Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium for the visit of Sunderland.

Today’s game marks our chosen home fixture for the Remembrance period, with the month of November now upon us.

We will pay tribute to the fallen who sacrificed so much in conflict, with a minute’s silence prior to kick-off as clubs up and down the country pay their respects.

Both sets of players will bear a poppy on their shirts for today’s game, while the match-worn shirts will be made available to purchase in a live auction with proceeds going to the Royal British Legion.

I’m also delighted to welcome members of the Welsh Guards here today who will act as the guard of honour for this afternoon’s game.

This week we announced that Swansea City Women will be returning to the Swansea.com Stadium when they face Wrexham on Sunday, November 19.

We are incredibly excited to see our women’s team back in action here, and it will be the first time they have played at the stadium since turning semi-professional, which was a seminal moment for this club.

This is also a fantastic opportunity for our supporters to come and watch a really competitive game during the Championship international break, and help inspire the next generation of footballers in our community and in Wales.

I’m also delighted to welcome our new academy manager, Gavin Levey, to the club.

Gavin started with us last Monday and I have no doubt he will be a fantastic appointment.

Our academy is hugely important, and we have a proud history of producing young players.

We want that to continue, and the academy is an integral part of what we are trying to achieve as part of the club’s short, medium and long-term objectives.

Back to this afternoon’s game, which comes on the back of last weekend’s brilliant victory at Blackburn.

It was great to see us get back to winning ways, a result which made it five wins in seven games, which is an excellent return.

The atmosphere here against Leicester a fortnight ago was great so please get behind Michael, his staff and the players once again.

Enjoy the game,

Andy

Good afternoon and welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium for our Championship fixture against Sunderland.

We return to home soil on the back of a hard-fought win at Blackburn, where we showed tremendous resilience and togetherness.

That was really pleasing, the players gave us everything – as they have done throughout the season – and having that gives us the foundation to be able to do more and more as a team.

Ewood Park is a difficult place to go to and you, the supporters, travelled in great numbers to cheer the team on.

It’s a long way to go and we do not take it for granted, and I hope those of you who made the trip to Lancashire enjoyed your journey home with the three points in the bag.

It was a good way to round off a tough week but, since then, it’s been about getting down to work on the training ground and getting ready for today’s game because there are still a lot of things we have to do to improve and get better.

Sunderland have had a good start to the season, they were in the play-offs last season and I am sure they are aiming to be in the mix again this season.

They are a team with a lot of energy, which means we will have to be accurate in what we do with and without the ball.

But we have proved we can hurt other teams in a number of recent performances.

If we can get on the front foot, and use the ball better than we did against Watford we feel we can cause problems ourselves.

Ideally, we want that balance of a good performance and a win, we know we will need to be at our best, play our way and be on the front foot from the start.

We were good at Blackburn, we showed the different parts of our game. We had control of the game and had chances to be further in front, but also had the resilience and togetherness to make sure we won the game.

If we can play that way with the fantastic support we have behind us, we hope it can be a good afternoon.

I also want to take the opportunity to welcome Gavin Levey to the club following his appointment as academy manager.

He brings a wealth of experience in player development and I am sure he will build on the excellent work the club's academy has done over a number of years in producing first-team players and full internationals.

This afternoon will also see us pause and share a moment of reflection for all those who have served or been lost in conflict, as this is our dedicated Remembrance fixture.

We, of course, particularly remember those lost during the two World Wars between 1914 and 1918 and 1939 and 1945 respectively.

The scale of the courage and sacrifice made by so many during those periods is simply unimaginable and it is important we always remember those who paid the ultimate price with the humility and dignity they deserve.

Enjoy the game,

Michael

Hello, and welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium for our game against Sunderland before we head into what is sure to be a challenging encounter at high flying Ipswich Town and then a make-or-break double header for Wales in their final European Championship qualifying fixtures.

Our first game back after the last international break saw us take on promotion favourites Leicester City and, if we’d had a bit more luck on the day, we could have taken a point against what is arguably the best Championship side we have seen for a good many years.

Maybe the after-effects of that game took their toll more than we’d have liked as we never seemed to have the same energy against Watford but that was soon put right by Michael Duff and the team with a first away win at Blackburn Rovers for over 50 years.

It was our third away win on the trot and an impressive fifth victory from the last seven games.

The Championship is a fascinating league in that 90 per cent of teams and supporters can justifiably head into their next fixture fully believing they can pick up a positive result. I’m not sure that can be said about the Premier League, plus of course we thankfully don’t have to contend with VAR - and I personally hope it stays that way for as long as possible. 

What is also good to see are our supporters from further afield reaching out to each other on the Global Jacks Facebook, Twitter and Instagram platforms and arranging to meet up whenever they watch on TV, or to travel over to our games.

Many now attend from overseas and there are very few matches that go by without someone posting a message up to say they are in Swansea or at one of our away games, and that usually results in a them being invited along to meet up with fellow Jacks while they are over in the UK.

That is exactly what our club and supporters are all about, and we are grateful to club supporter liaison officer Cath Thomas for all her support with this initiative. Our next organised Global Jacks event in Swansea is over St David’s Day weekend in March and more details on that are available HERE.     

Closer to home, can I take this opportunity to thank all supporters who have taken a few minutes to complete our Matchday Experience Survey. We are now in a position to analyse all of the collected data and supporter feedback, and will be meeting the club next week to prepare for our next phase in ensuring this survey can have the positive impact we are seeking.

There is still time to complete the survey if you have not already done so.

As part of our ongoing commitment to our members and supporters, we will also be meeting representatives of the club’s management team again in the coming days where we will be going through the various questions that have come into us via our various Trust communication channels. If you have anything that you’d like us to raise, then just email them to us at supporters@swanstrust.co.uk.

Today we face a Sunderland side who are enjoying a decent season so far, and it’s only fair to acknowledge the travelling support who will get through a 700-mile 13-hour round trip for this fixture.

We as Swans fans are all too familiar with distances like these and ridiculously early morning starts to get to grounds all over the country. This was something that some of our members and supporters raised with us at the recent fans’ forum where they were seeking assurances on finding somewhere safe to park before away games when the Ospreys also happen to be playing at home.

We are grateful to the club in helping us find a solution to this, more details of which are available HERE.

As always, please get in touch if we can help with other supporter-related issues like these.

Enjoy the game.

Dave Dalton

Reviva Coffee have made a generous donation to support the continuation of Swansea City AFC Foundation's Cwtch Coffee Mornings.

Cwtch Coffee Mornings run every Tuesday between 9.30am and 11.30am at the Swansea.com Stadium, helping to tackle isolation and loneliness, encouraging social interaction, as well as providing a free hot drink for all participants.

The Foundation is delighted that Reviva Coffee - Swansea City's front of shirt and exclusive coffee supply partner - have provided financial backing to the Cwtch Coffee Mornings, with these sessions representing a vital part of the health and wellbeing initiatives offered by the club's charitable arm.

Members of the community who join the sessions on a Tuesday morning will be able to enjoy a Reviva Coffee while socialising and experiencing the many benefits which come with attending the drop-ins.

“Cwtch Coffee Mornings form a big part of our drive to promote and support good emotional health and wellbeing of adults in our community by bringing people together, encouraging connection and social inclusion," said Swansea City AFC Foundation's health and wellbeing officer Caroline Gwilym.

“Our aim is to help tackle loneliness and social isolation people may be living through at this time.

“We are delighted Reviva Coffee are supporting the coffee morning as it will help ensure the weekly social support we provide continues long into the future.”

"'We're delighted to be supporting the Swansea City AFC Foundation," said Sacha Davis, vice president of marketing at Gulf Oil International Group.

