Good afternoon and welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium for today’s visit of Sheffield Wednesday.

I’d like to start by taking this opportunity to thank everyone for their kind messages of support following the recent passing of my mother.

In what was a sad moment for myself and my family, I have been truly humbled by the kind words we have received.

It has meant a great deal to my family and is testament to our community here in Swansea and what fantastic supporters we have.

This is a family club and, in the short time that I have been here, I have seen first-hand the passion, commitment and energy you have.

Even more than other clubs, supporters have always been at the core of Swansea City. I am learning more about this bond each week I am here, and I am striving to forge a connection with supporters that will help propel this club forward. That’s why I moved here with my family, to live this football club with you every day.

That means in difficult times as well as the good ones.

I will be in the fan zone before the game to meet and talk with our supporters. I won’t ask you to be there for us through the hard times if I’m not willing to also be there with you.

As I said in my last club update, there is no hiding from the fact that we haven’t had the start to the season we all wanted.

Tuesday’s game against QPR showed signs of progress, but we need everyone pulling in the same direction – players, staff, and supporters.

This afternoon’s game is a real opportunity for us all to get that much sought after first league win of the season, so I hope that come full-time we can all celebrate together.

I want to be sure everyone is aware that we will be showcasing our women’s team throughout the afternoon on Saturday.

We have a special Q+A on stage at the fan zone with Swansea City Women’s players Katy Hosford and Stacey John-Davis, while Rachel Cullen and Lucy Finch will be taking part in a meet and greet for supporters in the club shop from 1.45pm. Meanwhile, Kev Johns will lead another Q+A pitchside at half-time with Chloe Bull, Robyn Pinder and Steph Turner.

It is a great opportunity for supporters to interact with our players ahead of their first home game of the season on Sunday against Barry Town at Llandarcy Academy of Sport on Sunday (2pm kick-off). Entry is free for anyone wishing to attend that game.

I’m also delighted that today will see over 500 young fans in attendance who have taken advantage of our grassroots ticketing campaign.

The initiative offers discounted rates to local grassroots teams to ensure the next generation of the Jack Army are able to watch their Swans heroes in action, so we hope you all enjoy the day.

Swansea City draws so much strength from supporters. I am hopeful that we can all join together in getting behind the team on Saturday and help deliver the result we all want.

Enjoy the game,

Andy

Good afternoon and welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium for our Championship fixture against Sheffield Wednesday.

We head into this game disappointed not to have picked up our first league win of the season against Queens Park Rangers in midweek.

The end to that game probably sums up where we are a bit at the minute, but the players gave everything and I cannot ask for more than that.

I thought we started the game well with the ball, we wanted to be able to threaten QPR in different ways and we were able to do that.

Then, without the ball, the players showed a lot of fight and spirit. The attitude towards defending our box was really good, and I thought our two centre-halves were outstanding.

I don’t recall Carl Rushworth having a save of note to make and, in the end, it’s taken a header from nearly 18 yards to deny us all three points.

The aim for us now is to put those different elements of the game together into an all-round performance this afternoon; where we combine the good things we have shown with the ball, without it and in transitional phases.

There is frustration we have not got that win yet, myself and the players all want to win for this club. There has been a lot of change over the course of the summer, and when you have that much change things take time to implement.

I am tremendously proud to have the opportunity to lead this club, and to try and build something that will leave the club in a better place.

Within that I understand people want to see the team win games, football is a results-driven business, and we are all doing our utmost to make sure we get the three points this afternoon.

We face a Sheffield Wednesday team who, like ourselves, are searching for their first win.

They have a number of players who are proven at Championship level, and the challenge for us is to produce a 90-minute performance that gives us the best chance of getting the result we all want.

Enjoy the game,

Michael

 

 

Welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium for our first home game following the international break, which saw a welcome and much-needed win for Wales over Latvia in the Euro Qualifiers.

It’s been a difficult return to club football since with defeat at Cardiff City Stadium, and being denied a first league win of the season when we were tantalisingly close to victory at Queens Park Rangers in midweek.

Hopefully that first win will come today, and I am sure we will all get behind the team and give them our full support.

There is no escaping the fact that it has been a difficult start to the season, but some perspective is needed.

We have half a squad of new players to bed in, plus a new management team and tactics.  The changes that have happened to the club have all been with the long term, bigger picture in mind and patience will be key in the short term. We have seen how a little patience has benefitted Swansea managers in the past.

This weekend sees the return of the fan zone, a great addition to the matchday experience for supporters. The Trust  are in constant dialogue with the club about matchday improvements for supporters and welcome any suggestions you may have. You can get in touch with us at supporters@swanstrust.co.uk.

The fan zone this week is celebrating women’s football and there is a chance to meet and put questions to the Swansea City Women team, who the Trust were delighted to see become a fully integrated part of the club over the summer. The Women’s team will be in action against Barry Town United at Llandarcy Park at 2pm on Saturday afternoon afternoon, entry is free for those who would like to attend.

Speaking of the matchday experience, I recently had the pleasure of accompanying Mr Flag (Charles Ashburner) and the Swans Flag Crew to the Bournemouth match and soaked up the very different experience of watching the Swans play from pitchside as part of their official flag-waving duties.

You can’t miss them - they are the ones waving four-metre-long Swansea City flags in each corner of the ground before matches and whenever we score. They are not employees of the club; they are unpaid volunteers – an enthusiastic and committed group of around 20 fans demonstrably doing their bit to get supporters behind the team. 

