Cadwch yn ddiogel Jacks
Issue 10 - Digital Copy
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Swansea City v Barnsley Saturday, December 19 - Kick-off 3pm
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CONTENTS Page 15 - Community Trust
Page 16 - Meet the Opposition
Page 21 - Match Reports
Page 28 - Q&A with Andre Ayew
Page 34 - Jack the Lad
Polite Warning: The British courts have now imposed a standard minimum three-year ban from all football grounds for football-related arrests – both inside and outside the ground. CCTV is currently in operation inside and outside the stadium, while police are also using handheld video cameras. Offences include: obscene or racist chanting or gesturing; consuming alcohol in seated areas; continual standing in seated areas; aggressive behaviour; going onto the pitch; throwing of items; drunk and disorderly behaviour or under the influence of drugs. Please note there is also a no-smoking policy within the stadium. If broken, you could be ejected. Sales of goods inside and outside the stadium is prohibited unless via official registered sellers. The club badge is a registered trademark and unauthorised use of it will not be permitted. High-quality cameras are not permitted inside the stadium.
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CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES VISIT SWANSEACITY.COM
Chief Executive Julian Winter Board Of Directors Directors: Romie Chaudhari, Bobby Hernreich, Huw Jenkins, Jason Levien, Stuart McDonald, Martin Morgan, Gareth Davies, Julian Winter, Jake Silverstein, Sam Porter Honorary Club President: Alan Curtis; Associate Directors: David Morgan, Cath Dyer Team Management Head Coach: Steve Cooper Assistant Coach: Mike Marsh Behind the Team Goalkeeping Coach: Martyn Margetson Head of Medicine: Dr Jez McCluskey Head of Performance Analysis: Steve Rands Head of Recruitment: Andy Scott Academy Manager: Nigel Rees Staff: David Tivey, Ritson Lloyd, Ailsa Jones, Matthew Murray, Adele Callaghan, Daniel Morris, Lee Watkins, Chris Watkins, Tom Jenkinson, Tom Goodall, Daniel Nisbett, Michael Eames, Shaun Baggridge, Huw Lake, Ashley Gill, Steffan Popham
Senior Management Group Andrew Davies (Head of Operations, Facilities & Development); Gareth Davies (CFO); Rebecca Edwards-Symmons (Head of Commercial) Club Staff Club Secretary: Ben Greenwood Assistant Football Secretary: Rebecca Gigg Head of Retail: Andrea Morris Head of Hospitality & Customer Services: Catherine Thomas Legal Counsel, Head of Safeguarding: Rebeca Storer HR Manager: Nicola Butt Senior Commercial Sponsorship Manager: Lee Merrells Commercial Marketing Manager: Katie Hughes Media Manager: Chris Wilson-Barney Ticket Office Manager: Luke Hughes Operations & Events Manager: Matthew Daniel Facilities Manager: Gordon David Grounds Manager: Anthony Harry Disability Access Officer: Mark Phillips Community Trust Manager: Helen Elton Club Ambassador: Lee Trundle
Programme Production Contributors: Alex Bennett, Chris Wilson-Barney, Andrew Gwilym, Jonathan Davies, Sophie Davis, Adam Evans, Gwyn Rees, Ben Jones, Dylan James Designers: Callum Rothwell, Jordan Morcom Photography: Athena Picture Agency, Natalie Davis, PA, REX Print: DWJ Group Ltd Swansea City AFC Liberty Stadium, Landore, Swansea, SA10 2FA CP-D Dinas Abertawe Stadiwm Liberty, Landore, Abertawe, SA1 2FA Telephone/FfĂ´n: 01792 616606 Fax/Ffacs: 01792 616606 Web/Gwe: swanseacity.com Email/E-bost: info@swanseacity.com
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Chief Executive’s Notes
JULIAN WINTER G
ood afternoon and Merry Christmas to all Swansea City fans around the world.
As we take in our final game before Christmas Day, we hope to give you the perfect present of three more Championship points today. Due to programme deadlines, I am writing these notes before Wednesday’s fixture at Derby County, but I’m sure you’ve all enjoyed the performances of the team so far this season. The congested nature of the season has meant a big challenge for the squad due to the amount of games they have played already. The Christmas period, as we are all aware, is a very busy period in the football c alendar, so there’s no letting up in terms of demands on players. But the whole squad and staff are doing all they can to ensure we are as ready as we can be for kick-off. Of course, we have played all of our games this season behind
closed doors. While we have not been able to welcome you back to the Liberty Stadium yet, we are working on a solution with the Welsh Government. We recently released the prices for season ticket renewals, which comprised of a massive reduction in prices to those who renew, and we’re pleased to say that the early signs are very encouraging. We thank you for that loyalty through these difficult and challenging times. We’ve also been delighted with our growing relationship with Swansea University. It was a significant move to welcome the university as our main kit sponsor this year, and we’ve had plenty of positive meetings as we continue to build our partnership with a local business that has a fantastic reputation. We’ve also welcomed aboard a number of new local sponsors this season, and it’s been great to speak to a number of them via our City Business Network meetings.
I would like to congratulate Trevor Birch on his appointment as the EFL’s chief executive. Trevor did a fantastic job at Swansea City before moving to Tottenham Hotspur, which led to my appointment here, and he will be a fine addition for the EFL when he starts his post on January 1. There was also some good news within the club recently after Brandon Cooper signed a new contract. Brandon has spent this season on loan at Newport County, and has done very well for them as he continues his development with the Exiles. He’s another of the bright talents we have here, and hopefully he can continue that good work when he returns from his loan spell. Enjoy today’s game, and Merry Christmas to you all.
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Ministry
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Head Coach’s Notes
STEVE COOPER G
ood afternoon to all Swansea City supporters as we return to action at the Liberty Stadium. It has been a contrasting period in terms of performances, with a draw against Bournemouth followed by victory at Cardiff and a loss at Derby. It proved a hard-earned point against Bournemouth in what I felt was a fair result, and then we had to travel the short distance down the M4 for the South Wales derby. I was delighted with our level of performance against Cardiff – we we r e c r e at i ve, p l a ye d behind the lines and made proper chances. I was delighted for Jamal Lowe to get on the scoresheet because he works hard for the team and he took his goals well.
But, as ever, it was a real team effort and that’s what our main strength is. We knew how happy you would be with the result watching safely from your homes, and you were all in our minds during that game because we were doing it for you. There was no time to celebrate that derby win though as we then had to travel to Derby a few days later. It proved a disappointing night for us as we never got going. It was a poor performance and the players and staff all knew that.
Barnsley come here in a good run of form having won four of their last five, and we’re expecting a really tough game. But we always place the main focus on ourselves, and we all want to see a reaction this afternoon. With this being the final game before Christmas Day, we hope to give you an early present of three points. Merry Christmas everyone. Enjoy the game.
The challenge now is to bounce back with a positive performance and result, because that’s a good sign of your character and mentality.
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MATT GRIMES Captain’s Notes
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ello and welcome to everyone joining us from around the world for this afternoon’s Championship home fixture against Barnsley. The games have been coming thick and fast with the relentless schedule and we’ve played three games in the 11 days since my last programme notes. The first of those games saw us draw 0-0 with Bournemouth at the Liberty in a tight match which saw us keep our ninth clean sheet of the season. We were a little disappointed not to get the three points but there were positives from coming away with a point against a good team who have still got a lot of Premier League quality. The Bournemouth fixture also saw Joel Latibeaudiere make his full Swansea debut and he did brilliantly, making some important blocks.
Last weekend saw us heading to the Cardiff City Stadium for the first South Wales derby of the season. We went into the match fully aware of how much the fixture means to the club and supporters and were desperate to get the win for all the Jack Army supporting from home. The atmosphere in South Wales derbies is usually electric and the passion of supporters is always evident, so we wanted to do the supporters and the city proud. I’m hoping we managed to do that with the performance and victory and we were delighted to win a derby in the manner we did. We played our way, dominated throughout and were brilliant at both ends of the pitch. It’s a challenging time for everyone in South Wales at the moment but we wanted the fans to know that the win was for them.
