Swansea City v Huddersfield Town - 20-21 Season - Issue 3 by swanseacityafc

Cadwch yn ddiogel Jacks

Issue 3 - Digital Copy

Swansea City v Huddersfield Town Saturday, October 17 - Kick-off 3pm

CONTENTS Page 16 - A Century of League Football

Page 18 - Meet the Opposition

Page 22 - Match Reports

Page 28 - Q&A with Jamal Lowe

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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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 Partnership Sales Manager: Cory Richards Media Manager: Chris 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, Julie Kissick, Owain Llyr, Chris Barney, Andrew Gwilym, Jonathan Davies, Sophie Davis, Adam Evans, Gwyn Rees 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

Chief Executive’s Notes

JULIAN WINTER G

ood afternoon to all Swansea City supporters around the world as we look ahead to today ’s fixture with Huddersfield Town at the Liberty Stadium. Due to programme deadlines, I am writing these notes before t h e c l o s u r e o f t h e t r a n s fe r w i n d o w, w h i c h e n d e d o n Friday. But, safe to say, the transfer window has not been the only talking point this week. Proposals for ‘Project Big Picture’ were released earlier this week, and it has created a massive discussion throughout the game for clubs in Wales and England.

THE KEY PROPOSALS ARE:

• The FA receives £100m to make up for lost revenue.

• Cutting the Premier League from 20 to 18 clubs, with 24 teams remaining in the Championship, League One and League Two.

• Nine clubs given ‘special voting rights’ on certain issues, based on their longevity in the Premier League.

• Relegation for the bottom two teams in the Premier League with the 16th-plac e d t e am joining the Championship playoffs. • Abolishing both the League Cup and Community Shield. • Parachute payments scrapped. • A £250m rescue fund for the E F L , w h i c h wo u l d b e m a d e immediately available, along with a 25 per cent cut of all future TV deals.

I’m sure supporters and everyone connected with football clubs up and down the country will have different views on the proposals, but this is an opportune time to take a step back and assess football as a whole and its future funding, to ensure all clubs have a future in our unique football pyramid. On the pitch, we’ ve made a ve r y p o s i t i ve s t a r t t o t h e season and went into the international break unbeaten having won three and drawn one of our games so far.

That’s testament to the good work put in by Steve Cooper, his staff, the players and everyone connected to the club, because we all play our part. There is plenty of hard work ahead though, and I’ve already seen in my short time here that each and every person at Swansea City gives their all to help the club progress. Huddersfield are the visitors today, and it’s a club I know inside out following my time there as a player and, most recently, chief executive. Upon my arrival at Swansea, I looked at the fixtures and I wasn’t surprised to see Huddersfield as the opposition for our third home game of the season. That’s how football works sometimes.

It is sure to be another competitive and intriguing game – something we see week in, week out in the Championship. With COVID-19 protocols meaning you can’t be with us at the Liberty, we know you’ll all be watching and supporting the team from the safety of your homes. This is another situation which will continue to develop with time, but I hope you’re all enjoying the streaming service provided by SwansTV Live, which includes co-commentary from the likes of Lee Trundle, Kristian O’Leary and Wyndham Evans – all of whom bring different qualities to the matchday experience. Enjoy the game.

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Head Coach’s Notes

STEVE COOPER G

ood afternoon to all Swansea City supporters as we look ahead to today’s Championship encounter with Huddersfield Town at the Liberty. It’s nice to be back in action after a week without any games due to the international window. We had a number of players involved with their countries, which is a very proud moment for us as a football club. T h a n k f u l l y, t h o s e p l a y e r s returned in time to be part of our preparations for this afternoon’s match against Huddersfield, which I expect to be another big test. We’ve made a positive start to the season, winning three and drawing one of our four games so far. But that’s all it is – a positive start. The hard work continues for us, and the coaching staff have seen a very determined attitude from the players on the training ground this week. As I am writing these notes before the transfer deadline, I will no doubt be speaking to the media

after today’s game about any potential activity that has involved our club.

