This is a particularly special matchday for us as a football club, as we celebrate the continued work and importance of our academy.
We have representatives from across our player pathway in attendance today, as well as the staff and coaches who work tirelessly to help us produce people – not just players – who are good on and off the pitch. All deserve tremendous credit and recognition for the efforts they make in the name of Swansea City.
A quick look at our current first-team squad just underlines how important the academy is. There are 10 academy graduates in the senior ranks, and four of those – Liam Cullen, Ben Cabango, Ollie Cooper and Joe Allen – have just been named in the Wales squad.
Producing, developing and promoting talented young players is part of the very fabric of this football club.
More recently you can look at the likes of Dan James, Connor Roberts, Joe Rodon and Oli McBurnie, but you can go back to a time pre-dating our academy when local talents like Ivor Allchurch, Robbie James, Wyndham Evans and Alan Curtis became Swansea City greats.
For a club like ours, the academy always has been and always will be of tremendous importance, and it is only right that we celebrate that today.
On the field we head into this game looking to maintain our unbeaten home record and build on our performance at Sheffield United in midweek.
We are never going to be happy with defeat, but going to Bramall Lane is going to be one of the toughest tests in the division and there was plenty to take from the manner in which we played.
Hopefully we can head into the international break by rounding off what has been an encouraging run with a good performance and result.
I think you can clearly see the identity of the team Luke, the staff and the players are building here, and that gives me a lot of optimism for the future.
This game, of course, is part one of a double-header at the Swansea.com Stadium this weekend, with Swansea City Women hosting Cardiff City Women on Sunday evening.
As we recognise the incredible success of our Academy on the Men's side, we are so pleased to have launch development squads in our Women's programme, with the formation of U13s and U15s squads this season. We are committed to building a girls' developmental pathway that can emulate the success we've had with the boys.
This south Wales derby clash between the top two sides in last season’s Genero Adran Premier promises to be a great contest, and tickets remain available for you to come and cheer the girls on against our nearest and fiercest rivals.
We hope to see you there, and we hope you enjoy today’s game.
Andy
Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium as we take on Stoke City in the Championship.
Despite our defeat at Sheffield United in midweek, I feel like we have a real opportunity to round off what has been a good period for us between the two international breaks on a positive note.
We enter this game unbeaten on home soil in the league and if we can continue to build on the good periods we are having in games, and improving the areas we know we need to work on, then we can head into the next couple of weeks with plenty of encouragement to motivate us further.
We were disappointed to suffer defeat at Bramall Lane in midweek, we had a lot of control particularly in the first half, and it has come down to the fine margins where we have created a really big chance, been unable to take it, and then conceded in unfortunate fashion a few minutes later.
I know Josh Tymon was gutted about his own goal, which is understandable, but these things do happen in football and I know Josh has the character to put that behind him and bounce back quickly.
He has been outstanding for us since I came to the club and he is going to continue to be an important player for us.
The same can be said of Joe Allen, and now he can also be an important figure for his country after coming out of international retirement for Wales.
I have spoken to Craig Bellamy about Joe and we both share an admiration for what Joe continues to bring on and off the pitch.
I know how our players who went away with Wales last month spoke so highly of the work being done in the national set-up and I have no doubt this will be great for Joe, for Swansea City and for Wales.
Joe is, of course, a product of this club’s academy, and today we are celebrating the fantastic work being done by those who help us develop the calibre of player and person synonymous with Swansea City.
The production line continues to churn out exciting young players like Sam Parker, Aimar Govea and Filip Lissah, all of whom have played for the senior side in 2024, and the work being done to make sure we are aligned as a club across all age groups and staff is excellent.
We are also fortunate to have a number of staff here who have been here for many years and had experience of working in the academy and the with the first team. Someone like Kris O’Leary, whose time with Swansea stretches back 30 years, is a prime example of that.
His depth of knowledge of the players throughout the club is almost encyclopedic, and that link is so important.
The list of names to come out of the Swansea City academy tells you everything you need to know about the quality of work that has been, and continues to be, put into player and personal development here, and long may that continue.
Enjoy the game,
Luke
Over the course of the last four games the Swans have taken seven points from a possible 12, if we can carry that sort of form over the course of a season then it would have the potential to secure a play-off place so, although defeat at a Sheffield United team who were in the Premier League was still disappointing, there are positive signs.
Next up are Stoke, who we have had mixed results against at home with seven wins, one draw and five defeats (a nod of thanks to Trust statistician Gwyn Davies for that information).
Our 3-0 win last season was the best result over that period and more of the same would be most welcome today.
Stoke were relegated with us from the Premier League in 2018, which seems like an age ago. They have struggled in this period as they adjusted to life in the second tier, but this summer have been boosted by a structural change at ownership level that has cleared all debts. Like us they have invested in players and infrastructure, recently installing safe standing, renovating their stadium sports bar and significantly also building a 1,550 capacity fan zone.
It is great to have our own temporary fan park in place for this match with many activities and attractions lined up today from 12.30pm, and it would be great if we can one day get to a place where we have a permanent fixture in place on matchdays.
The Trust and club-led Matchday Experience Working Group meets again with supporters next week so feel free to contact supporters@swanstrust.co.uk with any issues you would like raised, and feedback will be included in a Supporter Director update later this month.
No doubt an eagerly-debated topic will be the recent report from the BBC on a possible route for the club into Europe via a revised Welsh Cup competition. It is too early for any details to be confirmed, but whilst there would be clear advantages both financially and in terms of attractiveness for the club.
Due to news of this possible cup competition, the recent Fair Game Index 2024 was largely overlooked. Fair Game Index 2024: Celtic top, with Spurs named No 1 in England — Fair Game (fairgameuk.org) This report identifies the best run clubs in the country based on financial sustainability, good governance, equality and ethical standards, as well as fan and community engagement. In case you missed it, out of the top 206 clubs in England, Scotland and Wales, Swansea ranked sixth. Yes, you read it correctly, independently judged and based on measurable facts, we are in the top six best run clubs - behind Spurs, Manchester Utd, Cambridge United, Brentford and Norwich.
