Welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium for our home fixture against Stoke City.

This game is the first of back-to-back matches here in SA1 this week as we approach the business end of the season.

We come into this fixture on the back of two defeats and we all want to put things right in front of the Jack Army to ensure we end the campaign on a positive note.

I’ve been hugely encouraged by the uptake in our new initiative, ‘Audience with the Jack Army’ which launched recently.

These sessions give you, our supporters, the chance to sit down with myself one-on-one and discuss any topic regarding the running and direction of the club.

Every supporter I have met since I came to the club has been hugely passionate and I can’t wait to engage with more of you going forward.

I’m also looking forward to seeing some of you at the annual Player Awards Dinner, which takes place on Wednesday, May 1.

The awards will once again raise invaluable funds for the Former Players' Association (FPA), with our senior men’s and women’s first-team squads in attendance. 

Kev Johns MBE will host the evening alongside Sioned Dafydd, Mal Pope and club legends associated with the FPA, including Lee Trundle and Leon Britton.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to say how proud we are as a club that the late Chris Brown has been shortlisted for Supporter of the Season at this year’s EFL Awards.

Chris left an indelible mark on everyone he met, and his sad passing at the age of just 29 was felt by everyone at the club.

The awards – which recognises the best of the Championship, League One and League Two on and off the field – also see our ‘Tackling Cancer Together’ campaign with Maggie’s nominated in the Innovation category. 

The campaign – which centered around our pink third kit – was launched with the aim of encouraging and giving supporters the opportunity to share their cancer stories, raising awareness of the wide-ranging impact of a cancer diagnosis, and supporting Maggie’s Swansea by highlighting their services and raising funds.

The EFL Awards take place at a ceremony in London on Sunday, April 14.

Thank you for your continued support!

Enjoy the game,

Andy

Good evening and welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium for our Championship fixture against Stoke City.

We return home knowing we simply have to do much better than we did against Middlesbrough at the weekend.

The performance at the Riverside Stadium was simply unacceptable. We were completely lacking in energy and conviction.

In the lead-up to the game I spoke about the importance of mentality, and wanting to make sure we have the hunger and appetite to keep pushing to reach a higher level.

There will be those of you who will have watched our last few performances and feel you have not seen the same levels you saw in the win against Cardiff City. I want you to know I agree with you.

We thoroughly deserved to win that day, but you cannot perform in that manner - on the back of building up to that sort of display - and then allow yourselves to dip.

We have to strive to be more than just an okay team. To me, that is soul-destroying. We simply have to always want more.

This club has a proud history, and it is a huge responsibility to work and play for Swansea City.

We have wonderful supporters who travel far and wide to cheer on this team, and they deserve far better than the display we served up on Teesside.

We have to be better, it’s as simple as that. We cannot have a repeat of that. 

The nature of football means you may not always perform as you want to. You can play well and lose or play poorly and win, but there are certain elements you simply have to have when it comes to energy and intensity; and they were not sufficiently there on Saturday.

We want to turn in a vastly-improved showing against a Stoke side who are in a similar part of the table to us.

We have to do better for you, and for this football club.

Enjoy the game,

Luke

“Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends. We’re so glad you can attend, come inside, come inside”… Anyone remember this from Emerson, Lake & Palmer? 

I used to work with Steve, the former DJ down the Vetch and in the early years here at the Swansea.com Stadium, and would cover for him when he was unable to attend. 

We used to play this as part of a montage for the pre-match build-up, which is a big deal for me as I wholeheartedly believe it generates a good atmosphere which surely rubs off on the players, as we saw in the recent south Wales derby win. 

I sit on the newly-formed Matchday Experience Working Group. Our first meeting focused on pre-match build up, and I'm pleased the club took on board what was discussed in that first meeting, although we are all aware there is still further work to be done.

A few seasons ago during a social media debate, I pointed out these issues, and someone asked me to do something about it. So, I joined the Board of the Swans Trust, which has opened up opportunities to discuss issues with the rest of the Trust Board and subsequently with senior members of the club. 

I would implore anyone who feels they too would like to get involved and have the opportunity the Trust has to regularly discuss issues that matter to you with club management to put themselves forward for election to the Trust Board in the summer, more details on those ballots can be found here:www.swanstrust.co.uk/about/trust-documents/trust-elections

Personally, I find Andy Coleman, Ken Gude and all senior management of the club very approachable, and when they attend Trust Board meetings or meet with us on other matters or on matchdays, they are always content to give us their attention and take interest in the issues we raise.

It was a privilege to receive an invitation to the Queens Park Rangers match on Easter Monday and attend the Centenary Lounge, where it was nice to catch up with John Cornforth, who was captain of the Swans for my first season as a supporter. It was also good to meet some of the other players from the 1994 Autoglass Trophy-winning side. 

I loved seeing the current side in the Autoglass commemorative kit, and I am not surprised that it has proved to be so popular amongst the fanbase. 

I’d like to take this opportunity to praise Richard Morris and the rest of the commercial team on recognising the 1994 team’s achievement, and I'm pleased they are allowing fans who missed out a chance to order online an opportunity to get their hands on a bit of history.

On the field, we’ve had disappointing results against QPR and away at Middlesbrough. However, I do think Luke Williams is the right man for the club, and we just have to be patient. 

I am hoping we’ll see a win tonight against the Potters in front of the Sky Sports cameras despite them being one of our ‘bogey teams’ over the years. It would be remiss of me not to mention Stoke City have a couple of ex-Jacks in Luke Cundle and Ben Wilmot in their ranks. We wish them well in their future careers, but I really hope they won’t be making any headlines this evening.

