes of Real Madrid, Ajax and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Gow also officiated at international level, including World Cup and European Championships qualifiers. Many felt that Gow should have refereed the 1978 FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Ipswich at the end of his final season.
During a period when the Swans weren’t shining at the upper echelons of the game, Gow was representing the city at its highest levels.
At one time during his career, there were six members of the Swansea Referees’ Association on the Football League list.
After putting away his whistle and cards, Gow became a UEFA referee observer and a Football League assessor. In Wales he was National Referees’ Officer for several years.
He served the West Wales FA in several refereeing capacities, helping recruit and develop young officials, before his death in 2017.
Whatever you think of referees, there would be no game without people like Gow.
Which reminds me of an incident back in 1972 involving a famous footballing name closely associated with today’s visitors.
Liverpool were playing Arsenal in the First Division when linesman Dennis Drewitt pulled up injured halfway through the first half.
These were the days before fourth officials and reserves, so when Drewitt limped off unable to continue, the game was in real danger of being abandoned – sending 47,000 fans home disappointed.
An appeal went out over the public address system asking if there were any qualified referees in the crowd.
As luck would have it, a certain Jimmy Hill was attending as a spectator.
For younger readers, Hill was a famous former player and big-name football pundit, who went on to present Match of the Day for many years. He was one of the biggest names in the British game.
The former Brentford and Fulham player had also managed today’s opponents Coventry City, where he went on to become managing director and chairman.
A renowned football and television innovator, Hill was also a qualified referee. So he was the perfect stand-in for the stricken linesman.
Whether by luck or design, Hill was handed a tracksuit in the colours of his beloved Coventry, where he had introduced their famous strip as part of his “Sky Blue Revolution”.
The game was played out with Hill running the line resplendent in Coventry’s famous colours and wearing a pair of boots two sizes too small for him.
Most importantly the game was completed and tens of thousands of spectators went home having enjoyed a full afternoon’s entertainment – even if the final score was 0-0.
So, let’s spare a thought for this evening’s officials. They will make mistakes. Or at the very least make decisions that us fans may perceive to be mistakes if they go against our team.
Depending on what colours you are wearing, you will either curse them or be grateful to them.
Hopefully, we won’t notice them, because that’s usual a pretty good sign they’ve had a good game.
But one thing’s for sure, there won’t be a game for us to watch without them.
C’mon you Swans!
Swansea City is delighted to announce striker Zan Vipotnik has signed a new contract with the club.
The 24-year-old, who celebrated his birthday earlier this week, has put pen to paper on a deal through to the summer of 2030.
The agreement of new terms comes on the back of an outstanding campaign for the Slovenian forward, and is a deserved reward after scoring 19 goals in all competitions to date during the 2025-26 season.
Seventeen of those goals have come in the Championship and he remains the division’s top goalscorer heading into the final weeks of the season.
Vipotnik joined the Swans in the summer of 2024 on an initial four-year deal, following the termination of his contract with French club Bordeaux.
Having missed most of pre-season, he went on to score seven goals in 44 appearances in his first campaign in Swansea colours.
But, with the benefit of playing a near full part in preparations for this term, he has provided a crucial and reliable source of goals.
Vipotnik said: “I am really pleased to have signed a new contract with Swansea City.
“I am really enjoying my football here, the support I have from the coaching staff, my teammates and supporters is incredible.
“I want to make sure we finish the season as strongly as possible, and I hope I can continue to help the team.”
Head coach Vitor Matos added: “Zan has enjoyed an excellent season, and his goals have played a big part in the positive results we have enjoyed.
“This new contract is a deserved reward, and we will look to make sure he and the team have a strong end to the season, and we help him to continue to develop as a player.”
First football shirt you owned?
Flamengo
Best player you've played with?
Franco
What's your go-to cheat meal?
BBQ
Who's the joker in the dressing room?
Vigs
If you weren't a footballer, what would you be?
Fighter
Who's your top artist on Spotify right now?
Natanzinho Lima
Can you name Welsh word?
Bore da
Toughest opponent you've faced?
Otamendi
Favourite holiday destination?
Corumbá
Who's your hometown club?
Corumbaense
Favourite football memory?
Goal against Cássio
For Ben Cabango, leading out Swansea City at home to Coventry City carries a particular resonance even for a player with no shortage of captaincy experience and over 250 first-team appearances under his belt.
This was the fixture last term when the Wales international first skippered the Swans as official club captain.
