Good evening everyone, and welcome to our Carabao Cup second-round clash with Plymouth Argyle at the Swansea.com Stadium.
This is our fourth home game in a row and we would love nothing more than to continue our unbeaten run, rounding off this sequence by booking our place in the next round.
Given our form and the performance in the second half, there was a sense of frustration from Saturday’s draw with Watford. We fought back superbly to secure a point but, such was our dominance over the final half-hour – plus the additional nine minutes brought about by a number of stoppages – we felt there was only one team going to go and win the game, but we could not find the late winner we all wanted.
Nevertheless, the energy and intensity we showed during that period is an encouraging sign to take forward into future games. Saturday’s game also demonstrated the importance of squad depth and how everyone will need to play their part to get us to where we want to be, with the players coming off the bench taking their opportunities to affect the game.
We were also pleased to welcome Brett Cravatt and Tyler Morse from our ownership group to the game, as well as Snoop Dogg’s son Cordell. Pre-match it was great to get up the Railway and enjoy a pint with lots of fans and discuss where we are as a club, as well as our hopes for the future.
We will only achieve what we want to if we are all pulling in the same direction, so sharing those moments and speaking to you directly about how we move forward is really important for us as a club.
From speaking with the ownership group, I know how much they enjoyed the opportunity to meet and chat with so many of you inside and outside the ground, and they were delighted at how the team fought to make sure we picked up a point. Cordell was particularly touched by the welcome he received and the warmth of the people in the city, as it was his first time in Swansea.
Over the weekend we were saddened to hear about the passing of Chesterfield owner Phil Kirk. I was actually with Gary Roberts, Chesterfield’s first-team manager, when he got the call about Phil’s passing.
Gary spoke so positively about Phil, his leadership of the club and how he had safeguarded the club’s future. There are, sadly, not many people like that in the game. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to Phil and his family.
As I have said previously, this competition provides us with a great opportunity, so we are all looking forward to the game and building on recent performances.
Enjoy tonight’s game and thank you for all of your support YJBs.
Tom Gorringe
CEO, Swansea City
Good evening and welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium as we round off a run of four home games in succession against Plymouth Argyle.
We are frustrated we are not heading into this game off the back of three straight wins following our draw against Watford at the weekend.
They are a physical side and it was a tight contest with them getting the edge through a brilliant free-kick, but once we made a few tweaks and got an impact from guys coming off the bench we were the dominant side.
We played with a relentless energy and intensity, so much so that Watford were unable to handle it as was shown by the number of stoppages during the closing stages.
There was only one team going to win that game but we could not find that one moment that would have seen us take all three points after Zan’s header had brought us level, and I know the members of our ownership group in attendance were appreciative of the players’ efforts and performance. It was great to have them here with us for the game.
Now our focus turns to the cup and trying to book our place in the next round. We face a Plymouth team who were playing against us in the Championship fewer than five months ago, and they have a new head coach who also has experience of the league we are in.
So it will be no easy task, but every game is an opportunity to continue to build momentum and develop, and that’s what we will be aiming to do.
Enjoy the game,
Alan Sheehan,
First Team Head Coach
Tonight we welcome to the Swansea.com Stadium, chairman Simon Hallett, the directors of Plymouth Argyle and their head coach Tom Cleverly and his back room staff for the second round of the Carabao Cup.
“We all like a good cup run and tonight is no different as we seek to advance in this competition. Plymouth Argyle are 19th in League One following their relegation from the Championship last season. We wish them every success in the league and an early return to the second tier of football.
We also welcome tonight’s referee Elliot Bell. This is his second time in charge of a Swans match.
Our record against ‘The Pilgrims’ is: Played five, won four and lost one at the Swansea.com Stadium.
For those who were at the Sheffield United game on August 16, you would have seen us open up our opponents with some astute substitutions by Alan Sheehan in the second half with a telling goal by Ronald.
Last Saturday saw a physical Watford side seeking to impose their style of play on us with 43 per cent possession to the Swans’ 57 per cent. Watford teenager Nestory Irankunda’s free-kick had looked to end the Hornets along wait for an away win, but our centre-forward Zan Vipotnik met Ethan Galbraith’s cross with a deft header which saw the ball rebound into the net off the far post for the equaliser. From thereon in we looked the more likely side to win the match with Goncalo Franco and Vipotnik coming close to winning the match.