As fans we all want the best for our club, and we are constantly judging where we are now against the best of where we have remembered us being in the past. It is important to remember that we have spent most years in the second tier in our history, not least throughout the 1950s which was a golden era for producing locally born players such as the Allchurch brothers, who went on to receive international honours.
For recent generations of fans these players are just names and numbers in the history books, but thanks to our Trust Ambassador and esteemed local author David Brayley, that era has recently been brought to life in a series of talks in the community that made everyone who attended proud to be a Jack. More talks on the club’s adventures across the decades will follow, but if you’d like to catch up on how the recent talks were received please go to Heritage Talks Update - Swansea City Supporters' Trust (swanstrust.co.uk)
The current generation of players have a lot to live up to following in the footsteps of such luminaries, but another win and positive performance today would be a step in the right direction.
Come on you Swans!
Paul Meller
Swansea City AFC Foundation is launching walking football sessions for those affected by Parkinson’s disease, thanks to funding from Parkinson’s UK.
Sessions will run every Monday from October 14 at Cefn Hengoed Leisure Centre, offering those living with Parkinson’s and those supporting people living with the disease the opportunity to take part in physical activity and socialise.
Parkinson’s UK is dedicated to providing chances for those impacted by the condition to connect with others and find accessible physical activity all over Wales; the Swans Foundation’s walking football sessions are part of a wider scheme across the country with Wrexham AFC Community Trust also participating in the project.
People with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s often have limited opportunities to exercise due to the symptoms of their conditions, and often feel unable to join mainstream exercise programmes due to physical inability or fear of not fitting in.
These new sessions will allow participants to not only take part at their own pace, but also allow for a support group element, where participants can discuss shared experiences and interact with peers.
Each session will be followed by the opportunity to join Foundation coaches and fellow participants in the café at Cefn Hengoed Leisure Centre, encouraging people to talk with those facing similar challenges.
Sessions will take place from 3pm to 4pm every week from October 14 and are open to adults of all abilities, and cater to individual needs.
Caroline Gwilym, head of health and wellbeing at Swansea City AFC Foundation, said: “At Swansea City AFC Foundation, we strive to be inclusive for everyone in our local community and this latest addition to our range of programmes only grows that.
“Walking Football has been a fantastic programme that has helped so many people find an accessible way to be involved in physical activity and socialise, and we feel that this would be a great benefit to those affected by Parkinson’s.
“These sessions will allow people to be active with peers in a judgement free environment, allowing them to be comfortable whilst taking part in sport.
“We'd like to thank Parkinson's UK for enabling us to deliver these sessions, which we hope will be really impactful to our local community.”
To sign up click here. To find out more information, please contact robin@swansfoundation.org.uk.
With this fixture against Stoke City being dedicated to our academy, we take a look back at how our latest intake of aspiring young footballers were welcomed to Swansea City with a chance to take on Luke Williams' senior side at Fairwood during the summer.
The newest recruits and their families were welcomed to the first-team facility by academy manager Gavin Levey, before going on to watch the men's senior team continue their pre-season preparations.
The youngsters enjoyed two short games against Luke Williams' squad, taking on academy graduates such as Joe Allen, Ollie Cooper, Aimar Govea, Ben Cabango, Liam Cullen and Filip Lissah, who have all come through the club pathway.
Lead foundation phase coach Ben Slade believes the opportunity to interact with the senior set-up is vitally important for the aspiring young Swans, who are at the very start of their respective journeys in football.
“Thank you to the first team for the openness to bring the boys in, and play a game," said Slade.
“It’s brilliant that we can pair up those two journeys - one right at the top and and the other right at the bottom of the pathway - and ensure the players have the best support, the best experience and coaching, so when the time comes they can be those players."
Defender Cabango, who joined the academy set-up at under-15 level, underlined the importance of providing players within the academy with experiences that remain with them for years to come, and felt the afternoon had been a great success.
"For the boys to come down and train with us, it's a really good experience for them and us. They've been around Fairwood as well, so it's good they can see all the facilities," said Cabango.
"I might have taken the game a bit to competitively with two goals, but it was really good, and they beat us in the end! It was definitely enjoyable for them.
"I think they'll always remember this as something to look back on. They probably look up to us as idols, so to have the opportunity to play against us was amazing for them and us."
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.
Luke Williams has praised the “fantastic” work being done at the Swansea City academy as the club prepares to celebrate the talent production line at today's fixture against Stoke City.
The matchday against the Potters is dedicated to the academy, which has helped bring through players of the calibre of Joe Allen, Ben Davies, Connor Roberts, Joe Rodon, Dan James, Ben Cabango, Liam Cullen and Ollie Cooper over the years.
Sam Parker, Aimar Govea and Filip Lissah have been the latest to make the step up to senior level, and head coach Williams has hailed the importance of the player development pathway in SA1.
“The level of talent coming through is brilliant, it is so exciting because we are trying to train a lot more with that group (under-21s) this season,” he said.
“The staff at the academy are doing incredible things because they are trying to restructure a lot things to open up the pathway to more players.
“I think this is really fantastic.
“It can be difficult because people in football want to win every single game, but sometimes the development of the player is more important than winning the game.
“You may play a team that is not the absolute best or first choice, because you want to give the younger players that exposure and you want to push them.
“That then leaves the next group behind them a bit lighter too. That can make it difficult to win, but you look at our academy and they are managing to open those pathways while still being able to win games. That is great.”
Williams and academy manager Gavin Levey have spoken of the alignment work being done across the senior and development set-ups.
In addition to younger players earning the chance to experience training with the first team, there have always been regular staff presentations and placements across all levels of the age-grade system to encourage an open sharing of ideas and working practices.