Health Day, and we highlighted the selfless and supportive nature of our fans.

But one thing is for sure, each and every player in our squad is focused on doing their best for Swansea City and is proud to wear our badge.

I was lucky enough to speak to the winner – Alfie James – on a video call, and it was great to spend time chatting with him.

I am asked a lot about transfer speculation, which thankfully I’ll have a break from until January, but I always reiterate the same message – we place full focus on developing and getting the best out of the players that are in our squad, and that remains the case. We are now entering a section of the schedule where we play three games a week. Over a threeweek period, we will play seven games, which is a big challenge for our squad. It is a demanding period, but everyone within our squad knows that they have an important role to play. Finally, I wanted to finish my notes by focusing on a club project that I was involved with during the international break. The Back a Jack initiative supported EFL charity partner Mind for this year’s World Mental

Alfie lost his father to a brain tumour and recently walked up Pen y Fan whilst raising money for Brain Tumour Research. His fundraising efforts are truly inspirational, especially for such a young boy, and I was delighted he had won. Alfie has rec eived a signed Swans shirt, while I’ve invited him to Fairwood to spend the day with the staff and players once circumstances allow. The club is also matching the £700 he has raised, while I will make a personal donation too. It’s hugely important the club recognises and highlights the good work of fans like Alfie, who can act as a true inspiration to us all. Enjoy the game.

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MATT GRIMES Captain’s Notes

ello and welcome to everyone joining us from around the world for this afternoon’s Championship home fixture against Huddersfield. T he international break has been important for us to develop tactical ideas and has also been a brilliant experience for those lads away with t h e i r n at i o n a l t e a m s ; i t ’ s a massive honour to represent your country. For us back in Swansea it offered us a chance to strengthen the legs and get some training in before the busy schedule of two games a week begins. There’s not going to be much time for training in weeks where we have matches on a Tuesday and a Saturday, so we have taken full advantage of the break. It provided us with a good opportunity to reassess and then look forward to the rest of the season to set some new goals for the next block of games.

Before the break we continued our unbeaten streak in a 2-1 victory over Millwall at the Liberty. It was a very good performance, but it was disappointing to concede our first goal of the season and not get a clean sheet. Having said that, playing Millwall is always a very tough game and it was excellent to win in the manner we did. It would have been easy to be disappointed with conceding the goal, but we bounced straight back and got the second goal and the three points, so it was a very good day for us. Since my last programme notes we have seen the arrival of Viktor Gyökeres on a season-long loan from Brighton & Hove Albion. He has settled in very well, he is a very good player and a good lad as well. You can see that he brings something a little bit different to the squad, he’s certainly a presence up front and provides something we have been missing. He’s a very good player,

a great fit for us, and myself and the lads are excited to see what we can get from him. We’re hoping that we can pick up where we left off before the international break and come back with a win against Huddersfield this afternoon. It was a weakness of ours last season that we were poor coming back off the international breaks, so we want to put that right. We want to just keep building momentum into the season and give all the Jack Army supporting from home something to cheer about. Thank you to all the fans supporting from across the globe, your support doesn’t go unnoticed. Enjoy the game today!

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n our last programme page, Ceri Stone gave his initial thoughts on his first few months as the newest member of the Trust board. Following that theme, Terry Sinnett gives his observations on his first year as a Trust board member. Having retired and being a lifelong Swans fan, I wanted to contribute something to the club. The best way I determined was to stand for election to the Trust board with the aim of using my life and working experiences to best represent the Trust and the Jack Army for the greater good of the club. The surprise and elation of being elected then turned to trepidation at the thought of ‘can I make a difference?’ For the first few meetings I was an observer, understanding what the Trust did and the people involved. My first practical action was to turn up to the pod at the Liberty and to start interacting with Trust members whilst promoting membership. As the first few months passed, like Ceri, I was amazed how much time and commitment board members contributed. Dealing with membership matters and queries on the database, handling the annual prize draw raffle, the re-introduction of the Tenpin B owling night , working with potential new charity partners, arranging the Christmas party and many more activities that the Trust is involved in. It’s a long list. There’s always something to do, that’s for sure.