When selected to join the crew - besides the unique feeling of being almost on the pitch with the players - you get to watch matches for free and there are further rewards and benefits the more you volunteer.  

If you are interested in getting involved contact info@mrflag.com. There are also other volunteer opportunities around the ground on matchdays through the Swans ‘Here to Help’ initiative, contact  info@swanstrust.co.uk for more details.

Today’s opponents, Sheffield Wednesday, are back in the Championship after a two-year absence. Michael Duff will remember them well having been on the wrong side of the League One play-off final against them last May, and I’m sure that will be extra motivation if any were needed to get three points today.

Wednesday would have avoided relegation back in 2021 were it not for a six-point deduction for breaching the EFL’s Financial Fair Play regulations, which dictate what losses clubs are permitted to incur over a rolling three-year period.

At present, Championship clubs are punished if they exceed losses of more than £39million over a three-year period. 

It underlines the importance of the financial stability of the football club and safeguarding the long-term future of Swansea City.

I hope you’ve done all your pre-match good luck rituals and positive energy gets us a home win today.

Enjoy the game,

Paul

 

As Harry Darling heads into his second season with Swansea City, the centre-half talks about his determination to improve following a summer reflecting on his first season in SA1, reveals how growing pains nearly derailed his football dream, and the reason why he's always been able to chip in with his fair share of goals from defence.

Harry Darling once had aspirations to be an all-rounder as a talented young cricketer, now he is hoping the lessons learned from his first season at Swansea City will allow him to be a more rounded figure on and off the field.

Centre-back Darling, 24, joined the Swans from MK Dons last summer, and made 33 appearances in total, including finishing the campaign in the unfamiliar role of right-back.

He chipped in with four goals along the way, including a stunning debut strike at Rotherham as he adapted to life in the Championship following his impressive showings in League One.

 

 

But Darling was far from satisfied with his first campaign in SA1, and honestly admits he may have underestimated the step up in levels, as well as the impact of living away from home for the first time.

After a summer of reflection, the Cambridge United academy product has returned for the new campaign determined to make a step forward and take on more responsibility.

“I think last year was a big learning curve for me, but now I have had a year with the club and I need to step on from here,” he said.

“I am really settled here and I just want to be a big part of things on and off the pitch as a character and a player.

“I am still young, but if you look at what is still a youthful squad, it’s not like I am a kid. I just want to be more of a leader here and take on more responsibility.

“I will be honest and say I was a bit surprised by the jump last season, and I have had to tell myself some home truths and admit I probably took it for granted that the step up would be what I had expected it to be.

“As I look back at it, with that year of experience of the Championship, I realise I had some misconceptions about it and I’ve had to – and I want to – really challenge myself.

“I am determined to really push myself, because there were a lot of things to take on board.

“The physicality of the league and the speed of it were two things you notice straight away, and off the field it was the first time I had moved away from home.

 

 

“You settle into a new area, and that comes with its own challenges. My girlfriend and I have been really fortunate in that we absolutely love Swansea and have had a very warm welcome from the people here, but it was part of a lot of change and those things can take time.

“It was probably bigger than I thought it would be, but with the year behind me I am just determined to try and be a big part of what we are doing here.”

Growing pains, although of a very different nature, are not anything new to Darling, whose dream of becoming a footballer was nearly derailed by injuries brought on by a growth spurt in his early teens.

As is the case now, a period of reflection proved key to Darling making an important step forward, and ultimately helped him return to the development set-up at Cambridge United, having initially walked away as a result of his frustrations.

However, while being a footballer was always his dream, Darling did display an aptitude for another sport, too.

“It has always been football, I have loved it from the first time I can remember just kicking a ball around,” recalls Darling.

“I was always a sporty person, I played other sports, I played cricket for a long time, it was mainly football and cricket as the seasons did not overlap too much. But there were others I tried as well.

“I played cricket at county level for Cambridgeshire, and in football I played for my local team Bottisham, and from there I got picked up by Cambridge when I was 12.

“But, at that time I had a lot of injuries, and I ended up leaving Cambridge because I was just frustrated and I wasn’t enjoying football.

“I was about 14 when I left, I had growing pains, and I just did not play and for that reason I found myself hating football.

“I went to play for Newmarket and I got the bug again, and I got lucky, but at that time I was not in a condition to play well and myself justice and even at that age you are aware of those things.”

But put it to Darling that a career with a bat and ball could have been an option, and he’s not sure he was ever likely to be a swashbuckling professional in the Ben Stokes mould.

“I was an all-rounder for a number of years, and then as I got older I sort of got moved into being a fast bowler,” he says.

“I played district and county at youth level, and I still enjoy cricket, I always watch it when it is on.

“I played alongside a guy called Max Holden, who is at Middlesex now. Michael Pepper at Essex as well, there are a couple more too. I don’t think I would ever have been able to make it as a cricketer myself.

“I was decent, but I don’t think I would have got to that level. My father played and my brother and I did as kids.

“I still love watching it, and the big thing for me in life – whatever it is you are doing – is to enjoy it.

“You have got to work hard and give it your all, but you should enjoy doing that. I feel I am at my best when I am enjoying myself, and I think if you look at any sport, the teams that do well are the ones who enjoy what they are doing.”

Darling’s return to football with Cambridge gave him another opportunity he vowed to make the most of but, as the defender explains, it was still not a straightforward process, with one particular in-house friendly proving an important moment in his fledgling career.

“I initially went back to Cambridge on what is called a shadow scholarship. So, it is a scholarship, but you do more of the educational side of it, where as the guys on full scholarship did more on the football side,” says Darling.