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If you want to learn more about the work of the Trust please come and see us at the Supporters’ Trust Pod, next to the club shop, before any home match. You can also join the Trust online at www.swanstrust.co.uk/join-the-trust Alternatively, email us at supporters@swanstrust.co.uk

TONY SHARPE

Josh Tymon has been among Swansea City’s most consistent performers during his maiden season in SA1, yet a little over two years ago the left-back was seriously considering giving up football.

Here he explains how some tough experiences at Stoke have led him to have a greater appreciation of life on the pitch and off it, how he is finding fatherhood following the recent birth of daughter Novi, and why he is convinced better times lie ahead for the Swans under Luke Williams.

Josh Tymon has cut an assured figure on the left flank for Swansea City since arriving from Stoke City on transfer deadline day last summer, but he regularly acknowledges there was a time not long ago where he was uncertain whether a future in football was what he truly wanted.

The 24-year-old had a meteoric rise at hometown club Hull City. He joined the Tigers at the age of 12, played for their under-23s as a 15-year-old and made his senior debut at the age of just 16.

A Premier League bow soon followed and, when the East Riding of Yorkshire club were relegated in 2017, he was quickly snapped up by the Potters.

However, a tough few years in Staffordshire – including spells out of the team and loan stints at MK Dons and in Portugal – meant that when Tymon returned to the club in Michael O’Neill’s first summer at the helm, he felt worn down and ready to bow out of the game at the age of just 21.

But, after resolving to continue, he would become a regular at the bet365 Stadium and has been for the Swans this term.

Those were difficult times, but they left Tymon – who recently welcomed daughter Novi into the world – with a determination to make the most of his life on and off the pitch.

“When I look back at it now, I feel like I almost started too early at senior level because you just assume your career is going to keep going and keep rising for the next 20 years,” he says.

“It’s not like that, no-one tells you that.

“When I was thinking about stopping I was 21 and about to turn 22, and I don’t know what I would have done had I stopped.

“But I was fed up and disinterested, I felt I was done with it, and it was only speaking to my agent and my dad that convinced me to try again.

“My agent told me it was the closest he’d come to having a player of my age call him and tell him he was just going to stop. 

“It was a hard time, but I think I now appreciate things more. I hope supporters watch me play and feel I wear my heart on my sleeve and give it everything.

“That has come with knowing I nearly had it all taken away, so every time I pull on a shirt for a club the minimum is to fight for the people of the club. That’s what every player should do.

“But it carries me through games, it motivates me, even when things are not going well.

“I’ve experienced the lows, but I am enjoying it again, it has helped me massively.

“Off the pitch things have been really good, too. We’ve settled here and just had our first child.

“It’s been challenging and you don’t really know what to expect, but it’s the best feeling in the world to be a dad.

“Novi is already showing her personality and there are new little things every day, it’s an amazing feeling and I am learning day to day, just like all parents do.

“It’s lovely going home to her, it can put football in perspective as I am a sore loser, I always am, I think my family would back that up.

“But she just takes my mind of it and makes it a little easier. I appreciate what I have in life.”

Tymon’s early football experience was with grassroots club Westella and Willerby, but he had never considered football as a potential career path until he was offered a trial by Hull.

While he enjoyed the game, Tymon played as many sports as he could as a youngster, particularly relishing his role as a slogging batsman in cricket.

But the work of coach Andy Martin, and a timely eye-catching performance for a Hull representative side against the Tigers academy, meant football would become serious very quickly.

“My first real experience playing football was for Westella, and one of my coaches – who has sadly passed away now – was one of my biggest inspirations,” says Tymon.

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“His name was Andy Martin, and he really pushed me because I had never really seen myself having football as a possible career. I had liked a lot of sports, I loved playing cricket and I wanted to do everything. I didn’t want to just settle and focus on one sport.

“But he told me he felt I had some talent and that I should take it seriously. From there, things took off very rapidly, but he was my biggest influence. He coached me from the age of 10 and a couple of years later I was at Hull.

“There was a Hull representative team where the best players in the Sunday leagues got called up into that team, and one of the games was against the Hull City academy.

“I played and within a few days I got offered a trial and it happened pretty quick on the back of that game.”

Tymon progressed rapidly – admitting he only belatedly realised academy boss Billy Russell was allowing left-backs to leave the club in order to promote him – and played for the under-18s and under-23s while still aged 15.

A debut in the FA Cup against Bury aged 16 followed in January 2016, and in the next round Tymon would face an Arsenal team including the likes of Theo Walcott, Alex Iwobi, Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck.

His first senior goal ironically came against the Swans in the FA Cup the following season. 

It was some rise, but parents John and Michaella made sure their son kept his feet firmly on the ground.

“I was living at home, so I was never going to get on my high horse about it or anything like that. I don’t think my mum and dad would have let me,” says Tymon.

“They made so many sacrifices for us, they were working all hours, they made sure I kept grounded.

“I think the night I came home after making my debut I helped with cleaning the house. 

“It was the same in the Premier League, they made sure I knew I had to keep working hard and not get over-excited and let it fizzle away. Their support was what I needed, and we were only five to 10 minutes from the training ground.

“When I first stepped up to the first team, they used to pick me up and drop me off there because obviously I couldn’t drive. 

“I remember playing against Arsenal in the FA Cup at 16, we got back to the training ground, my father was working and couldn’t pick me up and one of my friend’s fathers had to come and pick me up. He couldn’t believe it, I think he was more excited than I was.