And Williams highlighted the importance in that process of staff members who have worked across academy and senior levels, such as first-team coach Kris O’Leary, who spent a number of years coaching in the academy.
“We have a key member of staff in our first team in Kris O’Leary. He works with us every day, but he knows every single player at this club, and I mean every single player,” added Williams.
“He knows every single thing about every player, he is like an encyclopedia so we have that person who is a Jack, who is Swansea through and through, he has been involved with the club for 30 years.
“There is nothing he hasn’t seen, he can remember Joe Allen as a young prospect. I don’t want to make Kris feel old, but having that person in the staff who understands everything about the first team, that understands everything about the academy, and then you add in the fantastic staff working every day at the academy, that has to be a good thing.
“We have to look after this and we have to make sure we communicate really well. We are all trying and we have the young players come in to train with us a lot, we don’t change the session for them so they get the experience of seeing how players operate at this level.
“It’s really exciting.”
Ben Cabango’s close-range finish was not enough to give Swansea City a third win in a row as Bristol City fought back to claim a point at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux, Kyle Naughton (Josh Key 60), Ben Cabango, Harry Darling, Josh Tymon; Matt Grimes (captain), Goncalo Franco (Joe Allen 73), Ollie Cooper; Ronald, Žan Vipotnik (Myles Peart-Harris 73), Jisung Eom (Azeem Abdulai 89).
Unused Substitutes: Jon McLaughlin, Jay Fulton, Florian Bianchini, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Nelson Abbey.
Bristol City: Max O'Leary, Max Bird (Joe Williams 57), Yu Hirakawa (Mark Sykes 57), Scott Twine (Fally Mayulu 86), Anis Mehmeti, Jason Knight (captain), Zak Vyner, Luke McNally, George Tanner, Haydon Roberts (Cameron Pring 57), Sinclair Armstrong (Nahki Wells 68).
Unused Substitutes: Stefan Bajic, Kal Naismith, Marcus McGuane, George Earthy.
Referee: Andrew Kitchen
Attendance: 16,328
Swansea City suffered a first Championship defeat in four games as a Josh Tymon own goal saw them edged out by Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux, Josh Key, Ben Cabango, Harry Darling, Josh Tymon (Kyle Naughton 77); Matt Grimes (captain), Jay Fulton (Joe Allen 72), Ollie Cooper (Žan Vipotnik 64); Ronald (Florian Bianchini 64), Myles Peart-Harris, Jisung Eom (Azeem Abdulai 72).
Unused Substitutes: Jon McLaughlin, Gonçalo Franco, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Nelson Abbey.
Sheffield United: Michael Cooper, Harry Souttar, Gus Hamer (Rhian Brewster 72), Callum O’Hare (Rhys Norrington-Davies 84), Harrison Burrows, Anel Ahmedhodzic, Jamie Shackleton (Alfie Gilchrist 58), Vini Souza (captain), Tyrese Campbell (Kieffer Moore 58), Andre Brooks (Jesurun Rak-sakyi 58), Sydie Peck.
Unused Substitutes: Adam Davies, Sam McCallum, Femi Seriki, Billy Blacker.
Referee: Leigh Doughty
Attendance: 25,112
Having initially been founded in 1863 as Stoke Ramblers, the team was originally mainly made up of local railway workers.
They became Stoke Football Club in 1878, before becoming Stoke City in 1920.
The club's first, and to date only, major trophy was won in 1972, when they beat Chelsea to win the League Cup.
The Potters have won the Football League Trophy on two occasions, first in 1992 and most recently in 2000.
After a successful run under Tony Pulis that led the Potters to the Premier League and the FA Cup final, they are now in a seventh season back in the Championship following relegation in 2018.
bet365 STADIUM
Built: 1997
Location: Stanley Matthews Way, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 4EG
Capacity: 30,089
Narcís Pèlach. The 36-year-old Catalan joined the Potters in September following the departure of Steven Schumacher.
Pelach has worked in English football for four years, initially under Carlos Corberan at Huddersfield Town and most recently at Norwich City under David Wagner and his replacement Johannes Hoff Thorup.
Beginning his playing career with Girona, Pèlach spent time playing in the Spanish fourth tier before retiring at the age of 25 to focus on coaching.
He spent time as head coach of both UE Figueres and Peralada, before returning to Girona as assistant coach.
A move to England followed as he joined Corberan's coaching staff at Huddersfield in August 2020 before joining Norwich in May 2023.
Ben Gibson. The centre-back signed for the Potters in the summer and was named club captain upon his arrival.
A product of the Middlesbrough academy, Gibson had spells on loan at Plymouth Argyle, York City and Tranmere Rovers before breaking into the Boro first team.
After making 185 senior appearances for Middlesbrough, Gibson joined Burnley for a joint club-record fee of £15 million. A tough couple of years and injuries followed until the defender joined Norwich City on loan in September 2020.
The move was later made permanent and Gibson played his part as the Canaries won promotion from the Championship.
He made 40 appearances for Norwich last season as they reached the Championship play-offs.
Swedish international goalkeeper Viktor Johansson joined the Potters in May 2024 following a four-year stint with Rotherham United.
Johansson came through the ranks at boyhood club Hammarby in Sweden and quickly built an impressive reputation in English youth football within the set-ups at Aston Villa and Leicester City.
He joined Rotherham United in September 2020 and was named the club's Young Player of the Season in his first campaign with the Millers.
The 26-year-old helped Rotherham gain an instant return to the Championship the following season, whilst they also won the EFL Trophy.
In the 2022-23 campaign, Johansson recorded the Championship's highest goals prevented statistic of 8.5 goals prevented across the season. He was a stand-out performer as Rotherham were relegated to League One and won the club's Player of the Season award for a second time.
He made his senior international debut for Sweden in October 2023 and has gone on to make three appearances for his country at senior level.
Former Swan Ben Wilmot joined Stoke in the summer of 2021 and has established himself as a key member of the Potters' squad.