Once again head coach Sheehan is showing shrewdness and an ability to understand the tactics of the game with some inspired substitutions which changed the content, along with a pattern of play that was both exciting and exhilarating, keeping supporters on the edge of their seats during nine minutes of added time. We can all take heart from the resilience the Swans showed to find a way back into the match. There is no doubt our manager is capable of making sound judgements under pressure.
With that in mind, let us take a moment to discuss our manager’s stats. Our home form under Sheehan has been immense with six wins - all of which came with clean sheets - and only one defeat in eight league games since he took charge in February. This is an impressive record for any manager in the Football League.
On Saturday he introduced Marko Stamenic, our new central midfielder, to the fray and he looked every inch a Premier League player. He fitted in well and delivered an exemplary performance.
Those eagle-eyed supporters among you will have noticed Cordell Broadus, son of rapper Snoop Dog, was at the match on Saturday and watched the game from the directors’ box, after his father joined the club’s ownership group recently. We as a club welcome their support.
When you come to a game at the stadium, tell your family, friends and work colleagues that the Swans are on the up. As Sheehan recently said he regards the fans’ voice as imperative to our success.
I also want to thank the Trust members who have already renewed their memberships for the 2025-26 season and to our new members joining for the first time. Renewing or joining can be done in a few minutes online at: https://www.swanstrust.co.uk/join-the-trust/. Alternatively, visit the Trust kiosk outside the West Stand on a matchday. If you have any difficulties with the online system or have any other queries, you can contact us via: info@swanstrust.co.uk.
Let’s all get behind the team and shout loud YJBs. Have a safe journey home.
Peter Thomas
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.
Plymouth were originally founded in 1886 as Argyle Football Club, they adopted their current name when they became fully professional in 1903.
The Pilgrims have had a number of highs and lows over their 139-year existence. They won several Third Division titles from the 1950s onwards but invariably seemed to suffered relegations shortly on the back of those successes.
Perhaps the lowest point of their existence, Argyle went into administration in 2011 while two successive relegations left them in League Two.
They were promoted to League One during the 2016-17 season, where they spent two seasons in the third tier before being relegated again in the 2018-2019 season.
However, they bounced back at the first attempt the following campaign, and were then promoted to the Championship in 2023 after winning the League One title and racking up 101 points.
They survived a relegation dogfight at the end of their first season back in the second tier, but could not avoid the drop last term and they have had a challenging start to life back in the third tier.
HOME PARK
Built: 1893
Location: Mayflower Drive, Milehouse, Plymouth, PL2 3DQ
Capacity: 17,000
The former Manchester United and England midfielder Tom Cleverley is in his second senior head coach position after taking over following Miron Muslic left for Schalke in the summer.
As a player, Cleverley had spells in the youth ranks with Bradford City and Manchester United and made his way to the senior ranks with the Red Devils.
He had loan spells with Leicester City, Watford, Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa during his time at Old Trafford.
Cleverley was a Premier League winner with United, helped Leicester win League One and was an FA Cup runner-up with Villa.
A two-year spell with Everton followed and he then rounded off his playing career with Watford, before moving into coaching with the club’s academy set-up and then progressing to the first team.
He received credit for having the Hornets in the play-off hunt for much of the season, but went the way of his numerous predecessors before taking the reins at Home Park.
Joe Edwards is Plymouth's club captain. The 34-year-old joined the Pilgrims during the summer of 2019. Edwards originally started his Argyle career in midfield but his versatility has seen him feature in a number of different positions for the south-west club.
Edwards has been part of two promotions, and was the club’s player of the season during the 2020-21 campaign, which also saw him take armband after a career-ending injury to defender Gary Sawyer.
Starting his career at Aston Villa, Gloucester-born Edwards has made over 450 appearances during his career, which has included spells at Yeovil Town, Colchester United, Walsall and now Plymouth.
Over 240 of those appearances have been for the Pilgrims, and he has scored 24 goals for the club over a six-year period, including the one to secure survival in victory over Hull at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Bali Mumba has been an important figure for Plymouth ever since arriving from Norwich in 2022.