I was chuffed to bits for Jamal to get the brace, he’s a brilliant lad and it was the perfect introduction to the South Wales derby for him. We were very disappointed with Wednesday’s performance and result at Pride Park and we were far from our best. Derby are a good team with quality players who set up well but we’re not going to make any excuses and we are determined to put things right with a win this afternoon. We know the challenges Barnsley pose and they have been in good form since the change of manager. They will be hoping to continue their form after winning three on the bounce but we will be ready and looking to get the three points on home soil. Thank you once again for your continued support! Merry Christmas!
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n this week’s column, Trust member Ceri Stone reflects on the values of the Swansea City family.
The festive period is traditionally a time for embracing your community and the Supporters Trust want to celebrate the fantastic work carried out by our Disabled Supporters Association. We invited Trust Member and DSA secretary Cath Dyer for a quick Q&A, before aiming to take three points off Barnsley at home today. What is the DSA and what does it do? The aim of the DSA is to ensure that disabled supporters have their best match day experience. We are an independent association and our committee is made up of 10 inspirational volunteers. How is this achieved? We hold regular social events, helped by the club, which our members thoroughly enjoy and this ensures they are an important and included part of the Swans family. How many members are there? We are an inclusive organisation and have 125 members, aged between one and 87. What is the most rewarding aspect of your role? We are one big happy family and it is very rewarding when we are able to help and support members; keep them engaged, and bring them together. We care deeply for everyone and strong friendships have been formed within the association. Positive feedback from members means they feel valued and a part of the Swansea City family. How does the club help? Club legend Lee Trundle is the DSA ambassador and he is a great support to
us. We have a good working relationship with the disability access officer and disability liaison officer at the club and we hold regular monthly meetings with them. We are privileged that all DSA social events are attended by the head coach, players and club staff. What is the relationship between the DSA and the Supporters Trust? The DSA was formed in 2013 by Trust member and club Disability Officer Ian James. I assisted him as a Trust board member and the Trust are fully involved and very supportive. How can Jacks get involved? To join the DSA or assist in any way please contact secswandsa@gmail.com. What is your favourite Swans memory? I always relate back to my first match at the Vetch Field against Leeds in 1981 where we won 5-1. We play Barnsley today, who once beat us on penalties in a League One play-off final. What is your prediction? Everyone knows that I am the eternal optimist. I have to go for a Swans win, 2-1. What are your hopes for 2021? I can’t wait for the day that we will all be back at the Liberty, with our Swans family, cheering on our boys! To learn more about the DSA and the work they do, along with the Supporters Trust, please visit www. swanstrust.co.uk. Remember there are still a few days left to become a member of the Trust for half price. JOIN NOW and have a say in how your club is run. Now about those three points… Happy Christmas.
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WILLIAMS LOOKS TO INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS S wansea City Ladies defender Jess Williams was a special guest as the club’s Community Trust teamed up with Stonewall Cymru to demonstrate their support for this year’s Rainbow Laces campaign.
“It’s very important to spread these messages in the local community. It just needs a lot more support from everybody, then it will just become more of a normality.
Established in 2013, the campaign aims to support LGBT people in sport by raising awareness and tackling homophobia, biophobia and transphobia in sport.
“We’re heading in the right direction; I’m happy to see that and I’m sure a lot of people are. I just hope it doesn’t take a step back.”
Williams was present via Zoom at Pontarddulais Comprehensive School, where the Trust delivered an LGBTQ+ inclusion workshop to its GCSE PE pupils, as well as an hour-long coaching session.
Graham Smith, secondary education lead at the Trust, added: “Supporting inclusivity is a key part of our mission and values, so we’re delighted to be able to promote the Rainbow Laces campaign in local secondary schools.
The bulk of the material was provided by Stonewall, the charity that campaigns for the equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people across Britain.
“Making football inclusive for everyone starts with education, so it was brilliant to be able to share that this week.
As a female footballer, the defender answered questions from the children about her own experiences of discrimination in sport, as well as highlighting the importance of the Rainbow Laces movement.
“As young people who are passionate about sport and involved in grassroots teams, their enthusiastic and compassionate response to the message that football is everyone’s game, and commitment to welcome the LGBT community, was brilliant to see.”
“As women in sport, we have to take the campaign seriously,” Williams said.
Joe Rossiter, policy and campaigns officer at Stonewall Cymru, said: “This year, the Rainbow Laces campaign will continue to highlight the incredible power sport has to build a sense of community, bring people together and make our lives richer.
“IT’S A BIG FACTOR AROUND THE SPORT WE PLAY AND I’M GLAD THAT IT’S GETTING A LOT MORE SUPPORT FROM THE BIGGER CLUBS – NOT JUST THE WOMEN INVOLVED, BUT THE MEN AS WELL.
“The Covid-19 pandemic is having a big impact on LGBT communities, with trans people, bi people, LGBT people of colour, disabled LGBT people and LGBT people in poverty having a particularly tough time as a result of the impact of isolation. “That is why it is so important this year that, together or apart, online or on the pitch, we build on our work to make sport everyone’s game.“
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BARNSLEY
FACT FILE OWNER
BFC Investment
NICKNAME
The Tykes
@BarnsleyFC @barnsleyfc @BarnsleyFC
STADIUM OPENED CAPACITY Oakwell
1888
THE GAFFER
The Frenchman was recently appointed as Gerhard Struber’s successor on a three-year contract, with the latter leaving Oakwell to take on a new role with New York Red Bulls. During his playing career, Ismaël enjoyed spells with Strasbourg, Crystal Palace, Lens, Werder Bremen, Hannover 96 and Bayern Munich. The former centre-half has vast managerial experience, most notably leading Austrian side LASK to their first-ever Champions League play-off. Ismaël has also had stints in charge of Hannover 96, VfL Wolfsburg II, F.C. Nürnberg, VfL Wolfsburg and Apollon Smyrnis.
CLUB CAPTAIN Former Leeds United midfielder Mowatt joined the Reds in 2017, and was handed the captain’s armband last year after the departure of head coach Daniel Stendel. The 25-year-old has been a stand out performer for Barnsley, most notably picking up their in-house Player of the Month award three times in 2018. Known for his work-rate and creativity, Mowatt went on to lead the Tykes to safety last year, picking up the Player and Players’ Player of the Year awards at the end of the campaign.
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FOUNDED
1887
TWITTER INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK
ALEX MOWATT VALÉRIEN ISMAËL
CLUB DETAILS SOCIAL MEDIA FACILITIES
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STADIUM MEET THE OPPOSITION Barnsley have been absent from the Premier League since 1998. The Reds have spent most of their time since then dipping in and out of League One and the Championship, and pulled off an incredible escape from relegation last term. Barnsley’s highest finish in the Championship since the end of their stint in the Premier League was when they finished fourth in 1999-2000, losing 4-2 to Ipswich Town in the play-off final. They won the Football League Trophy in 2016.
BARNSLEY’S FORM Barnsley have climbed to 12th in the Championship table on the back of a run of three straight wins. The Tykes suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth, but responded with a fine away win against Wycombe. They have since added triumphs over Sheffield Wednesday and Preston, moving them to within four points of the play-off spots.
THE KEY MEN Forward Conor Chaplin has enjoyed some real success in the red jersey, despite a slow start, scoring eight goals in 11 games at the tail end of 2019. He has two goals to his name this term. Star striker Cauley Woodrow, who signed from Fulham in 2018, was a key figure in the Tykes’ promotion back to the Championship, after finishing that season tied with Kieffer Moore as top scorer on 19 goals, and continues to be so with eight goals in 2020-21. Callum Styles is a threat from deep, having scored three goals from the left wing-back position.
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ONES TO WATCH
MICHAL HELIK
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Tall, commanding and a real threat in the air, Helik is another 2020 arrival for the Reds and has cemented himself in the starting 11 this season. Helik is no stranger to success, helping KS Cracovia to their first ever Polish Cup triumph in his homeland before making t h e m ove t o Yo r k s h i r e. With 65 clearances and 43 interceptions this campaign, Helik is a classic ‘nononsense’ defender.
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RWB
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22 CB
Despite only making the switch from MK Dons two months ago, Brittain has established himself as an integral part of Valerian Ismaël’s side. He has played for England at under-20 level and is known for his attacking ability despite having a deeper role at right wing-back. The 22-yearold is a menace down the flank, with over 30 crosses already delivered this season.
