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| Full name | Swansea City Association Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Swans | ||
| Founded | 1912 | ||
| Ground | Liberty Stadium (aka Morfa or White Rock Stadium) (Landore, Swansea) | ||
| Capacity | 20,532 | ||
| Chairman |  Huw Jenkins | ||
| Manager |  Roberto Martínez | ||
| League | League One | ||
| 2006-07 | League One, 7th | ||
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Swansea City AFC (Welsh: Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Abertawe) is a Welsh football team currently playing in the Football League League One.
Nicknamed "The Swans", the club played from its formation in 1912 (as Swansea Town) until 2005 at the Vetch Field in Swansea city centre. In the summer of 2005, Swansea City moved to a new 20,532 all seater ground, the Liberty Stadium.
The early 1980s were Swansea's halcyon years, seeing promotion to the First Division in 1981, winning 3 consecutive Welsh Cups and subsequently appearing in the UEFA Cup Winners Cup as well. However, as fast as Swansea rose up the Football League, decline ensued as quickly.
Club honours
[edit]- FA Cup semi-finalists 1926, 1964
- Third Division champions 2000
- Third Division (South) champions 1925, 1949
- Fourth Division Play-Off winners 1988
- Welsh Cup winners 1913, 1950, 1961, 1966, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1989, 1991
- Welsh Cup runners-up 1915, 1926, 1938, 1940, 1949, 1956, 1957, 1969
- Welsh Cup semi-finalists 1914, 1920, 1923, 1925, 1931, 1935, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1970, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1994
- Football League Trophy winners 1994, 2006
- FAW Premier Cup winners 2005, 2006
- FAW Premier Cup runners-up 2001, 2002
- Welsh Youth Cup winners 2003
- West Wales Senior Cup winners 1923, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1930, 1934, 1949, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1975, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2003
- West Wales Senior Cup runners-up 1952, 2004
- Welsh Football League Division 1 champions 1925, 1926, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1951, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965
- Welsh Football League Division 1 runners-up 1914, 1923, 1924, 1927, 1933
- Welsh Football League Cup winners 1931, 1933
- Welsh Football League Cup runners-up 1926
- Football Combination (Reserve) Division 2 champions 1955, 1961
- London Combination (Reserve) Cup winners 1947, 1950
- Macbar (Reserve) Cup winners 1987
Club records
[edit]- Biggest win 12-0 v Sliema Wanderers (Malta), European Cup Winners' Cup First Round First Leg, 15 September 1982
- Biggest win (League) 8-0 v Hartlepool, Football League Fourth Division, 1 April 1978
- Biggest defeat 0-8 v Liverpool, FA Cup 3rd Round Replay, 9 January 1990; 0-8 v Monaco (France), European Cup Winners' Cup First Round Second Leg, 1 October 1991
- Biggest defeat (League) 1-8 v Fulham, Football League Second Division, 22 January 1938
- Highest attendance (Vetch Field) 32,786 v Arsenal, FA Cup Fifth Round, 17 February 1968
- Highest attendance (Liberty Stadium) 19,288 v Yeovil Town, Football League One, 18 November 2005
- Lowest attendance (Vetch Field) 1,301 v Northampton Town, Football League Fourth Division, 18 September 1973
- Lowest attendance (Liberty Stadium) 5,321 v Rushden and Diamonds, Football League Trophy Second Round, 22 November 2005
- Highest final position 6th (Division One), 1981/82
- Lowest final position 22nd (Division Four), 1974/75
Current first-team squad
[edit]- As of 3rd September 2007
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Confirmed transfers 2007-2008
- In
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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- Out
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club history
[edit]Early years
[edit]Swansea traditionally has been a rugby union area, with no notable football clubs till the establishment of Swansea Town AFC, who formed as a professional club in 1912 when the town was invited to send a team to join the Southern League, (as many other South Wales towns were already represented).
J. W. Thorpe was the club's first chairman, Walter Whittaker its first manager. Its first secretary was S. B. Williams, who was to serve in this capacity for some 35 years.