Luckily, I am retired, but those board members who work full-time and still find time to devote their energy, skill and knowledge to the organisation is incredible. Not forgetting, these are voluntary roles. Then Covid-19 kicked in. Meetings went virtual and that created its own problems for those who are IT challenged, like me. By now I was looking after the Trust’s Twitter platform and started work on the launch of our new #JoinTheTrust campaign. We are extremely pleased with the response and will continue encouraging the Jack Army to sign up. You can join by visiting www.swanstrust.co.uk/join-the-trust Don’t forget, there’s 50 per cent discount off membership rates to December 31. Moving onto the most important matter - the team. Like last season, we have made a really good start to the new campaign and being unbeaten at the first international break is a great testament to the work put in by the players and the coaching staff. This is reflected by Steve Cooper being nominated for the EFL Championship Manager of the Month for September. Today, we welcome the Terriers from Huddersfield to the Liberty. Hopefully all our international players have returned fit and we can record another league victory. Enjoy the game.

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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COMMUNITY TRUST AND OSPREYS

JOIN FORCES FOR ‘IN THE SQUAD’ PROJECT

wansea City AFC Community Trust has teamed up with

Participants are advised that these sessions will be

Ospreys In The Community Foundation to launch the

delivered in accordance with the latest social distancing

brand-new In The Squad project.

guidelines.

The two-year programme will see both organisations use the

H e l e n E l t o n , h e a d of c o m m u n i t y at Swa n s e a C i t y ’ s

power of sport and their brands to engage with veterans and

Community Trust, said: “We are very excited to be working

ex-service personnel of all ages across the community with

with Ospreys in the Community Foundation on this project.

the aim of supporting their wellbeing and combating social isolation. Backed by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, the project will deliver sport and fitness activities based around football and rugby – including walking football and wheelchair rugby – once a week at local venues. Following these sessions, where one coach from each organisation will be present, our participants will be encouraged to socialise together in a veteran-friendly environment with a cup of tea and piece of toast. Meanwhile, the Trust’s health and wellbeing officer will be present to offer support and guidance, and signposting to other agencies if necessary. In addition, veterans will be given training in areas such as first aid, safeguarding, coaching and mental first aid with the aim that, by the end of the project, they will be in a position

“There is plenty of evidence that physical activity supports mental health through improved self-esteem, reduced stress and improved mood. “Our research showed that a lot of our ex-service personnel feel isolated some of the time, but indicated that they would be interested in attending walking football or rugby sessions. “The sports are inclusive and will allow all veterans to take part together – whatever their age, gender or fitness level. “Most of them also expressed a strong interest in interacting with fellow veterans, showing that the social aspect of the project appeals to those with little interest in sport. “Both organisations already have strong relationships with the Armed Forces community and we are really looking forward to expanding on that.”

to manage and run their own sessions.

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.

1926-1927 FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO (FINISHED 12TH)

1925-1926 FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO (FINISHED FIFTH)

There was great excitement in the town with the opening game of the Second Division campaign, with the Swans hosting Newcastle-based South Shields. Despite Harry Deacon giving the Swans the lead, the North East club hit back and a late strike earned the visitors victory. The league form picked up though and, by the time of the FA Cup first round in November, the Swans sat above mid-table in the division. It was the club’s cup exploits that caught the supporters’ attention. Exeter were beaten 3-1 in the first round before Watford were seen off 3-2 at Vetch Field. An impressive 2-0 win at Blackpool kept the cup dream going, and a stunning 6-3 hammering of Stoke City at home meant it was the furthest the club had progressed in the competition in its short history. Another victory, this time over Millwall in London thanks to a goal from Jack Fowler, booked a home draw against the mighty Arsenal in the quarter-finals. Goals from Len Thompson and Fowler sealed a memorable 2-1 win, but the dream was ended in the semi-final as the Swans were well beaten by Bolton at White Hart Lane. The pile up of fixtures due to the cup run saw any chance of promotion disappear, but the Swans finished their first-ever Second Division campaign in a creditable fifth place.

