Welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium for our Emirates FA Cup third round tie against Morecambe.
There’s only one place to start my programme notes and that is by sharing my delight at our appointment of Luke Williams as head coach.
Luke’s arrival follows a thorough and extensive search for an individual who can deliver the types of performances and results Swansea City need to achieve our goals, while exhibiting a commitment to a brand of football in-keeping with the club’s best recent traditions.
I have been fortunate to spend a lot of time with Luke recently and I have looked him in the eye and know that we can trust him to be a coach and leader who is aligned with our vision.
He fits right into the mould of other talented and ambitious young managers who have succeeded here, and I know you will give him your full support.
Paul Watson has done an outstanding job in identifying the criteria that would guide the search and leading the data team in uncovering the best candidates to match our profile. We would not have been able to secure such an outstanding head coach without Paul’s tireless efforts.
We have a new head coach to kick off the new year and are now in a strong position to generate positive momentum and drive us forward on all fronts.
Luke is joined here by his assistant, Ryan Harley, and first-team coach analyst George Lawtey, and everyone at the club gives them a warm Welsh welcome.
I also want to take a moment to thank Alan Sheehan for his tremendous work in difficult circumstances.
Alan led the club impressively since assuming caretaker head coach responsibilities last month, delivering a top ten performance in his seven games in charge. He will return to his role as assistant head coach and work alongside Luke. We are extremely grateful for his effort and sacrifices and the club is fortunate to have him on our first team staff.
And I’d also like to thank all those who have stepped up and gone the extra mile during this transition, from Marge (Martyn Margetson) and Kris (O’Leary) in the first-team staff, to Wrighty (Anthony Wright) who moved up from the Under-21s and also Gavin (Levey) and others in the academy who filled in and provided extra cover during a very hectic period in the calendar, both for football and families.
Today’s game is a new beginning, a fresh start for everyone and I’d like to thank you, the Jack Army, for your patience during what has been a challenging time for the club.
Your support is very much appreciated.
Enjoy the game,
Andy
Good afternoon and welcome to the Swansea.com Stadium for our FA Cup third-round tie against Morecambe.
It will be an incredible feeling for me to stand on the touchline in charge of this great football club this afternoon.
I have very fond memories of this stadium from my previous time at the club – a certain south Wales derby victory gives me goosebumps even now – and I really hope we can create more moments and memories like that after returning to the club as head coach.
Throughout its recent history, Swansea City has been known as a progressive club committed to playing an attractive, attacking brand of football.
That chimes with my own views of the game, and myself, the staff and the players will be working as hard as we can to deliver a team that excites you, our supporters, and that you can enjoy and be proud of watching and cheering on week in and week out.
My conversations with chairman Andy Coleman and sporting director Paul Watson were very positive, they are two men who are committed and determined to deliver success for Swansea City and I am privileged and honoured they have entrusted me with the responsibility of being head coach.
I loved my time at Notts County, I worked with some brilliant people and we enjoyed tremendous success together, and I will always be grateful to them for the opportunity and the experiences we shared together. I will treasure them, and I wish them every success.
For me to leave Meadow Lane, it was only ever going to be for a club like Swansea City. This is an amazing club, with amazing facilities and the chance to come back here was just irresistible.
Ryan Harley and George Lawtey have also joined the coaching staff, they are strong-minded people with a tremendous work ethic and I know they are as excited as I am to be at this club.
I also feel very fortunate to inherit a talented coaching staff, and I particularly want to mention Alan Sheehan, who has done a terrific job over the last few weeks.
I have already had a brilliant conversation with him and I am looking forward to working with him and all the staff.
There is plenty of hard work ahead of us, but I can promise you I will give it everything I have got to succeed for you and Swansea City.
Enjoy the game,
Luke
Swansea City is delighted to confirm the appointment of Luke Williams as the club’s head coach.
The 43-year-old joins the Swans on a three-and-a-half year contract from Notts County, having led the Magpies to promotion to League Two following a superb National League campaign last season.