“But when I went home, life was the same and I am grateful for that because it kept my feet on the ground.

“At that time, it was just a constant steady rise, and you don’t know any different when you’re that young.”

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When Hull were relegated there was quickly interest from other clubs in Tymon and, following discussions with former Wales striker and manager Mark Hughes, he elected on a move to Stoke City.

While Tymon moved without any assumption or expectation that he would be a first-team starter, he was keen to make an impression.

However, a lack of opportunities soon left him confronting the first doubts he had experienced during his career to date.

It was unchartered territory for a player still in his teens, and he admits he did not know how to deal with the emotions he felt.

The managerial churn in the Potteries did not help as Paul Lambert, Gary Rowett and Nathan Jones had spells in charge before O’Neill’s arrival and, while loan spells with MK Dons and Famalicão were part of his development, it was a period that left Tymon questioning his future.

“I remember my mum really didn’t want to me to leave home, but I always knew I wanted to have a new experience at some point. It came earlier than I thought but once I spoke to Mark Hughes I knew on that drive back it was a move I needed to make,” says Tymon.

“It was one of the hardest decisions I had to make but, looking back, I am glad I did it because I had one of the toughest times of my life and I have come through it.

“I was 18 and I never thought I would go straight in the team, Stoke had finished in the top half for three seasons in a row and I can remember looking around at people like Peter Crouch, Bojan, Marko Arnautovic and feeling I had to be something special to get in there.

“But, as the season goes on, I could not get my head around that feeling of not playing on a Saturday, because it was all I had known.

“I went on loan to MK Dons, I had just bought a house in Stoke and did not really want to move but I did end up going there and I did enjoy it.

“But Stoke were relegated that season, Hull had been relegated the season before, and in my mind the blame for that lay with me.

“The two years after were the hardest, I got bombed to the under-23s for a season, having been playing at that level at 15 so that felt like a write-off.

“I had barely kicked a ball since joining and it didn’t look like I was going to play and in the end I made the move to Portugal.

“Marco Silva’s former assistant João Pedro Sousa had got a job in Portugal and he rang me up about joining, and I also had offers from Shrewsbury and Bolton, I think.

“I initially told him no, but as pre-season carried on I felt I needed to get away and in the end I went over to look at the club and the place, and on the flight home I rang my agent and said I wanted to do it.

“Football-wise it was the best thing I could have done because in terms of the technical quality of the football the league as really good, and for me to see a different country and way of playing was important for me. The lifestyle and the weather are pretty good too!

“When I went back Michael O’Neill was there and he literally picked me up from the bottom, I was on the floor mentally. I was doubting myself and whether I should carry on.

“I phoned my dad and my agent and I was in tears. I thought this was not for me, and I was going to have to leave it. I felt like my career had nose-dived.

“I was getting called up in my age-group for England and turning it down because I did not feel I could go there with the frame of mind I was in.”

But discussions with O’Neill, his family and his agent saw Tymon resolve to continue playing, and it’s a decision he is grateful he made.

“I had a chat with him, and I told him I was glad he was there but that I did not know where my head was at,” says Tymon.

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“He told me that coming season he had to keep the club up, and that then there would be more opportunities, and the following year I played nearly the full season and rejuvenated my career after a few bad years.

“He really helped me massively. He gave my career a second wind when it needed it most.

“Without him, I don’t think I’d be sat here now. He told me things would turn, and he was right.”

Now Tymon is loving life in south Wales, and keen to play an important part in taking the club forward.

He has no hesitation in highlighting the recent south Wales derby victory over Cardiff City as a game he will savour, but admits the Swans have to arrest the dip in performance levels since, and repay head coach Williams for the faith he has shown in them, and his efforts to improve them on the training pitch.

“I think it was always going to take a little time for me to settle, I had been at Stoke for six seasons and we moved on the last day of the window,” he says.

“It was not easy to get that balance straight away, but it did not take too long and I feel my performances have improved massively since then.

“I wanted to come here because of the style of football Swansea have played over the years, I played against that and believe me it was really hard to have to face. You just didn’t see much of the ball.

“It was a real attraction and this manager has the ability to take us to places the fans are expecting and delivering football the fans are expecting.

“He is taking my game to a new level, in some ways they are levels I did not know I had, and we love working with him. 

“He has not been here long, but once he has his squad together I am sure it will click.

“Speaking from someone in my position, his detail on positioning and working off the ball, the one-to-one work on and off the pitch is brilliant. I’ve not really had that before and it’s helped me massively.

“We’ve shown signs of what we can do, like the Cardiff game. I’ve never experienced anything like that in my career.

“As soon as we came out to warm-up, it felt crazy and after that second goal the noise and emotion was unlike anything I had heard or felt on a pitch.

“But I would be lying if I sat here and said performances have not dipped since then. We have played teams fighting for their lives and we have not shown the aggression and intensity we needed to.

“We have dropped off, we have shown what we can do when we are on it, we’ve beaten teams in the play-off hunt and we need to get back on it and quickly because there’s no excuses.”

Mali international striker Mamady Sidibe appeared for Swansea City during the 2001-02 season.

Initially with Racing Club Paris and CA Paris, 'Mama' joined Swansea in July 2001 and scored on his league debut in the following month's 3-1 victory at Macclesfield Town. 

He starred in the televised 4-0 FA Cup first-round win over QPR, and netted seven goals in 31 Third Division games for the Swans prior to joining Gillingham in August 2002 after a trial with QPR. 

