Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to the Swansea.com Stadium as we return to home soil to face Millwall.
This game rounds off a busy week of action on the back of long journeys to Blackburn and Sheffield Wednesday, which have seen us rack up over 850 miles of travelling.
That distance applies to you, our supporters, as well as the team and staff and – having been in the away end at Blackburn last weekend - I echo Luke’s comments in midweek about how much we appreciate the efforts you go to cheer on your club.
Hopefully we can end the week on a positive note having picked up a hard-fought point at Hillsborough on Tuesday.
We are, of course, frustrated not to have got more from recent games, but we are showing a clear playing identity and I am confident we will soon find that clinical cutting edge in the final third.
Off the pitch, the international break saw sporting director Paul Watson leave Swansea City.
We thank Paul for his efforts, and we have already started the process of seeking the person we want to build on the work he has done and lead our football department. We are not going to rush
This game sees the re-introduction of our popular ‘Kids for a Quid’ ticketing offer, as we seek to make watching Swansea City as affordable as possible for our young supporters.
I hope those of you who have taken advantage of this offer enjoy watching from our South Stand, and we hope to see you back at the Swansea.com Stadium for future games, including our meeting against Sunderland in December - which will also see the ‘Kids for a Quid’ offer in effect.
Today’s game also marks our ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ fixture. We pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive football club, and it goes without saying that we fully support their work in seeking to eradicate racism from our game, and educate people on the clear message that our game is for everyone.
You will see our players warm-up in ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ t-shirts, and their message will be visible in numerous areas of our stadium for all to see.
Enjoy the game,
Andy
Good afternoon and welcome to the Swansea.com Stadium as we take on Millwall in the Championship.
This game comes at the end of a typically challenging three-game week in this division.
The team, and you the supporters, have racked up an awful lot of miles between trips to Blackburn and Sheffield on the back of the international break, and we are incredibly grateful for the efforts you make following us up and down the country.
We have come away from those games with a point, but we know as a group it could, and probably should, have been more.
We are showing we have an ability to control long periods of games, we are able to handle having the ball for long spells and using that as a means of limiting the amount of danger we are exposed to, but we have not been clinical or ruthless enough in front of goal when it comes to taking our chances.
We have come close, we have hit the woodwork and had clear chances, but you cannot win games unless you put the ball in the net.
Of course it’s frustrating that we have not been able to do that in recent games, but I have faith and believe in the players we have hear to start helping us do that.
Sometimes it can take just a moment to change things, and hopefully that will come for us soon because there are a lot of positives in how we can control games, and the resilience we are showing to have one of the best defensive records in the division.
This game marks our dedicated ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ fixture, and it delivers an important message that football is for everyone, and that no-one – in football or in wider society – should face disgusting abuse because of the colour of their skin.
It has sadly become all-too familiar to hear stories of players receiving horrible messages on social media, or even being the victim of racist behaviour during games.
There is simply no place for it, and that is a consistent message that we, and all clubs, are proud and determined to support.
Enjoy the game,
Luke
Welcome back at the Swansea.com Stadium for our first home game after the latest international break.
Wales remain undefeated in the Nations League and sit second in their group, just two points behind their next opponents, Turkey. It is always good to see our own academy products getting international caps with Ben Cabango, Liam Cullen, Ollie Cooper and Joe Allen getting game time.
Unfortunately, it was not good news from South Korea with the knee ligament injury sustained by Jisung Eom. We wish him a full and speedy recovery.
I am sure all fans would agree that our recent results at Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn have been a little disappointing. We have shown again that we can dominate games and have majority of possession, but without the impact in the final third needed to secure the points.
However, credit must be given for our defensive performance this season, with our record amongst the best in the league. Countering this, our goals scored tally is currently the lowest in the league.
Successful teams are built on good defences; we’ve got that defence, now we need to improve in the final third and turn possession into goals.
Today, we welcome Neil Harris and his Millwall team to the Swansea.com Stadium. Our results against Millwall over the years suggest that the game is likely to be close.
Since 1921 we have played a total of 58 matches in all competitions, winning 24, losing 21 and drawing 13. Since our return to the Championship in 2018 the Swans have won six, lost three, and drawn three. At the time of writing these notes, and after the latest round of midweek games, Millwall now have exactly the same record as us this season with three wins, four draws and four defeats.
Another close encounter is therefore anticipated this time round, but hopefully the Swans can turn possession into goals and we have an enjoyable afternoon.
Earlier this year the Trust embarked on a project to help recognise our former players who represented both Swansea Town and Wales during their playing careers. The first part of this project saw us recognise the Allchurch brothers – Ivor and Len - on Cwm Level Road, Plasmarl. Openreach kindly allowed us to decorate one of their points with a mural, which was officially unveiled on Monday, October 21.
We propose to roll out this project onto similar equipment boxes around Swansea to recognise other former players who have a link to particular areas of our community. For more information, click here.
The Trust continues to work alongside the club on the Global Jacks project, which is aimed at making Swans fans worldwide feel part of our community. As part of this initiative a new interactive map has been launched to enable supporters’ groups and individual fans worldwide to add their details and find other like-minded fans in their localities.
The club has committed to another Global Jacks event during this season and details will be announced in due course. To read more about the Global Jacks project and access the interactive map, click here. There is also an active Facebook page here
Thank you to those who have renewed their memberships or joined the Trust over the past few weeks; you can renew or join the Trust online here
If you perhaps struggle with technology, you can come along and join up on a matchday at the Trust Pod (located next to the club shop) or by sending an email to info@swanstrust.co.uk. You can also visit the pod for a general chat or to raise questions on a matchday.
In addition, you can contact us via email supporters@swanstrust.co.uk or visit our social media sites Facebook - Twitter/X or Instagram
In the famous words of Delia Smith ‘let’s be having you’, come on all you Jacks, shout loud and proud and let’s hear you cheering the team on from kick-off to the final whistle, and hopefully celebrate a much-needed win.