The close season saw a bombshell at the Vetch Field, with manager Joe Bradshaw resigning to take over at Fulham. This decision came as a shock to all connected to the club, and the directors took the unusual decision not to appoint a replacement for Bradshaw but run the team themselves. The goal-scoring combination of Fowler and Thompson in attack saw them start the season on fire, and by November the team sat top, and the directors’ decision not to replace the manager seemed justified. But, when everything seemed to be going well, a 7-1 hammering at Middlesbrough seemed to knock the team’s confidence, and slowly they began to slip down the league. After the excitement generated by the previous season’s cup run, it was hoped that the club could go one better this season and reach a Wembley final. A fine 4-1 victory over First Division Bury and a 3-1 win at Barnsley saw the Swans drawn at South Shields in the fifth round. And though it took a replay at home to beat the Newcastle outfit, the win meant the Swans would host Reading in the quarter-finals. A McPherson goal was all the team could score, and three Reading goals saw the Berkshire side progress to the semi-finals, with the club finishing a disappointing season in 12th place.

1927-1928 FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO (FINISHED SIXTH)

There was a definite gloom over the club prior to the commencement of the new season, and an opening day 4-0 hammering at Chelsea did nothing to lift the depression felt in the town. The team were firmly rooted at the wrong end of the table from early on in the season, with a glimmer of hope shown in late November, when Jack Fowler scored his 100th league goal for the club in a 4-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the Vetch.

On April 4, the club announced the appointment of James Hunter Thompson as the new manager at Vetch Feld. The new man was quiet in the transfer market over the summer, with the biggest news being from the club on the construction of a new double-decker stand over the West end of the ground.

But with gates dwindling, the directors took the unpopular decision in the eyes of the supporters, to sell Wilf Lewis to Huddersfield Town for a record £6,500 fee. Though the money obviously helped to finance the club, on the field the team struggled all season and they just avoided relegation, finishing 19th.

1930-1931 FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO (FINISHED 15TH)

The campaign was not short of goals, both for and against’ in the early months. A 7-2 loss at Manchester City was later followed up by a 5-3 win at home two weeks later against the same opponents, and the opening of the new stand saw the team celebrate with a 6-0 hammering of Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Swans were a match for anyone at home, but struggled on the road to find any consistency. There was no cup runs in either the FA or Welsh cups this season, with early exits from both at the hands of Wrexham and Cardiff City. Len Thompson was sold to Arsenal for a £4,000 fee, this caused outrage amongst the supporters, but a sixth-placed finish was a credit to the manager in his first season in charge.

1928-1929 FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO (FINISHED 19TH)

With little or no money being invested in bringing quality players to the club, and with poor gates, the supporters who did turn up would soon have another local hero to cheer - a strong, bustling centre forward called Ronnie Williams. After half of the season had been played, the Swans found themselves firmly at the bottom of the division, and for the next game on Christmas Day, Williams made his first-team debut against Notts County. A dream start saw the debutant score a hat trick in a 3-2 win, and with Fowler being sold to Clapton Orient in the summer, he became heir apparent to the great man. This result saw an upturn in fortunes for the Swans, and with Williams scoring some vital goals, the team finished three points clear of relegation.

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN FACT FILE OWNER

NICKNAME

The Terriers

1908

@htafc

HuddersfieldTown

John Smith’s Stadium

1994

24,121

TWITTER

OPENED

THE GAFFER

CARLOS CORBERÁN

STADIUM

INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK

CLUB CAPTAIN

The Spaniard was appointed Huddersfield boss in July following the departure of Danny Cowley. A former goalkeeper in Valencia’s youth ranks, Corberan opted to retire at the age of 23 and pursue a career in coaching. The Spaniard’s managerial breakthrough came courtesy of a brief spell with Alcoron’s Juvenil A squad in 2013, and he also had spells in charge of Cypriot sides Doxa and Ermis Aradippou. Corberan joined Leeds in 2017, and was promoted to their first-team staff under Marcelo Bielsa before his move to Huddersfield ahead of the 2020-21 season.