Scoring on his international debut against the Seychelles two months later, he played for Mali in the 2004 African Nations Cup and was included in their squad for the 2008 finals of the competition.

He joined Stoke City in June 2005 and would eight fantastic years in the Potteries, helping them secure promotion to and establish themselves in the Premier League, although serious knee and Achilles injuries would cruelly curtail his time with the club.

Sidibe rounded off his career with stints with Sheffield Wednesday, Tranmere Rovers and CSKA Sofia.

Steve Cook’s volley ensured Swansea City fell to defeat against Queens Park Rangers at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Swansea City: Carl Rushworth, Josh Key, Harry Darling, Joe Allen (Jay Fulton 35), Matt Grimes (captain), Jerry Yates (Liam Cullen 67), Jamal Lowe (Jamie Paterson 67), Josh Tymon, Nathan Wood, Ollie Cooper (Liam Walsh 67), Ronald (Aimar Govea 83).

Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Ben Cabango, Charlie Patino, Azeem Abdulai.

 Queens Park Rangers: Asmir Begovic (captain), Morgan Fox, Jimmy Dunne, Lyndon Dykes (Lucas Andersen 58), Jack Colback (Isaac Hayden 58), Ilias Chair (Chris Willock 74), Jake Clarke-Salter, Sam Field, Joe Hodge (Sinclair Armstrong 46), Paul Smyth (Michael Frey 81), Steve Cook.

Substitutes: Joe Walsh, Elijah Dixon-Bonner, Reggie Cannon, Ziyad Larkeche.

Referee: Sam Allison

Attendance: 19,704

Swansea City suffered defeat on Teesside as Emmanuel Latte Lath’s brace settled matters at the Riverside Stadium.

Swansea City: Carl Rushworth, Josh Key, Jay Fulton (Liam Walsh 64), Harry Darling, Matt Grimes (captain), Jerry Yates (Liam Cullen 64), Jamal Lowe, Jamie Paterson (Ollie Cooper 64), Josh Tymon (Azeem Abdulai 29), Nathan Wood, Ronald (Aimar Govea 78).

Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Ben Cabango, Charlie Patino, Bashir Humphreys.

Middlesbrough: Seny Dieng, Isaiah Jones (Sonny Finch 82), Daniel Barlaser, Finn Azaz (Anfernee Dijksteel 82), Matt Clarke, Lewis O'Brien, Luke Ayling, Jonny Howson (captain), Sam Greenwood (Alex Gilbert 87), Luke Thomas, Emmanuel Latte Lath (Sammy Silvera 82).

Unused Substitutes: Tom Glover, Rav van den Berg, Hayden Hackney, Lukas Engel, Law McCabe.

Referee: Rebecca Welch

Attendance: 24,780

Here we are, at the ‘business end’ of the season and, naturally, there is concern that Championship safety is still something that isn’t guaranteed for us as yet – a situation several of our nearest rivals are currently experiencing too. 

While the excitement felt by those fans in the league’s top six spots is enviable, especially given that the top three of Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Leeds United are separated by just two points, with Leicester having a game in hand; that end of the table is none of our concern this campaign.

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The table doesn’t make for good reading for us as Swans fans.  We are sitting in 15^th place with 41 games played and with five points separating us and Birmingham City, who currently occupy the 22^nd spot on 42 points.

Things are tight, the situation is nervy, and everyone is just wanting to put an end to that sense of anxiety you inevitably feel as a supporter.

Tonight’s visitors, Stoke City, are in a similar though slightly worse position in 18^th on 46 points. The stats and the fact we’re almost at the end of the season, mean this is one that both sides really need to win.

Doing so would put much-needed distance between those bottom places and the mid-table positions which mean safety and security for another season.

Stoke have come from behind in their last two games, against their Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion on Saturday and Championship strugglers Huddersfield Town on Easter Monday, while on Good Friday they picked up a decent 2-0 win away to play-off chasing Hull City. 

We’ve lost our last two matches and drew away to Sheffield Wednesday at the start of Easter, which means just a point gained since that impressive derby win over Cardiff City before the international break. 

For those of us who’ve supported the club for long enough, this won’t be new, but it is never pleasant, and of course there is frustration and concern and a whole host of other emotions mixed in with it.

However many times you go through it you wouldn’t wish it on your worst enemy and it’s easy to focus on the negatives and feel helpless as fans – but we aren’t.

We always have a part to play and for the next five games that means getting behind the team and the coaching staff and realising that whatever our personal views on how others could have prevented or should ‘fix’ things, criticism of individuals, and the collective, is not productive at this point.

Opinions are all well and good, but the professionals understand they have a job to do, and they also know that failure to do it well has consequences, both for individuals and the club.

We can influence what happens on the pitch by offering our support - in the stadium and on social media and fans’ forums – there’ll be time enough for anything else at the end of the season. 

So let’s get behind the boys, be the 12th player and know that whatever happens in May, we played our part in helping to secure Championship safety.

Keep believing, Jacks. 

Gyda dim ond pum gêm ar ôl i'w chwarae y tymor hwn, mae cefnogwyr Abertawe wedi dechrau edrych dros eu hysgwyddau unwaith eto yn sydyn.

Yn dilyn buddugoliaeth gofiadwy o 2-0 dros Gaerdydd cyn yr egwyl ryngwladol, mae tîm Luke Williams wedi cipio dim ond un pwynt mewn tair gêm, gan sgorio un gôl yn unig.