Enjoy the game,
Di
Swansea City duo Myles Peart-Harris and Azeem Abdulai recently visited Swansea Mosque to gain an insight into the local Muslim community and engage with young supporters.
Swansea Mosque is the largest mosque in Wales, serving a congregation of almost 10,000 in south and west Wales, a significant increase since its humble beginnings in 1982.
Swans midfielders Peart-Harris and Abdulai were given an exclusive tour of the mosque, learning about the history and the modern renovations that have enhanced the services provided to the congregation.
One of those improved facilities is the conference and sports hall, which hosted a football session provided by Swansea City AFC Foundation’s All Jacks programme during the visit.
“This is the first time I’ve seen a facility like this sports hall inside a mosque, where they can do sports activities. The renovations that they’ve done here are really good,” said Peart-Harris, whose faith is of great importance to him.
“It’s a beautiful place, and what they do for the community and how the community help it’s mosque is a great thing.
“Coming from a place where community means a lot and to see how much the mosque supports its community and vice versa, the togetherness that it shows from this religion is what it’s all about.
“I hope the kids are excited to be coached by the Swans Foundation, and me and Azeem are here to show our support and hopefully teach them a few skills. The thing that Islam does is bring people together and this is a great example of that.”
Farid Ali is part of the management committee and the facilities manager at Swansea Mosque, and he was delighted to welcome Peart-Harris and Abdulai into the heart of his community.
“It’s absolutely fantastic for Myles and Azeem to visit the mosque but, more than that, to engage with the community here,” said Ali.
“A lot of our community and especially the children, love football, love Swansea City, so for them to come and see the players they look up to in their local mosque, is fantastic.
“We’ve had conversations about how the community works here and the mosque itself. It’s been great to tell them about the way the community has been here for a very long time in Swansea.
“The mosque has been in its current configuration since 2017. It’s a very large mosque, one of the largest in Wales, we have a congregation of around 2,000 people walking through the building every single week.
“We provide a lot of services such as our food bank, clothes bank and a baby bank (providing infant clothing, toys and food), which we support the community with, so we’re really proud to show the players that.
"We want to have a positive working relationship with the football club so we can help our congregation understand how the community operates and how they can link in.
"We want to establish how our community can take part in football and that’s very important to us.”
Today, we are hosting our ‘Show Racism the Red Card Month of Action’ fixture against Millwall.
The Swans will wear ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ t-shirts during warm-up to promote an anti-racism message and demonstrate their stance against racism in sport and society.
‘Show Racism the Red Card’ is a charity that aims to combat racism by empowering role models, including footballers, to present an anti-racist message to young people and others.
The charity acknowledges that racism changes, as do the experiences of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities in the UK. Our message and activities, therefore, need to be able to respond to such changes as and when appropriate.
They achieve this through:
- Producing and delivering educational resources.
- Developing activities to encourage people, including young people, to challenge racism.
- Challenging racism in the game of football and other sports.
During October, football clubs across Wales show their support for ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ by delivering a matchday action demonstrating their stance on eradicating racism from the beautiful game. These actions act as a vehicle to deliver an anti-racism message to the community through the power of sport.
We hope you enjoy the game today. Please support the players in saying NO to racism. If you witness racism, report it to a steward or club official.
To donate to ‘Show Racism the Red Card’, visit theredcard.org or the Just Giving page HERE
Further details about the campaign and how you and your club can be part of the Month of Action can be found by visiting the website www.theredcard.org or by contacting tom@theredcardwales.org
As part of a new feature in our digital matchday programme for the 2024-25 campaign, we are calling on all Swans fans to share their memories and experiences of supporting the club by submitting your stories and pictures. We will publish a selection over the course of the season, and you can share your stories with us through the link below.
Swansea City Supporters' Trust and the Former Players' Assocation recently honoured Swans legends Ivor and Len Allchurch with a mural close to where the brothers were raised in Plasmarl.
Earlier this year the Trust embarked on a new project to help recognise the achievements of former players who represented Swansea City and Wales during their playing careers.
The Trust Heritage group launched the initiative by seeking the approval of Open Reach to paint their equipment box on Cwm Level Road with images of brothers Ivor and Len Allchurch.
Ivor, who was the elder of the two brothers was born on October 16 1929, with Len following on September 12 1933.
From a large family of seven siblings and a step brother, they began playing football on the streets and playgrounds of Plasmarl and on the pitches of Cwm Level Park.
They went on to have stellar careers for club and country, and they are deservedly regarded as being among Swansea City's finest players and stalwarts.
Pupils from Plasmarl Primary School were invited to attend the unveiling and learn more about the famous brothers.
Plans are currently in place to honour more Swans legends in the coming months.
Esme Allchurch, widow of Ivor Allchurch and honorary president on the FPA, said "I'm very proud and privileged the Swans Trust have honoured my husband, and my sister's husband Len, with this wonderful piece of artwork.
"I'm a Plasmarl girl and we all went to Plasmarl Primary School, so to have this piece of art near the school is lovely, and brilliant for kids at the school now to see."
Swansea City played out a goalless draw against their Stoke City counterparts at the Swansea.com Stadium in their last Championship fixture before international break.
Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux, Josh Key, Ben Cabango, Harry Darling, Matt Grimes (captain), Zan Vipotnik (Liam Cullen 65), Jisung Eom (Florian Bianchini 77), Josh Tymon, Goncalo Franco (Jay Fulton 83), Ollie Cooper (Myles Peart-Harris 77), Ronald (Azeem Abdulai 77).
Substitutes: Jon McLaughlin, Joe Allen, Kyle Naughton, Nelson Abbey.