The German defender is now into his fifth season with Huddersfield, having arrived from 1860 Munich for a club-record fee in July 2016. He etched his name into Terriers folklore by scoring the winning penalty in the Championship play-off final victory over Reading at Wembley in 2017. Schindler, who only missed a couple of games during Huddersfield’s two-year stay in the Premier League, is now approaching 200 appearances for the club.

FOUNDED

Phil Hodgkinson

CHRISTOPHER SCHINDLER

CLUB DETAILS SOCIAL MEDIA FACILITIES

CAPACITY

STADIUM MEET THE OPPOSITION

A Premier League outfit just over a year ago, this is the Terriers’ second season back in the second tier. They will be desperate to improve on last season, with a poor run of form towards the end of the campaign meaning they had to settle for an 18th-place finish. This decade marks a century since the most successful period in the club’s history. FA Cup glory in 1922 was followed by three consecutive First Division titles between 1924 and 1926.

HUDDERSFIELD’S FORM

Huddersfield endured a difficult start to the 2020-21 season, losing their opening two Championship games and exiting the Carabao Cup in round one. The Terriers also struggled for form following their return from lockdown at the end of last term, winning just two of their final nine games. They have won just twice on the road in 2020. However, their fortunes did improve just before the international break, with a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest followed by a 1-1 draw with Rotherham.

THE KEY MEN

Karlan Grant top-scored for the Terriers last season with 19 goals – a tally only bettered by three players in the Championship, while they can also count on the experienced former Manchester United and Sunderland striker Fraizer Campbell. On the wing, Juninho Bacuna scored six goals and provided as many assists last season, while Huddersfield have added European experience to the ranks in the form of Ajax loanee Carel Eiting and former Espanyol full-back Pipa.

ONES TO WATCH

JONATHAN HOGG

The experienced Hogg is now in his eighth season with Huddersfield, having arrived from Watford in July 2013. The toughtackling midfielder is rapidly approaching 250 appearances for the Terriers and has become a fans’ favourite at the John Smith’s Stadium. Although he started out at hometown club Middlesbrough, Hogg began his professional career with Aston Villa, who he represented in the Europa League. During his time at Villa Park, he also had loan spells at Darlington and Portsmouth.

POSITION

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22 MF

Spanish defender Pipa joined Huddersfield from Espanyol on a three-year deal last month. The full-back subsequently brought his 12-year association with the La Liga side to an end. Just 22 years of age, the Spanish under-21 international brings European experience t o t h e Te r r i e r s ’ r a n k s . Although he made just 13 appearances for Espanyol in all competitions, four of those came during last season’s Europa League.

PIPA

POSITION

NATION

AGE

JUNINHO BACUNA Bacuna has made over 60 appearances for the Terriers since joining from Groningen in the summer of 2018. The central midfielder was directly involved in 12 goals for his side in the Championship last season â&#x20AC;&#x201C; scoring six and assisting six. He previously spent well over a decade with Groningen â&#x20AC;&#x201C; coming through the academy ranks before going on to represent the club in the Europa League. Bacuna is the younger brother of Cardiff City midfielder Leandro.

POSITION

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AGE

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22 MF

Dutchman Eiting joined the Terriers from Ajax last month on a season-long loan, and made his debut as a half-time substitute in the 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest. The young midfielder, who has represented his nation at every youth level from under-15s to under-20s, has progressed through the youth ranks with the Dutch giants, having been with them since 2007. He went on to make five appearances for Ajax during their run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2018-19.

CAREL EITING

NATION

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23 FW

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The one-time England international certainly brings plenty of experience to the Huddersfield attack. The striker began his career at Manchester United but - after loan spells with Royal Antwerp, Tottenham and Hull and just four senior appearances at Old Trafford - he left for Sunderland in 2009. Campbell also went on to play for Cardiff and Crystal Palace in the Premier League, before dropping down to the Championship for his two-year stint with Hull.