Pwynt da oddi cartref oedd y gêm gyfartal gyda Sheffield Wednesday yn y pen draw, yn enwedig o ystyried bod y Tylluanod wedi gwella’n sylweddol o dan y prif hyfforddwr newydd Danny Röhl.

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Ond siomedig oedd y perfformiad ar y cyfan, a gellir dweud yr un peth am golled o 2-0 ddydd Sadwrn yn erbyn Middlesbrough yn Stadiwm Riverside.

Roedd Williams yn amlwg yn rhwystredig ac yn siomedig ar ôl y gêm ac nid oedd yn ofni gwneud ei farn yn glir yn gyhoeddus.

Ar ôl colledion cefn wrth gefn, mae Abertawe bellach bum pwynt yn unig uwchlaw parth diarddel y Bencampwriaeth gyda llai na mis o'r tymor i fynd.

Yr unig bositif yw bod tri gwrthwynebydd nesaf yr Elyrch i gyd islaw iddyn nhw yn nhabl y gynghrair, ac mae’r ddwy gêm nesaf gartref, gan ddechrau gyda’r gêm heno yn erbyn Stoke City.

Mae angen gwell perfformiad gan ei chwaraewyr ar frys ar Williams - nifer ohonynt yn chwarae i'w dyfodol yn y clwb.

Bydd nifer o chwaraewyr - gan gynnwys Joe Allen, Liam Cullen, Jamie Paterson, Liam Walsh, Kyle Naughton a Przemysław Płacheta - yn gweld eu cytundebau presennol yn dod i ben yn dilyn diwedd tymor 2023-24.

Yna wrth gwrs mae'r chwaraewyr benthyciad.

Mae Williams eisoes wedi datgelu nad yw Jamal Lowe yn debygol o ddychwelyd i’r clwb ar gytundeb parhaol gan Bournemouth o ystyried bod ei gyflog mor uchel.

Yna mae gennych Carl Rushworth, Harrison Ashby, Charlie Patino, Charles Sagoe Jr a Bashir Humphreys a fydd i gyd yn gadael pan ddaw eu bargeinion benthyciad i ben.

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Mae llawer iawn o waith i'w wneud ar draws y clwb pêl-droed dros y misoedd nesaf, ar y cae ac oddi arno.

Ond mae'n rhaid i ffocws llawn y clwb fod ar y tymor byr, oherwydd, y gwir amdani yw nad yw Abertawe eto'n ddiogel rhag cael ei diarddel. 

Mae’n bosib mai dim ond un, neu hyd yn oed dwy fuddugoliaeth arall sydd ei angen arnyn nhw i sicrhau y byddan nhw’n chwarae pêl-droed y Bencampwriaeth y tymor nesaf.

Ond rhaid i’r chwaraewyr gamu i’r adwy a chyflawni gwell perfformiadau dros wythnosau olaf yr tymor i brofi eu bod yn werth bod yng nghynlluniau tymor hir Luke Williams yn Abertawe yn ogystal â gwneud yn siŵr eu bod yn dal i allu galw eu hunain yn chwaraewyr Pencampwriaeth y tymor nesaf.

IAN MITCHELMORE

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 takes us back through the story of that campaign and some of the key figures involved. Here, he profiles defender Mark Clode, who ran himself almost to a standstill on that famous Wembley afternoon.

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On 69 minutes at Wembley, with the Autoglass Trophy final all-square, Swansea City manager Frank Burrows made the decision to make a substitution.

The Scot elected to take full-back Mark Clode off, and replaced him with Jon Ford. 

This triggered one of the biggest cheers of the day from the Swans contingent in the ground, in the recognition that Clode had played himself to a standstill on the stamina-sapping Wembley pitch.

Though slight in stature, Clode’s game was built around getting up and down the flank, and putting in a high number of brave challenges, and former Swans manager Terry Yorath - on media commentary duty for the final - could not sing the praises of the young defender enough.

Born in Plymouth in 1973, Clode had joined Plymouth Argyle from school, playing at the time as a right-sided midfielder. But, after two years at Argyle, and without making a first team appearance, the player was released by the south-west club.

Swansea manager Burrows, a shrewd operator in the lower leagues of the Football League, saw something in the player, and he became something of a surprise signing at the Vetch Field. 

Clode signed in July 1993, and was included as a right full-back in the opening fixture of the season at York City. 

By the end of his maiden campaign at the club, Clode would have played in over 40 first-team games, scoring his first league goal at home against Exeter City, and playing at Wembley in that Autoglass Trophy win over Huddersfield Town. 

The next three seasons saw Clode cement his place in the first team until, during the 1996-1997 season, he suffered a hamstring injury and then, as he worked his way back to fitness, broke his ankle while playing in a reserve fixture. 

On top of this, Clode underwent surgery on a chronic shin problem and these injuries left him facing a gruelling rehabilitation and limited his chance to get back into the team.

He also underwent surgery for the removal of his appendix and, at the end of the 1998-1999 seaso,n the player was released by the club.

On his release from the Vetch Field, Mark signed for Bath City in July 1999, playing for two seasons until leaving and signing for Clevedon Town in July 2001. 

He would retire from football not long after, but his efforts on that warm April afternoon in 1994 mean he continues to hold a special place in the affections of Swans fans.

I sometimes worry I’m guilty of living in the past when I reminisce about Swans matches and players from yesteryear.

I’m aware that some of my memories must be like ancient history for some younger fans.

However, in recent weeks there have been times when we’ve all been transported back in footballing time – and I for one have loved every minute.