His assistant, Ryan Harley, and first-team coach analyst George Lawtey, also make the move from Meadow Lane as part of Williams’ coaching staff.
They will be in charge for the FA Cup third-round tie against Morecambe.
Williams previously worked as assistant head coach in SA1 during the 2021-22 campaign, and is widely-respected and renowned as a coach who produces exciting, progressive, possession-based teams.
And, following discussions with chairman Andy Coleman and sporting director Paul Watson, he is eager to get down to work.
“I want to bring goals, a lot of goals, and I have a fairly good track record with that,” he said.
“We need to be mean as well. A one-dimensional team is okay, but a real team is a team that attacks with the same vigour with which they defend.
“It’s going to be a tall order, we have to strive for something fantastic and we begin that task now.
“At Notts County we managed to score the most goals in the country last season and we conceded the fourth least.
“I like my teams to try to attack a lot and to try to score a lot. At my previous club we had a great season and managed to get over the line somehow in the play-offs.
“I think the play-off campaign showed a side to the team that I love, which is the character, the relentless feeling that you won’t lose.
“This is something I want to bring here to try to create plenty of chances to score and try to be mean defensively as well.
“The only thing I can promise is that I’m going to work very, very hard. There’s no way that I’m going to take for granted the position I have at a club like this.
“I’m going to work and I’m going to give all the energy I have – that’s the promise to the supporters.
“Only a club of this magnitude with this quality could pull me away from an amazing job.
Swansea City kick off their 2023-24 FA Cup effort this evening. It's a tournament which has provided the Swans and their supporters with some memorable moments down the years. Here, we look back at some of Swansea City's finest days in the world-famous knock-out competition.
Swansea City 2 Manchester City 3
Quarter-final
March 16, 2019
Swansea City produced a performance of tremendous character, and no little quality, but were denied just a third FA Cup semi-final appearance in heartbreaking fashion by Manchester City.
The Swans had stunned the Premier League champions by sweeping into a 2-0 lead inside half an hour to put themselves on course for a first appearance in the last four of the famous knockout competition since 1964.
Matt Grimes converted from the spot for the first, before Bersant Celina finished a flowing Swansea attack against his old club.
The score stayed that way until the 69th minute when Bernardo Silva pulled a goal back with a fine volley, before a controversial penalty allowed City to level.
Cameron Carter-Vickers was harshly ruled to have fouled Raheem Sterling, and Sergio Aguero’s penalty found the net off the back of Kristoffer Nordfeldt.
That left the tie heading for extra-time but, with two minutes remaining, Aguero - who looked to be offside - expertly headed Bernardo Silva’s cross into the net.
It was harsh on the Swans, who had shown moments of genuine quality against their much-vaunted in-form opponents, but there was no trip to Wembley for Graham Potter and his side.
Liverpool 1 Swansea Town 2
Quarter-final
February 29, 1964
Arguably Swansea's finest FA Cup moment came on their march to the semi-finals in 1964.
The Swans had seen off Barrow, Sheffield United and Stoke City to set-up this last-eight clash in front of over 52,000 fans at Anfield.
The Reds were on their way to the First Division title, while Swansea were battling to avoid relegation from the second tier and few gave them any hope of an upset.
But they led 2-0 at half-time thanks to goals from Jimmy McLaughlin and Eddie Thomas.
A backs-to-the-wall effort followed with goalkeeper Noel Dwyer turning in a famous performance between the sticks.
Liverpool pulled one back and looked set to level when they were awarded a penalty in the closing stages, only for Ronnie Moran to fail to find the target.
The Swans went on to lose to Preston in the last four at Villa Park.
Swansea City 0 Liverpool 0
Third round
January 6, 1990
Swansea faced the FA Cup holders in the third round at The Vetch and stunned their illustrious visitors by grinding out a goalless draw with goalkeeper Lee Bracey in fine form.