CALLUM BRITTAIN
NATION
AGE
25
CONOR CHAPLIN Standing at 5ft 7in, the diminutive Chaplin is a livewire attacking threat. The 23-year-old was instrumental in Barnsley’s retention of their Championship status last year. The Portsmouth product netted 13 times in his opening campaign in the red jersey, finishing a close second to Cauley Woodrow in the goalscoring charts. He has started this season in good form, with two goals and two assists to his name.
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Wing-back Styles has proved to be a fixture in the starting 11 this season. Arriving from Bury in 2018, Styles returned on loan immediately and had to wait until the run-in of the 2019-2020 Championship campaign before he saw regular first-team action for Barnsley. He penned a new contract in the summer to extend his stay at Oakwell to 2023 and, having netted three times already this season, the only way is up for the youngster.
With over 100 games in the top-flight and second t i e r, Wo o d row i s va st l y experienced. Initially joining in on lo an from Fulham, the deal was made permanent in January 2019 after a string of impressive performances. The dynamic number nine has finished a s t h e Ty k e s ’ t o p g o a l s c o r e r fo r t h e l a s t t wo seasons, and scored 15 goals to help them retain second-tier status.
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MATCH DETAILS
SWANSEA CITY 0 BOURNEMOUTH 0 MATCH REPORT S wansea City extended their unbeaten home run to six matches after playing out a goalless draw against new Championship leaders Bournemouth at the Liberty Stadium. The second-leading scorers in the division, Bournemouth arrived in SA1 with their tally of 29 only bettered by Blackburn Rovers. However, they were unable to find a way past the st ubborn Swans , who maint ained their rec ord as boasting the best defenc e in the Championship. The visitors, who moved to the summit of the table, had the better chances of the two sides, with David Brooks and Junior Stanislas going closest to scoring.
DATE: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8 VENUE: LIBERTY STADIUM REFEREE: PETER BANKES
LINEUPS Swans: Freddie Woodman; Kyle Naughton, Ben Cabango, Joel Latibeaudiere; Connor Roberts. Korey Smith, Matt Grimes (captain), Jake Bidwell; Yan Dhanda (Kasey Palmer, 74); Jamal Lowe (Viktor Gyokeres, 74), Andre Ayew. Subs not used: Steven Benda, Ryan Manning, Jay Fulton, Wayne Routledge, Liam Cullen, Cameron Evans, Jordon Garrick. Bournemouth: Asmir Begovic; Adam Smith, Chris Mepham, Steve Cook (capt), Lloyd Kelly; Lewis Cook, Philip Billing (Jefferson Lerma, 85); David Brooks (Sam Surridge, 82), Junior Stanislas, Diego Rico; Dominic Solanke. Subs not used: Mark Travers, Dan Gosling, Rodrigo Riquelme, Nnamdi Ofoborh, Jack Simpson, Gavin Kilkenny, Jaidon Anthony.
QUOTE OF THE GAME "I AM NOT DISAPPOINTED WITH A POINT. I THOUGHT IT WAS A TOUGH GAME, AND I THOUGH IT WAS A FAIR RESULT.�
STEVE COOPER
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CARDIFF CITY 0 SWANSEA CITY 2
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MATCH REPORT MATCH DETAILS DATE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12 J VENUE: CARDIFF CITY STADIUM REFEREE: JOHN BROOKS amal Lowe secured the South Wales derby bragging rights for Swansea City as the striker’s brace settled matters at Cardiff City Stadium.
Lowe opened the scoring in the sixth minute, firing home from close range to give the Swans the ideal start. And he went on to seal the win with 18 minutes to go with a fantastic slaloming run through the Cardiff defence. The result means Swansea are now unbeaten in four South Wales derbies, and have not conceded a goal in any of that quartet of fixtures. This was also a 10th clean sheet of the season as the Swans ended Cardiff ’s run of four Championship wins in a row, with the home side ending with 10 men after Joe Ralls was dismissed in the second half.
The Swans were in control from the off, making the perfect start through Lowe’s opener. Nice link work down the left allowed Jake Bidwell to loft a high cross to the back post, Connor Roberts headed across goal and Lowe guided it in as the ball squirmed under Alex Smithies in the Cardiff goal. They nearly doubled their lead on 18 minutes as a clever short corner allowed Matt Grimes to unleash a ferocious strike that Smithies just managed to tip onto the post. The only moment of alarm for the Swans came when Ryan Bennett – already on a yellow card – fouled Kieffer Moore after the visitors had given the ball away cheaply. But the centre-back remained on the field and the threat came to nothing. Into the second half and any hopes of a Cardiff fightback were all but ended when – in quick succession - Moore limped off with a hamstring injury and Ralls received a second yellow card. And The Swans made sure of the win with Lowe’s sublime second. Cooper’s men broke from a loose Cardiff pass with Lowe shaping inside Vaulks before driving foorwad and steering the ball into the bottom corner with the outside of his right foot.
LINEUPS Cardiff City: Alex Smithies; Leandro Bacuna, Curtis Nelson, Sean Morrison (captain), Joe Bennett; Harry Wilson, Joe Ralls, Will Vaulks (Gavin Whyte 89); Sheyi Ojo; Mark Harris (Marlon Pack 77), Kieffer Moore (Robert Glatzel 55). Subs not used: Dillon Phillips, Josh Murphy, Filip Benkovic, Greg Cunningham, Sol Bamba, Joel Bagan. Swans: Freddie Woodman; Kyle Naughton, Ryan Bennett, Marc Guehi; Connor Roberts, Korey Smith, Jay Fulton, Matt Grimes (captain), Jake Bidwell; Andre Ayew, Jamal Lowe (Wayne Routledge 86). Subs not used: Steven Benda, Ryan Manning, Joel Latibeaudiere, Ben Cabango, Yan Dhanda, Kasey Palmer, Viktor Gyokeres, Liam Cullen.
QUOTE OF THE GAME “WE DID IT OUR WAY, WITH THE BALL TRYING TO PLAY THROUGH THE LINES AND BE CREATIVE, MAKING PROPER CHANCES. “IT WAS A REALLY PLEASING DAY, ONE FOR THE SUPPORTERS AND I HOPE THEY HAVE A GOOD DAY.”
STEVE COOPER
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DERBY COUNTY 2 SWANSEA CITY 0
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MATCH DETAILS
LINEUPS
DATE: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16 VENUE: PRIDE PARK STADIUM REFEREE: GAVIN WARD
Derby County: David Marshall (captain); Nathan Byrne, Andre Wisdom, Matt Clarke, Lee Buchanan; Krystian Bielik, Graeme Shinnie; Kamil Jozwiak, Colin Kazim-Richards (Jack Stretton 90+6), Jason Knight; Martyn Waghorn (Duane Holmes 73).
MATCH REPORT S
Subs not used: Kelle Roos, Craig Forsyth, Max Bird, Louie Sibley, George Evans, Kornell McDonald, Jamal Hector-Ingram.
wansea City suffered just a fourth league defeat of the season against Derby County at Pride Park.
F ir st-half go als from C olin K azim-R ichards and K amil Jozwiak were enough to seal only a third league win of the season for the Rams. Steve Cooper had named an unchanged side following Saturday ’s 2-0 victory over Cardiff City in the South Wales derby. H owe ve r, t h e s l u g g i s h S w a n s we r e u n a b l e to match those performanc e levels as they missed out on the chance to close the gap on B ournemouth and Norwich at the top of the Championship table. Wayne Rooney ’s side made the perfect start; taking the lead after just four minutes when L ee Buchanan helped Graeme Shinnie’s freek i c k i n t o t h e p at h of K a z i m - R i c h a r d s , w h o beat Connor Roberts to the ball and prodded it past Freddie Woodman. T he hosts, who had drawn four of their last five games, continued to control proceedings and doubled their advant age eight minutes before the break , as Jozwiak fired into the far corner after Martyn Waghorn cushioned a deflected cross neatly into his path.