The club's first professional match was at the Vetch Field against arch-rivals Cardiff City on 7 September 1912; the result was a 1-1 draw.
After playing in the Southern League from 1912, the Swans became founder members of the new Third Division of the Football League in 1920, and then Division Three (South) the following season.
Between 1926 and 1965 the Swans were constant (other than a brief two-year period after the war), if unspectacular members of the Second Division, and also reached two FA Cup semi-finals, losing to Bolton in 1926 and Preston in 1964 (having beaten Liverpool in the 6th round). In 1965 the club were relegated from the second division.
1965-1977: A downward spiral
[edit]Following relegation Trevor Morris, who had been manager since 1958, was sacked and Glyn Davies a former Swansea player appointed in his place. Davies re-signed the 36-year old Ivor Allchurch from Cardiff City, but in spite of winning the Welsh Cup the season saw some of the club's heaviest defeats, and the manager only lasted the season. Relegation to Division Four followed in 1967 and Ivor Allchurch retired. Paradoxically the 1967/8 season saw a record attendance of 32,796 at the Vetch Field for an FA Cup third round match against Arsenal. In 1969 the club name was changed to Swansea City and the early 1970s saw three seasons back in the Third Division, but in 1975 they were forced to apply for re-election to the Football League.
1977-1986: Meteoric rise and equally rapid fall
[edit]Despite promising performances during the first half of the 1977/78 season, Harry Griffiths resigned as Swansea City's manager in February 1978, doubting his own ability to take the club any further. The new manager was former Liverpool, Cardiff City and Wales striker John Toshack. On 1 March 1978, at the age of 28, Toshack became the youngest manager in the Football League, with Harry Griffiths as his assistant. Thus began a remarkable climb from the Fourth Division to the top of the entire league.
Before promotion was secured, however, tragedy struck when Harry Griffiths died of a heart attack on 25 April 1978 before the home game against Scunthorpe United.
A further promotion followed the following season and the club returned to the Second Division after an absence of 14 years.
After a season of consolidation, Swansea City again challenged for promotion and travelled to Preston North End on 2 May 1981 in the knowledge that victory would assure them a place in the First Division for the first time in the club's history. A 3-1 win guaranteed a third promotion in four seasons and Swansea City joined the footballing élite. The goalscorers on that historic day at Deepdale were Tommy Craig, Leighton James and Jeremy Charles.
The 1981/82 season began as implausibly as recent history had suggested it might. The fixture computer handed Swansea's upstarts a first-day home game against Leeds United, which Swansea promptly won 5-1 with a hat-trick by debutant Bob Latchford. Swansea had swept from the basement division to the top of the entire Football League in barely three years. Victories over footballing royalty such as Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur followed as the club topped the league on several further occasions that season but ended in sixth place.
However, a fateful combination of poor form, misfortune in the transfer market and financial problems led to a slump which was as quick and spectacular as the rise had been. Two consecutive relegations followed and Toshack was sacked. By 1985, the club was battling for its very survival on two fronts. Whilst its creditors lined up a High Court hearing with the aim of liquidating the club, Swansea City had come to rely on a combination of old stagers and young professionals.
Wound up by court order in December 1985, Swansea City was saved by local businessman Doug Sharpe who took over the running of the club, although the change of ownership was not enough to prevent relegation to the Fourth Division in 1986. Eight years on from the first promotion under Toshack, the club was back where it had started.
1986-1995: In place of strife
[edit]Swansea won promotion from the Fourth Division in 1988 - beating Rotherham and Torquay over two legs in the inaugural playoffs. They remained in the league's third tier for the next eight seasons - the longest period of stability the club had seen since the war.
Doug Sharpe may have kept the purse strings tight, but under Terry Yorath and then Frank Burrows, the club managed to stay in the second division, reach the playoff semi-finals in 1993 and make their first Wembley appearance a year later.