Kenny Dalglish's men were rapidly closing in on another league title, but they could not find a way past the stern resistance of a brave Swansea rearguard effort.
However, the Swans would not be able to manage a repeat in the replay at Anfield as they suffered an 8-0 defeat.
Swansea City 1 West Ham 0
Third-round replay
January 13, 1999
Swansea City had been within minutes of knocking the Premier League Hammers out in the original tie at Upton Park, only for a deflected Julian Dicks' strike to set-up a replay back in South Wales.
On a memorable night at The Vetch, Martin Thomas got the only goal of the game just before the half-hour mark and John Hollins' side then clung on grimly under severe pressure - with Roger Freestone excellent between the sticks - to help the Swans become the first Division Three team to knock a Premier League team out of the FA Cup.
Swansea City 2 Preston 1
Fourth round
January 24, 2004
On another wonderful afternoon at The Vetch, late goals from Andy Robinson and Lee Trundle saw Swansea City dump second-tier Preston out in the fourth round.
The Swans had started superbly but failed to take early chances, and they looked to be heading out of the competition when Dickson Etuhu put North End a goal to the good.
But Robinson curled home a brilliant free-kick with 10 minutes remaining before Trundle read a knock-down superbly to arrive in the area and volley home what proved to be the winner.
Sheffield United 0 Swansea City 3
Third round
January 6, 2007
Kenny Jackett's side had been without nine players through injury and suspension when they travelled to face Neil Warnock's Premier League Blades at Bramall Lane.
But it proved no obstacle for the League One Swans as three goals in 14 second-half minutes sent them into round four in fine fashion.
Tom Butler was the hero on the day, the Irishman netting the first two goals before winning the penalty that allowed Leon Britton to score the third on a day when the visitors' display received a warm reception from the home fans
Manchester United 1 Swansea City 2
Third round
January 5, 2014
The Swans were searching for their first ever victory at Old Trafford heading into this showdown with United, who had only failed to progress beyond the third round of the FA Cup once in the previous 30 years.
Michael Laudrup’s men drew first blood in the 12th minute when Alejandro Pozuelo released Wayne Routledge in behind the defence, and he calmly looped the ball over the advancing Anders Lindegaard.
However, the lead lasted for just four minutes as United responded with Javier Hernandez finding space in the six-yard box to guide Alexander Buttner’s deep cross beyond Gerhard Tremmel.
But there was a key moment with 10 minutes remaining when substitute Fabio was sent off for a reckless challenge on Jose Canas.
And the Swans made the numerical advantage count in the dying moments when Routledge broke clear down the left before his cross found Wilfried Bony, who planted a brilliant header past Lindegaard to seal the most dramatic victory and send the travelling Jacks into ecstasy.
Portsmouth 0 Swansea City 2
Fourth round
January 24 2009
Goals from Nathan Dyer and Jason Scotland saw Swansea City dump holders Portsmouth out of the FA Cup at Fratton Park.
Pompey had won the trophy by defeating Cardiff the previous May, and were a Premier League fixture at the time.
The Swans, meanwhile, were back in the second tier after Roberto Martinez had led them to the League One title the previous season.
They had looked assured in the Championship and their confidence was reflected in a fine display on the south coast.
The visitors took the lead in the 26th minute, with a fine lofted pass from Scotland sending Dyer in on goal to slot beyond David James.
And the advantage doubled on the stroke of half-time as Scotland netted from the spot after Nadir Belhadj had fouled Jordi Gomez in the box.
Nwankwo Kanu, Peter Crouch and Armand Traore threatened after the break, but were denied by a combination of keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos and great defensive covering as the Swans advanced.
As Swansea City prepare to host Morecambe at the Swansea.com Stadium, we take a closer look at the The Shrimps.
WHAT'S THEIR STORY?
Morecambe were formed in 1920 following a meeting at the West View Hotel and were entered into the Lancashire Combination League, where they spent the first 48 years of their existance, winning five titles.