Stoke City: Viktor Johansson, Michael Rose, Wouter Burger (Million Manhoef 54), Tom Cannon, Joon-Ho Bae (Andre Vidigal 65), Lewis Koumas (Jordan Thompson 54), Jordan Thompson, Ben Wilmot, Eric Bocat, Sam Gallagher (Emre Tezgel 84), Ben Gibson (captain), Andy Moran.
Substitutes: Jack Bonham, Enda Stevens, Tatsuki Seko, Junior Tchamadeu, Ashley Phillips.
Swansea City fell to defeat at Ewood Park as Tyrhys Dolan’s early goal gave Blackburn Rovers all three points.
Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux; Josh Key, Ben Cabango, Harry Darling, Josh Tymon; Matt Grimes (captain), Gonçalo Franco (Joe Allen 72), Ollie Cooper (Žan Vipotnik 65); Ronald, Liam Cullen (Myles Peart-Harris 72), Florian Bianchini (Azeem Abdulai 53).
Unused Substitutes: Jon McLaughlin, Jay Fulton, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Kyle Naughton, Nelson Abbey.
Blackburn Rovers: Aynsley Pears, Dominic Hyam, Sondre Tronstad, Todd Cantwell (Lewis Baker 90), Makhtar Gueye (Yuki Ohashi 59), Tyrhys Dolan (Andreas Weimann 71), Joe Rankin-Costello, Hayden Carter, Ryan Hedges (Callum Brittain 71), Owen Beck, Lewis Travis (captain).
Unused Substitutes: Balazs Toth, Harry Pickering, Arnor Sigurdsson, Danny Batth, John Buckley.
Referee: David Webb
Attendance: 13,550 (466 away)
Swansea City claimed a fourth clean sheet of the season as they picked up a point against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux; Kyle Naughton (Josh Key 62), Ben Cabango, Harry Darling, Josh Tymon; Matt Grimes (captain), Jay Fulton (Joe Allen 74), Myles Peart-Harris; Ronald, Azeem Abdulai (Ollie Cooper 86), Zan Vipotnik (Liam Cullen 86).
Unused Substitutes: Jon McLaughlin, Goncalo Franco, Florian Bianchini, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Nelson Abbey.
Sheffield Wednesday: James Beadle, Di'Shon Bernard, Svante Ingelsson (Josh Windass 62), Jamal Lowe (Ike Ugbo 62), Barry Bannan (captain), Pol Valentin (Liam Palmer 74), Marvin Johnson, Akin Famewo, Yan Valery, Djeidi Gassama (Olaf Kobacki 74), Shea Charles (Callum Paterson 88).
Unused Substitutes: Pierce Charles, Max Lowe, Dominic Iorfa, Michael Smith.
Referee: Matthew Donohue
Attendance: 22,452
Millwall are in their eighth-straight season in the Championship having secured their place in the second tier via the play-offs in 2017.
They have been mainstays of the second tier, having spent just two of the last 12 campaigns in League One.
The Lions haven’t been in the top-flight of English football since the 1989-90 season; the closest they have come to a return was when finishing just outside the play-offs in 2018, 2020 and 2023.
They famously reached the 2004 FA Cup final, but were beaten 3-0 at the Millennium Stadium by Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United.
THE DEN
Built: 1993
Location: John Berylson Way, London SE16 3LN
Capacity: 20,146
All time-record Lions goal scorer Neil Harris returned to the Den, replacing Joe Edwards as head coach, in February 2024 and guided a club he is synonymous with to Championship safety.
Harris started his coaching career in 2013 at the Lions, working his way up through their academy and having several spells as caretaker manager.
He was given the job on a permanent basis in 2015, and twice took Millwall to the play-offs, securing promotion at the second time of asking.
Harris resigned in 2019, joining fellow Championship side Cardiff City one month later. He took the Bluebirds to the play-offs that season, where whey were defeated by Fulham.
Harris was sacked by the Bluebirds in January 2021 and had a year out of management before being appointed by League One side Gillingham the following January.
Harris suffered relegation to League Two with the Gills and was dismissed in October 2023.
His next job came two months later, joining Cambridge United in December 2023, however the chance to return to The Den proved too good to turn down when the role came up in February this year.
Shaun Hutchinson is Millwall's club captain. The Newcastle-born defender started his career in Scotland, graduating from Motherwell's academy to make over 140 appearances for the Wells, while also being part of the side that reached the Scottish Cup final in 2011.
He went on to join Fulham on a free transfer, making over 40 appearances for the Cottagers over two years before moving to the Den in 2016.
He has played for the Lions ever since, making over 250 appearances for the club, he was part of the side that secured promotion to the Championship in 2017.
Hutchinson has suffered injury problems, only making 15 appearances last term, with fellow defender Jake Cooper taking the armband for the majority of the season.
He briefly left the club in the summer, but was offered a new contract and returned.
Experienced defender Joe Bryan joined Millwall on a free transfer during the summer of 2023 and, after an injury-hit first season, has started the new campaign strongly at The Den.
The Bristol City academy product came through the ranks to reach the senior team at Ashton Gate, and made 230 appearances for the Robins, helping them to promotion from League One, EFL Trophy success and a run to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
A £6million move to Premier League Fulham followed in 2018, and he quickly became a regular for the Cottagers.
They suffered relegation, but he helped them return to the top-flight immediately, with his opportunistic free-kick helping them beat west London rivals Brentford in the Championship play-off final.
Bryan spent the 2022-23 campaign on loan at Nice, before switching to south-east London after his contract expired at Fulham.
Lambeth-born winger Romain Esse has been among those to catch the eye for Millwall, and he has three goals and an assist to his name so far during the 2024-25 campaign.
The 19-year-old England youth international is a product of the Lions youth system, and made his senior debut as a substitute against Watford in December 2022.
The following month he signed his first pro deal and he has been involved with the first team since.
Technically-gifted and an exciting dribbler, his speed and trickery make him a handful for defenders.
Duncan Watmore is the Lions topscorer with five goals to his name so far this term.