Burrow guided the Swans to within 180 minutes of Wembley in 1993 - a run of 5 wins in the last 6 league matches secured a playoff place, and with five minutes remaining of the first leg of the semi-final against West Brom, the Swans were 2-0 up and looking comfortable. Andy McFarlance scored an unfortunate own goal when the ball rebounded off the crossbar then into the net off his knee to give West Brom a lifeline, and two early goals followed by the sending off of Colin West in the away leg made it almost impossible for the Swans to make a comeback.
Although the league campaign the following season didn't live up the previous one, mainly due to the sale of key players, Burrows guided the Swans to Wembley for the first time in their history for the final of the Autoglass Trophy. Wins over Plymouth & Exeter in the group stage followed by triumphs over Exeter again, Port Vale, Leyton Orient and Wycombe over two legs saw the Swans play Huddersfield in a final that finished 1-1. Chairman Doug Sharpe brought back the famous hat, and the Swans went on to win 2-0 on penalties.
The following season failed to live up to expectations, although the club again reached the semi-finals of the Auto Windscreens Shield, eventually going out to Birmingham, and an eventful FA Cup run saw them win at Middlesbrough in a third round replay, before going out to Newcastle at St. James' Park.
95/96 ended with relegation back to the third division after 8 years. The Swans were doing fine around Christmas time, but a complete collapse in the second half of the season, including a 7-0 FA Cup defeat at third division Fulham, 4-0 and 5-1 defeats at Blackpool and Oxford respectively, relegation was inevitable, despite the arrival of Jan Molby.
1995-2001: The difficult years return
[edit]Relegation in 1996 was accompanied by an unfortunate statistic: never before had the club been managed by four men in the same season. Most embarrassing was the appointment of Kevin Cullis as manager by a consortium wishing to buy the club. Cullis, whose previous experience was with non-league Midlands club Cradley Town, was certainly not the "big name" manager promised by the new owners. Alarmed at developments at the club, outgoing chairman Doug Sharpe invoked a contractual clause to cancel the deal and resumed control himself: Cullis was promptly sacked after just six days.
Cullis's successor was Jan Mølby, a former Liverpool player taking his first steps in management. His appointment inevitably prompted comparison with the Toshack era which began nearly 20 years earlier. Despite relegation in 1996, the club reached the final of the 1997 Third Division promotion play-offs but lost to Northampton Town, whose goal came from a re-taken free kick by John Frain in the final minute. Mølby was sacked just weeks into the following season, with Swansea struggling near the foot of the league. After the initial optimism, the Liverpool connection had not caused history to repeat itself.
Alan Cork was appointed as manager, but was dismissed after leading the club to its lowest league finish for 23 years. John Hollins was appointed, and things soon started to improve. In 1999, the club reached the promotion play-offs, only to lose in extra time at Scunthorpe United. The season was also notable for a third-round FA Cup victory over Premiership opponents West Ham United, whose team included Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand and John Hartson. Swansea thus became the first bottom division team to defeat a Premiership club in the FA Cup since the wholesale re-organisation of the league structure in 1992.
The club was promoted in 2000 as Division Three champions, following a nail-biting championship decider on the final day of the season against second-placed Rotherham United. Promotion had been secured courtesy of a 3-0 win over Exeter City at a packed Vetch Field. The 1-1 draw at Rotherham, however, was overshadowed by the death of supporter Terry Coles, trampled to death by a police horse in narrow Millmoor Lane before the game.
Despite significant optimism on the terraces, it was clear that the team was not strong enough to survive in the higher division and relegation occurred in May 2001, just 12 months after promotion.
2001-2003: Meltdown
[edit]In July 2001, following relegation back to Third Division, the club was sold to managing director Mike Lewis for the princely sum of £1. Lewis subsequently sold on his stake to a consortium of Australian businessmen behind the Brisbane Lions football team, fronted by outspoken Londoner Tony Petty. The move prompted perhaps the most controversial period in the club's history as seven players were sacked and eight others saw their contracts ripped up. Supporters were incensed by the loss or sale of key players, and amid threatened sanctions by the Football League, a rival consortium headed by ex-player Mel Nurse sought to buy out the new owners.