The Shrimps were FA Trophy winners in 1974 and reached the Conference in 1995, and went on to reach the Football League for the first time under Sammy McIlroy in 2007.
Promotion to League One was secured via the play-offs in 2021. They spent two seasons in the third tier before being relegated at the end of last term.
HOW'S THEIR FORM?
Morecambe have won just two of their last 11 games in all competitions, with one of those being their FA Cup second-round victory over at Wycombe Wanderers.
However, prior to that they had been on a positive run, winning seven of nine across all competitions.
Ged Brennan. The 51-year-old was appointed full-time boss in November having been in caretaker charge after the departure of Derek Adams.
Brennan had joined the Shrimps in September, having previously been under-23s' boss at Accrington Stanley.
A midfielder during his playing days, Brennan played for Tranmere Rovers, Manchester City, Norwich City, Motherwell, Dunfermline Athletic, Rochdale, Accrington Stanley, Radcliffe Borough, Morecambe, Vauxhall Motors and Burscough.
Defender Donald Love started his career in the youth ranks at Manchester United, making two senior appearances for the Red Devils against Sunderland and Midtjylland.
The Scot had a loan spell with Wigan Athletic before making a full-time switch to Sunderland, where he spent three years, playing for the Black Cats in the Premier League, Championship and League One, although injury heavily curtailed his role in the third of those campaigns.
He went on to have two years at Shrewsbury before a season with Salford prior to his switch to the Mazuma Mobile Stadium.
JJ McKiernan is in his first season with Morecambe having joined in the summer from non-league Eastleigh.
He has seven goals and two assists to his name from 27 appearances.
The Southampton-born Northern Ireland Under-21 international has previously had spells with Watford, Andover, Bohemians and then Eastleight before being released by the Hornets in 2023.
He became the first Morecambe player ever to score an away league hat-trick in the EFL, in their 369th such game since joining the top four tiers in 2007, when he netted a treble in a win at Colchester United.
On-loan Burnley forward Michael Mellon has been a stand-out performer for the Shrimps so far this season, netting 15 goals in 26 appearances in all competitions.
The Turf Moor academy product is in his second spell on loan with Morecambe, having made eight appearances over the second half of last term.
The Scotland youth international spent time on the books of Manchester United as a youngster, and scored his first senior hat-trick against Wimbledon earlier this season.
Teenage attacking midfielder Adam Mayor has been another bright spark for the visitors, topping their assists chart with six, while also getting on the scoresheet three times.
Mayor had spells with Tranmere Rovers and Preston North End before joining the Shrimps in 2022, making his senior bow in August that year as a substitute in a defeat to MK Dons.
Liam Cullen was on the scoresheet for the second game in a row to help Swansea City start 2024 with victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Swansea City: Carl Rushworth, Jay Fulton (Joe Allen 73), Ben Cabango, Harry Darling, Matt Grimes (captain), Jamal Lowe (Yannick Bolasie 85), Jamie Paterson (Jerry Yates 73), Josh Tymon, Liam Cullen, Liam Walsh (Charlie Patino 10), Bashir Humphreys.
Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Kristian Pedersen, Nathan Wood, Kyle Naughton, Sam Parker.
West Bromwich Albion: Alex Palmer, Darnell Furlong, Conor Townsend (captain), Cedric Kipre (Nathaniel Chalobah 64), Kyle Bartley (Semi Ajayi 64), Jayson Molumby (Gonzalo Avila Gordon 75), Grady Diangana (Adam Reach 64), Brandon Thomas-Asante, Alex Mowatt, Tom Fellows, Okay Yokuslu (Erik Pieters 80).
Unused Substitutes: Josh Griffiths, Caleb Taylor, Akeel Higgins, John Swift.
Referee: Andy Davies
Attendance: 16,797
Goalkeeper Remy Mitchell was the hero as Swansea City Under-21s advanced to the Nathaniel MG Cup final with a penalty shootout victory over Cardiff Met at Landore.