The forward has been with Millwall since January 2023, and his fine start to the season has taken him to 12 goals in 64 outings for the south London side.
On the books of Manchester United as a youngster, Watmore went on to have spells with Altrincham, Clitheroe and Curzon Ashton before being picked up by Sunderland.
He spent seven years with the Black Cats, including a brief loan spell in Scotland with Hibernian, before making the switch to their north-east rivals Middlesbrough.
Watmore flourished on Teesside, scoring 21 goals in 92 league appearances.
When a player moves to a club in the Championship for the first time, there are often questions asked about how they will adjust to the hustle and bustle of life in the second tier.
One man who has wasted little time in answering those questions has been Gonçalo Franco.
The Portuguese midfielder has been one of Swansea City’s stand-out performers, adapting to a new league, a new country and a new city with a minimum of fuss.
And his physicality has been one of the attributes to catch the eye.
While he may not be the biggest player in stature, Franco’s ability to harry, hustle and bounce opponents off the ball has quickly made him a key figure.
Additionally he has dovetailed well with captain Matt Grimes in midfield, looking to pick his head up and play forward as soon as he secures possession.
And, far from being awed by the rough and tumble of British football, he has relished the task.
“I am enjoying it, I am loving being here. The people here are so warm and friendly, and it has been easy to settle here,” said Franco.
“I feel more and more comfortable every day, on and off the pitch.
“The league is obviously totally different to Portugal, it is a lot more physical, you have to be ready to fight more.
“But I like that side of the game, I am prepared to fight. I don’t know where that comes from but I want to win at everything I do, not just football.
“But I also want to show what I can do with the ball, to show I have quality. I feel I can do that a lot more, and I still have a lot to learn and improve on.”
Franco joined the Swans from Moreirense during the summer window, and became the latest in a line of Portuguese players to recently represent the club.
He recalls seeing the likes of Euro 2016 winners Eder and Renato Sanches in the club’s colours when the Swans were in the Premier League, and it made an impression on him.
So, when Swansea came calling in the summer, it was an easy decision to make even though there was interest from a number of other clubs.
“I already knew the Championship is a very good league, it’s very competitive and I like this. Here I am more close to the Premier League, too,” he said.
“I also know the club had a few Portuguese players – Renato Sanches, Eder, Nelson Oliveira. I can remember seeing them in the shirt, and I was told that Roberto Martinez, the Portugal coach, had been here as a manager.
“Then, of course, you have Cristiano Ronaldo, who is one of the best players in the world and played over here for many years.
“For me and for most people in Portugal, the leagues in the UK are the best league in the world and all the players work to play in the Premier League one day. I am the same and I hope I can get there with Swansea.”
Franco has been learning English during his time with the Swans, but he does have a fellow Portuguese speaker in the squad in Brazilian winger Ronald.
The two get on well, and have found a spot in Swansea where they regularly go for food.
“He doesn’t speak much English. We are very good friends and we help each other to make sure we understand,” Franco says of Ronald.
“But is a very good player and he has a good margin to improve. He has lots of potential.
“We go to eat in the Portuguese restaurant. Madeira. It’s very good and we look after each other.”
Franco does have some football pedigree in his family, with his father Pedro having himself been a professional footballer whose near 20-year career included a stint in South Korea, before moving into coaching.
While Franco senior was a centre-back by trade, his knowledge of the game has had an influence on his son.
“He gives me advice about the right way to go. We call every day,” says Franco.
“Since I was young, I had a dream to be a football player and for sure my family have been big supporters of me and helped me to get to this point.
“I am grateful for all the sacrifices they made and I hope I can make them proud.”
Another person whose support Franco cannot speak highly enough of is head coach Luke Williams.
When he joined the Swans in the summer, the player spoke of how his conversations with Williams had played a big part in his move, making a big impression because of the clear plan and clarity of gameplan the Swansea boss outlined to him.
Williams has described the summer recruit as an “action man”, and Franco has no intention of letting his energy levels drop.
“I am really thankful to the head coach so far, he has helped me a lot. He has given me game time and lots of advice. I look up to him,” said Franco.
“He said the club would give game time to younger players and he spoke really clearly about the project here and how I can fit in.
“Everything he told me, it has turned out as he said, but we both know I have a lot of work to do and that I can improve.
“I am a box-to-box player so I have to be able to defend and attack, and I want to score goals and create goals for the team. I think the goals will come.
“But I am really enjoying my football.
“It is different from Portugal but I prefer the people here, they are friendly and humble.
“I go for a walk and people come to wish me the best or to have a photo, they also tell me we need to win against Cardiff!
“It’s different from Portugal – the weather. Here it is colder, but I prefer the people here. They are friendly and humble.
“I go for a walk and the people say can I take a photo, welcome to Swansea, and we need to win against Cardiff!
“It has been a great experience so far, but I want to make sure the team and I improve and we can push forward.”
Let me start by congratulating our skipper Matt Grimes and his wife Angela following their spectacular wedding earlier this month. Not that I was there, before anyone wonders how I managed to pull that one off, but, like many thousands of others, I saw the pictures the happy couple shared on social media.
They married on October 6, the day after our last home game, a 0-0 draw against Stoke, and what a stunning series of pictures they shared. Huge congratulations to them both and all the very best for the future as they start a new chapter in their lives together.
And congratulations of a different kind to all those involved in the mural dedicated to club legends Ivor and Len Allchurch. Members of the Swansea City Supporters’ Trust and Former Players’ Association are behind the initiative, which seeks to recognise and remember former players who have represented the club.
The Trust have collaborated with Openreach, the firm which owns and runs much of our broadband network in the UK, and they agreed to allow images of the brothers to be painted on a junction box near to where they grew up in Plasmarl.
As youngsters, the pair played football on the streets near their home and on the pitches of the local Cwm Level Park. This was the first of a series of murals to be unveiled across the city.