Firstly, Wales released their new home and away kits, which feature more than a gentle nod to the iconic Admiral strips of the 1970s.

Although not exact replicas of the old home and away kits, the flashes on the shirts and shorts certainly make good use of the red/yellow/green tramlines which have become so popular on bucket hats, scarves and t-shirts in recent years.

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However, I wasn’t happy with every aspect of the international trip down memory lane. Wales failing at the final qualification hurdle was an unwelcome blast from the past.

Spot-kick heartache was a familiar experience, although losing a penalty shoot-out was a new and extremely unwelcome variation on a theme.

Happier penalty shoot-out memories were rekindled by the Swans’ release of an updated version of the 1994 Autoglass Trophy final kit.

The reworking of old kits doesn’t always work, but I think the general consensus surrounding this one is that the Swans and Joma pretty much nailed it.

Whether you were around in 1994, or you are a younger vintage of Swans fan, the kit has certainly proved popular.

Fans of all ages seem to have snapped up the eye-catching new limited-edition shirts and stylish training jackets.

There were certainly plenty in evidence in and around the stadium for the Queens Park Rangers match.

I lost count of the number of double-takes I made on Easter Monday every time I caught a glimpse of one of the kits on the way to the game and once inside the ground.

I experienced flashbacks to the 1990s every time I spied the distinctive Gulf logo or red and black sleeve stripes. Images of that wonderful Wembley day were constantly being teased from the dusty recesses of my memory.

Eating bacon rolls, washed down by a pint of Strongbow, at 7.30am in the morning as we waited for our London-bound mini-bus to arrive.

Making an unscheduled stop at the side of the M4 for a couple of people who suddenly regretted the bacon butty and ‘Bow breakfast combo.

The shock at the price of the tiny lager bottles on sale inside the stadium and the even tinier legroom between the rows of seats at the ‘Venue of Legends’.

The tingles down the spine at hearing ‘I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You’ echoing around the historic old ground as the Swans made their first Wembley appearance.

The gut-wrenching tension going into the penalty shoot-out, followed by the relief and sheer elation when Roger Freestone saved Tom Cowan’s spot-kick to clinch the victory.

The joy of watching the players dancing around the hallowed Wembley turf with the trophy afterwards.

And then being brought back to the present day as we saw some of those very same players – like many of us a little greyer and rounder than we were back then – stepping out on the even more hallowed Swansea.com Stadium turf ahead of kick-off against Rangers.

Many of the fans wearing the replica Gulf shirts would never have seen the likes of John Cornforth, Colin Pascoe, John Hodge, Shaun Chapple, Steve Jenkins and penalty hero Freestone play.

But I hope those names, and all the others who played that day, stay in their memories. They certainly deserve to as they are a huge part of the Swans’ history.

For those of us who were at Wembley that afternoon, it was another chance for us to show our appreciation for the lifelong memories they had given us.

Returning to the Welsh national team’s disappointment against Poland for a moment, there is, of course, a connection between that side and the Swans 1994 trophy-winning team.

Lining up at Wembley all those years ago was Vetch Field favourite Kwame Ampadu, whose son Ethan celebrated his 50^th international appearance for Wales in the play-off semi-final against Finland.

Back to Easter Monday, while I was trying to work out whether I was currently back in the 90s or in the present day thanks to all the nostalgia flying about – QPR threw me another time-travelling curve ball when they walked out onto the pitch.

The visitors are indulging in their own slice of nostalgia this season as they celebrate one of the club’s most iconic kits.

The London side were sporting a new version of their famous ‘Dennis the Menace’ black and red hooped shirt, which was first worn back in 1983.

By the time the match kicked off I was struggling to remember whether I was in the 80s, 90s or the 2020s!

Perhaps, in future, I shouldn’t feel so guilty about my tendency to sometimes live in the past.

As the last couple of weeks have illustrated, past and present aren’t always that far apart, event when they are separated by 30 years or more!

What’s the point of experiencing occasions like the Autoglass Trophy final if you’re not going to enjoy and share the memories every now and then?!

And judging by the number of youngsters sporting the new merchandise there are plenty of people who want to celebrate the Swans’ past glories, whether they were there at the time or not.

C’mon you Swans!

Swansea City Under-21s recorded a second emphatic win in succession and extended their unbeaten home run to 18 league games against Fleetwood Town in the Professional Development League.

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An own goal from Harry Wright-Ocana and a goal from Joel Cotterill gave the home side a 2-0 lead at the interval.

Wales Under-21 international Cotterill went on to add his second after the break, before Maliq Cadogan – fresh from a hat-trick against Watford last week – rounded off the scoring.

Coach Anthony Wright had retained the same starting XI from the win at Vicarage Road, while forward Kyrell Wilson among the substitutes after three months out.

The first chance of the contest fell to the Swans, with Cadogan seeing an effort and a follow-up strike blocked by Fleetwood keeper Pat Boyes. 

The hosts assumed control of the game, and good link play between Cadogan, Glory Nzingo and Ben Lloyd ended with the latter firing in a cross that Boyes managed to gather in.

Lloyd would be involved in the opener a few minutes later, his cross was inadvertently turned into his own net by Wright-Ocana under pressure from Charlie Veevers.

More chances followed, Cameron Congreve beat his man and delivered a chipped cross to Lloyd, who struck a volley over the bar. 

The Swans added a second soon after as Cotterill struck a fantastic free-kick from just outside the box which flew past Boyes to double the lead.