 

 

“They set up a friendly where the shadow scholars played the full scholars, and I had a really good game and from there they offered me a full scholarship.

“It was a different way to get into it, but it worked out for me.

“I went back in and there were some really big influences on my career at that time. Mark Bonner, who is the first-team manager at Cambridge now, was my youth-team coach.

“He really helped me, he was one of the biggest people in my career, to be fair. He really, really believed in me, had a lot of faith in me. He played me when he got the job at senior level, and he had supported me when I wanted to go on loan.”

Those loan spells included stints at Bishop’s Stortford, Hampton & Richmond Borough, Royston Town, East Thurrock United and Hemel Hempstead.

They were character building for a teenage centre-half, but Darling loved the chance play senior football and embraced the rough and tumble nature of it.

“I absolutely loved going on those loan spells, I always wanted to play men’s football as soon as I could,” he says.

“Men’s football is all about results, and I knew I wanted to experience that and be a part of it.

“So, I always pushed for those loan spells. I enjoyed all of them, it certainly turned me from a boy into a man.

“There were things on and off the field that I had not experienced or been exposed to before, and it was a real eye opener.

“I loved all the clubs I went to, and I feel like those moves were important for my development.”

From Cambridge, Darling would move to MK Dons in January of 2021 and he made an instant impression.

He won the club’s young player of the season award for the 2020-21 campaign despite only being with them for half of the season.

Darling backed that up with a series of superb showings as MK Dons reached the play-offs under Liam Manning, impressing with his ability on the ball and incredibly netting 10 goals from centre-back.

Darling believes the time at Stadium MK gave him the chance to show a different side to his game, but loves the responsibility a defender has with and without the ball.

“I always saw myself as a ball-playing centre-back, but obviously there were times at Cambridge or on loan where there was not always an opportunity to show that,” he says.

“But going to MK it was a lot different, there was a real emphasis on playing with the ball and it brought out that side of my game. I knew it was there, but it had not really come out and my time there was really big for me.

“I think the way the game is now, you still have to have those fundamental elements of defending. I don’t think it will ever change, you are going to have to make tackles, you are going to have to win headers and you are going to have to put your body on the line.

 

 

“But being able to be confident and comfortable on the ball is important in the modern game.

“It’s always good if I can chip in with goals too, believe it or not I was actually a striker as a kid, and not many people know that.

“Being at Cambridge actually turned me into a centre-back. They signed me up after watching me play as a striker. I scored plenty of goals before I got my scholarship and then went through a spell where I didn’t score many.

“But at MK I really started to chip in with them again, and I’ve carried that into Swansea.

“The job will always be to defend, but if I can help the team with goals at the other end of the pitch, I absolutely want to.”

Darling proved that latter point about helping his team when he unexpectedly featured at right-back over the closing months of the season.

He admits the move came out of the blue, but it was one he was happy to embrace.

“Do you know what? I did enjoy it in the end,” he says with a smile.

“I’m not sure I had a real idea of what to expect from it, but in the end I really enjoyed it. It meant I was in the team and I was out there on the pitch, which is where I want to be, and I learned a lot from doing it.

“I know I can play there now if I am needed, and it’s given me a better understanding of another position.

“It did come out of the blue. It was for the Millwall away game, I had no real advance warning, no-one had told me it was a possibility.

“The team went up on the board and it felt like most of the room turned around to look at me to see how I would react. Your first thought is ‘what am I doing there?’ but I did end up enjoying it and I think it did me a lot of good.”

And what of the new season? Darling acknowledges it has been a challenging start, but remains confident Swansea can bounce back if they stick together and work for each other.

“I think if you look at the games this season we have had spells in games where you have been able to see patterns coming out in our play,” he said.

“Of course, we would have liked to have had a better start, we don’t want to lose and we certainly don’t like losing. It’s a horrible feeling.

“But it is early on, there is no reason it can’t still be a positive season for us. There is a long way to go, and we have to stick together and work hard to turn things round.”

 

 

Attacking left-wing back John Hills had two loan spells at Swansea City during the mid-90s.

Signing professionally for Blackpool in October 1995, he caused a stir when sold to Everton for £90,000 the following week but failed to secure a regular place at Goodison Park.

He was loaned to Swansea in January 1997, then returned for a second loan spell in August 1997 and made 18 League appearances overall.

He rejoined Blackpool for £75,000 in January 1998, and helped them win promotion during the 2000-01 season and the LDV Vans Trophy in 2002.

He later joined Gillingham and Sheffield Wednesday, making 46 appearances for today’s opponents across two seasons.

 

 

Lee Trundle joined Ynysfach Primary School at the start of their new Premier League Primary Stars project to help inspire the young students.

Over 50 students joined the club ambassador and former Swans striker for an assembly where he discussed his career and the hard work it took for him to achieve his goals.

Trundle also took the opportunity to take questions from students and teachers.

He was delighted to meet the pupils, and hopes that his story can help inspire them as they move forward in their learning and development. 

“It’s always great to be able to get into the community and meet with the next generation,” said Trundle.

“If I can help motivate them in any way then that is really great, it’s important they know they can do anything if they work hard and stay motivated.

“It’s great for them to be part of the Primary Stars project, to have the Swans and the Foundation helping support their development is really important.”

Additionally, the allocated charity bucket collection for today's game against Sheffield Wednesday is in aid of Dementia Friendly Swansea. 