Protecting the heritage of our club is so important, and while groups of people like the Supporters’ Trust and the Former Players’ Association do what they can to serve that purpose, we all have a part to play.
Future generations of fans will only know about the players who played for us if we continue to find ways to recognise them and preserve their legacy – and support initiatives like this.
On to matters on the pitch and it’s 14th v 13th in the Championship as we welcome Millwall to the Swansea.com Stadium.
Head coach Neil Harris returned to The Den to manage the Lions back in February. The ex-Cardiff City player and coach has had a long association with the club and has managed to turn their fortunes around since taking up the reins from Joe Edwards, who was sacked with Millwall just above the relegation zone.
Harris previously managed the Lions from 2015-2019 and got them to two League One play-off finals, winning the second against Bradford for a return to the Championship. He is also the club’s top scorer, netting 138 goals for Millwall during two playing spells totalling a decade.
The last time the two sides met was on the last game of last season here at the Swansea.com. The visitors were the victors by a goal and, to add insult to injury, captain Grimes had a penalty saved by Millwall keeper Matija Sarkic - who is very sadly no longer with us having passed away at the tragically young age of 26 earlier this year - and both sides ended the game a man down.
It was certainly a feisty second half in May and while we’ll all be hoping for a decent, action-packed display, let’s hope we end the game with 11 men on the pitch and three points in the bag this afternoon.
Dim ond mis yn ôl, roedd pethau'n edrych yn positif iawn i Ddinas Abertawe.
Roedd tîm Luke Williams wedi ennill 2-1 oddi cartref yn erbyn Coventry City wrth iddyn nhw symud i fyny i’r seithfed safle yn y Bencampwriaeth.
Ond pum gêm yn ddiweddarach, nid yw'r llun yn edrych mor ddymunol.
Dyw Abertawe heb ennill yr un o’u pum gêm ddiwethaf, ac mae nhw wedi methu sgorio gôl dros eu pedair gêm flaenorol.
Mae eu cyfanswm o wyth gôl wedi sgorio hefyd yr isaf yn y gynghrair, er eu bod wedi ildio dim ond saith gwaith yn y Bencampwriaeth, y cydradd drydydd cyfanswm gorau yn yr adran.
Fe ddaw ar adeg pan mae carfan Abertawe wedi cael eu profi, gydag Eom Ji-sung allan am chwe wythnos oherwydd anaf tra bod eraill gan gynnwys Josh Ginnelly, Aimar Govea a Sam Parker yn parhau heb fod ar gael.
Oddi ar y cae, cadarnhaodd Abertawe yn ddiweddar fod y cyfarwyddwr chwaraeon Paul Watson wedi gadael y clwb.
Gyda dim ond dau fis i fynd tan i ffenestr drosglwyddo mis Ionawr agor, nid oes llawer o amser o gwbl i'r clwb gwblhau eu cynlluniau i ddod â recriwtiaid newydd i fewn ym mis Ionawr.
Heb os, fe fydd yn rhwystredig i’r prif hyfforddwr Williams a fyddai, ar y cyfan, wedi bod yn falch iawn gyda’r ffordd y dechreuodd Abertawe’r tymor.
Fodd bynnag, mae gwir angen gwelliant o ran perfformiad, er y byddai buddugoliaeth o unrhyw fath yn fwy na chroeso yn erbyn Millwall y prynhawn yma.
Roedd y Llewod heb fuddugoliaeth mewn tair gêm cyn wynebu Plymouth Argyle nos Fercher, a bydd Williams yn gobeithio y bydd yr diwrnod ychwanegol o adferiad yn helpu eu dîm yn erbyn carfan Neil Harris heddiw.
Y positif mawr i’r Elyrch yw bod ganddyn nhw record cryf gartref y tymor hwn.
Mae nhw heb colli mewn pum gêm Bencampwriaeth yn Stadiwm Abertawe.com ac wedi ildio dim ond dwy gôl ar draws y gemau hynny.
Bydd eu hamddiffyniad trawiadol yn rhoi’r cyfle iddyn nhw rwystro Millwall heddiw, a gydag ychydig o welliant yn yr ymosod, fe allai Abertawe achosi rhai problemau i’r clwb o Lundain.
Fe allai’r clwb cyfan, gan gynnwys y staff, y chwaraewyr a’r cefnogwyr, wneud gyda’r tri phwynt heddiw.
Gallai buddugoliaeth fynd yn bell i helpu Abertawe i ailgynnau eu tymor ar ôl cyfnod anodd.
A MESSAGE FROM THE GLOBAL JACKS
Are you a member of the Jack Army supporting from outside Swansea?
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Geraint on holiday in Sri Lanka
There is an elephant in the room of my hotel in Sri Lanka! He's a jumbo Swans fan!
One of Millwall’s most famous and vociferous fans is TV and radio personality Danny Baker.
The lifelong Lions supporter made his name as a music journalist, before moving on to radio and TV presenting, as well as establishing himself as a successful comedy writer.
Raised in Millwall’s Bermondsey heartland, Danny has always had strong footballing links and opinions.
The witty wordsmith presented BBC Radio Five Live’s 606 phone-in for a number of years, and has worked on numerous other media projects related to the sport and a wide range of other subjects.
I remember one of Danny’s shows, which aired on Saturday mornings on BBC Radio Five Live, featured a celebrity-related quiz called the Sausage Sandwich Game.
Listeners were invited to answer questions only the guest celebrities could know the correct answer to.
One question, repeated every week, was which condiment that particular Saturday’s guest preferred on their sausage sandwich.
With great reverence, Baker used to inquire whether the guest accompanied their snorkers with “red sauce . . . brown sauce . . . or no sauce at all”.
I was reminded of the question recently when reading a football-related tweet on Danny’s X account.
It went along the lines of:
“The international break. Not a single football supporter wants it.”
Now I have a similar opinion of brown sauce. There will never be a day when I sully a sausage sarnie with anything resembling brown sauce.