"Many of us enjoy a coffee with friends and colleagues, and the social benefits that brings. We hope our support and the continuation of this important initiative, brings people together and fights the issue of social isolation and loneliness in the local Swansea community."

Click HERE to register your interest in Cwtch Coffee Mornings or, for more information, contact caroline@swansfoundation.org.uk.

This November Swansea City is proud to once again be joining football clubs across the country to show our support for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

As in recent years, to demonstrate our commitment to the charity, we will again include the emblem of a poppy in the design of the shirts worn by our players in Saturday’s fixture against Sunderland during the period of Remembrance.

All of these poppy-adorned shirts will be made available to fans through exclusive digital auctions at MatchWornShirt.com/poppy, with the proceeds raised being donated to the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

Each one will be individually signed by the player who has worn it, allowing supporters to own a unique piece of sporting memorabilia.

MatchWornShirt’s 2022 Poppy Appeal campaign was a spectacular success, raising more than £900,000 for the Royal British Legion (RBL).

The Royal British Legion

The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal takes place from Thursday, October 26 until Remembrance Sunday on November 12.

Every year the RBL leads the nation in Remembrance across the UK to honour the contribution of our Armed Forces community, past and present.

Since it was first worn as an act of Remembrance just over 100 years ago, the red poppy has become an enduring symbol of support for our Armed Forces.

This year, the iconic poppy has been given a makeover and is now completely plastic-free and easily recycled. The new poppy, which has been revamped for the first time in 28 years, is made entirely from paper, no longer has a single-use plastic stem or centre and can be recycled through ordinary household recycling collections.

Every donation to the RBL’s Poppy Appeal helps to provide vital support to the Armed Forces community and ensure their contribution is never forgotten.

To help the Royal British Legion continue its vital work, head to MatchWornShirt’s website and get involved in one of the many auctions for this year’s Poppy Appeal: MatchWornShirt.com/poppy

SWANSEA CITY, WESTACRES AND SWANSEA BUILDING SOCIETY DONATE FRAMED THIRD SHIRT TO MAGGIE'S

Swansea City players Harry Darling and Ollie Cooper were joined by club representatives and partners for the presentation of a framed third shirt to official charity partner Maggie’s to celebrate a strong start to the Tackling Cancer Together campaign.

Defender Darling and midfielder Cooper were joined by club ambassador Lee Trundle, former midfielder Leon Britton, and senior figures from Westacres and Swansea Building Society in visiting Maggie’s Swansea centre, which is located within the grounds of Singleton Hospital.

The Tackling Cancer Together campaign – which centres around the Swans’ vibrant pink third kit – aims to raise awareness of, and provide vital funds for the local charity, which will require approximately £700,000 in order to continue to provide its wide range of services and support during 2024.

Maggie’s provides crucial help for so many in our community, including honorary club president Alan Curtis MBE and his wife Clare, who helped launch the campaign in August.

The third shirt itself bears the campaign’s name in the collar, while the colourful dot design represents the most common types of cancer, and the stories of all who have been impacted by the disease.

Supporters are able to add their stories to the campaign here while direct donations to Maggie’s can be made here.

As a charity, Maggie’s rely on the generosity of donations to keep the lights on, doors open and continue delivering sometimes life-saving free services year on year, as outlined by Swansea centre fundraising manager Lucia Osmond.

“Donations are hugely important,” she said.

“We don’t receive any funding from the NHS or Government, we have to do all of our own fundraising with our supporters in the community.

“It will cost us approximately £700,000 in 2024 which is a lot of money to find to keep the service open, so having the support from the Swans from a fundraising point of view - as well as an awareness raising point of view - is really important.”

Among the many services provided at the centre – including mental health support and financial advice – Maggie’s also champion relaxation and mindfulness, which Darling, Cooper and Trundle had the opportunity to try out during their visit as they took part in a yoga session with centre attendees.

“It was nice to see what services Maggie’s offer and how they can help people. We got to do some yoga with the people who visit the centre, and that was nice,” said Darling.

“It’s been a pleasure to be part of things and have a look around the centre.

“They do amazing things here at Maggie’s for people affected by cancer, and if there is any way the club can help I feel like we need to do it, especially for charities like this which offer so much to the community.

“I have a family member who has a cancer diagnosis so I was keen to be part of this campaign.

“Cancer is such a hard thing, so the things Maggie’s offer directly to people with cancer and their family members is brilliant.”

“It was nice to do the yoga with the centre visitors and Harry and Ollie,” added Trundle.

“The services are brilliant here, and it’s nice to have a place where people can come because everyone has been touched by cancer in some way. It’s great what they’re doing here.

“The work they do is amazing, and it’s incredible to have a place like this where people can just drop in and feel at home. It’s great that the club have partnered with Maggie’s and are giving them support, because the support Maggie’s give the city is unbelievable.”

An amount from each third-shirt sale will be donated to Maggie’s, while Westacres and Swansea Building Society – who both feature on the shirt - will match the donations made by the club.

“The work Maggie’s do is magnificent. We’ve been touched by cancer ourselves, my aunt had breast cancer and I had a tumour removed, but I was lucky that it was benign,” said Tonya Morgan, director at Westacres

“We’re so proud and privileged to be part of some of the fundraising taking place with the shirt.”

Ian Morgan, Westacres managing director, added: “We’re massively proud to be part of this campaign and to be able to have the chance to support a massive charity here in Swansea.

“Between the three of us – the club, Westacres and Swansea Building Society – we’ve agreed to contribute to the charity and it’s a fantastic way to raise funds for a great local charity.”

That message was echoed by Jane Parker, area manager of Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot at Swansea Building Society.

“We’ve been a main charity partner of Maggie’s for a couple of years, but the kit and the campaign surrounding it has just given us an additional platform on which to raise more funds,” she said.

“It’s a great looking kit too, and I think it’s proven to be very popular. It makes us very proud to be part of it.”

Swansea City Women will return to the Swansea.com Stadium when they host Wrexham Women on Sunday, November 19.

The game, which will be shown live on S4C, will kick-off at 5.10pm.

This will be the first time the women’s side have played at the stadium since turning semi-professional back in the summer.

The match will also give supporters the chance to watch domestic football while the Championship is paused for the international break.

Swansea City chairman Andy Coleman said: “We are incredibly excited to see our women’s team back in action at the Swansea.com Stadium.

“It will be the first time they have played at the stadium since turning semi-professional, which was a seminal moment for this club.

“This is also a fantastic opportunity for our supporters to come and watch a really competitive game and help inspire the next generation of footballers in our community and in Wales.”

Swansea City season ticket holders can claim up to two free match tickets for this fixture. This can be redeemed online at no additional cost.

Additional tickets for this game will be charged at £5 for adults, £3 for seniors and under-18s, while tickets for under-12s will be free of charge.

All tickets - including under-12s’ tickets - must be claimed before going through the turnstiles. We would advise booking in advance, but supporters can pay on the day at the ticket office which will be open from 1pm on matchday.

Please note that anyone aged 14 or under must be accompanied by an adult.

Buy Tickets

Once again Swansea City Women and Swansea City AFC Foundation will be using this match as a chance to grow the women’s game in Wales by providing areas in the stadium for youth football teams to sit together and cheer on the Swans.

Any teams that would like to make a group booking are advised to email ticketing@swanseacity.com to make arrangements.

Anyone who requires a carer ticket, or who would like to book a wheelchair bay, can book tickets for this fixture by calling the ticket office on 01792 616400 (option 1) or via email at ticketing@swanseacity.com.

Parking can be booked for this fixture. This will be charged at £2 per vehicle.

Book Parking

Matt Grimes is one of Swansea City's longest-serving current players and is in his fifth season as skipper at the Swansea.com Stadium. 