He had led the side previously, and been a captain at every age group as he came through the academy ranks, but the adjustment to wearing the armband week in and week out was one that took time.
As we sit down some 14 months on, Cabango feels it is a role he has grown into, but also one he feels he shares with the more experienced players within the Swans squad, who make up a leadership group put in place by Vitor Matos.
And as we approach the run-in of a challenging campaign, the centre-half believes the Swans will end it in a stronger position than when they started.
“If you stop and look at it, a lot has happened over the last 14 months,” says Cabango.
“There has been a lot of change, a lot to adapt to, and I have been learning in the role.
“Like I have said before, one of the big helps to me is having the experienced players around me in the squad.
“You look at the group and you have people like Jay (Fulton), Culls, Tymo has played so many games, we have Cam (Burgess) and Vigs too.
“I am definitely still learning as a captain, but having people around you like that really helps you to improve.
“I feel I am growing into it, I am taking that responsibility of setting the example every day.
“I had captained the younger age groups, which did help, but being first-team captain is a different feeling.
“It happened very quickly, but over time you understand the pressure and that responsibility that goes with it.
“I feel I have stepped up, it feels a bit more natural to me, but we have a leadership group. It’s not just about me, we all have roles to play and it is really helping.
“So a lot has happened since the last time we had this game at home, I feel we are in a better place now than we were then.
“We know this will be a tough game, they are top of the table for a reason and they have been very consistent throughout.
“But we go into it confident in our home form, and we have to be prepared to show our aggression, to show our personality and be on the front foot.
“It’s a real chance to show the improvements we have made and show what we can do.”
Since Matos took the reins at the end of November, the improvement in results has been stark.
No team has taken more points at home than Swansea since the day of his appointment, indeed they are 10 unbeaten in SA1 with eight wins and two draws.
They have risen from being just outside the relegation zone on goal difference, to being in the top half of the table.
Cabango has enjoyed working under the Portuguese, and believes his energetic personality and approach to the game has made him a good fit for Swansea.
“As soon as he came in, it felt like the energy changed,” says Cabango.
“You could feel it on the training pitch, around the training ground and even in the city itself.
“The fans have bought into it, they can see the progress we are making, although we know there is still a long way to go and a lot to improve on.
“When he was appointed, I had the chance to speak to him when he watched us for the first time at Bristol City, where I was suspended. He was really honest and very clear about what his expectations are and you know exactly where you stand.
“Of course, overall it’s been an up and down season, and we have probably had a few like that recently.
“We have had some really good spells and more difficult spells, and we were probably guilty of having the difficult spells last for too long.
“I think that’s what has seen us be in mid-table rather than further up. But there have been plenty of positives, our home record has been excellent and the feeling at the stadium and around the club has been really good.
“That home form gives you such a platform and foundation to build upon. It gives so much confidence to everyone at the club and we want to carry that on over the rest of the season and into next season. It’s the fourth-best home record in the division, so that shows we have the ability to have records that match the best teams in the division.
“The atmosphere at the home games has been incredible and we would love to take that into next year. There’s clearly areas we need to work on, we know our away form has to be better even though I don’t think the results have reflected how we have performed in a number of games.
“The biggest thing we need to do is to finish strongly, but then we have to make sure we take it into next season because a strong start makes such a difference.”
Following Saturday’s game, Cabango and Wales colleague Liam Cullen will head off to link up with the national squad as they prepare for crunch time in their World Cup aspirations.
Craig Bellamy’s side host Bosnia & Herzegovina in the semi-final stage of the World Cup play-offs in Cardiff and, should they progress, will face either Italy or Northern Ireland at home for a place in the United States, Mexico and Canada this summer.
Cabango went to the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022, but there has been something of a changing of the guard since then with the likes of Gareth Bale, Joe Allen, Chris Gunter and Wayne Hennessey heading into international retirement, while injuries have limited Aaron Ramsey’s involvement.
And Cabango admits there is a different feeling this time around.
“It’s massive for everyone. I remember the last play-offs against Ukraine. I wasn’t available for that game but the atmosphere and occasion were incredible,” he said.
“You can feel the buzz, wherever I go people are asking about these upcoming games, and they have been for the last three months if I’m honest.
“It’s exciting, and these are the games you want to be a part of. We obviously have Gally (Ethan Galbraith) in the same group with Northern Ireland, who we could play in the final.