It’s red sauce every time for me.
However, I am fully aware and accepting that there are a large number of people out there who do like a squidge of the brown stuff on their bangers.
And, of course, there are many out there who equally enjoy a slathering of red and brown sauce, depending on how the mood takes them.
Which is pretty much where I stand on the international breaks – another of which will be coming up next month, just a few weeks after the previous one.
I love club football.
I also love international football.
It is possible to love both. Just the same as some people like red and brown sauce!
But take a look at social media and many seem to share Danny’s view that “not a single football fan” wants international breaks during the club season.
Now this view surely can’t be correct.
Almost 30,000 people turned up on a rainy Monday night in Cardiff a couple of weeks ago to watch Wales play Montenegro in the Nations League.
A few days earlier, around 1,000 members of the Red Wall stumped up a small fortune to travel to Iceland – one of the most expensive countries to visit in Europe – to watch Craig Bellamy’s side claim a point on a bone-chillingly cold evening.
Just as an aside, it did make me chuckle that while the Red Wall were almost within spitting distance of the Arctic Circle, those back home were enjoying one of the most spectacular displays of the Northern Lights in Welsh history!
Also, it was wonderful to see so many Swans academy graduates involved in the senior squads for the Montenegro and Iceland matches, as well as all the club’s young players involved in the various age-group games.
Anyway, by Danny’s reckoning, not a single one of those people who attended the matches in Cardiff or Reykjavik was a football supporter who actually wanted those games to take place!
I can understand some of the frustration felt by many club fans when the season is interrupted by international breaks, especially when you get two within the space of a month.
But to say “not a single football supporter” wants them, is an exaggeration to say the least.
In fact, our own celebrity fan, comedian and radio presenter Elis James, had something to say on the subject in an X post.
Answering one of Danny’s previous comments, posted before the previous international break, Elis pointed out that he was about to head off to watch Wales in Montenegro. The Carmarthen quipster added: “Like all football, if you care it’s fantastic.”
I’m very much in Elis’ camp, and so are tens of thousands of other British fans, judging by the numbers who attended internationals at Wembley, Cardiff, Windsor Park and Hampden during the last break.
Just because we like international football, doesn't mean we value it over league football. It doesn’t make us lesser fans of our clubs. We just love football and the teams we support, be it club or country.
When the internationals are over, I can’t wait for Swans matches to get underway again, and vice versa.
To me, the variety adds to the enjoyment of the season.
Personally, there is always an extra bit of anticipation and excitement to the first Swans match after an international break.
Of course, there can be drawbacks to international football. I’m sure Luke Williams spends each match involving his players with fingers and toes firmly crossed in the hope they return safely to Swansea.
Following the news that Jisung Eom had been injured on international duty for South Korea, I saw some social media posts from Swans fans saying they couldn’t understand supporters who celebrated our players being called up by their countries.
Their argument was that they didn’t want the players to pick up injuries on international duty and would prefer for them not to be selected.
I can understand the frustration over injuries, and I wish Eom a speedy recovery from this setback.
But injuries are a part of football. Sadly, players will get injured, whether playing for their club, country, or dropping a jar of salad cream on their foot as Wimbledon and Chelsea goalkeeper Dave Beasant famously did years ago!
Yes, we are going to sorely miss Eom for the next few weeks, he has been a hugely welcome addition to the Swans squad.
But surely any club is going to be strengthened by having international quality players, even if it is at the risk of them picking up knocks while away?
Not only do the Swans benefit from their quality, but also the exposure the club gets from its players being involved in high-profile international matches and, hopefully, tournaments.
So, here’s to everyone who loves club football and international football... even the weird ones who also like brown sauce in their sausage sandwiches!
C’mon you Swans!
The 2024-25 campaign marks Swansea City’s 20th season at the Swansea.com Stadium following the ground’s opening in 2005. Throughout the campaign, club historian Gwyn Rees will reflect on some of the notable moments and personalities that have shaped the history of our home. We continue with an FA Cup tie against top-flight opposition from the 2008-09 season, where Swansea’s caught the attention of a national audience.
Swansea City 1 Fulham 1 – FA Cup fifth round – February 14, 2009
Following their fantastic League One title success, the 2008-09 season saw the Swans back at Championship level for the first time in 24 years, and manager Roberto Martinez and his squad had made the adjustment in impressive fashion.
In mid-February they sat a healthy seventh in the division, just outside the play-off places, with a game in hand on most of the sides above them.
Their style of play was winning a growing band of admirers and, having seen off Histon and holders Portsmouth to reach the fifth rounds, were handed a tie against top-flight Fulham on home turf.
The Cottagers were enjoying an impressive season under future Liverpool and England manager Roy Hodgson. Indeed, they would finish the campaign in seventh place and secure European qualification.
But they were given an uncomfortable afternoon by Martinez’s Swans who completely dominated the opening exchanges.
Inside three minutes Matt Gower had exchanged passes with Jordi Gomez and fired a shot against the woodwork with Mark Schwarzer beaten, and the ball rebounded into the grateful keeper’s hands.
It set the tone for the remainder of the half. Gower and Nathan Dyer caused all sorts of problems for the visitors, and the former had another great chance when Angel Rangel’s cross picked him out at the far post, but Schwarzer was equal to his close-range shot.
Fulham were under siege, with Leon Britton and Gomez running the game in midfield. But, seconds before the interval, the Swans fell behind in unfortunate fashion.
Paul Konchesky’s corner was missed by Dorus de Vries as the goalkeeper came to punch, and the ball cannoned into the net off the hip of a startled Garry Monk.
Fulham could not believe their luck, but the home side were undeterred by the setback and quickly picked up where they had left off.
Schwarzer turned another Gower effort round the post, but there was nothing he could do to deny Jason Scotland just seven minutes into the second half.