The crisis led to the creation of the Swansea City Supporters' Trust, which sought to save the club and ultimately guarantee supporter representation on the club's board.
The Petty group sold its stake in January 2002 after a bitter stand-off with the Nurse consortium, which was supported by the majority of the club's fans. Results did not improve, however, and the club struggled for the remainder of the season.
In May 2003, Swansea City avoided relegation to the Football Conference only on the last day of the season, at the expense of Exeter City. By a cruel irony, Exeter's then vice-chairman was none other than Mike Lewis, who was widely seen as responsible for the Petty crisis at Swansea.
It was during this period, that the famous slogan "Judas Mike Lewis, Sir Mel, Petty Out" appeared not only at the ground, but around the city as well. At once they signed Frank Lampard on loan Even now, many Swansea supporters find it very difficult to be objective about the Petty era. It is clear, however, that the opposition which was galvanised by Petty's reign was translated into increased attendances as the people of Swansea rallied to the club's cause. The risk posed to the future of league football in Swansea, through both mismanagement and footballing failure, were a powerful incentive for supporters and the new owners to create a brighter future.
2003-2005: Rebuilding
[edit]Since then, the Swans have gone from strength to strength. In 2004, they finished in the top half of Third Division under manager Brian Flynn and promoted in 2005 under Flynn's successor Kenny Jackett.
Summer 2005: Goodbye to the Vetch
[edit]Swansea's last League match at the Vetch Field was a 1-0 win over Shrewsbury Town on 30 April 2005 in front of a full house; 11,465 people were present to say farewell to the asymmetrical ground and its crooked floodlights.
Many thought it fated that Swansea would win promotion during the final season at the Vetch, given so many prior false hopes both for promotion and for the new ground itself. One week after the Shrewsbury game, Swansea did indeed clinch promotion to Coca Cola League One with another 1-0 win, this time at Bury, where over 5,000 Swans fans had made the journey north to out number the home fans.
The last game of any sort at the Vetch Field was a 2-1 win against Wrexham in the final of the 2005 FAW Premier Cup; it was the Swans' first trophy win since the Third Division Championship in 2000 but the first Cup triumph since 1994's Autoglass Trophy.
Some pictures of The Vetch in it's current state can be found here: http://www.swansea.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=31214
The Liberty Stadium's 'official' name is not popular amongst "some" supporters, many of whom refer to it either as the Morfa, or the Whiterock Stadium: the former was the name of the athletics stadium which stood on the site from the 1970s until construction began on the current structure, the latter's origins being the name of the local copperworks at Pentrechwyth which opened in 1737 and was adopted by developers as a working title for the stadium.
Swansea City since 2005
[edit]The club took up residence at the impressive new Liberty Stadium during the summer of 2005.
In their first season in League One Swansea finished in sixth place, and competed in the play-offs. After beating Brentford in the semi-finals, they lost out to Barnsley in the final at the Millennium Stadium on 27 May 2006. Although Swansea dominated the final for long periods, the match finished 2-2 and Barnsley won a penalty shoot-out 4-3.
The club also tasted cup success on two fronts, winning the Football League Trophy for the first time since 1994 and the FAW Premier Cup for a second successive year.
Swansea City 2006 - 2007
[edit]Swansea did try to push for the Championship in the 2006-2007 season despite a slow start which yielded 1 point from the first 3 games.
They made FA Cup headlines on 6 January 2007, by beating Sheffield United 3-0 at Bramall Lane with Thomas Butler grabbing two goals before Leon Britton slotted home a penalty to put the Swans into the 4th round. Unfortunately, their FA Cup run was ended when they lost 1-0 to Ipswich Town away from home, when Alan Lee scored a controversial penalty against the Swans.
