Where are they now? Andrew Mumford

Ever wondered what former Swans stars have been up to since hanging up their boots?

Well you are in the right place.

As part of a regular feature, we take a look at what some ex-Swansea City favourites have done since leaving SA1.

This week we track down Andrew Mumford, a local lad who shone at Vetch Field.

Despite having the opportunity to join Premier League side Newcastle United on a short-term contract in the summer of 2000, Neath-born Andrew Mumford opted to sign for Swansea City from Llanelli Town instead.

The midfielder made his professional debut for the Swans against Port Vale in April 2001, before establishing himself as a first-team regular during the following season.

The 2001-02 campaign saw Mumford score five goals in 32 appearances for the Swans as he quickly became a favourite of the Vetch Field faithful.

“Getting the opportunity to play for Swansea City was incredible,” reflects Mumford. “I had never been with a professional club before so it was a big step up for me.

“Everyone made me feel very welcome. Every moment at Swansea was special for me, like experiencing the atmosphere at the Vetch, especially for night matches.”

Mumford’s first goal for the Swans came in a 2-2 draw at Leyton Orient in February 2002 while, in the same month, he netted at the Vetch for the first time against Scunthorpe United.

“The Scunthorpe goal was probably my favourite for Swansea,” he says. “We had just conceded an 89th-minute goal and were losing 2-1 when I stepped up to take a free-kick.

“I hit it really well and it flew into the back of the net. The roar from the home crowd was amazing and it was such a great feeling to score a goal like that.”

Mumford was named the Swans’ player of the season in 2001-02, and he played his share of games as they narrowly avoided relegation from the Football League the following season.

“I had a calf injury which kept me out of the game against Hull,” remembers Mumford, who played his final match for the Swans away at Shrewsbury Town a month earlier.

“I spoke to the manager beforehand and he said he couldn’t risk me for such a big game.

“I watched from the stands, which was difficult for such a massive match. You feel far calmer when you’re out there playing.

“Luckily, my good friend James Thomas got a hat-trick and we won. It was such an important moment in the club’s history and the starting block for the Swans’ rise up the leagues in the years that followed.”

Mumford was loaned to Newport County and Aldershot Town during the 2003-04 season – his final campaign as a Swan – before moving to Australia in 2005 to sign for A-League side Sydney FC.

“I had offers to stay in the UK with Football League clubs after leaving Swansea, but it felt right to go and experience something different,” he explains.

“Australia was fantastic and I played in the same team as Dwight Yorke at Sydney FC. It was the first season of the new A-League and there was a lot of excitement about it.

“We were regularly playing in front of crowds of over 20,000, which added to the experience.”

After a year in Australia, Mumford moved back to the Swansea area with his wife and played for the likes of Port Talbot, Llanelli, Afan Lido and Haverfordwest County before hanging his boots up in 2012.

“Funnily enough, when I was playing for Port Talbot, we were drawn against the Swans in the quarter-finals of the 2007 FAW Cup,” Mumford remembers. “I scored our winner as we beat them 2-1 in extra time.

“It was around that time that I started to help out in the PE department at my old school, Birchgrove Comprehensive.

“I started to study for a PGC to go into teaching but I never finished that.

“Then I had the opportunity to join a teaching agency called Apollo as a recruitment officer and I opted to do that. I’m still working for them now.

“On a day-to-day basis, I look to arrange sickness cover as well as longer-term placements, like maternity cover etc. We’re based all over Wales and my coverage area is Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire.”

Mumford added: “I also remain involved in football as a first-team coach at Llanelli.

“We have a spring chicken by the name of Lee Trundle playing up front for us, and he is still banging in the goals.

“We’re having a great season in Welsh League One and, hopefully, on course for promotion to the Welsh Premier League under the management of Andy Hill.”