“It would be incredible, but everyone has to focus on the Bosnia game first, the crowd and atmosphere are going to amazing and it would be great to go to another World Cup.
“It’s a different group now, since Craig Bellamy has come in he has handed debuts and opportunities to a lot of younger players.
“So there is a different feel to the squad, it feels like it has been freshened up and a bit of a new era with players stepping up.
“You maybe feel a bit more of a part of it, I’ve managed to make more appearances and play a few more games.
“It’s very exciting for everyone in the country.”
Swansea City Under-21s claimed a dominant 5-1 victory over their Sheffield Wednesday counterparts at the Joma High Performance Centre on Monday afternoon.
The Swans were ahead at the break through a Morgan Bates header, and four more goals followed in the second period thanks to Josh Pescatore, Thomas Woodward (2) and Dan Watts.
Swansea City Under-21s: Joe Collins, Billy Clarke, Caio Ifans (Callum Deacon 74) Dan Watts (captain), Carter Heywood, Iestyn Jones (Blair McKenzie 74), Josh Pescatore, Thomas Woodward, Morgan Bates (Milo Robinson 64), Yori Griffith, Harlan Perry (Caleb Demery 64).
Substitutes: Thomas Wright.
Swansea City Women defender Lucy Finch insists her side must use the disappointment of their 2-1 defeat to Cardiff City as motivation to come out on the right side of the scoreline in the return fixture next week.
It was the first south Wales derby of phase two in the Genero Adran Premier, and in a typically feisty encounter that saw nine cards shown between the two sides, the Swans dominated large spells of the contest.
Finch’s side took the lead when captain Jess Williams reacted quickest to convert after Chloe Chivers’ free kick had crashed against the crossbar.
Swansea had further opportunities to extend their advantage, but a quick brace in the space of four minutes from Cardiff forward Mikayla Cook turned the game on its head and left the hosts trailing despite their control of the match.
The Swans continued to push for an equaliser but were unable to convert their chances – a rare occurrence for a side that had scored 40 goals in their previous seven matches heading into the game.
Finch admitted the result was a huge disappointment after such a strong performance, but has urged her teammates to use that frustration as motivation ahead of the return fixture in Cardiff next Sunday.
“It was tough to take. Coming into the changing room, everyone’s emotions were high and anyone watching would probably agree we dominated the game for 80 minutes," she said.
“Unfortunately there was a lapse of concentration for the second goal. It comes down to fine margins - they took their chances and we didn’t.
“We can’t dwell on it too much now, we have to dust ourselves off and go again.
“The training leading into the game was at a really high intensity and we all had a clear mission. Everyone was singing from the same hymn sheet in terms of what we wanted from the game.
“We turned them over in the first half, which is probably something they weren’t expecting from us, and that’s something we need to keep doing. Maintaining that intensity and those standards has to be the base of what we do.
“If this result doesn’t give you fuel in your belly to go again and put it right, I don’t know what will. We have them again next week and although we’re disappointed today, we have to use that disappointment as motivation to go there and hopefully get the result we want.”
Ahead of our last home game, I had a special mission to undertake. It involved me interviewing someone who up until the start of the year used to walk to their seat at the Swansea.com Stadium without anyone giving them a second glance. They were, like thousands of us, just another regular fan turning up to support their team.
But in January all that changed, because the fan in question was catapulted to fame thanks to a woman with a long fringe and heavy eye make-up choosing them to don a red cloak in an attempt to outwit the other contestants on an acclaimed BBC One show.
I’m talking, of course, about ‘The Traitors’, Claudia Winkleman and our very own Fiona Hughes. She may not have been a faithful in the series, but she has always been faithful to her club.
Fiona’s presence in the media room ahead of the Stoke game caused a bit of a stir and outside after the game people asked for pictures with her and stopped to tell her how well she had done on the series.
I got to interview her for a radio programme I was making for International Women’s Day and for this piece and the club website. It was lovely to spend some time with Fiona and her son Rhys before the game and, naturally, I wanted to know where her love affair with the Swans began – and who introduced her to our club.
“I was brought up with three brothers in Morriston,” she said.
“I had one brother who was massively into rugby and another brother who loved football and another brother who was brilliant at all sports; but my mother was always a passionate Swans fan because her younger brother Billy Rees played for the Swans and was also a youth player for Wales. So the Swans were always a big thing for the family.