A change in management followed after Kenny Jackett walked out on the club, claiming a lack of support from the board, players and fans. Kevin Nugent took charge for three games but despite three good performances the Swans failed to pick up a win. Roberto Martínez was appointed the new manager after coming to an agreement with his then club, Chester City.
Roberto Martinez's team won its first game with him under management against Rotherham United on February 27, 2007. He has taken the Swans onto a run of 11 games with only one loss against Millwall. After a last gasp win (1-2) against Carlisle away, it goes down to the last game of the season against Blackpool at the Liberty Stadium to decide the final play off position.
After 45 league games, they sat 7th in League 1 level on 72 points with Oldham Athletic, with Oldham having a better goal difference of two. In order to achieve the last play-off position Swansea had to better Oldham's result against Chesterfield. If both teams won their respective matches, Swansea must better Oldham's scoreline by three goals.
The season ended in disappointment, the Swans lost 3 - 6 to Blackpool, and with Oldham winning 1 - 0 against Chesterfield, it left the Swans in seventh place just outside the play offs. Now the Martinez era begins in earnest ready for the 2007 - 2008 season.
Swansea City 2007 - 2008
[edit]Off to a better start than last season, with a win, a draw and a loss for 4 points in the first three games. The football on the field is a lot brighter than last season, and a push for automatic promotion to The Championship looks on the cards.
Disappointment as we go out of the league cup again, going down 0 - 1 AET to Reading, pressed hard for a breakthrough but it was not to be, we have now failed to get passed the second round in almost 30 years.
Notable Former Players
[edit]- See also Category:Swansea City A.F.C. players
Four Swansea-born men were named among the Football League's 100 legends, to mark the 100th season of League football in 1998. All four began their careers with the club. They were Ivor Allchurch, John Charles (signed by Leeds before making his first-team debut), Trevor Ford and Cliff Jones.
Ivor Allchurch is the subject of the first statue to be placed at the Liberty Stadium. Funded by the club's Supporters' Trust, it was unveiled in October 2005 and stands outside the ticket office.
Many of Swansea's greatest players were part of the squad that, between 1978 and 1981, won promotion from the old Fourth Division to the old First Division under John Toshack, who now manages the Welsh national team. These included goalkeeper Dai Davies, fans' favourite Alan Curtis, the late Robbie James, winger Leighton James, Yugoslavian international defenders Ante Rajkovic and Dzemal Hadziabdic (now coach of the Qatari national team) and Nigel Stevenson.
More recent players include long-serving goalkeeper Roger Freestone, whose Swansea career came to an end in 2004 just a handful of games short of the club appearance record, and Lee Trundle, whose flamboyant skills and impressive goalscoring record made him a firm favourite. Frank Lampard had a spell on loan from West Ham in the 1995-1996 season playing 11 games and scored 1 goal for the Swans before heading back to Upton Park
Giorgio Chinaglia was born in Italy but grew up in Cardiff and made 6 appearances for Swansea before playing in Italy and the USA, becoming NASL's top scorer ever.
Gentle Giant Immortalised
An Emotional unveiling of a permanent memorial to one of Swansea's favourite footballing sons has taken place. Family and friends of the late, great footballer John Charles gathered at the Liberty Stadium before the match against Blackpool (05/05/07) to see the bronze bust installed at its permanent home.