He started his career as an academy scholar at his hometown club of Stevenage, progressing through the ranks to break onto the first team scene in 2018, before joining Watford in 2018.
Loan spells followed with Udinese and the Swans, where he etched his name into the history books, scoring his first goal for the club in a 1-0 victory in the South Wales derby in 2019.
Wilmot returned to Watford in the Championship and played regularly as the Hornets earned promotion back to the Premier League.
He was voted Stoke's Player of the Season in the 2022-23 season before a freak knee injury restricted him to 29 appearances for the Potters last term.
He has been ever-present for the Potters in the Championship so far this season.
Dutch winger Million Manhoef joined Vitesse Arnhem at the age of 15 and scored twice in 20 appearances in 2021-22 after breaking into the team.
He established himself as one of Vitesse's key players the following season, scoring nine goals in 34 appearances and being voted Player of the Season.
Manhoef made the switch to the Potters in February 2024 and netted important goals against Plymouth Argyle and West Bromwich Albion towards the end of last season.
The 22-year-old, who has represented the Netherlands at youth level, has scored three goals in all competitions so far this campaign.
On Swansea City’s academy matchday, Ollie Cooper is better placed than most to reflect on the importance of the player pathway in place in SA1.
After all, the Wales international has been with the Swans since the age of 11, working his way through the age groups to become a regular at senior level and get the chance to travel to a World Cup with his country.
As a youngster Cooper had spells on the books and on trial with other clubs, but was deemed to be too small.
Swansea had no such reservations and he was soon joining the academy and being encouraged to learn from the likes of Leon Britton and Joe Allen.
Now, at the age of 24, he is one of the more experienced heads imparting words of wisdom to the likes of Sam Parker and Aimar Govea.
And that process and alignment is one of the reasons why Cooper is full of praise for the way in which the club develops young players, on and off the pitch.
“I was told I was too small to be considered, but the way I see it, it was a blessing in disguise. I came to Swansea when I was 11 and I’ve been here ever since,” he says.
“It’s massive going to a club who were doing so well in the Premier League at the time, who had some fantastic players and were playing a really exciting style of football.
“It was a joy to watch, I enjoyed watching players like Britts [Leon Britton], who once again wasn’t the biggest but stood out by being one of the biggest on the pitch by the way he played.
“He carried such a presence with him, and he was definitely someone I looked up to, and tried to replicate to a certain extent. He played deeper than I did, but the way he was, he was clever with his movement.
“I learned a lot, because I knew I wasn’t going to win certain tackles against bigger boys, so I knew I had to be clever with my movement and find pockets quicker.
“It blows my mind that I’m kind of in a similar position in what Britts was to me. It’s nice, and I don’t get down academy as often anymore but when I do, and I see my picture on the wall next to the likes of Joe Allen, Joe Rodon and Dan James. It’s just amazing.
“I’d like to think that I’m a role model for the academy boys now, especially those who are not as big, knowing they don’t have to be the quickest or the strongest, as long as they work hard off the ball and work on their technical side of the game.
“I can tell you from watching some of the under-18s and under-21s when they come up to train with us, there’s some fantastic players there.
“Grimesy [Matt Grimes] always jokes his time in the team is going to be limited with the likes of Joel Cotterill and Dan Watts coming through. When a player of Grimesy’s calibre is saying that then you know there is quality continuing to come through.
“It’s a huge credit to the academy that they still keep producing very talented players, and ones that can come up to the first team and not seem out of place.
“Seeing myself, Culls, Ben Cabango and then Aimar Govea, Sam Parker all get a chance does show there is a pathway here, which is incredibly positive.”
Another positive for Cooper has been the outstanding form he has shown at the start of the new campaign.
He is the first to admit that his confidence took a hit during parts of the 2023-24 season, and he fell below the standards he had set during his first-team breakthrough the previous campaign.
But he has been a player reborn under head coach Luke Williams, and his showings earned him a first Wales start in last month’s Nations League clash in Montenegro.
“Last season, particularly the start of last season, wasn’t the best for everyone,” he says honestly.
“I found myself on the outside of the starting 11 and in and out of the team in positions I wasn’t particularly comfortable playing.
“They were positions I could play in, but they weren’t the specific ones I was used to. That was challenging, on the back of a season with Russell Martin, which I enjoyed as I broke into the team and became a key player.
“I think it was when Luke [Williams] took over, we went back to a style of football we were more used to, and I ended up having a run of games towards the end of last season, in the position I wanted to be playing in, which helped a lot.
“We had the break before pre-season, which allowed me to go away and refresh and to hit the ground running this season, and I feel like I’ve done that. The gaffer himself has been a massive help with the belief and confidence he has in me.
“He’s massively helped me start to regain that confidence, and I think with anyone, the longer you play the more confident you become.
“The way the team is playing at the moment is also a massive factor to that. I am really enjoying playing football at the moment.
“One of the first conversations I had with Luke, he kind of knew how the start of last season had gone and he remembered what I was like on loan at Newport, he came to watch me there.
“He told me I’ve got all of the abilities, all the confidence and energy, and that I just needed to get that out of me. He wanted me to get back to playing that way.
“We’d have regular conversations out on the pitch, after the game or in his office, all of those interactions have been really positive and really helpful.”
The clearest sign of that confidence has been Cooper’s prominence in finding pockets of space to turn and drive at defences.
That quality played a key part in his goal at Coventry, where he drifted into a wider channel to receive the ball from Harry Darling, quickly set off towards the penalty box before cutting inside and dispatching a perfectly-placed strike into the bottom corner.
Similarly, he has been simply relentless in his pressing work, dovetailing with fellow academy graduate Liam Cullen in harassing and hassling opponents in build-up.
Cooper’s efforts off the ball were nearly rewarded with a goal against Bristol City; his block ricocheting past the stranded goalkeeper, only to strike the outside of the post.