Swans: Freddie Woodman; Kyle Naughton (Yan Dhanda 46), Ryan Bennett, Marc Guehi; Connor Roberts, Jay Fulton (Kasey Palmer 46), Korey Smith (Liam Cullen 46), Matt Grimes (captain), Jake Bidwell (Ryan Manning 46); Jamal Lowe (Jordon Garrick 61), Andre Ayew. Subs not used: Steven Benda, Ben Cabango, Viktor Gyokeres, Wayne Routledge.
QUOTE OF THE GAME “IT WAS A POOR NIGHT IN EVERY SENSE OF THE PERFORMANCE. IT’S REALLY DISAPPOINTING.”
STEVE COOPER
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YEAR IN REVIEW
AS 2020 DRAWS TO A CLOSE WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT EVENTS OF THE LAST 12 MONTHS AT SWANSEA CITY
T
h e N e w Ye a r s t a r t e d well as the Swans began with a 1-0 defeat of Charlton Athletic thanks to a Yan Dhanda goal, and there were soon a handful of new signings to bring further cheer to supporters. R h i a n B r e w s t e r, C o n o r Gallagher and Marc Guehi all linked up with their former
JANUARY 2020 26
England Under-17s coach Steve Cooper at the Liberty, and all three would go on to make a big impact over their loan spells. Brewster made his debut in the South Wales derby, which ended goalless with Bersant Celina hitting the woodwork for the visitors at Cardiff City Stadium.
The Liverpool forward netted his first goal against Wigan at the Liberty, with the Swans recovering from a goal down to win as Andre Ayew scored the winner just after the hour. However, Swansea would finish the month with a 2-0 defeat to Stoke.
FEBRUARY 2020
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ebruary was packed with fixtures – six in total – and the month began with a 1-1 draw away to Preston. Brewster again found the back of the net at Deepdale after Scott Sinclair h a d s c o r e d t h e o p e n e r f i ve minutes earlier. Next up was Derby County as the Swans looked to extend a five-match unbeaten run at home.
MARCH 2020
M
arch would prove to be the month when the world seemingly ground to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the Swans would fit in one more game before the season was suspended. Steve Cooper’s side welcomed table-toppers West Brom to South Wales at the beginning of the month and held the
D handa and Kyle Naught on helped the hosts to a 2-1 lead, only for D uane Holmes and Tom Lawrence to strike for the Rams and seal a 3-2 win for the visitors. A pair of draws followed, but they could not have been more different. A goalless draw against QPR was followed by a goal fest against Hull City. The Swans showed a never-say-die attitude coming back to level things up after falling behind three times, and Brewster looked to have won it before a last-gasp equaliser from the hosts ensured it finished 4-4.
then-flying Baggies to a goalless draw. The Swans arguably had the pick of the chances in the first half with Brewster and Ayew coming close to connecting with balls across the box. We st B ro m h a d t wo g o l d e n chances in the final quarter of the match but Darnell Furlong and Jake Livermore’s efforts ended up with the travelling Baggies fans, rather than in the back of the net.
Three more goals and three more points followed for the Swans at the Liberty as they got back to winning ways in beating Huddersfield 3-1. However, it was despair on their next outing against soon-to-be promoted Fulham as Alexander Mitrovic netted an unstoppable 94th minute header to give the Cottagers a 1-0 win, moments after Freddie Woodman had saved a controversial penalty. The month was rounded off by a 2-2 draw at Blackburn, with another late goal from the opposition depriving the Swans of valuable points.
Then came the postponement of all EFL fixtures until further notice, with the club’s ac ademy t e ams and L adie s side also seeing their schedule brought to a halt. The club attempted to do its bit for the loc al c ommunity during the growing crisis, posting online fitness classes and being part of a group of charities and organisations helping to provide meals for the city ’s homeless and vulnerable.
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Q&A WITH ANDRÉ AYEW
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Age: 31 Position: Forward Nationality: Ghanaian Former Clubs: Marseille, 160 Apps 44 Goals Lorient (Loan), 22 Apps 3 Goals Arles-Avignon (Loan), 25 Apps 4 Goals Swans, 34 Apps 12 Goals, West Ham, 43 Apps 9 Goals, Swans, 73 Apps 22 Goals, Fenerbahce, 29 Apps 5 Goals
HE’S FOOTBALLING ROYALTY IN GHANA, NOW ANDRE AYEW IS LOOKING TO CROWN HIS SECOND REIGN IN WALES BY SENDING SWANSEA CITY TO THE PROMISED LAND. HERE, HE TALKS ABOUT THE DIFFERENT PRESSURES OF CAPTAINING HIS COUNTRY COMPARED TO LEADING THE LINE FOR THE SWANS, AND HOW HE’LL NEVER FORGET HIS ROOTS. Andre, your two spells here have been very different in terms of your role in the squad. How have you coped with that? When I first joined we were an established Premier League team that were on the rise. We had people like Ashley Williams and Leon Britton – players who knew the club inside out and had experience. Swansea, at that time, were a team that were rising and were well renowned for their passing style. My role then was to bring my quality on the pitch. Now it’s a very different environment and role for me. Now I am the experienced player and I take a lot of responsibility on. I really enjoy it too because I like helping the younger players grow.
the aim is to get Swansea City back where the club belongs – in the Premier League. We went so close last season – losing in the play-off semi-finals was hard to take because I felt we could go all the way. How do you find life in Swansea? I really like it here. People are so respectful here and chat a little bit about the game, but they give you your own space. I can see that people absolutely love the club in the way they talk with so much passion, and that’s what motivates me even more to help us progress. Outside of the games, because we have so many games I don’t have too much time to do anything else. I just relax. Safe to say it’s probably a contrast to what you experience when you’re back home in Ghana, and also throughout your spell in Turkey? Haha, yes it’s very, very different. It is far less stressful here! In Ghana it is very different. You have to understand that people just want to touch you, to have a photograph with you because it means everything to them that they have one of their own succeeding. Football is what we Ghanaians love, so it’s normal that hundreds of people surround you because you’re a footballer that’s doing well in Europe. They look up to you, because you’re their pride. When we put on that Black Stars shirt, you are not playing for yourself – you are playing for a whole nation because you have to give the younger generation something to dream about and inspire them. Maybe it’s a little difficult for people over here to understand, but Ghanaian and African players have a lot of responsibility to inspire kids in our countries.
Your return to the Liberty ended in relegation from the top flight. Then, after a year on loan with Fenerbahce in Turkey, you returned here and played a starring role as we just fell short of a return to the Premier League. It’s been action-packed! Relegation was probably the darkest time in my career. I came back knowing that it would be a challenge to stay up. Two days or so after I signed, Leroy Fer did his Achilles and Wilfried Bony suffered an ACL injury. Shortly after, my brother Jordan was sent off against Huddersfield and missed a number of games. Everything just seemed to go against us. Our run of results at the end wasn’t good enough, and that pain is something that has stayed with me. Now, though,
CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE...
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You are now captain of Ghana, and vice-captain h e r e . Yo u a p p e a r t o h a v e h a d l e a d e r s h i p in your blood. D o you enjoy t aking on that responsibility? I’ve always had pressure, expectancy to deliver and lead – ever since I was a kid. My dad (Abedi Ayew) was one of the best African footballers to have ever played, so the attention was then placed on me when I was growing up.
I’ VE ALWAYS CARRIED THAT PRESSURE WITH ME. I’VE HAD IT ALL MY CAREER, SO I AM HAPPY TO TAKE THAT ROLE ON HERE BECAUSE IT TAKES THE FOCUS AND PRESSURE OFF THE YOUNG PLAYERS AND LETS THEM THRIVE. I captained Ghana at under-20 level, I wore the band at Marseille a few times, and obviously now for Ghana’s senior team so I have good experienc e to pass on to the young guys in the team. You were fortunate, via your dad’s successful career, that you had a very good childhood. But you were not out of touch with how life in Ghana was for many people? I am lucky, and I remind myself of that every day. Thanks to my dad’s career we had what we needed, but that wasn’t the same for everyone, including my dad during his early years. We lived in East Legon in Accra, and I would go to school where the kids’ parent s were very wealthy, but then I’d go home and go and play with my mates – some of whom were very poor - on all kinds of surfaces. Some of my friends were living in unfinished houses – it is a common thing in Ghana. We’d play football until it was dark, go back to my house sometimes for some food, and do it again the next day. Now, when I go back to Ghana, I meet up with those guys and chat, go for food and things like that, and I’m happy to help them now too. They have experienced different things in life, but it’s important that we see each other when I am back in Ghana.