One of the most famous former players for the Swans is Merseyside Born Lee Trundle. After scoring 85 goals in 183 appearances during 4 years at The Swans Lee moved to Championship Side Bristol City for an undisclosed fee believed to be around £1,000,000
List of club managers
[edit]| Name | Tenure Began | Tenure Ended | Total Games | Won | Lost | Drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walter Whittaker | July-1912 | May-1914 | ||||
| William Bartlett | May 1914 | April 1915 | ||||
| No Manager | April 1915 | June 1919 | ||||
| Joe Bradshaw | June 1919 | August 1926 | ||||
| No manager | August 1926 | July 1927 | ||||
| James Thomson | April 1927 | August 1931 | ||||
| No manager | August 1931 | July 1934 | ||||
| Neil Harris | July 1934 | June 1939 | ||||
| Haydn Green | June 1939 | September 1947 | ||||
| Billy McCandless | September 1947 | July 1955 | ||||
| Ron Burgess | July 1955 | August 1958 | ||||
| Trevor Morris | August 1958 | May 1965 | ||||
| Glyn Davies | June 1965 | October 1966 | ||||
| Billy Lucas | February 1967 | April 1969 | ||||
| Roy Bentley | August 1969 | October 1972 | ||||
| Harry Gregg | November 1972 | February 1975 | ||||
| Harry Griffiths | February 1975 | February 1978 | ||||
| John Toshack | March 1978 | October 1983 | ||||
| Doug Livermore | October 1983 | December 1983 | ||||
| John Toshack | December 1983 | March 1984 | ||||
| Les Chappell | March 1984 | May 1984 | ||||
| Colin Appleton | May 1984 | December 1984 | ||||
| John Bond | December 1984 | December 1985 | ||||
| Tommy Hutchison | December 1985 | June 1986 | ||||
| Terry Yorath | July 1986 | February 1989 | ||||
| Ian Evans | March 1989 | March 1990 | ||||
| Terry Yorath | March 1990 | March 1991 | ||||
| Frank Burrows | March 1991 | October 1995 | ||||
| Bobby Smith | October 1995 | December 1995 | ||||
| Jimmy Rimmer | December 1995 | February 1996 | ||||
| Kevin Cullis | February 1996 (6 days) | February 1996 | ||||
| Jimmy Rimmer | February 1996 | February 1996 | ||||
| Jan Mølby | February 1996 | October 1997 | ||||
| Micky Adams | October 1997 (15 days) | October 1997 | ||||
| Alan Cork | October 1997 | June 1998 | ||||
| John Hollins | July 1998 | September 2001 | ||||
| Colin Addison | October 2001 | March 2002 | ||||
| Nick Cusack | March 2002 | September 2002 | 17 | 2 | 10 | 5 |
| Brian Flynn | September 2002 | March 2004 | 77 | 25 | 29 | 23 |
| Kenny Jackett | April 2004 | February 2007 | 163 | 75 | 48 | 48 |
| Roberto Martínez | February 2007 | Present | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
League positions and Cup results since World War II
[edit]| Season | Division | Position | FA Cup | League Cup | Welsh Cup/ | European | Football League Trophy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946-1947 | Second Division | 21st (relegated) | 4th Round | 6th Round | ||||
| 1947-1948 | Third Division South | 5th | 3rd Round | 5th Round | ||||
| 1948-1949 | Third Division South | 1st (promoted) | 2nd Round | Runners-up | ||||
| 1949-1950 | Second Division | 8th | 4th Round | Winners | ||||
| 1950-1951 | Second Division | 18th | 3rd Round | 6th Round | ||||
| 1951-1952 | Second Division | 19th | 5th Round | 5th Round | ||||
| 1952-1953 | Second Division | 11th | 3rd Round | 7th Round | ||||
| 1953-1954 | Second Division | 20th | 4th Round | Semi-Finals | ||||
| 1954-1955 | Second Division | 10th | 5th Round | 6th Round | ||||
| 1955-1956 | Second Division | 10th | 3rd Round | Runners-up | ||||
| 1956-1957 | Second Division | 10th | 3rd Round | Runners-up | ||||
| 1957-1958 | Second Division | 19th | 3rd Round | 6th Round | ||||