Here, the midfielder reveals how a conversation with England boss Gareth Southgate proved a watershed moment in his captaincy, while also reflecting on his upbringing in Exeter, and explaining how football is not the only sport in which he has gained international honours.

Grimes also talks about the deep connection he feels with Swansea City and the local community as he closes in on nine years as a Swan, and why his desire to bring success to the club played a key role in him recently extending his contract.

He may have recently led Swansea City for the 200th time, but captain Matt Grimes has revealed it took him time to adjust to the responsibility, and credits guidance from England manager Gareth Southgate with helping him find his way as a leader.

Although Grimes had previous captaincy experience with England Under-20s, the midfielder admits his pride at being named Swans skipper in the summer of 2019 was tempered by the weight of pressure and expectation he put on his own shoulders.

It’s easy to forget that – with Grimes having over 300 Swans appearances in the books and his 200th game as captain recently coming against Sheffield Wednesday – there are some young supporters who will not have known any other player as their club’s on-field leader.

But Grimes is the first to acknowledge that his conversation with Southgate towards the end of the 2019-20 season, which was elongated following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, made a big difference in his approach to captaincy and proved hugely beneficial.

“Gareth Southgate was so important for my journey as a captain,” he says.

“The meeting was set up by Steve Cooper and the advice he gave me was game-changing for me, it was incredible.

“When I was first named captain I felt I had the responsibility of the world on my shoulders, and I had to be involved in everything, that I had to be trying to do everything.

“He just made me realise that a good leader delegates. If you’re not the best person to do something, then ask the best person.

“It was almost taking the pressure off and learning how to be a good leader.

“I think the game is changing a little bit, it used to be the biggest player, the strongest player or the player who is hardest in the tackle who was your captain.

“It’s different now, and it’s more about being the one that sets the standard for everyone in the whole club, and I like to think I do that.

“I was just massively thankful to speak to him and hear his experiences because he was a very young captain at Crystal Palace too. He talked me through all the scenarios he had dealt with, and it was invaluable.

“The longer you spend in a role the more comfortable you become. I was of the opinion that the leader had to be the one shouting at the ref and having a go if we made mistakes.

“As I started to do that, I felt my performances got worse because that’s not me. Don’t get me wrong there’s a time where you have a pop at each other and fair enough. That’s part of being a team and accountable to each other.

“But if I came in kicking things around all the time, I think the lads would see through it.

“I’m comfortable being myself and I know I’ve been picked to be a leader because of the qualities I bring and not because people want me to be something else.

“Obviously a lot of people are better at certain things than I am, but I just need to be the best version of myself to be the role model. If everyone is the best version of themselves then you have a successful side and that’s what we want here.”

Grimes is now nearing nine years as a Swansea player, and recently extended his contract with the club through to the summer of 2027.

But his football journey started in his hometown of Exeter, where he attended St Peter’s School, where is mother still works and which also counts Josh Key among its alumni.

And Grimes has a fan who has followed his fortunes right from his earliest days, in the form of his old PE teacher Paul Ruff.

“My mum worked in my secondary school when I was there, and my dad was an accountant,” said Grimes reflecting on his upbringing.

“My brother has followed that path, he plays part-time football for Taunton, and he’s an accountant as well. It’s staying in the family a little bit!

“My mum still works at the secondary school, St Peter’s School. It’s the same school that Josh Key went to.

“My PE teacher comes to games, but he doesn’t tell me he is coming to watch.

“He won’t take a ticket from me, he’ll just show up and pay his own way. It’s brilliant that he does that.

“As a kid I loved football but when I got to like 13 or 14, I had a spell where I felt I could take it or leave it. I don’t know what I would have done if I had moved away from football, maybe I would have gone down the accountancy route as I did enjoy maths at school. I was good with numbers.

“I did so many other sports in school, we were quite a sporty school with good facilities. I’d try my hand at rugby or tennis for example, and I’d just play loads of different sports.

“At 13 or 14 I would do training on Tuesdays and Thursdays with Exeter City, and play on a Sunday, but I kept playing other sports where I could.

“I have to admit I wasn’t any good at most of them! I just enjoyed playing them. I just feel like all kids at that age should just try their hand at most things.

“But when I got my scholarship at Exeter it was a case of head down and focusing on it. It became a bit more serious for me then.”

One other sport Grimes tried his hand at, and excelled at as a youngster, was frisbee. His school team would become national champions for three years in a row, while the Grimes himself would be selected to represent Great Britain.

The game is played by teams of five or seven players who score points by passing the frisbee around and someone catching it in an end zone, similar to how American footballers score a touchdown. 

But Grimes almost discovered the sport, which is set to be part of the 2028 Olympic Games, by accident.

“It was a Friday after school and obviously, in Year Seven, you’re going into a new school, you don’t know what to do and you’re trying to make friends,” he said.

“A couple of the lads I was knocking around with said we should have a go even though we had no idea how the game worked.

“We went to the first session and just loved it, it was just a brilliant game. I’ve said it many times before, you should have a look at it on YouTube if you can because the top level of it is just frighteningly good.

“It was just enjoyment for me and was a bit of a break from football. There were weekends where we’d go away to Manchester or Birmingham and play whole weekends.

“You know you can’t make a career out of it and you know you can’t play it forever so I just enjoyed it for as long as I could. Back in the day, we were national champions and represented Great Britain. That came through beating all the best teams in the country.

“We always used to get invited for the trials for Great Britain. I was lucky enough to go away to Germany and it was basically like going away with your mates to do something you enjoy. I really enjoyed it. 

“It's a great game. It’s so fast-paced and technical. It’s a great one for everyone to watch.”

As Grimes progressed through the ranks at Exeter and got his move to Swansea, international recognition came his way in the sport he is best known for playing.

He represented England at the 2015 and 2016 Toulon tournaments for the under-20s and under-21s respectively, captaining the former and being part of the winning squad for the latter.

The likes of Jordan Pickford, Jack Grealish, James Ward-Prowse and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were among the members of the successful group, and Grimes has fond memories of playing in the prestigious competition.

“The under-21s one was probably the better of the two just because the squad we had was incredible and we ended up winning it,” he says.

“I played a bit part in it, probably in the less important games. It was a privilege to be there, Gareth (Southgate) was the manager at the time, Gareth and Steve Holland. It was great just to learn from them and the players, it was a great experience.

“I haven’t really kept in touch with many of the players but if I come into contact with them we’ll have a sit down and a catch up.

“You know what football is like, everyone is like ships in the night, it’s hard to get schedules aligned. It was a good experience.”

Grimes has come a long way since those formative experiences as a young player, and a sign of the maturity and leadership qualities he spoke of earlier extends beyond being the heartbeat of the Swansea midfield.

Off the field, he and his fiancé Angela played a part in establishing a WhatsApp group to help welcome the partners and families of new signings to Swansea when they join the club, hoping to help them settle into their new surroundings and build connections and friendships.

The bonds between the players and their families is underlined by the fact Grimes, Jamal Lowe and Jay Fulton all took their wives, partners and children to Disneyland together during the recent international break, bumping into former Swan Korey Smith while there.

And that sense of togetherness is really important to the midfielder.

“We have had that WhatsApp group for a while now, we get sent the number of whoever is signing and then look to get in touch with their families or whoever is moving down with them.

“It can be very lonely for family members, you arrive somewhere new, you don’t know anyone and being here could be very different to what you are used to.

“It’s important that everyone connected to the squad feels involved. It just helps people get connected in one place where they can be together and spend time with each other.