Dementia Friendly Swansea is a voluntary group that focuses on improving inclusion and quality of life for people with dementia in Swansea and surrounding areas.

If anyone would like to pop in for a chat, their Mobile Dementia Hwb will be situated in the West Stand concourse.

 

Swansea City Women captain Katy Hosford has joined the Former Players' Association committee in hope of encouraging ex-Swans Women players to reconnect with the club.

The midfielder has been with the club for 10 years, making her debut in 2013 before helping her side to four league titles.

The FPA is free to join and is open to men and women who have represented the club at senior level. 

The association's primary aims are to promote friendship and support, while also taking part in charitable work and fundraising, by bringing together players from different generations and different eras. 

The FPA currently has several former women's players registered, and would warmly welcome more who wish to join up.

Money raised by fundraising events such as the end-of-season-player awards will be used to support local charities and provide a fund for ex-players.

And Hosford hopes to encourage her former teammates and beyond to come together to re-unite with the club.

"I'm very excited to be on the committee, it means a lot to be asked and I can't wait to share ideas with everyone to bring more former players together," she said.

"Being the first FPA to accept former women's players is amazing, and now with the Swans Women's team becoming semi-professional, it's perfect timing.

"The FPA is there to help anyone who's played for this club, and I would love to help reconnect anyone I've played with, as well as players before my time here with the club they've once represented."

Any former Swansea City players who wish to join the FPA can contact secretary Catherine Thomas, on 01792 616420 or email catherinethomas@swanseacity.com.

Alternatively, former players can register HERE.

I’m writing this on a miserable, wet and windy Wednesday morning. The inclement September weather certainly reflected my mood following the derby defeat to arch-rivals Cardiff City and the injury time equaliser away to Queens Park Rangers, which robbed us of our first win of the new campaign.

But as I sit poised over my laptop about to bash out a few hundred words, I am reminded of something that happened yesterday, and among the gloom, I managed a wry smile.

I run a postgraduate course in Visual Journalism at the University of South Wales, and I also created and still teach on the undergraduate Sports Journalism course at USW.

This week is the first week of the new academic year, ‘Freshers’ Week’ as was, ‘Induction Week’ or ‘Welcome Week’ as it is now known. This is the week new and returning students get to return to campus, meet the teaching staff and talk timetables, expectations and maybe get some free merchandise, ahead of teaching starting next week.

They also get a chance to find out what sports teams they might be able to play for, societies they could join, and what’s available to them in the town or city their campus is based in.

The campus I’m based at is right in the heart of Cardiff city centre. Our institution attracts a lot of local students, many of whom are fans of their hometown club. It has been pure gold to be a Jack in that environment over the last few years. Now? Not so much.

Yesterday, as I braced myself to enter the building and deal with the barrage of ‘banter’ I was expecting, the first person I saw was a friendly face, a colleague who is also a Jack. We looked straight at one another, eyes wide, an expression of sympathy spread across our faces.

We exchanged a knowing nod, but we didn’t stop for our usual post-match debrief, instead he said: “I’m just keeping my head down and waiting for it all to blow over, because it will.”

“History doesn’t lie,” I replied in the brief exchange. And, as if by magic, just like Mr Benn, he was gone.

It was a surreal conversation but, as I walked to my office, I had a big grin on my face remembering that we are history-makers. We secured a first league double in 110 years with a 7-0 aggregate scoreline in 2021-22, and what excitement as Ben Cabango got the last gasp goal to cement the victory 3-2 at the Cardiff City Stadium in April – we did the double double. 

Five months ago we were celebrating to within an inch of our lives. And those days will return, the wins will come again. They always do, though during the waiting time it is human nature to suffer from the sort of amnesia which prevents us from remembering the good times.

Sheffield Wednesday fans will know exactly how we’re feeling – they’re a place and a point below us and also without a win. Let’s hope the sun shines on south-west Wales come the final whistle and we can offer up a collective smile as a result.

Mae’n wir dweud nad ydi hi ddim wedi bod yn ddechrau da i’r tymor i Abertawe. Maen nhw'n dal i chwilio am eu buddugoliaeth gyntaf o’r tymor yn y Bencampwriaeth, tra'u bod nhw hefyd allan o Gwpan y Gynghrair ar ôl colli’n erbyn Bournemouth. Ond dw i’n teimlo bod ‘na resymau i fod yn bositif cyn y gêm yn erbyn Sheffield Wednesday heddiw.

Mae’n bwysig cofio bod Yr Elyrch wedi cael dechrau siomedig i’r ddau dymor diwethaf hefyd o dan arweinyddiaeth Russell Martin.

Yn nhymor 2021-22 un fuddugoliaeth gawson nhw yn eu 8  gêm gyntaf, a wedyn yn 2022-23 un fuddugoliaeth yn eu 7 gêm gyntaf. Ond ar y ddau achlysur mi fu bron iawn iddyn nhw gyrraedd y gemau ail-gyfle ar ddiwedd y tymor.

Does ‘na ddim byd i ddweud na fydd hynny yn digwydd eto y tymor yma, yn enwedig gan fod y tîm yn dal i ddod i arfer gydag arddull a steil chwarae Michael Duff.

Er bod Joel Piroe wedi gadael dros yr Haf, dw i’n meddwl bod Yr Elyrch wedi cryfhau eu carfan yn effeithiol.