| 1958-1959 | Second Division | 11th | 3rd Round | 6th Round | ||||
| 1959-1960 | Second Division | 12th | 4th Round | 6th Round | ||||
| 1960-1961 | Second Division | 7th | 5th Round | 3rd Round | Winners | |||
| 1961-1962 | Second Division | 20th | 3rd Round | 2nd Round | Semi-final | 1st Round | ||
| 1962-1963 | Second Division | 15th | 3rd Round | 2nd Round | Semi-final | |||
| 1963-1964 | Second Division | 19th | Semi-final | 3rd Round | 6th Round | |||
| 1964-1965 | Second Division | 22nd (relegated) | 5th Round | 4th Round | Semi-final | |||
| 1965-1966 | Third Division | 17th | 1st Round | 1st Round | Winners | |||
| 1966-1967 | Third Division | 21st (relegated) | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | 5th Round | 1st Round | ||
| 1967-1968 | Fourth Division | 15th | 4th Round | 1st Round | 6th Round | |||
| 1968-1969 | Fourth Division | 10th | 3rd Round | 3rd Round | Runners-up | |||
| 1969-1970 | Fourth Division | 3rd (promoted) | 3rd Round | 2nd Round | Semi-final | |||
| 1970-1971 | Third Division | 11th | 4th Round | 2nd Round | 6th Round | |||
| 1971-1972 | Third Division | 14th | 4th Round | 1st Round | 5th Round | |||
| 1972-1973 | Third Division | 23rd (relegated) | 1st Round | 1st Round | 4th Round | |||
| 1973-1974 | Fourth Division | 14th | 1st Round | 1st Round | 4th Round | |||
| 1974-1975 | Fourth Division | 22nd | 1st Round | 1st Round | 5th Round | |||
| 1975-1976 | Fourth Division | 11th | 1st Round | 1st Round | 5th Round | |||
| 1976-1977 | Fourth Division | 5th | 1st Round | 4th Round | 5th Round | |||
| 1977-1978 | Fourth Division | 3rd (promoted) | 3rd Round | 1st Round | 4th Round | |||
| 1978-1979 | Third Division | 3rd (promoted) | 3rd Round | 3rd Round | 5th Round | |||
| 1979-1980 | Second Division | 12th | 5th Round | 2nd Round | Semi-final | |||
| 1980-1981 | Second Division | 3rd (promoted) | 3rd Round | 1st Round | Winners | |||
| 1981-1982 | First Division | 6th | 3rd Round | 2nd Round | Winners | 1st Round | ||
| 1982-1983 | First Division | 21st (relegated) | 3rd Round | 2nd Round | Winners | 2nd Round | ||
| 1983-1984 | Second Division | 21st (relegated) | 3rd Round | 2nd Round | Semi-final | Preliminary Round | ||
| 1984-1985 | Third Division | 20th | 1st Round | 1st Round | Semi-final | 3rd Round | ||
| 1985-1986 | Third Division | 24th (relegated) | 2nd Round | 2nd Round | 5th Round | 3rd Round | ||
| 1986-1987 | Fourth Division | 12th | 4th Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | 2nd Round | ||
| 1987-1988 | Fourth Division | 6th (promoted via play-offs) | 2nd Round | 1st Round | 4th Round | Group Stage | ||
| 1988-1989 | Third Division | 12th | 2nd Round | 1st Round | Winners | Group Stage | ||
| 1989-1990 | Third Division | 17th | 3rd Round | 1st Round | 3rd Round | 1st Round | Group Stage | |
| 1990-1991 | Third Division | 20th | 3rd Round | 1st Round | Winners | 2nd Round | ||
| 1991-1992 | Third Division | 19th | 2nd Round | 2nd Round | 5th Round | 1st Round | Group Stage | |
| 1992-1993 | Second Division | 5th | 4th Round | 1st Round | 3rd Round | 4th Round | ||
| 1993-1994 | Second Division | 13th | 1st Round | 2nd Round | Semi-final | Winners | ||
| 1994-1995 | Second Division | 10th | 4th Round | 2nd Round | 4th Round | |||
| 1995-1996 | Second Division | 22nd (relegated) | 1st Round | 1st Round | 2nd Round | |||
| 1996-1997 | Third Division | 5th | 1st Round | 1st Round | 2nd Round | |||
| 1997-1998 | Third Division | 20th | 1st Round | 1st Round | Quarter-final | 1st Round | ||
| 1998-1999 | Third Division | 7th | 4th Round | 1st Round | Quarter-final | 2nd Round | ||