Full-back or winger Mumba came through the ranks at Sunderland, but eventually left the Stadium of Light for East Anglia in 2020.
Loan spells with Peterborough United and Plymouth followed, and his six goals and seven assists were an important part of the Janners' promotion campaign.
His form promoted Plymouth to make his stay at Home Park a permanent one, and he was a bright spark in a tough season as they managed to eke themselves clear of relegation danger in the Championship.
Mumba could not help them avoid the drop last term, but he is sure to be a key player if Plymouth are to quickly return to the second tier.
Former Arsenal academy youngster Xavier Amaechi is back in English football after spending much of his career in Germany.
The now 24-year-old was on the books of the Gunners until 2019 when he made the move to Hamburg. He would spend four years with the German club, including loan spells with Karlsruher and Bolton Wanderers, before making a full-time move to second-tier side Magdeburg.
The England age-grade international netted six goals in 41 league appearances across two seasons before returning to English football with Plymouth.
Zimbabwe international and Everton academy graduate Brendan Galloway is now into his fifth season as a Plymouth player having first arrived at Home Park in 2021.
Galloway first joined the Toffees in 2014, having previously come through the ranks and featured at senior level for MK Dons.
He went on to have a spell in the first team with Everton over parts of the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons before making a loan move to West Bromwich Albion.
Senior opportunities became scare at Everton and Galloway departed Merseyside for Luton Town, and then move to Plymouth, where he helped Argyle secure promotion.
Marko Stamenić has revealed how his first-hand experience of watching Swansea City in action has just whetted his appetite for getting down to work with his new club.
The 23-year-old midfielder recently joined the Swans from Nottingham Forest for an undisclosed fee, and will wear the number six shirt after signing an initial four-year contract.
Prior to the completion of his move, Stamenić was at the Swansea.com Stadium to watch Alan Sheehan’s side beat Sheffield United 1-0.
And the mix of the performance and the atmosphere in the stadium left the New Zealand international in no doubt that the move to south Wales is the right one for him.
“I love watching football, so the chance to watch any football game is a good one for me,” he said, having since made his debut as a substitute in Saturday's draw with Watford.
“But to see the way the team played, the philosophy that the team play with is a different type of football that you love to see.
“I am really happy, it was a big win and a good one for the club as a whole.
“We’ve been talking about this move for some time now, and I’ve been told about the plans and the project and I fell in love with it from that first meeting.
“I am just over the moon that the deal is done.”
And Stamenić also revealed how a former Forest teammate only had good things to say to him about Swansea as the move drew near.
“Lewis O’Brien spoke to me,” he said.
“I know he was only here for a short time but it was one that he felt was full of positives. He only spoke highly of the club and the people around it, and I arrive in Swansea with only good feelings about the club.”
Stamenić boasts top-flight experience across Europe having played in Denmark, Serbia and Greece. He has also featured in the Champions League and Europa League, while he has recently helped New Zealand secure a place at next year’s World Cup in the United States.
So, while he may still be relatively young in years, Stamenić has his sights set on making an impact for the Swans as part of a midfield unit where there is no shortage of competition for places.
“There is plenty of competition, and that’s a good thing because competition is what will drive us to be the best versions of ourselves,” he added.
“I think that is really important and I want to try and implement that, I will give my all and die for the sleeve and the club.
“I am stoked to be at this amazing club. I cannot wait to see the fans. I have huge ambitions and goals for myself and the club and I hope we can achieve it together.”
That extensive overseas experience means Stamenić comes across as a young man with a humility and a sense of perspective beyond his years.
He is off Serbian and Samoan heritage. His father fled his homeland due to the Bosnian War of the early 1990s and settled in New Zealand, where he met Stamenić’s mother.
While the Land of the Long White Cloud is often associated with rugby and the All Blacks, Stamenić only ever had eyes for football due to his father’s passion for the game.
But to progress he knew he would have to leave his homeland, and that opportunity fell just as the Covid-19 pandemic was taking hold in 2020.
It was a challenging period for a teenager, but one Stamenić is confident aided his development as a person and a player.
“I am very proud of my heritage,” he said.
“My father is from Serbia, but left there in the time of the war to go to New Zealand.
“There he met my mother, whose whole family are from Samoa but had also moved to New Zealand, so they had similar stories but were obviously from completely different sides of the world.