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You’ ve had a big say in the Swans’ fortunes so far. How happy are you with the way we’ve started this season under Steve Cooper? It’s been a decent start, but that’s all that it is so far. There are so many games to play, even within the space of a week the table can change so much, but that’s the nature of the Championship and it’s what we have to deal with given the congested fixture list due to Covid. I’m happy with my performances so far, but I am always looking to improve on what I can bring to the team. I’ve got a few goals already, and that’s something I need to build on, but it’s important that I help the team in many other ways too on top of bringing my experience. We recruited well, despite seeing Joe leave for Spurs, but I think we have brought in good players who are only going to improve here. And the big thing missing this season has been the absence of fans from games. How much are you looking forward to playing in front of the Jack Army again? Of course, the fans aren’t with us in the stadium right now because of the pandemic, so we need to keep everyone safe. But , from a player ’s perspective, it’s not the same without our fans cheering and singing at the stadium. People love football, and it’s a big release for them that brings a lot of happiness and joy, but they can only watch from their homes right now.
BUT I KNOW WHEN THE FANS ARE BACK AT THE LIBERTY, THEN IT WILL BE A SPECIAL ATMOSPHERE THAT WILL GIVE US GOOSEBUMPS.
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JACK THE LAD
ast Saturday’s South Wales derby was almost 71 minutes old when my mobile phone buzzed and flashed into life as I watched the SwansTV live stream. A WhatsApp message from the friend I normally sit next to at the Liberty Stadium simply read “what a goal”. My friend was watching the match on Sky, whose pictures were running a few seconds ahead of those on my tablet in the depths of the Amman Valley. When the message came through, Cardiff were enjoying a rare period of possession deep in the Swans half. My heart sank. To my eternal shame, my first thought was the home side had conjured up a hugely improbable (and flukey) wonder goal. It must have been so good, that even my Swans-mad mate had grudgingly acknowledged it as a decent strike rather than the usual expletive-ridden response to the opposition scoring. I should have known better.
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When Jamal Lowe picked up the ball 40-odd yards out, I thought to myself “he’s not is he?” As he skipped past a couple of desperate Cardiff lunges and shaped to hit the ball with the outside of his right foot on the edge of the box my spirits raised and it became obvious my mate was spot on! “What a goal” indeed! In fact, it was a great goal, one which will go down in Swans history and means Jamal Lowe will never need to put his hand in his pocket in a Swansea pub or club ever again.
Ta ke B e r s a n t C e l i n a’ s g o a l against Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-final back in March of last year. There’s no doubting its brilliance a fantastic finish to a flowing move against unquestionably the finest team in the country at that time. When the ball hit the back of the net it appeared to be hugely important as it gave the Swans a two-goal lead. But its importance and significance were hugely diminished by the fact it ultimately came in a defeat, which saw us knocked out of the cup.
But that got me thinking. What makes a great goal? And more particularly, what makes a great Swans goal?
Brilliant consolation goals rarely spring back into the mind quite so memorably years later in the same way as great winning goals do.
Will Lowe’s brilliant solo strike enter the pantheon of great Swans goals? Goals which are talked about for years and decades from the moment they hit the back of the net.
Another goal that was hailed as brilliant at the time but subsequently faded with the disappointment of defeat was Rory Fallon’s overhead kick against today’s opponents Barnsley in the League One Play-off final at the Millennium Stadium in 2006.
First of all, great goals tend to be technically excellent. There’s usually a level of quality that raises them above the others.
As I looked up from my phone, Cardiff’s attack was broken up and the Swans pressed forward from midway inside their own half.
After all, any Swans goal is a good goal, but what makes it a great goal?
“ H e l l o” I t h o u g h t , w i t h m y spirits rising.
Quality? Importance? Significance? The very best Swans scores usually tick all three of these boxes.
Winning the match certainly adds an extra gloss to a goal which makes it stand out in the memory - especially if it happens to be scored in a big match. One of the first “great” Swans goals I saw live was John To s h a c k ’ s e f f o r t a g a i n s t Chesterfield way back in 1979.
It wasn’t the most spectacular goal you will ever see, but it was the perfect example of a brilliantly-timed towering header. It was a dramatic late winner in front of a packed Vetch Field crowd. But most importantly and significantly it clinched promotion for the Swans to the old Second D i v i s i o n d u r i n g t h e c l u b’ s meteoric rise to the First Division. P rob ably my favourit e ever Swans goal was Alan Curtis’ unforgettable solo effort against Leeds United on the opening day of our first ever top-flight season, just a couple of years later. While it was unquestionably brilliant, it could be argued that it wasn’t that important as it was the final goal of a 5-1 romp. But it was certainly significant for Curtis, who was scoring against his former club whose fans had earlier taunted him as a “Leeds reject.” The goal also added the cherry o n t o p of a n u nfo r g ett a b l e performance that sent a message out to the rest of the First Division that the Swans had well and truly arrived. Another strike that will surely go down as a “great goal” was James Thomas’ breath-taking chip against Hull City in 2003.
You could argue that it was no more important than Thomas’ two penalties, or Lenny Johnrose’s scrambled effort which put the Swans ahead. But there was no doubting its quality and it was certainly significant that it finally allowed us fans to breathe a little more easily in the knowledge that the Swans’ Football League existence was all but safe at 4-2. If Celina and Fallon’s cup goals were brilliant but futile, the king of spectacular strikes - Lee Trundle - produced a cup final corker that definitely ticked all the boxes. You know it must have been something special for “Magic Daps” to go on record to describe the winner against Carlisle in the 2006 League Trophy Final in Cardiff as his personal favourite amongst his back catalogue of worldies. The technique used to take Leon Britton’s cross on his chest and then volley a rocket back across Keiren Westwood into the far corner was right out of the top drawer. You could argue Bayo Akinfenwa’s winning goal nine minutes from time was more significant as it clinched the 2-1 win and the trophy, but I think Trundle’s opener is likely to be goal that lives longest in the memory. So, will Lowe’s second strike against Cardiff similarly go down in Swans folklore?
Was it quality? I don’t think I need to answer that question! Was it important? Ditto! Any goal in a derby day win is priceless . . . especially to us fans. Was it significant ? Well, its significance may yet increase depending on what effect such a massively morale boosting win has on the remainder of the season and where the Swans ultimately finish in the table. One thing Jamal’s goal was sadly missing was the sight of 3,000odd Jacks going absolutely bonkers in the away end of Cardiff City Stadium. Also missing from the memories will be those fans’ very individual view and perspective of the goal from their vantage point in the stadium, along with that all important “I was there factor.” However, I suppose we will all have our very different and unique memories of the goal from our living rooms or wherever you managed to watch the game. For me, it will always be the goal that I ashamedly first thought had been scored by Cardiff, but turned out to be the latest in a long line of great Swansea City goals, which will live long in the memories of the Jack Army! C’mon you Swans!