“You build so many relationships and friendships that way. When we went away to Disneyland it was me, Jamal and Jay and all the families. Korey Smith and Hattie (Smith’s wife) were out there at the same time, so it was perfect timing.

“They all stay so close, Jamal talks to Korey a lot and the girls are still in touch with Hattie. It was just one of those really good coincidences.

“It just shows that everyone gets on so well here. It’s such a cliché but Swansea is just one big family and until you come here I don’t think you realise it.”

That family feeling was one of the driving forces behind Grimes extending his contract earlier this season.

But he also honestly acknowledges the deep desire he has to experience success with Swansea was also at the heart of the decision.

Grimes has been close to leading the club back to the Premier League, none more so than in 2021 when they suffered play-off final defeat to Brentford.

And those experiences continue to drive him forward.

“I don’t think about that game, or the play-offs the year before all the time. But when you get so close that you can almost sort of feel it, then it really focuses the mind when you look back on it,” he says.

“I just feel like the Championship as a whole for the last few years has been so wide open. I know Leicester are running away with it this year and Ipswich are doing well, but the play-off places are up for grabs.

“Every team you speak to has the goal of the play-offs and why not?

“We all want to be successful, why else would you play the game? I just know deep down that if I were to move on and Swansea were to get promoted without me that I would be desperately wishing I was part of it because I owe the club so much.

“I just want to have success here at the club and I want to keep trying to improve myself and help the team get better and push on.

“I think you can see we are doing that. I think we’ve drawn a line from the Cardiff game. If you look at the results since we have won five out of the last seven and one of those losses was against Leicester.

“We’ve got two big games before the international break, so we just need to keep rolling with it and keep trying to improve every week.

“We’ve still got a long way to go but hopefully everyone can see how we’re starting to click. The two centre-halves, Harry and Bash, have been absolutely outstanding.

“Jamal has been a revelation since he came in. Liam Cullen is playing like a man possessed, Pato has been unbelievable and Yatesy is just giving us so much at the top of the pitch.

“As midfielders we’re just trying to link the two, attacking well and defending well. We’re building each week bit by bit and it’s a positive time.”

Those are words spoken with the calmness and composure of a man comfortable leading the way, setting the example and clear in what he wants to help Swansea City achieve. Gareth Southgate would surely be impressed.

Wales international central defender Andy Melville starred in Swansea City's 1987-88 Fourth Division play-off final success.

Locally born, he turned professional at the Vetch Field in July 1986 and helped Swansea win the Welsh Cup in 1989. He was ever-present during the 1989-90 season, and netted 23 goals in 175 League games before being sold to Oxford United for £275,000 in July 1990.

Joining Sunderland for £750,000 in August 1993, he helped them win the First Division title in 1995-96 and secure promotion to the Premier League before moving to Fulham in July 1999 and repeating the feat of promotion to the top-flight in 2000-01.

He joined West Ham in January 2004 and was loaned to Nottingham Forest the following season to conclude his playing career.

Swansea City suffered defeat at the Swansea.com Stadium as Ken Sema’s ferocious late strike gave Watford victory.

The Swans had by far the better of the opening period, with captain Matt Grimes twice going close from distance and Harry Darling unable to make clean contact with a free header.

Kristian Pedersen thought he had given his side the lead when he headed home from a corner with 20 minutes to go, only for the Swans to be penalised and the goal chalked off, while Darling forced two fine saves from Daniel Bachmann in the Watford goal.

Swansea City: Carl Rushworth, Kristian Pedersen, Jay Fulton, Harry Darling, Matt Grimes (captain), Jerry Yates, Jamal Lowe, Jamie Paterson (Ollie Cooper 61), Liam Cullen (Josh Tymon 61), Harrison Ashby (Liam Walsh 79), Bashir Humphreys.

Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Charlie Patino, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Kyle Naughton, Sam Parker, Cameron Congreve.

Watford: Daniel Bachmann (captain), Jeremy Ngakia, Francisco Sierralta, Wesley Hoedt, Jamal Lewis (Mattie Pollock 90), Tom Ince (Yaser Asprilla 62), Jake Livermore, Ismael Kone (Giorgi Chakvetadze 82), Vakoun Bayo (Mileta Rajovic 62), Matheus Martins (Ken Sema 46), Edo Kayembe.

Unused Substitutes: Ben Hamer, Imran Louza, Rhys Healey, Mattie Pollock, James Morris.

Referee: Andrew Kitchen

Attendance: 14,698

Swansea City got back to winning ways with a hard-fought victory over Blackburn Rovers as they claimed the spoils at Ewood Park for the first time in 52 years.

Liam Cullen’s curling effort gave the visitors the lead on the half-hour mark after Jamal Lowe had twice been denied  by the assistant’s flag.

Swansea City: Carl Rushworth, Harry Darling, Matt Grimes (captain), Jerry Yates (Ben Cabango 89’), Jamal Lowe, Jamie Paterson (Ollie Cooper 83’), Josh Tymon, Charlie Patino (Jay Fulton 72’), Liam Cullen, Harrison Asby, Bashir Humphreys.

Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Kristian Pedersen, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Kyle Naughton, Liam Walsh, Cameron Congreve.

Blackburn Rovers: Leo Wahlstedt, Callum Brittain (Dilan Markanday 45’), Harry Pickering, James Hill, Sondre Tronstad, Arnor Sigurdsson (Andy Moran 45’), Sammie Szmodics (captain), Tyrhys Dolan (Adam Wharton 60’), Joe Rankin-Costello (Harry Leonard 64’), Scott Wharton, Hayden Carter.

Substitutes: Joe Hilton, Tom Atcheson, Jake Garrett, Semir Telalovic, Niall Ennis.

Attendance: 13,102 (561 away)

If you’re a fan with a relatively decent memory and someone who is aware of anniversaries, you’ll know that we passed a significant one this week. It was 11 years ago last Tuesday that Swansea City football club made Halloween history, ensuring a horror show for Liverpool by beating the Capital One Cup holders 3-1 at Anfield.

It was a result which became the catalyst for the most significant cup run in the club’s history. Michael Laudrup’s men were facing former gaffer Brendan Rodgers for the first time since his departure from south-west Wales four months earlier.

That win resulted in the Swans sealing a home quarter-final tie against Middlesbrough and proceeding to go all the way to Wembley.

The final would see us win 5-0 against fourth-tier Bradford City, managed then by Phil Parkinson, now in charge at Wrexham.

But it was that victory at Anfield that allowed many of us to dare to dream that our club might just make its mark and win one of the game’s major honours for the first time in, what was then, 101 years.

The game saw reporters make reference to our ‘majestic’ performance, where we were commended for our ‘rapier sharp’ attacking play, ‘superior work rate’ and ‘greater ambition’. It was a reunion Rogers would have had nightmares about for a long time afterwards.

Many of us will remember Chico Flores - the first goalscorer at Anfield - fondly. His goal came shortly after the half-hour mark, as he rose unmarked to connect with the right-wing corner provided by Jonathan de Guzman.

Some seasons bring real characters to a club and Chico was certainly one of a kind. The flamboyant centre-back arrived in SA1 following a £2 million move from Genoa. He’d spent the previous season on loan with Real Mallorca, which is where he met Laudrup.

The Spaniard became a firm favourite during his two years with us, making 57 appearances and bringing us ‘Chico time’, both on and off the pitch! Who can forget the red Ferrari or the pink Suzuki?!

And, as it happens, he got his first league goal in the Premier League clash with today’s visitors, Sunderland.

It was October 19, 2013 and Flores got on the end of another De Guzman corner to hammer home the fourth goal of the game and seal a 4-0 win over the Black Cats.