And the playmaker is glad to be contributing to the Swans doing the ugly side of the game, as well as in the final third.
“Me and Culls [Liam Cullen] do a lot of running, and it’s getting to the point where we get tired, but we know all of the training we do will help us on a matchday,” says Cooper.
“It’s just one of those things I’ve always been taught. You might be having a bad game, but you can always run and press, it’s something I’ve always done since I was young.
“We’ve got such good players on the bench, if I get to a point where I can’t run anymore, we’ve got excellent boys who will come on and continue running.
“We also know we put in the hard yards in pre-season for those moments where you may feel a bit tired or need to recover quickly.
“It was a very, very tough pre-season. When you look back now, and you see what all the work has been for, you really understand why you did it.
“A lot of the boys say the same that it was probably the toughest pre-season they’ve had. We got through it, and we all pushed each other.
“I’m not going to lie and tell you it was fun, but you definitely know it was worth it.”
As mentioned earlier, Cooper’s performances have seen him secure a Wales recall under new manager Craig Bellamy.
Swans boss Luke Williams has spoken with admiration of what the Dragons chief is trying to put in place after succeeding Rob Page, believing it has already had a positive impact on the Swansea players involved.
Cooper is one of four Swans included in the squad for this month’s Nations League games against Iceland and Montenegro – along with Liam Cullen, Ben Cabango and a returning Joe Allen – and has echoed Williams’ view of the new direction Wales are heading in.
“I think sometimes change is what you need. Like a fresh perspective and ideas to work with,” adds Cooper.
“The way he wants to play with Wales is very similar to what we want to do here.
“He was infectious with his positivity and he had a way he wanted to play and he made sure of that.
“I’ve taken on board all of his ideas and feedback, and also applied that to my play in Swansea.
“All the boys will say the same, he’s just come in with fresh new energy and ideas. It’s really positive.”
Cooper is also loving life off the field following the arrival of daughter Neli – a first child for he and his partner Tanwen – in January.
He admits that becoming a parent gave him a different perspective when he was not enjoying his football at times last term, and has given him an even greater sense of motivation.
“Pre-season was tough because I was away a lot. My girlfriend would do the feeding and nights, and when I got back it was my shift, which I loved,” he smiles.
“it’s amazing, it’s the best thing ever and it kind of adds a purpose to what I’m doing.
“Seeing her after the game is amazing. If you’ve had a bad day, which still happens, she gives me a little boost.
“It’s great having Neli and Tanwen supporting me, when it was tough last season I had a good group around me, including my parents, and I can’t thank them enough.
“At the time, we had Neli on the way, it kind of gave me a distraction when I left the training ground. When I was in, I kept doing what I was doing and I would try to do more extras, but it definitely gives you a different view on things when you become a parent and I am loving it.”
The Swansea.com Stadium has a double dose of football to dish up to us this weekend, as the men’s team entertains Stoke on Saturday and the women’s side host Cardiff City on Sunday.
For the generation of football fans coming through, that sentence won’t raise an eyebrow, but for the majority of us, sadly, there is still something far from ‘normal’ about it.
Like many women of my age, I grew up in a world where we didn’t have the opportunities to play sports like football. As a young woman doing my ‘A’ Levels, planning a career in journalism, and hoping to break the glass ceiling that seemed to be made of cement when it came to sports journalism, the thought of reporting on the equivalent of the Genero Adran Premier never featured.
Fortunately, times are changing. I’m very reluctant to say they’ve ‘changed’, because believe me, there is still a very long way to go, but they are improving and we all have a part to play in that.
The introduction of semi-professional contracts in August last year gave our female players a change in status, as did the move from Swansea City Ladies to Swansea City Women. These were all significant steps in the right direction and the appointments of Alice Weekes as the club’s first head of women’s football and Jamie Sherwood as first-team manager built on that.
We all know the importance of firm foundations when construction is taking place and football, at any and every level, is no different. If you’re a fan of the Kevin Costner film ‘Field of Dreams’ from 1989, you’ll be familiar with the line ‘build it and they will come’.
That’s apparently a mis-quote, the line is ‘build it and he will come’, but let’s not get too pedantic about it, because the premise is that there is a relationship between intent and outcome – the more effort and application that goes into something the more likely it is to garner interest and buy-in and ultimately, success.
We’ve seen this with our women’s side over the years – as the amount of investment and exposure increases, so does the interest. A decade ago, the prospect of the women’s side playing at the same ground as the men just didn’t exist – on Sunday, for the second time this season, that’s going to happen.
Sherwood has made his aspirations clear. He told BBC Sport Wales that the primary aim is to regain the Welsh domestic title from Cardiff City Women but the longer term ambition is a big one: “We want to be the first Welsh club that gets through the Champions League qualifiers, male or female. It’s a huge ambition, but if we don’t have ambition, we don’t achieve anything.”
Who wouldn’t want to be part of that journey and be able to witness the progress as the building work takes place? And what better game to start with if you’re a newbie to Swansea City Women than the one which sees the league champions in town?
Kick-off tomorrow is 5.45pm.
Enjoy the games.
Mae gan Abertawe hanes cyfoethog o ran cyflenwi chwaraewyr i dîm cenedlaethol Cymru.
Mae Ollie Cooper, Ben Cabango a Liam Cullen unwaith eto wedi'u cynnwys yng ngharfan Cymru ar gyfer gemau Cynghrair y Cenhedloedd sydd i ddod yn erbyn Gwlad yr Iâ a Montenegro mis yma.
Mae'n hwb gwirioneddol i’r triawd, ac i brif hyfforddwr Abertawe, Luke Williams, sydd wedi bod yn rhan allweddol o sicrhau bod y tri chwaraewr wedi bod yn cynhyrchu arddangosiadau calonogol yn gyson i greu argraff ar Craig Bellamy, rheolwr tîm cenedlaethol newydd.