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SWANS ACADEMY BY NIGEL REES
G
ood afternoon Everybody/prynhawn da pawb. The academy has had a busy few weeks with all our players now back in training. The players have dealt with the latest Covid disruptions very positively and have gone about their business very professionally and effectively. Our training schedule remains on a reduced programme, but it is a pleasure to have our boys back training and playing. A big thank you to all the staff for the way they have dealt with all the Covid protocols and procedures and in a very changeable environment. Hopefully, after Christmas, we will a return to some kind of normality, but until that point, we will continue to do the best we can. The under-23s recently played Carmarthen Town in a friendly fixture at Landore. This was a great exercise for the players and a big thank you to Carmarthen for bringing a team to play us. We are trying to arrange as many local fixtures as possible as this supports the regulations required under the Covid rules. The next fixture for this group is away against Ipswich. The under-18 squad recently played QPR in the FA Youth Cup. This was a very exciting match with goals from Mike Murphy and Morgan Clarke sealing the win. The last home league game before Christmas for this group was against Watford, which ended in defeat. The big positive for this game was that there were debuts for Dan Watts, Seb Dawbroski and Jada Mawonga. These lads have worked hard during their involvement with the club and it was a great achievement for the boys after many years with us at Swansea. The younger squads within the academy have now finished for Christmas which will give the players and parents a well-deserved break and an opportunity to recharge their batteries in preparation for the New Year. The professional
phase players will continue to train, however, albeit on a reduced schedule over the holiday period. I’d like to c ongratulate Brandon Cooper on his recent contract extension. Brandon is an excellent role model for all the academy players and his commitment and work ethic are second to none. He always gave 100 per cent during his time at the academy and this is very evident in his development as a professional player. He has done exceptionally well during his loan spell at Newport County and his career as a professional player continues to develop in a very positive manner. On a personal note, I’d like to thank all my staff on a very successful first half of the season. I am very proud of all the hard work and commitment shown by everybody associated with the academy programme during this very difficult period. In addition, I would like to thank the owners and the board of directors for their commitment and continued investment into the youth structure. The Landore and Fairwood Training facilities are an outstanding resource, and we are all very proud of the environment that we are fortunate to have as our own. As I come to the end of my time in my current position, I’d like to thank everybody for the support and guidance they have given me. The academy’s strategic vision has always been firmly linked to the way in which we service our community. We have a duty to provide an appropriate context for the development of the very best local talent as well as existing as the heartbeat of the local area with strong ties to grassroots and community development. I’ ve no doubt this this process will long continue delivered by people who are passionate about the club.
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DATE: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1 VENUE: LANDORE TRAINING CENTRE Swans U18s:
SWANS U18S 2 QUEENS PARK RANGERS U18S 1 MATCH REPORT M
Tyler Evans; Jacob Edwards, Kai Ludvigsen, Scott Butler (capt), Cian Williams; Erick Kenko, Morgan Clarke; Adrian Akande, Michael Murphy, Rio Campbell (Cameron Congreve, 69); Josh Thomas. Subs not used: Josh Hutchings, Panashe Makokowe, Aaron Hillier, Dylan Perkins, Ruben Davies, Adnaan Moti.
QPR, who had conceded 33 goals in their nine games heading into the match, looked to respond to falling behind with Sinclair Armstrong shooting straight at Tyler Evans on a couple of occasions.
organ Clarke sc ored a late winner as Swansea City Under-18s advanced to the FA Youth Cup fourth round by beating Queens Park Rangers at Landore. The tie appeared to be heading for extra-time after Micah Anthony cancelled out Michael Murphy’s effort in the first half. But Anthony Wright’s side netted the decisive third goal 10 minutes from time, with Clarke’s deflected strike sending them through to round four for the first time since the 2017-18 season. The young Swans went straight onto the attack with Josh Thomas’ attempted through ball for Murphy inside the opening minute just having too much on it. Thomas volleyed just wide soon after, before he was somehow denied by Matteo Salamon from close range following a quickfire break from Rio Campbell. The hosts did break the deadlock in the 18th minute. Adrian Akande darted into the area from the right before pulling the ball back to the penalty spot, where Murphy swept home.
The equaliser arrived in the 38th minute with Anthony drilling past Evans from outside the box. The Swans looked to regain the advantage before the break. Thomas embarked on a jinking run into the area and made space to shoot, only to see his effort come back off the post. The woodwork denied the hosts again from the resulting corner, as Erick Kenko’s deflected strike rattled the crossbar. Chances did not fall too freely for either side after the break, but the intensity increased as the clock ticked into the final 20 minutes with a place in the fourth round at stake. Salamon denied Thomas from a tight angle while, at the other end, Kai Ludvigsen just about did enough to put off Armstrong, who raced onto a long ball over the top of the Swans defence. But it was the Swans who found the decisive third goal of the contest with 10 minutes remaining. Ludvigsen and skipper Scott Butler combined neatly in the box with the former teeing up Clarke, whose deflected shot nestled in the bottom corner.
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HELPING FAMILIES ENJOY FOOTBALL AT HOME The ‘homemade waste pipe goal’. Waste pipes, push-fit knuckle bends and some barrier fencing. It doesn’t seem like much, but sometimes it’s all you need to transform your garden into a proper footy pitch.
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DEFENDER COOPER EXTENDS SWANS STAY
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wansea City defender Brandon Cooper has signed a contract extension through to the summer of 2023, with the option of an additional year. The 20-year-old – whose previous deal had been due to expire at the end of the season – has been with the Swans since the age of six and is currently enjoying an excellent loan spell with Newport County. Cooper has made 21 appearances for the Exiles, helping them top the L eague Two table and winning the League Two young player of the month award for October. C ooper also sc ored his fir st senior goal in C ounty ’s victory over Harrogate, with Mike Flynn’s side having lost just two league games all season.
The centre-half – who already has two senior Swansea appearances under his belt – has been praised by head coach Steve Cooper, and the Swans’ boss is delighted to have secured the future of another academy product. “Brandon is another product of the academy system and we’re delighted that he has signed a new contract,” he said. “He has made an excellent start to his loan at Newport County this season. He’s featured in the EFL Cup and FA Cup in the past for us, but the loan move has given him an opportunity to experience regular league football. “We have got some good, young centre-backs at our club, and Brandon is among them. It bodes well for the club in that particular position. “We look forward to seeing Brandon continue his development with Swansea City.”
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FAN FOCUS MATT MACOUBRIE ABOUT MATT Name: Matt Macoubrie Age: 29 From: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
How long have you been supporting the Swans?
Why did you start supporting the Swans?
I have been a Swans supporter since around 2014.
T h i s s o u n d s c r a z y, b u t I w a s a t a F i f a tournament once and the only team from the Premier League that hadn’t been taken at the time was Swansea. I took them and won the tournament and from then on I vowed to be a Swan for life. Plus, I couldn’t possibly live with being a Liverpool, United, or Everton friend like my friends.
What was the first Swans game you attended/ watched on TV? Although I have never been to a game, the first match I remember watching was and truly feeling like I was a Swan forever was when Bafe Gomis scored against Manchester United. We won 2-1 and his celebration was awesome. It was the first time I had watched a game with my wife, who is not a super soccer fan, but it was an incredible game!
What is your most memorable Swans moment? My most memorable Swansea moment was when we were playing Spurs at the Liberty and it was a torrential downpour. It was so fun to watch and it reminded me of playing as a kid. Can you tell us about the greatest sacrifice you have made to watch the Swans? I didn’ t have good internet at the time, so I went to a nearby Target store and used their wifi to watch a game. The things we do hey! Describe to us your typical pre-match ritual? On the day of the game, I wake up, put on my favourite Gylfi Sigurdsson jersey and watch my Swans with my daughter, who is only one.
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What has been your most disappointing moment watching the club? Relegation from the top flight was disappointing and watching the play-off against Brentford last season was heartbreaking, but through failure comes success!
Who is your favourite Swans player of all time, and why? My favourite player is Andre Ayew because of his dedication to the club and his willingness to be great and fight for not only the team, but the fans as well. Who is your favourite current player, and why? My current favourite player is also Andre Ayew. What is your favourite Swans kit from over the years? My favourite kit was the third kit (yellow) from last year. I wear it all the time, but I also really love the red kit from 2017.
What makes Swansea City special to you? I love what Swansea stands for and the fact that no matter what, our fans stand behind our players, through hard time and elation - we never give up on our boys!
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A CENTURY OF LEAGUE FOOTBALL Historian Gwyn Rees looks at the club’s campaigns throughout its 100-year involvement in the Football League divisions and Premier League.
1966-1967 FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION THREE (FINISHED 21ST)
1965-1966 FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION THREE (FINISHED 17TH)
The club appointed Glyn Davies to replace Trevor Morris following relegation, with Davies becoming the first-ever local born man to manage the club. The former Swans player quickly brought Ivor Allchurch back to the club, but any supporters dreaming of a quick return to the Second Division were in for a rude awakening as the side spent the season planted at the wrong end of the table. There were two heavy defats to Workington Town (6-1 and 7-0), and attendances dropped by half over the course of the campaign having been as high as 10,000 at the outset of the season. A late improvement in results saw the side just avoid a second consecutive relegation, with a fifth Welsh Cup success over Chester in a three legged final being small consolation to supporters.