Fast forward a decade, and as heartwarming as it is to reminisce and to recall the memories of games and players gone by, the reality for us and Sunderland is that we’re now in a different division, we’re a quarter of the way into another campaign and both sides are hoping to consistently produce the sort of form which results in opportunities to get back to the best league.

There’s another international break on the horizon and Michael Duff is no doubt keen to go into it off the back of another decent run. Four points and five places separate the sides today, which means the scene should be set for a decent encounter and, hopefully, a result that takes us one step closer to this season’s desired destination.

Wrth i ni agosáu at Nadolig mae’n deg dweud bod perfformiadau'r Elyrch wedi bod yn anghyson hyd yma, ond mae pethau yn gwella’n raddol. Aled Biston sydd yn trafod sut gall yr Elyrch bod yn un o brif dimoedd yr adran gyda’u dull chwarae “unigryw.”

Dwi’n credu bod hynny yn crynhoi ein tymor yn berffaith hyd yma. Roedd 'na lawer o gyffro pan gyhoeddwyd mai Michael Duff bydd rheolwr newydd Yr Elyrch, ond diflannu gwnaeth y cyffro hwnnw gyda pherfformiadau gwael a oedd yn golygu, pe bai pethau ddim yn newid, byddwn yn brwydro i gadw ein statws yn y gynghrair.

Ond mae pethau wedi newid yn sylweddol ers hynny a dwi’n meddwl fy mod i’n siarad ar ran fwyaf ein cefnogwyr pan dwi’n dweud, pan dwi’n gwylio Abertawe yn chwarae, dwi’n hyderus mai ni fydd y tîm gorau ar y diwrnod hwnnw. Dyw hynny ddim yn golygu bod ni mynd i ennill achos does dim sicrwydd ym mhêl-droed.

Dwi’n cofio gwylio'r gêm yn erbyn Norwich yn y Swansea.com a meddwl bod ni’n edrych y drefnus, roedd pawb yn gwybod eu rolau a beth oedd yn amlwg yw bod y chwaraewyr yn gwybod rôl pob un chwaraewr ar y cae y noson honno. Os nad oedd un chwaraewr yn gwneud beth oedd ef fod i wneud, roedd chwaraewyr arall yn dweud wrtho, ac mae hynny yn dangos bod ni wedi dod yn bell ers i ni fynd chwe gêm heb ennill ar ddechrau’r tymor.

Mae’r cymysgedd o bwyso'r amddiffyn o’r blaen gydag ymosodwyr a’r Swansea way o basio’r bêl allan o’r cefn yn ddull chwarae all achosi problemau mawr i dimau, ac os gall Duff a’r chwaraewyr canfod ffordd o berffeithio hynny dwi wir yn meddwl bydden ni yn dîm i’w ofni yn y gynghrair eleni.

Mae’r gemau sydd yn dod lan yn anodd iawn. Sunderland, Ipswich, Hull a Leeds, pedwar tîm sydd yn chwarae’n dda, gyda chwaraewyr o safon uwch ac sydd â gobeithion o godi i’r Premier League eleni. Ond er bod y gemau yma yn her fawr, maen nhw hefyd yn gyfle i ni ddangos bod ni’n ddigon da i gystadlu gyda’r timoedd sydd yn brwydro ar gyfer y play-offs ac automatic promotion. Pe bai ni’n gallu ennill y pedair gêm, neu ennill dwy a chael dwy gêm gyfartal, mae hynny yn dangos i mi ein bod ni yn ddigon da i frwydro am safle yn y play-offs eleni.

Canlyniadau yw sut mae timoedd, chwaraewyr a rheolwyr yn cael eu barnu yn y byd pêl-droed, ond os ydy’r perfformiadau dros y pedair gêm nesaf o’r safon mae Duff a’r chwaraewyr wedi dangos yn ddiweddar, credaf mai yn ein dwylo ni mae’r cyfle i gyrraedd y play-offs eleni. Amser a ddengys, ond mae gen i bob ffydd yn yr Elyrch.

ALED LLOYD-BISTON

This season marks the 30th anniversary of Swansea City’s first trip to Wembley for the Autoglass Trophy final in 1994. To mark it, our club historian Gwyn Rees takes us back through the story of that campaign and some of the key figures involved.

The month started with the Swans taking on Wycombe Wanderers with a first-ever appearance at the iconic Wembley Stadium on the line.

On St David’s Day the Vetch was decorated with daffodils while Cor Meibion led the ground in song ahead of the first leg of the Autoglass Trophy southern area final.

The Swans responded with arguably their best performance of the season to date. From the first minute the hosts assumed control and dominated.

Skipper John Cornforth, Kwame Ampadu and Matthew Rush dictated play in midfield, allowed the likes of Jason Bowen, Colin Pascoe and Steve Torpey to cause havoc.

It took only 10 minutes for the Swans to draw first blood through the dangerous Pascoe. A corner from Ampadu saw Torpey rise highest, and the alert Pascoe ghosted in at the back post to score the opener with a spectacular diving effort.

The fluency and direction in the Swans play was a joy to behold, and the visitors were lucky when a Torpey header crashed against the crossbar, and was scrambled away by the overworked defence.

But this was just a reprieve for the Buckinghamshire side as, on the half-hour, Bowen put the home side two up with an acrobatic header that sent the vast majority of the crowd wild with delight.

The Wycombe defence survived another spell of Swans pressure and hit back when, against the run of play, a rare defensive lapse saw Steve Guppy pounce on a loose ball, and square for veteran Simon Garner to steer into an empty net.

Half-time gave the overworked visitors defence a reprieve, but the Swansea side were back on the front foot straight after the restart, and it was Pascoe who restored their two-goal cushion in the 76th minute when he met a Rush cross at the far post.

It was a goal that put the Swans in a strong position to reach its first Wembley appearance in 82 years, and spoil Wycombe manager Martin O'Neill’s 42nd birthday celebrations.

Four days later the Swans returned to league action to take on a Brentford side who were still in the hunt for a play-off place.

Once again it was Bowen who gave Swansea an early lead, with just seven minutes gone on the clock he collected a 40-yard pass from Cornforth turned sharply inside the box, and beat goalkeeper Kevin Dearden with a low strike.

Bowen’s goal should have signalled an easy win for the side, but – in a recurring theme from earlier in the season - a host of chances were created and not taken, and the visitors would ultimately level through a Lee Harvey effort in the second half.
 

Just 72 hours later, the Swans hosted Brighton in a rearranged fixture, with the original late December date called off because of a waterlogged pitch.

The visitors set their stall out from the off, with the team defending deep and allowing Swansea total territorial dominance.

Because of this the chances were few, but right on half-time the pressure and patience finally told when Pascoe followed up an Ampadu shot that keeper Nicky Rust beat out into the path of the grateful player.

The second half saw Brighton come out of their defensive shape but rarely trouble a confident defence. Torpey made the game safe for the home side with a two-goal salvo in the final quarter of the contest to give the Swans their biggest home win of the season, and move the team up to 15th in the table.

After three consecutive home fixtures, it was back on the road and a long trip to take on Bradford City.

For just over an hour the Swans looked capable of taking something from the game, but two goals for the home side in seven minutes from Lee Duxbury and Lee Power turned the game on its head. Cornforth pulled one back for the visitors with a stunning free-kick, but it wasn't enough to get anything from the game.

Next up was a home fixture against Cambridge United, with Wales manager Mike Smith in attendance to cast his eye over Swans starlet Bowen ahead of an upcoming friendly against Sweden.

The player did himself no harm at all with a brace adding to goals from Pascoe and Torpey in an emphatic win.

A win over Exeter followed with Mark Clode and Andy McFarlane on the scoresheet to tee up the return leg against Wycombe.