Mae Carl Rushowrth yn edrych fel golwr o safon, mae Bashir Humphreys yn yr amddiffyn yn chwaraewr mae gan Chelsea feddwl mawr ohono tra fod Kristian Pedersen yn chwaraewr sydd â phrofiad helaeth ar y llwyfan rhyngwladol. Roedd safle’r ôl-asgellwyr (wing backs) yn peri problem ar ddechrau’r tymor, ond bellach mae Josh Key, Harrison Ashby, Josh Tymon a Nathan Tjoe-An-On i gyd yn opsiynau.

Mae Charlie Patino yn mynd i greu digon o gyfleoedd o ganol cae, tra fod Jerry Yates, Josh Ginnelly a Josh Lowe yn siwr o sgorio digon o goliau yn y llinell flaen. Mae’n bosibl dadlau fod ‘na fwy o ddyfnder yn y garfan nag oedd ‘na y tymor diwethaf, a dw i’n siwr y bydd hyn yn ei amlygu ei hun dros yr wythnosau nesaf. 

Mi fuasai’n dda petai Abertawe yn sicrhau eu buddugoliaeth gyntaf o’r tymor yn y gynghrair mor fuan â phosibl, a chawn nhw ddim cyfle gwell i wneud hynny nag yn erbyn Sheffield Wednesday heddiw.

Tydi Wednesday chwaith heb ennill gêm yn y Bencampwriaeth y tymor yma a maen nhw’n ei chael hi’n anodd iawn i sgorio goliau. Mi fydd ‘na bwysau mawr ar y ddau dîm, ond os bydd Yr Elyrch yn llwyddo i sicrhau’r triphwynt yna mi fydd hynny yn rhoi rhywbeth iddyn nhw adeiladu arno cyn y daith i Millwall yr wythnos nesaf.

OWAIN LLYR

This season marks the 30th anniversary of Swansea City’s first trip to Wembley for the Autoglass Trophy final in 1994. To mark it, our club historian Gwyn Rees will take us back through the story of that campaign and some of the key figures involved. 

 

Image of Steve Torpey from the 1997 Play-Off Final
 

After the fiasco of the defeat at Stockport, where the Swans had ended the game with nine men, it was back home at the start of November to face a Burnley side who had enjoyed a good start to the season, and were sitting third in the table.

The lowest home crowd of the season to date – just under 3,500 – saw the Swans produce their best performance of the campaign.

The visitors had led through Kevin Francis’ goal, but the Swans turned the game around as Martin Hayes and Colin Pascoe struck in quick succession, and the hosts sealed the win when Jason Bowen netted a third.

But Swansea’s away form was a concern, they had just one win in eight games away from the Vetch Field, and that record did not improve when they travelled to take on Port Vale.

Ian Taylor opened the scoring for the hosts, before an Andy Cook own goal doubled Vale’s advantage and Dan Glover hammered in a third late on.

There were a pair of cup ties to follow, with Merthyr Tydfil first up in the Welsh Cup at the Vetch Field.

The visitors had a Swans great in the dugout in player-manager Robbie James, while Dudley Lewis, Mark Davies and Tommy Hutchinson were also in the Martyrs’ squad.

It would prove a frustrating night for the Swans as they were held to a goalless draw to set up a tricky return trip early in December.

Next up was a first-round FA Cup tie against Nuneaton Borough, who 26 years earlier had humbled the Swans in their own backyard.

Another upset looked on the cards when Peter Shearer gave Nuneaton the lead as he fired past Roger Freestone, but the Swans would force a replay courtesy of Steve Torpey’s firm header with seconds remaining.

There was a better Swansea performance when Leyton Orient visited for a league fixture. Torpey was on the scoresheet again, but the hosts were denied all three points when Mark Cooper was able to equalise in the final seconds.

But there were red faces when the Swans were defeated 2-1 in their FA Cup replay against Nuneaton, Torpey’s goal being cancelled out by a double from Tony Simpson – the second coming in extra-time - with Frank Burrows’ team guilty of wasting a slew of chances.

In another Jekyll and Hyde performance, the Swans then crashed to a 3-1 defeat away at lowly Fulham.

A goal on half-time from Simon Morgan gave the home side a lead they barely deserved, but Shaun Chapple equalised 10 minutes after the break to give the Swans hope.

However, when Julian Hails put the hosts ahead 10 minutes from time and Gary Brazill added the third, it would be the manner in which the Swans faded from the contest that would be a big concern for the management.

Anniversaries are funny things. They can remind you of both the good times and the bad.

I’ve just celebrated my 30th wedding anniversary. Looking back, like any other marriage, there have been good times and not so good ones!

It’s the same when you look back at sporting anniversaries. Especially when you’ve supported a football club for any length of time.

A BBC Wales report of Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers also mentioned a stand-out date in the Swans’ history.

The on-line report included the sub-heading ‘anniversary blues’. Below it were the following words.

“The result saw Swansea drop into the relegation zone on the 10th anniversary of one of the most significant results in the club's history. They have three points from seven games.
 

“Few who watched Michael Laudrup's League Cup champions win 3-0 at Valencia in the Europa League on September 19, 2013, could have imagined Swansea would be in this predicament.”

Fair enough, I suppose . . . up to a point. The Swans are plainly in a less than desirable position at the moment.

Statistically the worst start to a season for 32 years and a place in the relegation zone clearly isn’t what head coach Michael Duff would have wanted in his first campaign at the club.

However, we have faced far worse situations – both on and off the pitch. So, let’s not get too panicky just yet.

Just as the BBC article referenced the Valencia game, you could say fans who attended the Hull City game - 20 years ago earlier this year – couldn’t have imagined the dizzying heights we have enjoyed since then.