Veevers nearly added a third when he unleashed a powerful shot from distance which flew just over the bar.

The Cod Army’s first opportunity of the game arrived shortly before half-time when Pharrell Brown cut in from the left hand-side, but his tame effort was easily held by Evan Watts.

The second half started slowly, with no clear-cut chances for either side. 

Captain Filip Lissah had the first big opportunity on the hour mark when a great delivery from a Coterill corner fell to him, but he was unable to make a clean connection with the ball and his effort drifted wide.  

Congreve had the next effort at goal when he was played in behind by Lissah, only to slice his shot wide.

But Swansea would add to their tally when Wilson and Cadogan combined to tee up Cotterill, who unleashed a thunderous strike into the net from distance.

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Cadogan fired an effort straight at Boyes, but did get his goal when he reacted first to a ball into the box to beat the keeper.

Swansea City Under-21s: Evan Watts, Kian Jenkins, Sebastian Dabrowski (Iestyn Jones 58), Joel Cotterill, Filip Lissah (Thomas Woodward 75), Mitchell Bates, Cameron Congreve, Charlie Veevers, Maliq Cadogan, Ben Lloyd, Glory Nzingo (Kyrell Wilson 65).

Unused Substitutes: Kit Margetson, Sammy Henia-Kamau.

Fleetwood Town Under-21s: Pat Boyes, Raff Cirino, Harry Wright-Ocana, Pele Smith (Jack Doherty 78), Conor Haughey (Adham Slater 45), Finley Potter, Trialist (Josh Edwards 70), Sam Glenfield, Tom Hoyle, Pharell Brown, Liam Roberts (David Animasaun 70).

Unused Substitutes: Oliver Bellzia. 

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Goals from Sammy Henia-Kamau and Thomas Woodward got Swansea City Under-18s back to winning ways with victory over Fleetwood Town.

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Henia-Kamau put the Swans a goal to the good inside 10 minutes, but Fleetwood drew level not long after through Rylee Wilkinson's long-range effort.

However, in-form Woodward would get the Swans back in front after some clever build-up from Yori Griffith and, although the striker would later miss a penalty, the Swans were able to claim all three points.

Kit Margetson returned between the sticks following international duty with Wales Under-19s, while Harlan Perry and Iestyn Jones were in the starting line-up fresh from qualifying for the European Under-17 Championship finals.

Under-15s' player Carter Heywood got his second start for the older age-group, while Milo Robinson would make his debut off the bench.

The Swans had been in good form prior to defeat against Birmingham last time out, and they created a few early openings, but were denied a breakthrough by a combination of the offside flag and the Fleetwood keeper.

But there was to be no denying Henia-Kamau from the edge of the area moments later when he turned in from Ramon Rees-Siso’s lay-off.

Fleetwood nearly levelled immediately, but striker David Animasaun fired over the bar from close range.

But the majority of chances were going the way of the Swans, and top scorer Woodward came close to adding to his tally as his strike from distance stung the palms of Ollie Bellzia.

However, a quick counter from the hosts led to them equalising 10 minutes later. Wilkinson sending a low driven effort past Margetson.

A misplaced ball in midfield then had Reece Wilkes interested, but Perry pulled of a brilliant block to clear the danger.

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The Swans made a bright start to the second period. Rees-Siso and Woodward linked up well, only for the former to be denied a superb goal by a clearance off the line.

But the Swans would soon regain the lead. Griffith produced an excellent solo run, beating three defenders before picking out Woodward, who was on hand for the tap in.

The drama continued with the Swans awarded a penalty just two minutes later when Perry was fouled in the area.

However, Bellzia was equal to Woodward’s spot-kick and Henia-Kamau’s follow-up effort.

Brogan Popham then had the ball in the back of the net after a brilliant touch and volley flew past Bellzia, but the offside flag was quickly raised to rule out his strike.

The Swans were firmly on top, with Henia-Kamau and Woodward seeing chances denied in the closing stages. 

Substitute Aidan Higgins could have added a fourth deep into stoppage time after a strong solo run, but the keeper got down well to make the save as the Swans claimed the spoils.

Swansea City Under-18s: Kit Margetson, Carter Heywood, Brogan Popham, Harlan Perry (Bobo Evans), Iestyn Jones (captain), Yori Griffith, Josh Pescatore, Thomas Woodward, Sammy Henia-Kamau, Ramon Rees-Siso, Caio Ifans (Aidan Higgins).

Substitutes: Milo Robinson.
 

Swansea City Women were held to a goalless draw by Aberystwyth Town in their final game of the 2023-24 Genero Adran Premier campaign.

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The Swans came closest to breaking the deadlock in a hard-fought contest, with Katy Hosford and Chloe Chivers having their best chances.

But Aberystwyth would hold strong to make it consecutive draws against the Swans, with the sides having also shared the spoils in Llandarcy earlier in the week.

Incredibly, this was Swansea’s first goalless draw in a league fixture since December 5, 2021, with that game also being against Aber.

The result sees the Swans end the campaign second in the Welsh top-flight.

The opening 15 minutes were a quiet and cagey affair, with neither team taking control of the game.

The Swans began to find some joy through Chivers on the right; the forward found Jess Williams in the box, but the defender’s headed effort was blocked in the six-yard box.

Hosford then had the first real effort on target, Chivers’ delivery picked out the skipper, but her looping header was easily held by the keeper.

Hosford went close again just before the break, lovely flowing football from the Swans saw Jazz Guymer play the forward in on goal, but her low effort was saved.