With Wembley’s famous towers in sight, there was a real sense of anticipation and excitement and the away end was packed to the rafters, causing a delay in kick-off as some fans spilled onto the playing area.

With a strong wind behind them, the home side bombarded the Swansea penalty area with crosses and high deliveries, and the visitors found it hard to get into the game.

The hosts would take the lead when Guppy’s effort from a long Dave Carroll pass was parried by Roger Freestone, with Tony Hemmings bundling in the loose ball in the 29th minute.

The goal gave Wycombe further encouragement, and the Swans were glad to hear the half-time whistle after such a torrid first half.

To the visitors’ credit they came out for the second half a different team, chasing every ball, and playing the sort of football that had seen them dominate the first leg.

Bowen went close with a strike that beat the keeper but went the wrong side of the post, before Paul Hyde in the home goal did well to keep out an effort from Clode.

McFarlane came on as a substitute for Torpey, and his physical presence caused more problems for a home defence that had gone untested in the first half.

Pascoe, with only six minutes left, should have put the tie to bed but, with just the keeper to beat, fired shot straight at him.

The six minutes of injury time seemed to last an eternity, but finally the referee blew his whistle to signal a pitch invasion by the Swans faithful, and the end of a long, long wait to play at the famous Wembley Stadium.

But there was little time for celebration as it was soon back to league action for an away trip to leaders Reading.

The Swans played with real confidence with John Hodge in superb form out wide, and they took a deserved lead when Bowen produced a stunning finish to confidently chip Shaka Hislop from 25 yards.

However, the visitors tired during the closing stages, with the Royals levelling from the spot before Stuart Lovell struck the winner 12 minutes from time.

The long journey to Hartlepool on a bleak Tuesday rounded off the month, and it was a trip that ended pointless for the Swans, after losing to their relegation-threatened hosts.

But worse still was the broken leg sustained by Andy Cook, who was detained overnight at the Hartlepool General Hospital and underwent surgery.

This came in the second period of a game where the Swans played neat and tidy football, but very rarely threatened the home goal. The only goal of the game came after 33 minutes, when a free-kick was sent into the visitors’ box and Keith Houchen was able to convert from 10 yards.

I’m sure all Swans fans of a superstitious nature will be relieved Sunderland weren’t visiting earlier in the week.

Playing a club nicknamed the Black Cats on Halloween would have been too much of a bad omen for those who believe in such matters.

On the flipside, some visiting fans may be worried about their feline-related heroes being spooked by any early fireworks conjured up by the home side this afternoon.

The Black Cats may be a topical name for a football team during this of all weeks, but Sunderland’s nickname goes way back.

According to the club’s website, the link between the town and black cats goes back almost 200 years.

In 1805 a gun battery on the River Wear was named the Black Cat Battery after the men operating the station heard a mysterious miaow from a wailing black cat.

A hundred years later in 1905, a black cat was pictured sitting on a football next to club chairman FW Taylor, and three years later a black cat featured on a team photo.

Furthermore, a black kitten owned by a 12-year-old Sunderland fan was believed to bring the team luck as it sat in his pocket at Wembley throughout the 1937 FA Cup Final, when the Wearsiders came from behind to beat Preston 3-1.

However, the nickname was only officially adopted after the club moved from its former Roker Park home in 1997, rendering Sunderland’s usual nicknames of the Rokerites and Rokermen out of date.

A poll of over 11,000 fans saw almost half of them plump for the Black Cats nickname.

The visitors are sure to be aiming to produce a frightfully good performance in the wake of Halloween, while the Swans will be hoping to sparkle on the eve of Guy Fawkes Night.

All Hallows’ Eve, bonfire night and all the other major holidays and festivals in this country are a gift for those working in the media and writing about the game at this time of the year.

"Fright night", "horror show", "nightmare result" . . . you'll probably have seen at least one of these phrases used somewhere in the football headlines and reports when matches fall on October 31.

Journalists can't resist being topical whenever matches fall on or near special dates.

"Sparks will fly" usually gets used in previews for matches on November 5, while firecracker may well feature in match reports around this date.

Meanwhile, "heartbreak for United/City/Rovers" (delete where applicable) is sure to make an appearance on February 14.

Goals become "gifts" at Christmas time, when they always come in "sackfuls". Exciting matches are generally described as "crackers" while boring no-score draws are obviously "turkeys".

And at Easter there is sure to be an eggs-traordinary result or an "eggs-tra special performance".

Of course, I wouldn’t dream of indulging in any of the corny cliché type writing described above.

But let’s hope it’s bad luck for the Black Cats as the Swans rocket up the table with an explosive performance which lights up the late afternoon sky today!

On a more sombre note, I couldn’t let today’s match pass without a word on the recent death of Sir Bobby Charlton, especially as we’re playing a club from the north-east of England – the area of the country from which he hailed.

I have absolutely no affiliation with Manchester United and I am not a supporter of the England international football team.

But Charlton’s name transcended club or national rivalries, and even football itself. He wasn’t just an ambassador for club and country.

Above all he was an ambassador for football and its wider values.

To have risen to the heights of excellence he achieved on the pitch following the unimaginable adversity he experienced during and after the Munich Air Disaster is quite simply remarkable.

Whoever he played for, wherever he was born, what he achieved within the game and the reputation he built beyond it as a result can only be admired.

One of the great off-field memories I have from the Swans’ time in the Premier League was turning around to see Charlton sitting some 10 to 25 rows behind me.

I was mesmerised and found myself regularly looking over my shoulder at the man who has been a household name throughout my life.

Sir Bobby Charlton may not have been a hero of any team I supported, but he was a hero of football.

When I was growing up in the late 1960s and 1970s he was the most famous and respected player on these islands.

His name was instantly recognisable across the globe. It was impossible not to see him as a footballing icon.

Despite his advancing years, there was still a remarkable aura around the elderly gentleman in the hat and scarf watching his beloved Manchester United take on the Swans from his seat in the West Stand.

The rapturous minute’s applause at the Swansea.com Stadium before our home game against Watford confirmed I am not alone in my respect for a great footballer and a great man. Rest in peace, Sir Bobby.

C’mon you Swans!

A five-star performance from Swansea City Under-21s saw them record their third consecutive win in all competitions with a dominant display against Charlton Athletic in the Professional Development League. 

All the goals came in the first half as the home side raced to a 5-0 lead at Landore.

Liam Smith opened the scoring inside three minutes before Cameron Congreve doubled the advantage from the spot.

Kyle Naughton volleyed in a third before a second penalty was dispatched by Ruben Davies.

Davies then got his second before half-time when he finished off a sweeping Swans move.

The Swans had chances to improve the lead in the second half with substitute Maliq Cadogan hitting the crossbar with a headed effort, while Henry Molyneux made a string of good saves in the Addicks' goal.

But it was a controlled display over the second 45 minutes to seal the three points and maintain the development side’s unbeaten home record in 2023.

A number of first-team squad members also got valuable minutes under their belts with Naughton, Liam Walsh, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Ollie Cooper and Congreve all featuring. 

The Swans set the tone in the second minute with a sweeping forward move full of intricate, fast passing through an experienced midfield of Walsh and Cooper. It was coolly finished by Smith as he curled right-footed beyond the outstretched Molyneux.

The Swans quickly doubled their advantage, this time from the spot. Smith rode a number of tackles before poking the ball into Ben Lloyd who turned in the Charlton box and was hit in the shins by a mistimed tackle. Congreve sent the keeper the wrong way and coolly converted from 12 yards.

The home side had a series of chances before Walsh forced a save from Molyneux from distance.

The Addicks' shot-stopper pushed it out for a corner which was played short for Walsh to deliver. Ollie Hobden won the header in the box but could only divert it into the path of Naughton, who volleyed in from the edge of the box to make it 3-0.