Ond y pennawd amlwg a ddaeth i'r amlwg o gyhoeddiad carfan diweddaraf Bellamy oedd dychweliad Joe Allen i'r llwyfan rhyngwladol.
Ymddeolodd y chwaraewr canol cae, 34, o bêl-droed rhyngwladol ychydig dros ddau fis ar ôl i Gymru chwalu o Gwpan y Byd 2022 yn Qatar yn y cam grŵp.
Ond, gydag Ethan Ampadu o Leeds United yn methu gweddill 2024 oherwydd anaf, daw dychweliad Allen ar amser perffaith i Gymru.
Cafodd Bellamy ddechrau calonogol yn ei wersyll cyntaf fel rheolwr Cymru, gyda'r Dreigiau Coch yn perfformio'n dda mewn gêm cyfartal yn erbyn Twrci cyn ennill 2-1 yn Montenegro.
Mae hefyd wedi cael ei hybu gan ddychweliadau chwaraewyr gan gynnwys David Brooks, Nathan Broadhead, Wes Burns a chyn-Alarch Rhys Norrington-Davies.
Ond bydd dychweliad Allen yn cael effaith seismig ar y garfan, ar y cae ac oddi arno.
Gofynnwch i gapten Abertawe, Matt Grimes.
“Mae Joe yn rhoi cymaint mwy i chi na phêl-droed yn unig. Mae’n arweinydd a chymeriad anghredadwy ar y cae ac oddi arno, mae ei gael yno gyda’i brofiad yn anghredadwy," dywedodd Grimes ar ôl i Abertawe colli yn erbyn Sheffield United.
Chwaraeodd Bellamy wrth ochr Allen yn ystod ei yrfa fel ymosodwr dros Gymru ac mae’n gwybod yn iawn am ansawdd y chwaraewr canol cae ar y cae, yn ogystal â’r profiad a’r dylanwad y mae’n ei gyflawni.
Yn ddealladwy, mae pryderon am ffitrwydd Allen o ystyried ei fod yn eto i ddechrau unrhyw un o 10 gêm Abertawe ym mhob cystadleuaeth o dan Luke Williams hyd yn hyn y tymor hwn.
Ond os gall gael rhywfaint o lwc o ran anafiadau, does dim amheuaeth y gall Allen gael effaith sylweddol gyda’r Elyrch a gyda Cymru.
WELCOME TO OUR GLOBAL JACKS
Dawn & Barry Poole from Raleigh NC celebrating their 6th wedding anniversary! Thank you Global Jacks and thank you Swansea!
It’s been a decade since either the Swans or this afternoon’s visitors Stoke City competed in European football.
The subject has been on my mind a fair bit over the past week with Welsh Premier League champions TNS facing Fiorentina in Italy on Thursday.
The mid-Wales club’s participation in this year’s European Conference League, facing the likes of the Italian giants and Greek powerhouses Panathinaikos is genuinely the stuff of footballing fairytales.
Added to TNS’ European adventure, there was the news last weekend that the Swans, Cardiff, Wrexham and Newport may be in line for a route into Europe via the Welsh League Cup in future.
Regular readers will know it doesn’t take much to get me reminiscing, but the thought of European football certainly started to bring back some memories.
Funnily enough, the last club today’s visitors took on in Europe were Valencia – a name I’m sure will hold some very happy memories for many Swans fans, but less so for our visitors.
Stoke faced the Spanish club in the last 32 of the Europa League back in the 2011-12 season. But the European experience didn’t end as they would have hoped as they were defeated 1-0 in each leg.
Obviously, Swans fans have far better memories of taking on Los Che in the 2013-14 Europa League. The clash at The Mestalla will go down as one of the greatest nights in the club’s history.
Strikes from Wilfried Bony, Michu and a peach of a free-kick by Jonathan de Guzman gave the travelling Swans faithful a 3-0 win they will never forget.
Earlier in the competition the Swans had beaten 1979 European Cup finalists Malmo 4-0 in Swansea.
Of course, the Swans went on to reach the last 32 that season, eventually going out to Italian giants Napoli 3-1 – following a 0-0 draw here in Swansea, which will be remembered for the first visit of genuine European Ultras to the then Liberty Stadium.
But the Swans’ history in Europe goes back way further than our campaign at the start of the last decade.
The Swans were the first Welsh club to play in European competition when they qualified for the new European Cup Winners’ Cup tournament thanks to a Welsh Cup Final win over Bangor City.
If being Wales’ European trailblazers wasn’t enough of an adventure, when the draw was made the Swans discovered they would have to travel behind the Iron Curtain to what was then East Germany.
Due to the delicate political climate between East and West during the Cold War era, the first leg against Motor Jena had to be played at a neutral venue in Linz, Austria, because the East Germans weren’t allowed to travel to play in Wales.
So, the Swans had to give up home advantage for the first leg which was played in front of a 5,000 crowd, who witnessed an entertaining 2-2 draw.
However, with a full day's travel to reach Jena followed by just a day’s rest in between, the Swans lost the second leg 5-1.
My own first experience of European football as a Swans fan came 20 years later in the 1980-81 season – although the match wasn’t played in one of the official European competitions.
On Valentine’s Day, 1981 the Swans played Red Star Belgrade in what was billed an ‘International Friendly Match’ at the Vetch. The game was something of an oddity as it was played on a Saturday afternoon in the middle of the season – the Swans having a free date after being knocked out of the FA Cup by Middlesborough.
The crack Yugoslavian outfit, who reached the 1979 Uefa Cup final, were on a European tour and arrived in south Wales having beaten reigning European champions Nottingham Forest 3-1 just 10 days earlier. They’d also drawn 2-2 at Watford earlier in the week.
The Swans, who were on a four-match losing streak, produced a magnificent performance to completely outplay the visitors and run out shock 7-1 victors.
The win seemed to give the Swans exactly the boost they needed as it helped kick-start their run to First Division promotion later that season.