The tie had ended goalless after 90 minutes, and the two sides scored four of their regulation five penalties.
But Mitchell got down low to his left, as he had done earlier in the shootout to deny Eliot Evans, and pushed away Thomas Vincent's effort to ensure the Swans prevailed 5-4 and advanced to the final later this month
Swansea City U21s: Remy Mitchell, Harry Jones, Lincoln McFayden, Mitchell Bates, Filip Lissah (captain), Richard Faakye (Glory Nzingo 58), Joe Thomas, Dan Watts (Maliq Cadogan 82), Kyrell Wilson, Liam Smith, Cameron Congreve (Thomas Woodward 82).
Unused Substitutes: Kit Margetson, Charlie Veevers, Yori Griffith, Jack Fanning.
Referee: Rob Jenkins
Swansea City can confirm the appointment of Jarred Harvey as the club's new under-18s' head coach.
Harvey - who will take charge of the academy side's first game of 2024 against Ipswich Town on Saturday - is no stranger to development football having previously coached Cardiff City's under-18 and under-21 sides.
He also had a stint as first-team coach at League Two outfit Newport County, where he earned his Uefa Pro Licence between 2021 and 2022.
Before his time at the EFL club, Harvey coached Welsh clubs such as Port Talbot Town and Cambrian and Clydach.
Welcome back, Junior Jacks!
We loved seeing you all back at the stadium for our match on New Year’s Day and it was great to see the boys start the new year with a win.
We just knew Liam Cullen was going to score!
It’s FA Cup weekend and we can’t wait! Morecambe are a team we’ve never played and it was nice to be introduced to a new friend… Christie the Cat.
To celebrate today’s cup match, we have created a quiz to test your knowledge of the competition.
We think today’s result will be 2-0 to the Swans and we think Liam Cullen and Joe Allen will score the goals.
Enjoy the game!
Cyril and Cybil
Name:
Harry
Age:
7
What was the first Swansea City game you attended?
Swans v Liverpool in May 2016
What is your favourite memory of watching the Swans?
I love watching the Swans with my daddy.
What do you like most about supporting Swansea City?
They’re my home team and I have all the kits!
Why did you start supporting Swansea City?
Because we live in Swansea and my family support them. I think the Swans are pretty cool.
Do you play football?
Yes, I’m a striker and I like to score lots of goals.
Do you play any other sports?
Football, Karate, swimming and more football!
What is an interesting fact about you?
I was 6 months old when I watched my first game at the stadium, and I started playing football aged 2.
What is your favourite subject in school and why?
Maths, so I can count all my goals 😜
An audio commentary service is available for blind and partially sighted fans – provided by Radio City, the Swansea University Health Board Hospital Radio Service.
Radio City has a long association with the football club dating back to the days when the club was known as Swansea Town.
Since moving to the Swansea.com Stadium, the broadcaster has provided a live descriptive commentary service for free at all Swansea home matches, meaning that blind and partially-sighted supporters in both the home and away ends can follow the action.
In order to book a headset for the match, supporters can contact the accessibility team in advance by emailing accessibility@swanseacity.com, or contacting the ticket office from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm by calling 01792 616629 and selecting option one.
Supporters can also book headsets in person in advance at the ticket office, or on the day by speaking to a Disability Liaison Steward on the day.
To learn more about Radio City, visit www.radiocity1386am.co.uk. To learn more about accessible facilities at the stadium, please click here.
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.
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.
Supporters are encouraged to report instances of abusive and discriminatory language within the stadium by using the anonymous safe text number 88440, starting the message with the word SWANS and providing details of the incident.
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.