Davies and Congreve combined again almost straight from the restart, with the latter taken out in the box by a sliding challenge for another Swansea penalty. This time Davies stepped up to dispatch the spot-kick and further assert the Swans' dominance.

Home keeper Evan Watts was called into action when a hooked ball forward took a horrible bounce off the wet turf, but he stayed alert and tipped it over the bar. The resulting corner was headed wide by Seydil Toure.

And there was still time for the home side to extend their lead further before the break as they hit Charlton on the break. Cooper drove powerfully forward before poking the ball between the centre-backs for Smith. The Scot drew the keeper before squaring it to Davies to put in the net.

The Swans continued to boast the majority of the possession and chances in the second period, showing maturity and control without quite reaching the fast-paced heights of the first half.

Lloyd, Davies and Smith all went close with headed efforts before Davies forced Molyneux into a neat stop in slippy conditions with his effort from inside the box.

At the other end, Joshua Ogunnowe blasted wide after a bit of a scramble in the Swans penalty area.

The Swansea substitutes also had their chances after being introduced. Cadogan headed onto the crossbar and Mitchell Bates’ effort from distance needed to be tipped over. Richard Faakye also tested the keeper with a fierce header from close range.

Molyneux was tested twice more in the closing stages, saving well from Sam Parker’s vicious strike from distance before a more straightforward stop denied Cadogan’s effort from a free-kick.

Swansea City Under-21s: Evan Watts, Sam Parker, Nathan Tjoe-A-On (Richard Faakye 45’), Liam Walsh (Maliq Cadogan 60’), Filip Lissah (captain), Kyle Naughton (Mitchell Bates 60’) Cameron Congreve, Ollie Cooper, Ruben Davies, Ben Lloyd (Kyrell Wilson 75’), Liam Smith.

Unused substitutes: Remy Mitchell.

Braces for Rohan Davies and Tom Woodward helped Swansea City Under-18s make it three consecutive wins in all competitions as they saw off Queens Park Rangers Under-18s at Landore.

Davies opened the scoring early with a smart finish at the back post and, while the visitors did play their way into the game, the Swans were disciplined out of possession and the visitors failed to test keeper Ewan Griffiths.

Goals either side of half-time for Woodward put the game out of sight, before Davies dispatched a penalty kick with five minutes to go to make it 4-0.

Jake Coomes scored a consolation for the R's in injury time.

The Swans - who came into the game off the back of impressive away wins at Watford and Bournemouth - got off to a fast start by converting their first big chance of the afternoon in the seventh minute.

Aimar Govea got the better of his man before looping a cross into the box, and Yori Griffith leapt highest to flick it on with Davies arriving at the back post. The Swans front man still had plenty to do, but his first touch set him up perfectly and he hammered the ball in at the near post.

Griffith had a couple of half-chances to extend the lead. He poked another Govea cross narrowly wide before being brought down at the edge of the box after the Swans sprung a fast attack from a turnover in the centre of the park.

It was proving a controlled performance from the home side and, when QPR mounted their best spell of the game midway through the first half, a solid defending meant that Alfie Tuck and Harry Redknapp's off-target efforts from distance were the closest the R's came to an equaliser.

At the other end, the Swans were clinical and Woodward bagged his sixth goal of the season when he curled into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to extend the lead and finish off a sweeping counter-attack.

Woodward was quickly back among the goals in the second half.

Having already forced the keeper into a save after a nice individual piece of skill and a low right-footed effort, he completed his brace when he leapt highest to calmly nod Cameron Llewellyn’s cross back across goal to nestle the ball just inside the far post.

Woodward then forced two really good saves from Conor Clark as he went in search of his hat-trick.

In the closing stages, Noah Hay committed a foul in his own box leaving the referee to point to the spot, and Davies stepped up and coolly dispatched the ball down the middle with five minutes remaining.

Eight minutes of injury time allowed Coomes to get one back for the R's, before Woodward had a very late effort cleared off the line as the Swans eased to victory.

Swansea City U18s: Ewan Griffiths (captain), Iestyn Jones (Teo Minchev 86'), Arthur Parker, Jacob Cook, Ben Phillips, Harlan Perry, Cameron Llewellyn (Osian Williams 86’), Yori Griffith (Aidan Higgins 86’), Rohan Davies, Tom Woodward, Aimar Govea (Josh Pescatore 45’).

Unused substitutes: Harvey Rees.

DOB
06/03/2005

Position
Centre-back or centre midfield.

Left Footed / Right Footed
Left

Nationality (according to UEFA)
English

Signed for the swans
July 2021

Previous clubs
Crystal Palace, Tooting and Mitcham at grassroots level.

What is your best memory in a Swans shirt (if applicable)?
I made my debut for the under-21s at 16 as a first-year scholar. 

What is your favourite thing about Swansea?
It’s a close-knit place, everyone knows everyone. 

Who is your football idol?
Either Eden Hazard or Yaya Toure.

What is your favourite film
Paid in Full.

Who is your favourite music artist?
I don’t really have one right now. On matchdays I listen to Abra Cadabra. 

What is your cheat meal?
KFC.

What subject were you best at in school?
English.

Football bucket list
Win the World Cup.

A stadium you’d love to visit (player or fan)
San Siro, it’s getting knocked down now though.

Your first football memory
Playing in school in the playground with my mates with a sponge ball, I don’t really remember my first game. 

First football shirt you owned
I had a Chelsea shirt with my own name and number 10 on the back.

Other football position you played
I’ve played everywhere. I started off as a striker but at my grassroots team I kind of had a free role so I could go anywhere. It was more or less like a number 10, attacking midfield, then at Palace I played left-wing, left-back, a 10, a 8, a 4, everywhere. I came here and started playing centre-back, so everywhere basically!

Any other sports
I played all sports. I like to watch tennis, I don’t live too far from Wimbledon too. I like Alcaraz right now. I enjoyed all sports growing up. 

Preferred shirt number
8

Your room-mate for away games (why?)
Last year it was Geoff Bony, he’s gone now, but I get on with quite a few of the boys. We haven’t really had any away trips yet so that’s still up for grabs, whoever wants it can take it! 

Favourite computer game
Fireboy and Watergirl, I remember that when I was younger!

Aim for the season ahead?
Have a good season, hopefully make my debut this year. 

Who is the most famous person you’ve met?
One of my teammates made his Premier League debut, David Ozoh, so I’ll give him a little shout-out! I’ve played against a few players who play in the Premier League now, I played against Carney Chukwuemeka at Chelsea when I was about 12, and Rico Lewis too. 

An interesting fact about you
I have four sisters.

GAVIN LEVEY EXCITED TO BUILD ON SUCCESSES AND INFRASTRUCTURE AT SWANSEA CITY ACADEMY

Gavin Levey intends to build on the infrastructure already in place at Swansea City's academy, and is excited for a new challenge in south Wales after being appointed as the club’s academy manager.

Levey joins from Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen, a club he served with great distinction for 17 years, most recently in his role as academy director.

The 43-year-old arrives in SA1 with vast knowledge and experience in academy football, starting his career with spells at Dundee United and Ross County before joining the Dons in 2006.

Levey was promoted to head of academy coaching in 2015, before becoming academy director in June 2021.

But, after almost two decades at the Scottish outfit, it was the conversations he had with Swansea staff - as well as the culture and the people he dealt with - that was the biggest pull to south Wales for the Scot.

“It was a huge decision, not just to move here as academy manager, but for my family to relocate as well," said Levey.

“I think the amount of change that has happened at the club, from speaking to the chairman, the head coach, and the sporting director, they are all new to their roles.