The striker collected an Alan Tate pass, and turned superbly away from Aaron Hughes before calmly dispatching the ball into the net for his 17th goal of the season.
That lifted the Swans and they pressed relentlessly for the winner their performance deserved. Gomez and Dyer went close as Fulham tried every trick possible to run the clock down.
They would eventually succeed and ensure a replay would be required at Craven Cottage.
In the meantime, the draw for the quarter-finals confirmed the winner of the tie would face Manchester United in the last eight, but it would be Fulham who secured a home tie with the Red Devils thanks to two late goals after the Swans had led through another Scotland strike.
Nevertheless, that performance against Fulham had put the wider football world on alert when it came to Swansea’s rise.
First football shirt: The black Vodafone away kit for Manchester United.
First football game you attended: Hull City v Derby County.
First appearance for Swansea City/or pro appearance? I played in an FA Cup match for Hull - we won 3-0.
First football hero: Wayne Rooney.
First major tournament you can remember: The World Cup in 2010.
Aimar Govea's 94th-minute strike ensured Swansea City Under-21s made it back-to-back Premier League Cup wins with victory over their West Bromwich Albion counterparts at The Hawthorns.
Swansea led with 10 minutes played after Govea's cross was turned into the back of the net by a West Brom defender.
And the visitors retained their lead at the break with Richard Faakye and Iestyn Jones to the fore defensively.
However, the hosts levelled through Oliver Bostock in the final quarter of the contest.
But Govea netted a dramatic last-gasp winner to claim all three points under the lights.
It was reward for a determined effort from the visitors as they gained more valuable experience playing in a Championship stadium.
The Swans had got off to an impressive start, passing the ball round smartly in tight areas under pressure.
The hosts then had a good spell, and Faakye slid in to cut out one Baggies attack, before Sebastian Dabrowski made an important clearance.
Swansea keeper Ben Hughes was forced in to action when Harry Whitwell won the ball in midfield, eventually parrying away a low strike on goal.
But the Swans took the lead in the 10th minute through an own goal. Govea's high cross from the left ricocheted off the post before deflecting off the helpless Muhamed Diomande and into his own net.
From the restart, West Brom immediately pressed forward through Eseosa Sule, but Dabrowski was on hand to fend off the forward and win a free-kick.
Down the other end, the visitors had two chances from corners, with skipper Mitchell Bates shooting wide before Jones headed the ball off target.
The home side stepped up the pressure with Sule and Cole Deeming firing thunderous efforts over the crossbar.
The closing stages of the first period proved nervy for the Swans, but they dug in to remain ahead at the half-time whistle.
The second half started with West Brom winning a series of set-pieces, but Hughes punched away the final delivery in the sequence to lift the pressure.
Swansea hit back and Dan Watts looked set to tee up Sammy Henia-Kamau for a golden chance, only for the final pass to just have too much on it.
At the other end Hughes was alert to deny Dan Chimeziri from close range after a free-kick had fallen for the West Brom man just outside the six-yard box.
But the Baggies did level when a fine solo run from Bostock ended with him finding the bottom corner.
The game looked set to finish all-square as it headed into four minutes of stoppage time. But the Swans had other ideas.
The ball broke kindly for Govea and, after seeing his first attempt come back off the post, the Ecuador youth international was on hand to slot the rebound into an unguarded net.
The Swans remain top of Group C following their 6-0 victory over Fleetwood Town in September. They welcome Southampton to the Joma High Performance Centre in their next Premier League Cup fixture on Friday, November 8 (7pm).
West Bromwich Albion U21s: Ben Cisse, Deago Nelson, Gianluca Frabotta, Dauda Iddrisa, Muhamed Diomande (captain), Josh Shaw, Fenton Heard, Cole Deeming, Eseosa Sule, Harry Whitwell, Oliver Bostock.
Substitutes: Matt Richards, Joe Wallis, Akeel Higgins, Michael Parker, Dan Chimeziri.
Swansea City Under-21s: Ben Hughes, Arthur Parker, Sebastian Dabrowski, Mitchell Bates (captain), Richard Faakye, Iestyn Jones, Aimar Govea, Dan Watts (Thomas Woodward 77), Sammy Henia-Kamau (Morgan Bates 87), Ben Lloyd, Glory Nzingo.
Substitutes: Josh Pescatore, Kit Margetson, Brogan Popham.
Swansea City Women’s unbeaten start to the Genero Adran Premier season came to an end as they were beaten by The New Saints Women at Llandarcy.
Caitlin Chapman put TNS ahead early, before a Chantelle Teare brace gave the visitors a commanding 3-0 lead at the break.
Maria Francis-Jones extended their lead further after the interval, with Teare sealing her hat-trick as the Swans suffered a setback just a week after south Wales derby victory.
The Swans went into the game looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season, having won three and drawn one in their opening four games.
First-team manager Jamie Sherwood was forced into two changes as Opal Rayner and Danielle Broadhurst replaced Claire Skinner and Robyn Pinder, who were unavailable for the fixture.
The Swans had a chance in the opening minute, Emily Thomas’ cross from deep found Lucy Finch at the back post, but the full-back’s effort did not trouble the keeper.
Instead it would be the visitors who took the lead as Chapman’s cross from the right beat Rayner in the Swans goal just five minutes in.
Danielle Broadhurst came close to an instant response for the hosts, finding time on the edge of the box to volley an effort just over.
The visitors would soon double their lead as Teare burst into the area, turned a defender and fired into the bottom corner.
Jess Willams had an effort cleared off the line as the Swans looked for a way back into the game, after Katy Hosford had delivered an accurate corner to pick out the defender.
Hosford’s set-pieces continued to cause problems, with Finch having an effort parried away from the skipper’s free-kick.
But it would be 3-0 to the visitors before the break, Chapman’s looping cross came to Teare at the back post, and she headed home her second of the game.
Sherwood rang the changes at the break, with Maddy Murray and Aimee Deacon being introduced.