The friendly was the perfect dress rehearsal for when the Swans once again qualified for the Cup Winners’ Cup the following year, and I enjoyed my first taste of proper European competition at the Vetch.
Although we racked up a record 17-0 aggregate win over Maltese minnows Sliema Wanderers and a 3-1 victory over Portugal’s Sporting Braga in the opening rounds, the match I particularly remember was the visit of French aristocrats Paris St Germain in October of 1982.
Despite the Swans losing 1-0 in a disappointing performance in front of a disappointing crowd during a disappointing season, the last-16 match really caught my teenage imagination.
Just hearing French being spoken by stylish looking Parisian fans with their fashionably draped scarfs and exotic smelling cigarettes outside the Vetch made me feel that European football was definitely something special.
There was even a unique excitement to listening to the crackling radio commentary of the 2-0 second leg defeat from the world famous Parc des Princes in Paris a fortnight later. Especially as I had grown up listening to Swans away radio commentaries from the likes of Bury’s Gigg Lane or Scunthorpe’s Old Show Ground just a few years before.
If that was my first European match at the Vetch, my most memorable was the European Cup Winners’ Cup first-round second leg against the aforementioned Panathinaikos in 1989.
There was an extra edge to the match after a number of Swans fans had been injured and arrested following clashes with home fans when the sides had met in Athens. Some were still in Greek cells when the two sides lined up in Swansea a fortnight later.
The tie was perfectly poised after the Swans had fought back from 3-0 down to claim two potentially priceless away goals from Paul Raynor and John Salako.
There was a decidedly continental feel to the Vetch as visiting fans set off flares in the East Stand. The incendiary atmosphere was added to when some Cardiff City fans decided to join the party in the lower tier of the Double Decker!
There were fireworks on the pitch too as the Swans took a 2-0 lead on the night to put them 4-3 up on aggregate thanks to a Robbie James penalty and Andy Melville’s close-range header.
The visitors pulled a goal back, but the Swans were still ahead under the away goals rule. They strengthened their position even further going 3-1 up on the night through another close range Melville effort to lead 5-4 on aggregate.
I have to admit, there were times during this match where I completely lost track of who was ahead in the tie, despite having a vague recollection of a small digital scoreboard having been set up at the side of the pitch for the occasion.
When Panathinaikos pulled another goal back, the tie was completely level at 5-5 with both sides boasting two away goals.
But the deadlock was finally broken when the Greek side scored a dramatic late winner to see them through 6-5 on aggregate.
Who wouldn’t want the chance to play in Europe again when you have nights like that and the unforgettable Mestalla mauling to look back on?
Come on 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 a memorable return of the south Wales derby during the 2008-09 season.
Swansea City 1 Cardiff City 0 - League Cup, Round Three – 23/09/2008
It had been nine long years since the Swans and Cardiff City had played each other in a competitive fixture. With Roberto Martinez having got Swansea back in the second tier, the sides were already set to meet in the Championship, but the Carling Cup draw through up an unexpected early opportunity to renew derby hostilities.
The atmosphere was simply electric in the lead up to kick-off, and it was clear experienced top-flight referee Alan Wiley would need to call on all his years of officiating knowhow to keep things in order on the pitch.
In the early going Cardiff were initially the more composed on the ball, and they also looked to make a mark without it as Joe Ledley went in the book for a scything challenge on Leon Britton that left the Swansea man in a heap.
Stephen McPhail landed a header on the roof of the Swansea net, while Darren Purse was also off target with a header as he nodded a Ledley corner over Dorus de Vries’ crossbar.
But slowly, the Swans began to get a foothold in the game with Ferrie Bodde and Jordi Gomez featuring prominently and causing problems for the visitors.
Keeper Peter Enckelman made a fine save to claw away an overhead kick from Gomez, before the Finn made a stunning stop to precent Jason Scotland finishing a flowing team move.
It remained goalless after a frantic first half, and Cardiff boss Dave Jones sent on Ross McCormack in place of Eddie Johnson, but the Swans were by now having the better of the contest.
Wiley waved away penalty appeals after Scotland went down in the box after a move involving Mark Gower.
But the breakthrough would come when McPhail fouled Gomez clumsily on the edge of the box. The Spaniard and Bodde had quite the debate about who would take the set-piece, but in the end it was Gomez who saw his low strike deflect off Gavin Rae’s foot to rear up and find its way past Enckelman.
The home support roared in approval and the Swans looked to kill the game off. Cardiff had a goal ruled out for offside before McPhail saw red after collecting a second yellow card, and with him went any real hope of a comeback from the visitors.
And so, after a pulsating south Wales derby, it was the men in white who would secure bragging rights, on a night of pride and passion as a rivalry was reignited in south-west Wales.
First football shirt: It was the 2003 Swans' Bergoni shirt.
First football game: York at home which would have been Division 3 at the Vetch!
First appearance for Swansea City/or Pro appearance? I played my first ever game for the Swans when I was 8 against Charlton Athletic. My professional debut was against Crystal Palace!
First football hero: Lee Trundle, Wayne Rooney and Thierry Henry.
First major tournament you can remember: The World Cup in 2006.
Guest one: Theo Von.
Guest two: Michael Jackson.
Guest three: Jeremy Clarkson.
Swansea City Under-18s were defeated on the road by Bristol City in their Professional Development League encounter at the Robins High Performance Centre.
The Swans found themselves two goals down at the break after from Luke Skinner and Reubin Shepard scored for the hosts, and the Robins immediately netted a third following the restart through substitute Jaiden Foxwell.
Ramon Rees-Siso converted from the spot just after the hour-mark for the Swans - Morgan Bates having been fouled in the area - but there was no way back for the visitors.
There had been three changes from the agonising defeat to Cardiff; Milo Robinson, Osian Williams and Caio Ifans came into the team for Jacob Cook, Brogan Popham and Thomas Woodward respectively.
The opening stages proved even with the sides enjoying good periods of possession without testing either goalkeeper.