“It’s a unique connection and I am very honoured to represent Serbian and Samoa on the world stage when I pull on the New Zealand shirt.
“It’s been quite a journey to get to this point, I had the chance to come over to Europe when I was 18 with FC Copenhagen, they wanted me to go over there for a trial.
“It was my first time away from home and after the first part of the trial the pandemic really hit in Europe and I had a decision to make.
“I could either stay to finish the trial or I could return home. The risk was that if I stayed to finish the trial and things got worse, then there was a chance there would be a lockdown and I would have to stay in Denmark on my own for months.
“So I made the decision to return home and be with my family, and Copenhagen honoured the original trial by having me return after things had eased a little and there were fewer restrictions in place.
“I ended up signing and moving to Denmark, and it was an important experience for me as a player and a person, to be away from home that young, you have to learn to stand on your own two feet. The club were a great help to me but I definitely think I matured very quickly in that environment.
“It helped make me the person and player I am today, and I am keen to show Swansea fans exactly what I can do.”
Žan Vipotnik struck a late equaliser to ensure Swansea City secured a point against Watford at the Swansea.com Stadium.
The Slovenian forward was on hand to turn the ball home via the inside of the post to reward a dominant second-half display.
Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux; Josh Key (Melker Widell 75), Ben Cabango (captain), Cameron Burgess, Josh Tymon; Malick Yalcouye (Marko Stamenić 53), Ethan Galbraith, Gonçalo Franco; Ronald, Jisung Eom (Zeidane Inoussa 53); Liam Cullen (Žan Vipotnik 75).
Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Jay Fulton, Bobby Wales, Kaelan Casey, Sam Parker.
Watford: Egil Selvik, Jeremy Ngakia (Ryan Andrews 78), Max Alleyne (Rocco Vata 87), Kevin Keben, Hector Kyprianou, Luca Kjerrumgaard (Vivaldo Semedo 78), Marc Bola, Moussa Sissoko (captain), James Abankwah, Edo Kayembe (James Morris 87), Nestory Irankunda (Kwadwo Baah 58).
Unused Substitutes: Nathan Baxter, Mamadou Doumbia, Tom Dele-Bashiru, Amar Sanghrajka.
Referee: Stephen Martin
Attendance: 15,543
Swansea City Under-18s recorded back-to-back home wins with a convincing victory over Hull City at the Joma High Performance Centre.
Goals from Harlan Perry, Brogan Popham, Kai Rhodes, Billy Clarke and Milo Robinson saw the young Swans maintain a 100% record at home so far this season, following their 4-0 victory over Fleetwood Town on the opening day of the season.
Swansea City Under-18s: Tom Wright, Kaven Bloniarczyk, Caio Ifans, Milo Robinson, Brogan Popham, Ben Phillips (Carter Heywood 75), Billy Clarke (Ioan Johnston 89), Harlan Perry (Bobo Evans 75), Harvey Gray, Alfie Jones, Kai Rhodes (Elis Thomas 75).
Unused Substitutes: Rio Hassan.
Hull City Under-18s: Alfie Lizardos, Jack Topley, Oskar Gruszkowski, Charlie Leach, Dellan Robinson, Cayden Cole, Reuben Silk, Emmanuel Sarpong, Ekemini Umoren, Zac Jagielka, Alfie Maskell.
Unused Substitutes: Severn, Gode, Gomeniuk, Bray, Cawte.
Swansea City Under-21s extended their three-year unbeaten run at the Swansea.com Stadium with an emphatic win over Huddersfield Town.
Braces from Joel Cotterill and Morgan Bates, along with goals from Aimar Govea and Kyrell Wilson, ensured the Swans maintained their long sequence without defeat at the stadium; a streak dating back to the 2022-23 season.
Swansea City Under-21s: Jakub Nowak, Iestyn Jones, Sebastian Dabrowski (Thomas Searle 60), Mitchell Bates, Arthur Parker (Filip Lissah 60), Blair McKenzie, Kyrell Wilson (Yori Griffith 72), Joel Cotterill, Morgan Bates, Thomas Woodward (Ramon Rees-Siso 60), Aimar Govea (Callum Jones 60).