| 1999-2000 | Third Division | 1st (promoted) | 2nd Round | 2nd Round | Quarter-final | 2nd Round | ||
| 2000-2001 | Second Division | 23rd (relegated) | 1st Round | 1st Round | Runners-Up | 4th Round | ||
| 2001-2002 | Third Division | 20th | 2nd Round | 1st Round | Runners-Up | 1st Round | ||
| 2002-2003 | Third Division | 21st | 1st Round | 1st Round | Quarter-final | 1st Round | ||
| 2003-2004 | Third Division | 10th | 5th Round | 1st Round | Semi-final | 2nd Round | ||
| 2004-2005 | League Two | 3rd (promoted) | 3rd Round | 1st Round | Winners | 2nd Round | ||
| 2005-2006 | League One | 6th | 1st Round | 1st Round | Winners | Winners | ||
| 2006-2007 | League One | 7th | 4th Round | 1st Round | Quarter-final | 2nd Round | ||
| 2007-2008 | League One | 2nd Round |
Miscellaneous
[edit]Swansea City and its supporters are unofficially known as the 'Jacks'. One explanation for this name is that during the 17th century, sailors from Swansea were extremely well respected and any 'Swansea Jack' was allowed to join the crew based simply on the town's reputation for great seamen. Many, however, believe that the name originates from the renowned life-saving dog Swansea Jack.
The club's somewhat flamboyant mascot is Cyril the Swan who was joined in 2005 by Cyble, a doyenne of equal opportunity. The couple were "married" on the pitch at the Vetch Field as part of the pre-match entertainment at the last league game to be played at the ground, a 1-0 win over Shrewsbury Town F.C. during the 2004/05 season.
On 10 January 2006, striker Leon Knight became the first Swansea City player to score a hat-trick on his début for the club since Bob Latchford in August 1981, in fact scoring his hat-trick during the first 27 minutes of the game against Milton Keynes Dons at the Liberty Stadium.
Leon Knight's second hat-trick for the club, in the final game of the 2005-06 season at Chesterfield on 6 May 2006, completed another first. As Lee Trundle had scored a hat-trick in the home game against Chesterfield on 29 October 2005, this was the first time that Swansea players had scored hat-tricks in both home and away League fixtures against the same opponents in the same season.
The Liberty Stadium hosted it's first cup match against Premiership opposition when Reading visited in August 2007. The visitors won 1-0 thanks to a Leroy Lita goal in extra time, despite having 10 men for over an hour of the match.
References
[edit]- Farmer, David (1982). Swansea City, 1912-82. Pelham Books. ISBN 0-7207-1413-3.
- Burgum, John (1988). Swansea City FC. Archive Publications. ISBN 0-948946-19-9.
- Hayes, Dean (1999). Swansea City Football Club: An A-Z. Aureus Publishing. ISBN 1-899750-04-5.
- Farmer, David (2000). The Official Biography of The Swans, Town and City. South Wales Evening Post. ISBN 0-9539191-0-2.
- Phillips, Gareth (2005). Fan's Eye City: Swansea City in the Age of the Premiership. London League Publications. ISBN 1-903659-20-5.
- Haynes, Keith & Sumbler, Phil (2005). 100 Greats: Swansea City Football Club. Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2715-6.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Jones, Colin (2006). Swansea Town/City FC: The First Comprehensive Player A-Y. Parthian Books. ISBN 1-902638-75-1.
- "Swansea City AFC: The Official Site". Retrieved 29 May 2006.
- "The Internet Soccer Database". Retrieved 29 May 2006.
External links
[edit]- Official club website Swansea City's official website
- Swans Online Daily news and match reviews of Swansea City FC.
- Swansea Vital News, Match Reports and forum.
- Swansea.com 2007-08 Swans shirt sponsors