But the visitors remained in control. Helen Evans struck the bar from distance, with Rayner denying Lia Lewis from the follow up.
Rayner was called into action again with 20 minutes to go, pushing an effort from a TNS corner onto the bar.
Substitute Chloe Chivers looked to pull one back as she tried a shot from distance, but keeer Rebecca Elliot dealt with it well.
TNS added to their tally when Chapman cut back to Francis-Jones, who tucked a shot into the bottom left corner of the net.
And it would be five soon after, Teare sealing a fine hat-trick by powering a shot from long range past Rayner.
Swansea City Women: Opal Rayner, Lucy Finch, Sophie Brisland-Hancocks (Taite Trivett 78), Steph Turner (Maddy Murray 46), Danielle Broadhurst (Aimee Deacon 46), Rachel Cullen (Chloe Chivers 66), Katy Hosford (captain), Stacey John-Davis, Emily Thomas, Jess Williams, Nia Jones.
Unused subs: Sammy Wynne.
The New Saints Women: Rebecca Elliot, Maria Francis-Jones, Lauren Dunkerley, Tiggeraa Webb, Sophie Phillips, Chantelle Teare (Mia Evans 88), Caitlin Chapman (Emily Ridge 82), Helen Evans, Matilda Edge (Poppy Kendrick-Jones 88), Lia Lewis (captain), Molly Havard (Lexi Jones 65).
We are all Jacks is Swansea City’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion both within the club and throughout the local community.
Working with international and local charities, as well as supporter groups, Swansea City strives to ensure that a visit to the Swansea.com Stadium is a welcoming experience for everyone regardless of sex, sexuality, gender identity, religion, race, disability, or age.
The club takes a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, harassment, victimisation, bullying and abuse.
Supporters are encouraged to report instances of abusive and discriminatory language within the stadium by using the anonymous safe text number 88440, starting the message with the word SWANS and providing details of the incident.
Messages will be charged at the standard rate for your network provider.
The details from the message will be received at the match control room, where any necessary investigation and/or action will be taken. The club will also record the mobile number of the individual reporting an incident to aid with any inquiries.
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.
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.
Croeso nôl Junior Jacks!
It feels like ages since we’ve seen you all at the Swansea.com Stadium but we are delighted you are back.
We’re looking forward to you joining us for our Halloween themed party in the South Stand!
Make sure you get your face painted, and join in all the activities we have planned.
To celebrate the spookiest time of the year, we have put together a Halloween quiz for you.
Let us know how you get on on social media by telling us your score and using #JuniorJacks
We think the score today will be 2-1 to the Swans and Liam Cullen and Ronald will score the goals.
Have a fang-tastic Halloween! 🎃
Cyril and Cybil
Head Coach Luke Williams
1 Andy Fisher
2 Josh Key
3 Kristian Pedersen
4 Jay Fulton
5 Ben Cabango
6 Harry Darling
7 Joe Allen
8 Matt Grimes ©
9 Žan Vipotnik
10 Jisung Eom
11 Josh Ginnelly
14 Josh Tymon
17 Gonçalo Franco
19 Florian Bianchini
20 Liam Cullen
21 Nathan Tjoe-A-On
22 Lawrence Vigouroux
25 Myles Peart-Harris
26 Kyle Naughton
29 Nathan Broome
31 Ollie Cooper
32 Nelson Abbey
33 Jon McLaughlin
35 Ronald
37 Aimar Govea
40 NUMBER RETIRED
41 Sam Parker
42 Evan Watts
43 Dan Watts
47 Azeem Abdulai
50 Filip Lissah
1 Lukas Jensen
2 Danny McNamara
3 Murray Wallace
4 Shaun Hutchinson ©
5 Jake Cooper
6 Japhet Tanganga
7 Kevin Nisbet
8 Billy Mitchell
9 Tom Bradshaw
10 Zian Flemming
11 Femi Azeez
12 Adam Mayor
13 Liam Roberts
14 Ryan Wintle
15 Joe Bryan
16 Daniel Kelly
17 Macaulay Langstaff
18 Ryan Leonard
19 Duncan Watmore
21 Josh Coburn
22 Aldomo Emakhu
23 George Saville
24 Casper De Norre
25 Romain Esse
26 Mihailo Ivanovic
27 Connal Trueman
33 Calum Scanlon
39 George Honeyman
45 Wes Harding
Referee - John Busby
Assistant Referee 1 - Mark Russell
Assistant Referee 2 - Lee Venamore
Fourth Official - Edward Duckworth
STAFF LIST
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 Heinrich, Todd Marcelle, Gareth Davies.
Chief of Staff and Head of Strategy: Ken Gude
Associate Directors: Diane Hughes
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, Jake Dayus, Patrick Orme, Aden King, Maxwell Cambridge, Lewis Binns, Chris Watkins.
SENIOR MANAGEMENT GROUP
Andrew Davies (Head of Operations);
Gareth Davies (CFO).
CLUB STAFF
Head of Football Administration: 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: Catherine Thomas
Head of Retail: Andrea Morris
Head of Ticketing: Lewis Bullen
Head of Safeguarding: Rebeca Storer
HR Manager: Nicola Butt
Head of Facilities: Gordon David
Grounds Manager: Evan Davies
Head of Supporter Services: Hayley Ford
Head of Swansea City AFC Foundation: Paul France
Club Ambassador: Lee Trundle
PROGRAMME PRODUCTION
Contributors: Andrew Gwilym, Rachael Tucker, Cerith White, Jack Otter, Sophie Davis, Mackenzie Squires, Dom Hynes, Sammy Wynne, Fraser Dickson, Hayley Ford, Owen Morgan, Gwyn Rees, Julie Kissick, Ian Mitchelmore.
Designers: Callum Rothwell, Lewis Ward
Jordan Morcom.
Photography: Athena Picture Agency,
Natalie John-Davis, Alamy.