Even now – 22nd in the Championship – we are in what would have been an unimaginably better position than the one we found ourselves in back then – facing relegation from the Football League

Reading a recent article on The Athletic sports website reminded me just how far we have come on since then – despite our current perilous position.

Central to the piece in The Athletic were the memories of former Swans manager Brian Flynn – the man who guided the team to victory on that fateful day against Hull 20 years ago.
 

When the Port Talbot-born former Leeds United, Burnley and 66-times-capped Wales international midfielder took over at Vetch Field in September 2002, the Swans were rock bottom of the Football League.

Relegation would have been a genuine footballing disaster for a club which was in a less than healthy financial state and playing in a dilapidated ground.

Flynn immediately drew up a list of players he wanted to bring in. They included three figures who would play a massive role in the transformation of the club over the next 10 years.

They were Leon Britton, Alan Tate and Roberto Martinez, who would himself go on to become an influential manager here.

Some of Flynn’s recollections in the article are illuminating and well worth repeating. They give a great insight into where the Swans were at the time.

“Tatey, who was 18, took some persuading,” says Flynn of the player he initially signed on loan from Old Trafford.

“He’s in my office and saying, ‘If I do well here, it could help me get in the Manchester United team’. I said, ‘You’ve got no chance of playing for Man United, let’s get that straight — this is where your career is, not a stepping stone back to United’.

“In the end, Tatey fell in love with the place. Same with Leon. They all do, as Swansea is a great place to live.”

Obviously, Tatey went on to captain the Swans in their first ever match in the Premier League less than a decade later – ironically at the ground of United’s great rivals - Manchester City.

Likewise, Leon went on to become a Swans legend playing a massive midfield role in the club’s rise to the Premier League and their subsequent success in the top-flight.

But in Flynn’s view it was Martinez who had the greatest influence on the club.

The former manager’s recollections about Martinez in the article once again reinforce the plight the club was in back then compared to today.

“He became the lynchpin, on and off the field,” said Flynn.

“I remember spending about six hours when he first came down, explaining what was happening, such as how we didn’t have a training ground.

“Some days, we’d just go to the beach. Alan Curtis was our expert on when the tide was likely to be in or out, saying things like, ‘It should be dry enough by 11am and ready to train’. Not ideal, but Roberto just nodded his head.

“The lads loved him. He’d been here a month when I noticed everyone was rushing to get showered and changed after training. I asked what the rush was about. Turns out Roberto had arranged for lunch to be put on at a Spanish restaurant he’d found on Windsor Road.

“He’d chatted to the owner and, for £3 each, they were getting all the healthy food they could eat, plus soft drinks.
 

 

“Every day the lads went down there, all together. In there until 3pm and then Roberto set up another place to go for coffee.

“There were only five seats that could be booked each afternoon. Roberto and four others. All the lads were desperate to go as they’d sit there all afternoon, talking football and all sorts. I’m told they ended up with a rota.”

Of course, the Swans won the last match of that 2002-03 season against Hull to protect their place in the Football League. It was the first step on the journey which would take them to the Premier League.

“Look how long Wrexham and Newport stayed in non-League (15 and 25 years respectively),” says Flynn when asked in the article what would have happened if the Swans had been relegated that day.

“Swansea would have been the same. There’d have been no new stadium, I’m sure of that. Whereas within a few months of that Hull win, I’m there with Lyn Jones, head coach of the Ospreys as we cut the first sod in the ground where the new stadium was built.”

Flynn’s words reinforce the enormity of the situation the Swans faced back in 2003.

They also put into perspective the position the Swans find themselves in today.

Granted, it’s not great, but it’s more than retrievable. We as fans can all play our part today in getting behind the Swans against a club who are going through their own difficulties – both on and off the field.

Our positive and vocal support could make all the difference in what is likely to be a hard-fought encounter between two sides in need of a morale-boosting result.

Perhaps today’s date will become a future anniversary we celebrate as a day the club’s fortunes once again changed for the better!

C’mon you Swans!

 

One of the UK’s most successful bands, Take That, have today announced their return with a huge stadium and arena live tour for 2024 alongside news of their ninth studio album This Life, set for release 24th November. To celebrate the news further, Take That have also unleashed their brand-new single Windows which is out now!

This Life On Tour will see the trio - Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald – play 29 dates across 15 cities around the UK and Ireland. They will be joined on the tour by very special guest, Olly Murs. For a full list of tour dates, please see below.

Those who pre-order new album This Life from the official store here before 10am on 26th September will receive a special code to access pre-sale tickets from Wednesday 27th September at 9.30am.

Tickets will go on general sale on Friday 29th September at 9.30am from here.

Hospitality packages are available for this event. This also includes access to premium general admission packages.

Register your interest now and a further link will be sent to you on Friday, September 29 to complete your purchase.

 

 

Take That are renowned for their huge productions and incredible live shows, and currently hold the record for the most performances at London’s The O2 with 34 headline shows. 2011’s Progress tour broke box office records by selling over 1 million tickets in less than 24 hours, becoming the biggest tour in the UK and earning them a place on Billboard’s annual ‘Top 25 Tours’ list, placing third worldwide. In 2019, the band celebrated their 30th anniversary with the 38 date sell-out Odyssey tour which saw them play to 29 arenas and 9 stadiums, selling over 650,000 tickets. 

 

Take That’s brand new single, Windows, out today - sees them reunite for their first original composition in over five years. Windows, is a beautiful track which tells the story of emerging from the darkness into the light.  As a familiar falsetto rings out across the opening notes of Windows, it signals a new era for one of Britain’s best selling bands, Take That; an era brimming with energy, creativity and a continued desire to challenge and surprise.