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The summer of 1966 saw the astute signings of Vic Gomersall and Dennis Coughlin from Manchester City and Bournemouth respectively. Gomersall would go on to hold a number of roles at the club well beyond his playing days. The pattern of the previous season was replicated, and with just five points after a total of nine games played, manager Davies was sacked and Joe Sykes took over the role in a caretaker capacity. The first ever European game played on home turf saw the side draw 1-1 with Bulgarian team Slavia Sofia, but the return leg ended in a comprehensive 4-0 defeat. An embarrassing defeat to non-league Nuneaton followed in the FA Cup, and not even the award of an MBE to Allchurch and the appointment of Billy Lucas could lift the gloom. Relegation followed and, for the first time in the club’s history, Swansea would start the next season in the basement division of the Football League.
1967-1968 FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR (FINISHED 15TH)
Manager Lucas persuaded Mel Nurse to return to the club from Swindon Town, while another significant arrival was former player Harry Griffiths as trainer. Nurse, alongside fellow central defender Alan Williams, certainly strengthened a leaky defence, and by Christmas the team were sixth place in the league.
With little money to strengthen the squad, Lucas turned to youth to build for the future. Young players like Billy Screen, David Lawrence and David Gwyther had broken into the side and, with the experience of Allchurch, Herbie Williams and Gomersall around, it was hoped the young players would benefit from the exposure to senior football. Early league form saw the side in a mid-table position, with Allchurch at the age of thirty eight still leading the goal charge.
The hoped-for promotion push evaporated and, in March with the side in a mid-table place, manager Lucas resigned his position to concentrate on his business interests back in Newport. The board let Walter Robbins take over as caretaker manager until the end of the season, and advertised the position in the summer. The season also brought tragedy as January brought the news that former players Roy Evans and Brian Purcell had been killed in a road accident, both were popular figures at the club, and appeared in the 1964 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Preston North End.
1969-1970 FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR (FINISHED THIRD)
However, it was the FA Cup that caught supporters’ imaginations as wins over Enfield, Brighton and Doncaster Rovers set up a tie with Arsenal. A record Vetch Field crowd of 32,796 watched a narrow 1-0 defeat to the Gunners. Then, in the early hours of March 2, a fire broke out in the centre stand, causing extensive damage to the offices and dressing rooms. It ensured the TA Centre next door had to be used as temporary dressing rooms for the rest of the season. On the playing side, Allchurch retired from professional football at the end of the campaign, finishing as leading goal scorer with 19 goals, and was rewarded with a testimonial against Leeds United in May.
1968-1969 FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR (FINISHED 10TH)
The close season at the club saw a takeover by a new board headed by Mr Malcolm Struel. He and his fellow directors brought in former Chelsea star Roy Bentley as manager. The new man brought Welsh International goalkeeper Tony Millington to the club and, after an absence of eight years, winger Len Allchurch rejoined the club from Stockport County. The season began steadily, with the front pairing of Williams and Gwyther amongst the goals. By the start of the New Year the club was in fifth place, with an FA Cup tie against Leeds United to look forward to, although that would end in a 2-1 defeat after a fine performance. History was made when, on February 24, 1970, the club played its first game as Swansea City, a 0-0 draw at home to Exeter City. The side was consistent in the final months of the season, finally guaranteeing promotion with a win at Newport County in early April, capping Bentley’s first season at the helm.
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Match Statistics
Key
Goal =
Sub = 2 (number denotes player replaced)
Captain =
FIXTURE
DATE
TEAM
Newport County (CC R2) A L 2-0
Sat, Sep 5, 3pm
Woodman
Routledge 3
Naughton
Rodon
Fulton
Bidwell 1
Grimes
Preston North End A W 0-1
Sat, Sep 12, 3pm
Woodman
Roberts
Cabango
Rodon
Guehi
Bidwell
Grimes
Birmingham City H D 0-0
Sat, Sep 19, 3pm
Woodman
Roberts
Cabango
Rodon
Guehi
Bidwell
Grimes
Waycombe Wanderers A W 0-2
Sat, Sep 26, 12.30pm
Woodman
Roberts
Cabango
Rodon
Guehi
Bidwell
Grimes
Millwall H W 2-1
Sat, Oct 3, 3pm
Benda
Roberts
Cabango
Rodon
Guehi
Bidwell
Grimes
Huddersfield Town H L 1-2
Sat, Oct 17, 3pm
Woodman
Roberts
Cabango
Naughton 3
Guehi
Bidwell
Grimes
Coventry City A D 1-1
Tue, Oct 20, 7.45pm
Woodman
Roberts
Cabango
Bennett
Guehi
Bidwell
Grimes
Bristol City A D 1-1
Sat, Oct 24, 3pm
Woodman
Roberts
Cabango
Bennett
Guehi
Bidwell
Grimes
Stoke City H W 2-0
Tue, Oct 27, 7.45pm
Woodman
Roberts
Naughton
Bennett 3
Guehi
Manning 1
Grimes
Blackburn Rovers H W 2-0
Sat, Oct 31, 3pm
Woodman
Roberts
Cabango
Naughton
Guehi
Bidwell
Smith
Brentford A D 1-1
Tue, Nov 3, 7pm
Woodman
Roberts
Naughton
Norwich City A L 1-0
Sat, Nov 7, 3pm
Woodman
Roberts
Naughton
Rotherham United H W 1-0
Sat, Nov 21, 3pm
Woodman
Roberts
Cabango
Bennett
Naughton
Bidwell
Grimes
Sheffield Wednesday H D 1-1
Wed, Nov 25, 7.45pm
Woodman
Roberts
Cabango
Bennett
Naughton 2
Bidwell 4
Grimes Grimes
1
Bennett
Guehi
Bidwell
Smith
Bennett
Guehi
Bidwell
Smith
Nottingham Forest A W 0-1
Sun, Nov 29, 12pm
Woodman
Roberts
Naughton
Bennett
Guehi
Bidwell
Middlesbrough A L 2-1
Wed, Dec 2, 7pm
Woodman
Roberts
Cabango 2
Bennett
Guehi
Manning
Smith 5
Luton Town H W 2-0
Sat, Dec 5, 3pm
Woodman
Roberts
Naughton
Cabango
Guehi 3
Bidwell
Grimes
A.F.C. Bournemouth H D 0-0
Tue, Dec 8, 7.45pm
Woodman
Roberts
Latibeaudiere
Cabango
Naughton
Bidwell
Grimes
Cardiff City A W 0-2
Sat, Dec 12, 12.30pm
Woodman
Roberts
Naughton
Bennett
Guehi
Bidwell
Grimes
Woodman
Roberts
Naughton 2
Bennett
Guehi
Bidwell 3
Grimes
Derby County A L 2-0