Ifans had the first real sight of goal when he worked room for himself on the edge of the box after a Josh Pescatore lay-off, but his effort was over the bar.
It was the hosts who broke the deadlock from their first opportunity. A high ball over the top found the head of Skinner at the far post, and he directed it into the net for the opener.
Bristol City doubled their lead moments later through Shepard as he finished off a fine team move from a throw-in.
Swansea looked to respond, and started to take control of possession. Yori Griffith did well to win the ball in the centre of the park to tee up Rees-Siso one-on-one, but Robins keeper Jack Witchard raced out of his goal to gather.
Instead, the hosts came straight out of the blocks in the second half and extended their lead to three goals in the 50th minute through Foxwell.
The visitors weren't giving up and Pescatore raced into the box but, before he could get a shot away, he was crowded out by a Bristol City defender.
Griffith came close to pulling a goal back when his chipped effort rattled the crossbar, before his header from the rebound was gathered by Witchard.
But Swansea did get back into the game though a penalty. Bates was fouled just inside the area and the referee awarded the spot-kick, which was converted by Rees-Siso.
Rees-Siso and Bates had chances to claw back more of the deficit in the closing stages, but were unable to make them count.
Swansea City U18s: Sam Seager, Billy Clarke, Caio Ifans (Aidan Higgins 60), Callum Deacon, Kiel Higginson, Osian Williams (Carter Heywood 60), Ramon Rees-Siso, Yori Griffith (Ben Phillips 60), Morgan Bates, Milo Robinson (Alex Godfrey 76), Josh Pescatore.
Substitutes: Isaac Dudding.
Swansea City Women returned to winning ways and maintained their unbeaten start to the Genero Adran Premier season with victory over Wrexham at the Racecourse.
Having been held to a goalless draw against Barry Town United the Swansea.com Stadium a week earlier, Jamie Sherwood’s side bounced back in style.
Stacey John-Davis headed the Swans in front early on, bursting into the box to meet a cross and power her effort past the goalkeeper.
But Wrexham would be level before the break, Ava Suckley finishing off a counter-attack.
Jess Williams would respond for the visitors the break, heading home a great delivery from Katy Hosford to restore the Swans lead, before Chloe Chivers' free-kick was turned into her own net by Katie Sharp.
Rosie Hughes would net late on for the hosts but it would only be a consolation.
The Swans had started well in north Wales, Lucy Finch trying her luck from distance as they enjoyed a period of pressure.
And they got their reward when John-Davis arrived to steer in a great ball from Robyn Pinder.
Swansea also had an immediate second, Finch picked out Pinder with a low ball but the striker's effort was parried to safety.
Instead, Wrexham would level when Suckley finished after Abbie Iddenden had won possession back high up the pitch.
The Swans started brightly after the break. Sophie Brisland-Hancocks found space at the back post from Pinder’s cross, but her effort was dragged wide of goal.
And Williams would restore the lead for the Swans, heading home from close range after a Hosford corner.
A Sharp own goal would extend the visitors' lead as Chivers' delivery from deep was headed past her own keeper.
Substitute Hughes would nod home to pull a goal back late on but the Swans would seal the three points, with Williams making an outstanding covering challenge in the final seconds to deny Wrexham an equaliser.
Wrexham Women: Liz Craven, Olivia Fuller, Erin Lovett (Brooke Cairns 79), Abbie Iddenden, Rebecca Pritchard, Carra Jones (Amber Lightfoot 73), Natalie Clark (Mari Gibbard 74), Katie Sharp, Ava Suckley, Lili Jones, Keren Allen (captain) (Rosie Hughes 86).
Unused subs: Chloe Ankers.
Swansea City Women: Opal Rayner, Lucy Finch, Sophie Brisland-Hancocks, Danielle Broadhurst (Chloe Chivers 64), Rachel Cullen (Aimee Deacon 79), Robyn Pinder (Taite Trivett 89), Katy Hosford (captain), Stacey John-Davis, Emily Thomas, Jess Williams, Nia Jones.
Unused subs: Steph Turner, Sammy Wynne.
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.
WELCOME BACK JUNIOR JACKS!
Croeso Junior Jacks and a very special hello to Swansea City Academy Under-9s.
Today’s match is all about celebrating the Swansea City academy – as well as welcoming the U9s to the club. (Croeso bois! 🤗)
We’ll be in the fan park today so make sure you come over and say “hi”. Don’t forget to share your photos and matchday memories by posting on social media using #JuniorJacks.
To go along with our academy matchday theme, our prediction is that we will win 3-2 with goals for Ben Cabango, Ollie Cooper and Liam Cullen.
Uppa Swans!
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*
*Swansea City academy product
1 Viktor Johansson
2 Lynden Gooch
3 Enda Stevens
4 Ben Pearson
5 Michael Rose
6 Wouter Burger
7 Andre Vidigal
9 Tom Cannon
10 Bae Junho
11 Lewis Koumas
12 Tatsuki Seko
13 Jack Bonham
14 Niall Ennis
15 Jordan Thompson
16 Ben Wilmot
17 Eric Bocat
18 Bosun Lawal
20 Sam Gallagher
22 Junior Tchamadeu
23 Ben Gibson ©
24 Andrew Moran
26 Ashley Phillips
30 Sol Sidibe
34 Frank Fielding
37 Emre Tezgel
41 Jaden Dixon
42 Million Manhoef
Referee - Andy Davis
Assistant Referee 1 - Graham Kane
Assistant Referee 2 - Hristo Karaivanov
Fourth Official - Stephen Parkinson
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
Paul Watson (Sporting Director);
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, Dom Hynes, Sammy Wynne, Fraser Dickson, Hayley Ford, Owen Morgan, Gwyn Rees, Julie Kissick, Ian Mitchelmore.
Designers: Callum Rothwell,
Jordan Morcom.
Photography: Athena Picture Agency,
Natalie John-Davis, Alamy.