Head Coach Luke Williams
1 Andy Fisher
2 Josh Key
3 Kristian Pedersen
4 Jay Fulton
5 Ben Cabango
6 Harry Darling
7 Joe Allen
8 Matt Grimes ©
9 Jerry Yates
10 Jamal Lowe
11 Josh Ginnelly
12 Jamie Paterson
14 Josh Tymon
15 Nathanael Ogbeta
17 Yannick Bolasie
18 Charlie Patino
19 Mykola Kuharevich
20 Liam Cullen
21 Nathan Tjoe-A-On
22 Carl Rushworth
23 Nathan Wood
26 Kyle Naughton
28 Liam Walsh
29 Nathan Broome
30 Harrison Ashby
31 Ollie Cooper
33 Bashir Humphreys
36 Ben Lloyd
40 NUMBER RETIRED
45 Cameron Congreve
46 Ben Hughes
47 Azeem Abdulai
First-team manager Ged Brennan
1 Stuart Moore
2 Donald Love (c)
3 David Tutonda
4 Jacob Bedeau
5 Farrend Rawson
6 Yann Songo’o
7 Tom Bloxham
8 Eli King
9 Michael Mellon
10 JJ McKiernan
11 Adam Mayor
12 Joel Senior
14 Jordan Slew
15 Chris Stokes
16 Jacob Davenport
17 Cammy Smith
18 Jake Taylor
19 Ethan Walker
20 Charlie Brown
21 Adam Smith
23 Max Melbourne
24 Cameron Rooney
25 Lennon Dobson
26 George Pedley
27 Nathan Mercer
28 Oscar Threlkeld
Referee - Tom Nield
Assistant Referee 1 - Richard Wild
Assistant Referee 2 - Daniel Leach
Fourth Official - Ruebyn Ricardo
Chairman - Andy Coleman
Honorary Club President - Alan Curtis MBE
Directors
Jason Levien, Andy Coleman, Nigel Morris, Brett Cravatt, Jake Silverstein, Sam Porter, Martin Morgan, Paul Meller (supporter director), Romie Chaudhari, Bobby Hernreich, Todd Marcelle, Gareth Davies.
Chief of Staff and Head of Strategy: Ken Gude
Director of Business and Legal Affairs: Sam Porter.
Associate Directors: Adam Lewis.
FIRST-TEAM STAFF
Head Coach - Luke Williams
Assistant Head Coach - Ryan Harley
Assistant Head Coach – Alan Sheehan
Head of Goalkeeping – Martyn Margetson
First Team Coach Analyst - George Lawtey
First Team Coach - Kris O'Leary
Head of Medical - Dr Jez McCluskey
Staff: Anthony Wright, Ailsa Jones, Bethany Chaddock, Matt Murray, Thomas Gittoes, Michael Eames, Shaun Baggridge, Shaun Howl, Jonathan Jones, Jono Aveston, Jake Dayus, Patrick Orme, Lewis Binns, Chris Watkins.
SENIOR MANAGEMENT GROUP
Paul Watson (Sporting Director); Andrew Davies (Head of Commercial, Operations, & Facilities);
Gareth Davies (CFO);
Josh Marsh (Head of Football Operations).
CLUB STAFF
Club Secretary: Ben Greenwood
Football Operations &
Administration Manager: Rebecca Gigg
Head of Retail: Andrea Morris
Head of Hospitality, Events & Fan Engagement: Catherine Thomas
Head of Safeguarding: Rebeca Storer
HR Manager: Nicola Butt
Senior Commercial Sponsorship Manager: Lee Merrells
Head of Commercial:
Richard Morris
Head of Media & Communications:
Ben Donovan
Ticket Office Manager: Lewis Bullen
Head of Facilities: Gordon David
Grounds Manager: Evan Davies
Disability Access Officer: Catherine Thomas
Head of Swansea City AFC Foundation: Paul France
Club Ambassador: Lee Trundle
PROGRAMME PRODUCTION
Contributors: Andrew Gwilym, Hayley Ford, Sophie Davis, Rachael Tucker, Cerith White, Rhys Kemish, Dom Hynes, Sammy Wynne, Fraser Dickson, Ben Donovan.
Designers: Callum Rothwell,
Jordan Morcom, Lewis Ward
Photography: Athena Picture Agency,
Natalie John-Davis, Alamy.