The musicality of Windows hints at what listeners can expect from This Life, the band’s ninth studio album and their first since 2017’s Wonderland. Beautiful melodies, soaring choruses, sophisticated harmonies beautifully blending the trio’s voices permeate the new album, due for release on 24th November.

Throughout the writing and recording process, the band honed this new sound in some of music’s most hallowed halls, including New York’s Electric Lady Studios and Nashville’s Historic RCA Studio A which between them have hosted David Bowie, Dolly Parton, The Beach Boys, Adele, Taylor Swift, Maggie Rogers and more.

Listen to Windows HERE.

Pre-order This Life HERE before 10am on September 26 to secure a pre-sale access code for the tour.

Buy tour tickets HERE from 29th September at 9.30am.

Tickets for UK dates start from £60 plus booking fees.

2023 has already been an exciting year for the band, with a string of stellar performances including their most intimate in years at KOKO in support of War Child, a sell-out headline show at British Summer Time in Hyde Park and the King’s Coronation concert, watched by an audience of over 12 million. This summer also saw the release of the big-screen adaptation of their record-breaking musical, ‘The Band’. The film, titled ‘Greatest Days’ starring Aisling Bea (This Way Up, Hard Sun), was released in June to rave reviews across the board.

Windows and upcoming album This Life continues the legacy of one of the most successful bands in British chart history, with over 45 million records sold worldwide and 12 Number 1 hits in the UK.

For a band 30+ years into their career, Take That are not standing still; constantly evolving, the future looks bright for the trio.

FAVOURITE SONG
Computer by Rowdy Rebel & Bobby Shmurda
or
Faneto by Chief Keef

FAVOURITE ALBUM
Drip Season 3 by Gunna

FAVOURITE ARTIST
Meek Mill

FAVOURITE CONCERT
Future 

Swansea City Under-21s sealed their place in the quarter-finals of the Nathaniel MG Cup by beating 10-man Cardiff City Under-21s on penalties at the Swansea.com Stadium.

The Swans were well-deserving of their first-half lead when Maliq Cadogan finished smartly at the near post and, when Cardiff's Kyle Kenniford was sent off for two bookable offences just before half-time, looked to be well on top.

But, despite numerous opportunities to extend their lead, the young Swans found visiting keeper Jake Dennis in inspired form and Kieron Evans finished off a counter-attacking move to level the scores with 20 minutes to go and ultimately send the tie to penalties.

But the Swans were perfect from the spot, scoring all five of their penalties, while Evan Watts made himself the hero in goals when he saved Finlay Johnson's spot-kick to send the Swans into the next round.

 

Swansea City Under-21s: Evan Watts, Sam Parker, Kian Jenkins, Mitchell Bates, Filip Lissah (captain) (Harry Jones 90+3), Kai Ludvigsen, Liam Smith, Cameron Congreve, Kyrell Wilson (Kristian Fletcher 67’), Ben Lloyd (Joe Thomas 67’), Maliq Cadogan.

Unused Substitues: Ben Hughes, Zane Myers, Ruben Davis, Dan Watts.

Cardiff City Under-21s: Jake Dennis, Vontae Dale-Campbel, Joshua Beecher (Cody Twose 45’), Luey Giles, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Freddie Cook, Cian Ashford, Kyle Kenniford, James Crole, Joel Colwill (captain) (Finlay Johnson 90+7’), Kieron Evans.

Subs: Joe Thomas, Will Spiers, Tanatswa Nyakuhwa, Dakarai Mafico, Daniel Barton.

 

DOB
23/09/2004

Position
Goalkeeper.

Right or left-footed
Right-footed.

Nationality
Welsh.

Signed for Swans
2014.

Best memory in Swans shirt
Beating LA Galaxy out in the States when I was in the pre-academy, and saving the penalty against Cardiff to help the under-21s reach the Nathaniel MG Cup quarter-finals.

Favourite thing about Swansea
The beaches, there’s some lovely places to go when the weather is good.

Football idol
Being a goalkeeper it is Peter Schmeichel.

Favourite film
I like the Harry Potter films.

Favourite Artist
Drake.

Cheat meal
Pizza.

Best subject at school
Maths.

Football bucket list
Win the Premier League with the Swans!

Stadium you’d like to visit
The Bernabeu.

First football memory
Watching Cristiano Ronaldo play for Manchester United.

First football shirt
A Manchester United shirt with Rooney on the back, it was around 2008.

Other football positions you have played
I was a left-winger when I was younger.

Have you played any other sports
I played a lot of cricket and tennis, and a bit of rugby.

Preferred squad number
1

Favourite roommate
It changes, but as keepers we tend to room together, although I room with Kian Jenkins at home, and he is pretty good.

Favourite video game
Call of Duty.

Aim for the season
To try and make my senior debut.

Most famous person you’ve met
Gareth Bale.

What is an interesting fact about you
I had to sing the national anthem in front of my primary school when I was aged four.

Ten-player Swansea City Women fought back twice to earn a point in a dramatic Genero Adran Premier opener against Wrexham at The Rock.

Goals from Robyn Pinder and Chloe Chivers appeared to have salvaged a point for the Swans, after the visitors had found themselves two goals down to a first-half finish from Rebecca Pritchard and a second-half goal by Rosie Hughes for newly-promoted Wrexham.