“I had an auntie who lived in Glamorgan Street, two doors away from the players’ entrance and I used to stay with her quite a lot. The players in the 1960s weren’t like they are today, they weren’t superstars. I'd be out in her little front garden and we'd be clapping and cheering when we saw them and they would always come over and say ‘Hello Rona, how are you?’ because she was also the tea lady!”
The family associations with the Swans does not end with her mother and auntie, they run deep for Fiona.
“I bought a little house in William Street, opposite The Clarence pub,” she added.
“I was working in nursing at the time and my next door neighbours lived in William Street, next door to the Swans shop and through living there I met my husband, Gwyn.
“My son Rhys was six weeks old when I took him to his first match and he stayed for half a match and then I ran out and deposited him with Betty, my mother-in-law in William Street, and then ran back to see the other half!
“I absolutely loved the Vetch. I loved everything about it, from the Harry Griffiths Bar and everywhere else. It was a wonderful venue and I think in a lot of the new stadiums now it's impossible to encapsulate that ambience, the noise, the smells, even the smell of the toilets at grounds like the Vetch! It's impossible to encapsulate that sort of atmosphere in these new stadiums.”
Fiona has been a faithful fan both home and away, travelling extensively over the years to follow her beloved Swans, including on several occasions to Wembley. You can find out what those trips meant and who here favourite players are in the longer version of this interview, which includes details of one of our former players that she would have liked to take to Disney. Keep an eye on the club website for the full piece in the weeks ahead.
JULIE KISSICK
My dad’s birthday is today (Wednesday 4th March ) He’s supported the Swans for all his life and always tells me about how he loved going to the vetch stadium when he was growing up in the 1990s. He takes me now and we will be in the South Stand for the game against Stoke. Happy birthday dad love from Anoushka.
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Happy 70th Birthday to Stephen Davies from Llanelli. Stephen turns 70 on Monday and is at the game today with his family. He's been a Swans fan for over 50 years, and that support has continued with his daughter Sue, son John and grandson Corey.
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ONCE A JACK, ALWAYS A JACK.
Today we remember Darryl Spencer, a lifelong Jack who followed Swansea City home and away from the 1970s through to today. Through every high and every low, and unforgettable cup final moments, his passion and loyalty never wavered. A devoted partner to Carol for 29 years, and a much-loved father, stepfather, grandfather, and step-grandfather. Darryl’s love for the Swans and his place in the Jack Army will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Darryl.
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 glad you could join us this evening at the Swansea.com stadium as The Swans face Coventry. We’ve had a great week warming our feathers in the sunshine! We hope you’re ready for the match, do you think we can win?
Today’s Take Five quiz is about the visitors, Coventry City, and a bit of fun too! Click the button below to test your knowledge!
Our score prediction is 1-0 to the Swans and we think Galbraith will score!
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 Ollie 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 Frank Lampard
1 Oliver Dovin
3 Jay Dasilva
4 Bobby Thomas
5 Jack Rudoni
6 Matt Grimes ©
7 Tatsuhiro Sakamoto
8 Jamie Allen
9 Ellis Simms
10 Ephron Mason-Clark
11 Haji Wright
13 Ben Wilson
14 Romain Esse
15 Liam Kitching
16 Frank Onyeka
18 Yang Min-hyeok
19 Carl Rushworth
20 Kaine Kesler-Hayden
21 Jake Bidwell
22 Joel Latibeaudiere
23 Brandon Thomas-Asante
26 Luke Woolfenden
27 Milan van Ewijk
28 Josh Eccles
29 Victor Torp
33 Miguel Angel Brau
Referee – Stephen Martin
Assistant Referee 1 – Alex James
Assistance Referee 2 – Jacob Graham
Fourth Official – Leigh Doughty
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
Head of Swansea City AFC Foundation: Paul France
CLUB STAFF
Football Operations & Administration Manager: Rebecca Gigg
Head of Partnerships: Lee Merrells
Head of Hospitality: Catherine Thomas
Head of Ticketing: Mari Tucker
Grounds Manager: Evan Davies
Club Ambassador: Lee Trundle
PROGRAMME PRODUCTION
Contributors: Andrew Gwilym, Rachael Tucker, Cerith White, Osian Cleaver, Sophie Davis, Mackenzie Squires, Sammy Wynne, Hayley Ford, Owen Morgan, Julie Kissick, Gwyn Rees, James Dow.
Designers: Callum Rothwell, Jac Elsey.