Wed, Dec 16, 5.30pm
Barnsley H
Sat, Dec 19, 3pm
Queens Park Rangers A
Sat, Dec 26, 3pm
Reading H
Wed, Dec 30, 8pm
Watford H
Sat, Jan 2, 3pm
Stevenage A (FA R3)
Sat, Jan 9, 3pm
Barnsley A
Sat, Jan 16, 7.45pm
Blackburn Rovers A
Tue, Jan 19, 7.45pm
Brentford H
Sat, Jan 23, 3pm
Rotherham United A
Sat, Jan 30, 3pm
Norwich City H
Sat, Feb 6, 3pm
Sheffield Wednesday A
Sat, Feb 13, 3pm
Nottingham Forest H
Wed, Feb 17, 7.45pm
Huddersfield Town A
Sat, Feb 20, 3pm
Coventry City H
Wed, Feb 24, 7.45pm
Bristol City H
Sat, Feb 27, 3pm
Stoke City A
Wed, Mar 3, 8pm
Middlesbrough H
Sat, Mar 6, 3pm
Luton Town A
Sat, Mar 13, 3pm
A.F.C. Bournemouth A
Tues, Mar 16, 7.45pm
Cardiff City H
Sat, Mar 20, 3pm
Birmingham City A
Fri, Apr 2, 3pm
Preston North End H
Mon, Apr 5, 3pm
Millwall A
Sat, Apr 10, 3pm
Wycombe Wanderers H
Sat, Apr 17, 3pm
Queens Park Rangers H
Tues, Apr 20, 7.45pm
Reading A
Sat, Apr 24, 3pm
Derby County H
Sat, May 1, 3pm
Watford A
Sat, May 8, 3pm
Booked =
Sent off =
Carabao Cup = CC
FA Cup = FA
Correct as of December 17, 2020
SUBSTITUTES Smith 2
Gibbs-White
Smith
Gibbs-White
Smith
Gibbs-White
Lowe 1
Smith
Gibbs-White 1
Lowe
Smith
Gibbs-White 2
Smith Smith
1
Lowe
Ayew
Benda, Rushesha, Evans, Williams, Dhanda 2, Peterson 3, Asoro 1
Lowe 2
Ayew
Benda, Naughton, Fulton 1, Dhanda, Routledge 2, Peterson, Cullen
Ayew
Benda, Naughton, Fulton, Dhanda, Routledge, Peterson, Cullen 1
Ayew
Benda, Naughton, Fulton 1, Dhanda, Routledge, Peterson, Cullen 2
Lowe 1
Ayew
Webb, Naughton, Fulton 2, Routledge, Garrick, Cullen, Gyokeres 1
Gyokeres 1
Lowe 2
Ayew
Benda, Evans, Fulton, Dhanda, Palmer 1, Garrick 3, Cullen 2
Gyokeres 1
Lowe 2
Ayew
Benda, Manning, Fulton 1, Dhanda, Palmer, Garrick, Cullen 2
Smith
Fulton
Lowe
Ayew
Benda, Naughton, Manning, Dhanda, Routledge, Cullen, Gyokeres 1
Fulton
Dhanda 2
Lowe
Ayew
Benda, Cabango 3, Bidwell 1, Smith, Palmer 2
Fulton
Dhanda
Lowe
Ayew
Benda, Bennett, Manning, Grimes, Routledge, Palmer 2, Gyokeres 1
Dhanda 2
Lowe 3
Ayew
Benda, Latibeaudiere, Manning, Grimes 1, Routledge, Palmer 2, Gyokeres 3
Palmer 3
Lowe
Ayew
Benda, Latibeaudiere, Manning, Grimes 1, Dhanda 3, Routledge, Gyokeres 2
Fulton
Dhanda 2
Lowe 3
Cullen 1
Benda, Latibeaudiere, Manning, Rushesha, Williams, Smith 3, Cooper, Routledge 1, Palmer 2
Smith
Dhanda
Lowe 3
Cullen 1
Benda, Latibeaudiere, Manning 4, Rushesha, Fulton, Cooper, Routledge 3, Palmer 2, Ayew 1
Smith
Fulton
Lowe 1
Ayew
Benda, Cabango, Manning, Dhanda, Routledge 1, Palmer, Garrick, Cullen, Gyokeres
Palmer 4
Lowe 3
Ayew
Dhanda 2
Cullen 2
Ayew
Fulton 1 Fulton
Fulton Smith
2
1
Smith
Dhanda 2
Lowe 1
Smith
Fulton
Lowe
Smith 5
Fulton 1
Lowe 4
2
1
Ayew 1
, Cullen, Gyokeres
Benda, Naughton, Bidwell, Grimes 1 , Dhanda 4 4
, Routledge 2, Garrick 5, Cullen, Gyokeres 3
Benda, Latibeaudiere 3, Manning, Fulton, Routledge, Palmer 2, Garrick, Lowe 1, Gyokeres 4 Benda, Evans, Manning, Fulton, Routledge, Palmer 2, Garrick, Cullen, Gyokeres 1
Ayew
Benda, Latibeaudiere, Cabango, Manning, Routledge 1, Palmer, Dhanda, Cullen, Gyokeres
Ayew
Benda, Latibeaudiere, Cabango, Manning 3, Garrick 4, Palmer 3, Dhanda 1, Cullen 5, Gyokeres
53
CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE 20-21 POS TEAM
P
*Sheffield Wednesday deducted 6 points.
W D L
F
A
GD PTS
1
Norwich City
19
12
4
3
27
18
9
40
2
Bournemouth
19
10
7
2
35
16
19
37
3
Watford
19
9
7
3
23
13
10
34
4
Swansea City
19
9
6
4
21
12
9
33
5
Reading
19
10
3
6
29
23
6
33
6
Brentford
19
8
8
3
28
17
11
32
7
Middlesbrough
19
8
6
5
20
14
6
30
8
Stoke City
19
8
6
5
24
20
4
30
9
Bristol City
19
9
3
7
20
20
0
30
10
Cardiff City
19
8
5
6
26
18
8
29
11
Blackburn Rovers
19
8
4
7
34
23
11
28
12
Barnsley
19
8
4
7
23
24
-1
28
13
Luton Town
19
7
5
7
17
21
-4
26
14
Huddersfield Town
19
7
4
8
22
27
-5
25
15
Millwall
19
5
9
5
16
17
-1
24
16
Preston North End
19
7
2
10
26
30
-4
23
17
Birmingham City
19
5
7
7
16
19
-3
22
18
Coventry City
19
5
7
7
20
27
-7
22
19
Queens Park Rangers
19
4
7
8
18
26
-8
19
20
Rotherham United
19
4
4
11
18
27
-9
16
21
Nottingham Forest
19
4
4
11
13
24
-11
16
22
Derby County
19
3
7
9
10
22
-12
16
23
Wycombe Wanderers
19
2
5
12
11
28
-17
11
24
Sheffield Wednesday *
19
3
6
10
10
21
-11
9
H
UPCOMING FIXTURES QUEENS PARK RANGERS (A) Saturday, Dec 26, 3pm
READING (H)
Wednesday, Dec 30, 8pm
WATFORD (H)
Saturday, Jan 2, 3pm
STEVENAGE F.A CUP THIRD ROUND (A) Saturday, Jan 9, 3pm
BARNSLEY (A)
Saturday, Jan 16, 7.45pm
Correct as of December 17, 2020
NEXT UP AT HOME - READING
aving enjoyed two spells in the P remier L eague, Reading are now in their eighths t r a i g h t s e a s o n i n t h e C h a m p i o n s h i p, having been relegated from the top-flight in 2013. They came close to securing a third p r o m ot i o n t o t h e P r e m i e r L e a g u e i n 2 0 1 7 , only to suffer the heartbreak of losing to Huddersfield on penalties, while Swans fans will never forget beating the R oyals at Wembley in 2011. Reading enjoyed an outstanding start to this season, and were setting the pac e at the top of the standings. D espite a dip in form, they remain well up in the st andings.
54
33
33 15
SWANS
READING
DRAWS 81 PAST MEETINGS
55
SQUAD LIST V
HEAD COACH: STEVE COOPER Freddie Woodman Ryan Bennett Ryan Manning Marc Guéhi Jay Fulton Korey Smith Matt Grimes Jamal Lowe André Ayew Morgan Gibbs-White Steven Benda Viktor Gyökeres Wayne Routledge Liam Cullen Yan Dhanda Joel Latibeaudiere Connor Roberts Jake Bidwell Kyle Naughton George Byers Tivonge Rushesha Oli Cooper Daniel Williams Cameron Evans Jordon Garrick Lewis Webb Ben Cabango Kasey Palmer
1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 20 21 22 23 24 26 28 30 31 37 38 41 42 44 45
HEAD COACH: VALÉRIEN ISMAËL 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 15 16 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 40
Jack Walton Jordan Williams Ben Williams Callum Styles Mads Andersen Callum Brittain Herbie Kane Cauley Woodrow Mike Bähre Conor Chaplin Jordan Green Luke Thomas Isaac Christie-Davies Patrick Schmidt Romal Palmer Clarke Oduor Elliot Jorge Simões Inácio Aapo Halme George Miller Michael Sollbauer Alex Mowatt Dominik Frieser Victor Adeboyejo Michał Helik Matty James Brad Collins
MATCH OFFICIALS REFEREE: ANDY DAVIES ASSISTANT REFEREES: GRAHAM KANE AND MARK RUSSELL FOURTH OFFICIAL: TOM REEVES
56