Huddersfield Town Under-21s: Ellis Litherland, Omari Mrisho, Luke Daley, Charlie Knowles (Maxwell Murray 44), George Iorpenda, Ian Togo, Owen Barker, Eko Solomon, Peter Thomas (George Sebine 57), Jackson Shorrocks (Oliver Calland 85), Sahil Bashir.
Substitutes not used: Alexander Walpole.
PLAYER SPONSORS
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of our friend Martin Thomas … Martin was a lifelong Swansea City supporter and season ticket holder he encouraged his son and then his grandchildren to follow the Swans which they do as season ticket holders themselves . He was a family man and was well respected by the hundreds of supporters who got to know him over the past 60 years Martin will be sorely missed by us all he was and always will be a true 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.
Head Coach Alan Sheehan
1 Andy Fisher
2 Josh Key
4 Jay Fulton
5 Ben Cabango (c)
6 Marko Stamenic
7 Melker Widell
8 Malick Yalcouye
9 Žan Vipotnik
10 Jisung Eom
11 Josh Ginnelly
14 Josh Tymon
15 Cameron Burgess
17 Gonçalo Franco
20 Liam Cullen
22 Lawrence Vigouroux
23 Ricardo Santos
24 Bobby Wales
26 Kaelan Casey
27 Zeidane Inoussa
28 Joel Cotterill
29 Paul Farman
30 Ethan Galbraith
31 Ollie Cooper
35 Ronald
40 NUMBER RETIRED IN MEMORY OF BESIAN IDRIZAJ
41 Sam Parker
46 Arthur Parker
47 Sebastian Dabrowski
49 Kyrell Wilson
50 Filip Lissah
54 Iestyn Jones
Head Coach Tom Cleverley
1 Conor Hazard
2 Mathias Ross
3 Jack Mackenzie
4 Brendan Wiredu
5 Julio Pleguezuelo
6 Kornel Szucs
7 Jamie Paterson
8 Joe Edwards ©
9 Lorent Tolaj
10 Xavier Amaechi
11 Bali Mumba
13 Zak Baker
14 Ayman Benarous
15 Alex Mitchell
17 Caleb Watts
18 Owen Oseni
19 Malachi Boateng
21 Luca Ashby-Hammond
22 Brendan Galloway
23 Bradley Ibrahim
24 Caleb Roberts
25 Freddie Issaka
27 Bim Pepple
29 Matthew Sorinola
38 Joe Hatch
Referee - Elliot Bell
Assistant Referee 1 - Harley McKittrick
Assistant Referee 2 - Ross Murphy
Fourth Official - Matthew Russell
STAFF LIST
Chairman - Andy Coleman
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 and Snoop Dogg
FIRST-TEAM STAFF
Head Coach - Alan Sheehan
Assistant Head Coach - Darren O'Dea
Head of Goalkeeping – Martyn Margetson
First Team Coach - Kris O'Leary
First Team Coach - Richard Stearman
Head of Medical - Dr Jez McCluskey
Staff: Ailsa Jones, Matt Murray, Thomas Gittoes, Michael Eames, Shaun Baggridge, Jake Dayus, Patrick Orme, Aden King, Lewis Binns, Chris Watkins, Jack Oliver, Harri Matthews.
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM
Tom Gorringe (Chief Executive Officer)
Richard Montague (Director of Football)
Andrew Davies (Head of Operations and Facilities);
CLUB STAFF
Head of Football Operations and Administration: Ben Greenwood
Football Operations & Administration Manager: Rebecca Gigg
Head of Media & Communications: Andrew Gwilym
Head of Marketing: Katie Doyle
Head of Partnerships: Lee Merrells
Head of Hospitality: Catherine Thomas
Head of Ticketing: Mari Tucker
Head of Safeguarding: Rebeca Storer
HR Manager: Nicola Butt
Head of Facilities: Gordon David
Grounds Manager: Evan Davies
Head of Swansea City AFC Foundation: Paul France
Club Ambassador: Lee Trundle
PROGRAMME PRODUCTION
Contributors: Andrew Gwilym, Rachael Tucker, Cerith White, Jack Otter, Sophie Davis, Mackenzie Squires, Sammy Wynne, Hayley Ford, Owen Morgan.
Designers: Callum Rothwell, Jac Elsey.