The hosts started the second half brightly, a long ball forward gave Lleucu Mathias time in the box to get away a volley, but a fantastic save from Chelsea Herbert in the Swansea goal kept the scores level.

Swansea responded, Ellie Lake picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box before firing a left-footed shot just wide of the post.

The visitors kept pressing and forced a double save from Aberystwyth keeper Sophie Steele. Chivers’ shot from distance was just about dealt with and Emily Thomas saw her rebound denied.

Hosford was next to try her luck from a free-kick just outside the box, but the forward’s effort went just over the bar.

Lake dragged an effort wide late on as the Swans rounded off the league campaign by sharing the spoils.

Aberystwyth Town Women: Sophie Steele, Rebeca Mathias, Bethan Roberts, Elin Jones, Elan Jones, Libby Isaac, Ffiona Evans, Lily Moralee-Hughes, Amy Jenkins (captain) (Jessica Baker 79), Modlen Gwynne (Ella Thomas 73), Lleucu Mathias (Shauna Chambers 83). 

Swansea City Women: Chelsea Herbert, Alicia Powe (Captain) Ellie Lake, Rachel Cullen, Robyn Pinder, Chloe Chivers (Monet Legall 69), Katy Hosford (Kelsey Thomas 73), Sammy Wynne (Sophie Brisland-Hancocks 58), Halle Brace (Rhian Williams 73), Jess Williams, Jazz Guymer (Emily Thomas 46).

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Name
Jasmine Guymer

Do you have a nickname?
Jazz

Date of birth
03/05/2003

Nationality
Welsh

What position do you play?
Striker/Winger

Which is your preferred foot?
Right-footed

Which clubs did you play for before joining Swansea City?
Neyland Johnston West Wales Regionals.

When did you sign for the Swans?
2018

What is your best moment in a Swansea City shirt?
My best moment in a Swansea shirt is scoring on my debut.

What is your favourite thing about playing for Swansea City?
Being surrounded by a good bunch of girls who all work hard together week in week out to get great results.

Who is your football idol?
Mo Salah

What is the first position you played in football?
Striker

What is your first memory of football (either watching or playing)?
Playing grassroots football with Neyland Under-8s' boys’ team.

What is the first football shirt you owned?
Liverpool

Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
I don’t have any pregame rituals.

What is your full-time occupation?
I’m an activities instructor.

What is an interesting fact about you?
An interesting fact about me is that I have Tourette’s syndrome, which makes my football extra special to me as it’s my main coping mechanism and keeps me focused.

Who is the most famous person you've met?
The most famous person I’ve met is ex-Liverpool legend Phil Neal, he took a group of us on a tour around Anfield.

Do you play any other sports?
No other sports

What is something that is on your bucket list?
To visit New York!

What is your favourite film?
Step Brothers

Who is your favourite music artist?
Niall Horan

What is the best TV series you've watched?
One Day

What is the best concert you've been to?
Coldplay and the 1975!

What was your favourite subject in school?
My favourite is P.E. and also music.

Do you play computer games? If so, which ones?
I sometimes play EAFC in my spare time.

Swansea City 2 - 0 Stoke City
Premier League - May 2, 2015
 

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Jefferson Montero's first goal for Swansea City and Ki Sung-Yueng's stoppage-time strike saw the Swans take the spoils at the Liberty back in 2015 on their way to an eighth-place finish.

A stubborn defensive performance from the visitors meant the deadlock wouldn't be broken until the 76th minute, when Montero connected with a diving header from Jonjo Shelvey's cross to put the Swans ahead.

Marc Wilson was sent off minutes later for the visitors for a second bookable offence, after tripping an energetic Montero, who was a handful throughout for the Potters.

Ki's second in stoppage time, finishing off a swift counter-attack, meant the Swans had won four of their last six Premier League games, with a first clean sheet at the Liberty in eight matches.

Good evening Junior Jacks,

We hope you all had a really happy Easter, and are having a great week back in school.
 

What’s your prediction for this evening’s match? We think it will be 2-1 and Ronald and Jamie Paterson will score the goals.
 

We need to get our hair and make up done as we’re on TV this evening.
 

While we’re doing that, you can test your knowledge of stadiums in the Championship in today’s quiz.
 

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Come on the Swans!

Cyril and Cybil

Chairman - Andy Coleman
Honorary Club President - Alan Curtis MBE

Directors

Jason Levien, Andy Coleman, Nigel Morris, Brett Cravatt, Jake Silverstein, Martin Morgan, Paul Meller (supporter director), Romie Chaudhari, Bobby Hernreich, Todd Marcelle, Gareth Davies.

Chief of Staff and Head of Strategy: Ken Gude

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: 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 Operations);
Gareth Davies (CFO).

CLUB STAFF

Club Secretary: Ben Greenwood

Head of Women's Football: Alice Weekes

Football Operations &
Administration Manager: Rebecca Gigg

Head of Commercial: Richard Morris

Head of Marketing: Katie Doyle

Head of Partnerships: Lee Merrells

Head of Hospitality, Events and Fan Engagement: Catherine Thomas

Head of Retail: Andrea Morris

Ticket Office Manager: Lewis Bullen

Head of Safeguarding: Rebeca Storer

HR Manager: Nicola Butt

Head of Media & Communications: Ben Donovan

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, Jack Otter, Dom Hynes, Sammy Wynne, Fraser Dickson, Ben Donovan, Ian Mitchelmore, Julie Kissick, Owen Morgan, Gwyn Rees, James Dow.

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