However, an 89th-minute goal by Hannah Keryakoplis looked to have sealed three points for the home side in a feisty affair, which saw Ellie Lake shown a straight red seconds later.

But the Swans refused to give up and captain Katy Hosford stepped up in the fifth minute of injury time to find the net with a deflected equaliser.

It was no less than the Swans deserved with Stacey John-Davis hitting the woodwork and having one cleared off the line before she was forced off by injury on the half-hour mark, while Chivers and Lake had also hit the crossbar with chances in the second half.

Head coach Ceri Phillips: “I said to the players that I was really pleased with their reaction to going behind, and the heart and desire from a relatively new squad to pull together and get through those tough moments.

“But we won’t get away from the fact that we weren’t the best version of ourselves.

“There is certainly a lot to improve on and a lot to get sorted, but to come back in an emotional game where things kept cropping up to make it difficult is great.”

 

READ THE FULL MATCH REPORT

 

Your date of birth

19/09/1993

Your nationality (according to UEFA)

English.

What position do you play?

Striker.

Which is your preferred foot?

Right footed.

Which clubs did you play for before joining Swansea City?

Cardiff Metropolitan.

When did you sign for the Swans?

August 2023.

What is your favourite thing about playing for Swansea City?

The ambition of the club for the women’s team and the atmosphere in the changing room. The girls have been so welcoming.

Who is your football idol?

Sam Kerr and Didier Drogba.

What is the first position you played in football?

I’ve always been an attacker.

What is your first memory of football (either watching or playing)?

I started playing to hang out with my brother more so that’s probably my first memory of it. We played on the same team for a few years and always had a laugh.

What is the first football shirt you owned?

Probably Bristol City or Chelsea … I can’t actually remember.

Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?

A quick spray of Britney Spears - Fantasy perfume and a win is guaranteed.

What is your full-time occupation?

Course Leader and Lecturer at The University of South Wales.

What is an interesting fact about you?

I’m named after Bristol City “the Robins”!

Who is the most famous person you've met?

I once met Ronnie Wood, but mistook him for Mick Jagger … awkward.

Do you play any other sports?

I would if I had time. Just football and the gym.

What is something that is on your bucket list?

Glastonbury!

What is your favourite film?

Anything Marvel!

Who is your favourite music artist?

Anything R&B… maybe SZA.

What is the best TV series you've watched?

Ted Lasso.

What is the best concert you've been to?

Beyoncé.

What was your favourite subject in school?

PE.

Do you play computer games? If so, which ones?

Sometimes, I actually like a cooking game called Over Cooked. It’s a bit lame though.

 

 

 

 

 

Swansea City 4 Sheffield Wednesday 2
Division Three – December 2, 1978

 

 

John Toshack’s team chalked up a memorable home victory over Sheffield Wednesday as they took another step towards promotion from Division Three.

The Swans went ahead inside a minute through Phil Boersma then, after a swift Owls equaliser, made it 2-1 through Toshack on 15 minutes.

Wednesday levelled again before the break, but Toshack struck again early in the second period and Jeremy Charles quickly made it 4-2 to kill the visitors off.

The Swans finished third to seal automatic promotion to the second tier at the end of the season.

Shwmae Pawb,

Welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium!

We are excited to see you all again.

Players from Swansea City Women are joining us in the fan park today and we’re really looking forward to wishing them luck ahead of their first home match on Sunday.

We’ve also created a quiz to test your knowledge of the capitals of the world. Don’t forget to let us know how you got on social media using #JuniorJacks.

Test your knowledge

Up the Swans!

Cyril and Cybil

 

 

Age:

6

What was the first Swansea City game you attended?

Swansea City v Cardiff City

What is your favourite memory of watching the Swans?

Attending the away Cardiff game last season!

Who is your favourite Swans player and why?

My favourite player is Liam Cullen. He is so lovely and a good player

What do you like most about supporting Swansea City?

The stadium and the players

Why did you start supporting Swansea City?

I am a season ticket holder. Now, I am a Jack through and through.

Do you play football? If yes, what position do you play?

Yes – I’m a striker

What is an interesting fact about you?

My goal is to be a professional and football makes me happy.

What is your favourite subject in school and why?

PE! I love exercise.

 

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.
 

INCLUSION ROOM

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.

Chairman - Andy Coleman
Honorary Club President - Alan Curtis

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.

Director of Business and Legal Affairs: Sam Porter.
Associate Directors: Adam Lewis.

FIRST-TEAM STAFF

Head Coach – Michael Duff

Assistant Head Coaches - Alan Sheehan and Martin Paterson

Head of Goalkeeping – Martyn Margetson

First Team Coach - Kris O'Leary

Head of Medical - Dr Jez McCluskey

Staff: Ailsa Jones, Bethany Chaddock, Matt Murray, Thomas Gittoes, Michael Eames, Shaun Baggridge, Shaun Howl, Connor Lawley, Jonathan Jones, Jono Aveston, Jake Dayus.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT GROUP

Paul Watson (Sporting Director); Andrew Davies (Head of Commercial, Operations, & Facilities);
Gareth Davies (CFO);
James Chiffi (Head of Wellbeing & Development);
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: Ben Donovan, Andrew Gwilym, Sophie Davis, Hayley Ford, Fraser Dickson, Rachael Tucker, Cerith White, Rhys Kemish, Dom Hynes, Julie Kissick, Owen Morgan, Owain Llyr.

Designers: Callum Rothwell,
Jordan Morcom, Lewis Ward
Photography: Athena Picture Agency,
Natalie John-Davis, Alamy.