“They all have so much energy behind them to try and do something special here at Swansea. For me, to be able to be part of that process was probably the biggest draw.

“Every time I've been down here in the last couple of months I’ve tried to learn more and more about the environment and the culture, not just in the club but in the city as well.

“I just want to embrace as much as I can. I’ve come from a club with a rich history, and I think this club has so much to offer going forward. 

“Everyone I’ve met has been so friendly, everyone has been very passionate about this club and also about the local area."

Swansea City Women extended their winning run to four games with a dominant victory at Aberystwyth Town Women.

Skipper Katy Hosford fired the Swans ahead early in the first half, before turning provider just before the break as Jess Williams headed home her corner delivery.

Hosford had her second of the game and fifth of the season after the break, her close-range header making it 3-0.

The Swans would cap their superb performance with a fourth goal, Monet Legall tapping home from Hosford’s shot.

The Swans had started the game brightly, Hosford finding Stacey John-Davis in the box just two minutes in, but the striker’s effort was blocked.

However, it wouldn’t be long before the Swans were ahead, a great ball from Nieve Jenkins sent Hosford on her way to slide home and put her side in front.

The Swansea pressure continued, Robyn Pinder latching onto a loose ball on the edge of the box before firing just wide.

Chloe Chivers then forced a fantastic low save from Margot Farnes in the Aberystwyth goal, her effort from distance being tipped around the post.

John-Davis came close to doubling Swansea’s lead, turning the Aberystwyth left-back inside out before shooting just over the bar.

Sammy Wynne also went close, cutting onto her right foot only to see her strike well saved.

But the Swans would finally have their second just before the break, Williams powering home Hosford’s corner from inside the six-yard box.

The visitors’ dominance continued into the second half, as they controlled play and created chances at will.

Hosford would get her second of the game to make it 3-0, rising to steer in a header after a great delivery from Chivers for her fifth goal of the season.

But the Swans weren’t done there as Legall capitalised on a loose ball in the box and beat the goalkeeper to make it four.

The win made it four wins from four for the Swans heading into an important fixture with league leaders Cardiff City Women.

Swansea City Women: Opal Rayner, Alicia Powe, Ellie Lake, Nieve Jenkins (Rhian Williams 84), Robyn Pinder (Monet Legall 79), Chloe Chivers (Kelsey Thomas 84), Katy Hosford (captain), Stacey John-Davis, Sammy Wynne (Rachel Cullen 70), Sophie Brisland-Hancocks, Jess Williams.

Unused subs: Steph Turner.

Date of birth

04/09/1999

Nationality (according to UEFA)

Welsh

What position do you play?

Wing

Which is your preferred foot?

Right-footed

Which clubs did you play for before joining Swansea City?

Cardiff City Ladies, Cardiff City Women, Cyncoed Women, Cheltenham Town.

When did you sign for the Swans?

2022-23 season.

What is your best moment in a Swansea City shirt?

Representing the club in the Champions League in Greece.

What is your favourite thing about playing for Swansea City?

Playing at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Who is your football idol?

Lionel Messi.

What is the first position you played in football?

Striker.

What is your favourite memory of watching football?

Definitely has to be watching Wales beat Belgium 1-0 during the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

What is the first football shirt you owned?

Manchester United.

Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?

I always take my jewellery off in the same order.

What is an interesting fact about you?

I was Welsh champion in Taekwondo for my age group when I younger.

Do you play any other sports?

Nope.

What is something that is on your bucket list?

I want to travel to as many countries as possible.

What is your favourite film?

Superbad.

Who is your favourite music artist?

The Weeknd.

What is the best TV series you've watched?

Fleabag.

What is the best concert you've been to?

Beyonce (Lemonade tour).

What was your favourite subject in school?

Art.

Do you play computer games? If so, which ones?

The Last of Us.

Swansea City 5 - 0 Sunderland
Division Two - September 13, 1958
 

 

Ivor Allchurch was once again the man of the moment as Swansea ran out victors over Sunderland at the Vetch Field.

On the day when 17-year-old Herbie Williams made his debut for the Swans, the hosts ran riot as Allchurch scored four and Des Palmer scored one to see off the Black Cats.

The five-goal demolition of their North East opponents helped the Swans on their way to a mid-table finish in Division 2 as they ended the season in 11th position

Shwmae pawb,

Welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium. It’s good to see you all for our last home match before the international break.

We’ve had another great week and we really enjoyed judging your #JuniorJacksHalloween pumpkin designs – there were some fantastic entries!

Congratulations to the three winners. We hope you have a brilliant time at Buzz Trampoline.

For today’s match, we think the score will be 2-1 to the Swans and we think Jamal Lowe will get both Swans goals.

Our quiz of the day is all around foreign languages! We’re testing you on how some of our current and former Swans say “hello” in their native language.

Good luck!

Uppa Swans,

Cyril and Cybil

We hope you have a brilliant matchday. Our joint matchday prediction is a 2-1 win for the Swans and we think Jerry Yates will get both goals.

Enjoy the game!

Cyril and Cybil

Age:

8

What was the first Swansea City game you attended?

Stoke on a Tuesday night during the 2021-22 season

What is your favourite memory of watching the Swans?

Being with my Bamps at the Swansea.com Stadium.

What do you like most about supporting Swansea City?

It’s Wales’ no.1 club!

Why did you start supporting Swansea City?

Through my Bampa. He's followed them since he was a youngster.

Do you play any sports?

I like swimming, fishing and playing rugby.

What is an interesting fact about you?

I love statistics.

What is your favourite subject in school and why?

Maths! I love solving problems.

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.

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.

Chairman - Andy Coleman

Honorary Club President - Alan Curtis MBE

Chief of Staff and Head of Strategy - Ken Gude

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

Director of Business and Legal Affairs: Sam Porter.

Associate Directors: Adam Lewis.

FIRST-TEAM STAFF

Head Coach – Michael Duff

Assistant Head Coaches - Alan Sheehan and Martin Paterson

Head of Goalkeeping – Martyn Margetson

First Team Coach - Kris O'Leary

Head of Medical - Dr Jez McCluskey

Staff: Ailsa Jones, Bethany Chaddock, Matt Murray, Thomas Gittoes, Michael Eames, Shaun Baggridge, Shaun Howl, Jonathan Jones, Jono Aveston, Jake Dayus.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT GROUP

Paul Watson (Sporting Director); Andrew Davies (Head of Commercial, Operations, & Facilities); Gareth Davies (CFO); Josh Marsh (Head of Football Operations).

CLUB STAFF

Club Secretary: Ben Greenwood
Football Operations &
Administration Manager: Rebecca Gigg
Head of Retail: Andrea Morris
Head of Hospitality, Events & Fan Engagement: Catherine Thomas
Head of Safeguarding: Rebeca Storer
HR Manager: Nicola Butt
Senior Commercial Sponsorship Manager: Lee Merrells
Head of Commercial: Richard Morris
Head of Media & Communications: Ben Donovan
Ticket Office Manager: Lewis Bullen
Head of Facilities: Gordon David
Grounds Manager: Evan Davies
Disability Access Officer: Catherine Thomas
Head of Swansea City AFC Foundation: Paul France
Club Ambassador: Lee Trundle

PROGRAMME PRODUCTION

Contributors: Ben Donovan, Andrew Gwilym, Sophie Davis, Hayley Ford, Fraser Dickson, Rachael Tucker, Cerith White, Rhys Kemish, Dom Hynes, Owen Morgan, Julie Kissick, Gwyn Rees, Aled Lloyd-Biston.

Designers: Callum Rothwell,
Jordan Morcom, Lewis Ward

Photography: Athena Picture Agency,
Natalie John-Davis, Alamy.