FRAIZER CAMPBELL

SWANSEA CITY 2 MILLWALL 1

MATCH DETAILS

LINEUPS

DATE: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 VENUE: LIBERTY STADIUM REFEREE: STEPHEN MARTIN

Swans: Steven Benda; Ben Cabango, Joe Rodon, Marc Guehi; Connor Roberts, Korey Smith, Matt Grimes (captain), Jake Bidwell; Morgan Gibbs-White (Jay Fulton 80); Andre Ayew, Jamal Lowe (Viktor Gyokeres 75).

MATCH REPORT S

Subs not used: Lewis Webb, Wayne Routledge, Liam Cullen, Kyle Naughton, Jordon Garrick.

wansea City made it three wins from their f i r s t fo u r C h a m p i o n s h i p g a m e s t h a n k s to goals from Jake Bidwell and Ben Cabango at the Liberty Stadium. Bidwell netted his first Swansea goal early in the second half, but it was quickly cancelled out by Tom Bradshaw. H o w e v e r, C a b a n g o w a s o n h a n d t o s m a s h home the winner with 22 minutes to go. Steve Cooper ’s side – with Steven Benda making his debut in goal due to Freddie Woodman’s ab s enc e with a st omach bug – had the better of the opening half but there were few clear chances created. That changed just 45 seconds into the second half as Morgan Gibbs-White spun away from his man and whipped in a cross for Bidwell to divert the ball home at the far post. M i l l wa l l l eve l l e d b a r e l y f i ve m i n u t e s l at e r, Bradshaw taking a touch onto his right foot a n d f i r i n g i n a s h ot t h at b e at B e n d a at h i s near post. It was a tight contest , but it was the Swans who nabbe d all thre e point s with C ab ango finding the top corner after Bidwell had been denied a sec ond by Millwall keeper B artosz Bialkowski. And Benda marked his debut by making a key late save from Jake Cooper ’s header.

Milwall: Bartosz Bialkowski; Shaun Hutchinson, Alex Pearce (captain) (Jon Dadi Bodvarsson 85) Jake Cooper; Mahlon Romeo, Ryan Woods, Ryan Leonard, Scott Malone; Jed Wallace, Mason Bennett (Connor Mahoney 74), Tom Bradshaw (Matt Smith 75). Subs not used: Frank Fielding, Murray Wallace, Shaun Williams, Ben Thompson.

QUOTE OF THE GAME "IT’S NICE TO GET OFF THE MARK AND NICE TO CONTRIBUTE IN THE WIN. HOPEFULLY, THERE ARE A FEW MORE TO COME BEFORE THE END OF THE SEASON AND MAYBE THERE’LL BE A TIME WHEN I CAN SCORE WHEN THE FANS ARE HERE TO ENJOY IT TOO." JAKE BIDWELL 23

2018 GlobalData UK Market Analyzer (released Aug 2019)

STILETTOS & STUDS BY JULIE KISSICK

hen I look back on my childhood - as I’ve done a lot in the last few months - much of it is intertwined with this club.

We had one programme between us and my brother and I would argue over who would read it first as we sat and waited for the players to emerge for the warm-up.

From spending seemingly every Saturday afternoon at the Vetch, either supporting the first team or the reserves, to travelling up and down the country during our family holidays to see the Swans.

I remember the injuries (the tears I cried on more than one occasion over Jeremy Charles needing attention), the occasional on-pitch antics that got my mother agitated and vocal - with the opposition players – regardless of whose fault it was.

At this time of year, as the days grew colder and the nights drew in, my mum would bring out the thick tartan blanket from under the stairs. It served as an additional layer for us on match days, despite it being itchy and musty. Choices were limited back then! We’d travel to the Vetch in black and white scarves and home-produced hats and a bag of goodies always accompanied us, including a flask of tea, a packet of biscuits and sometimes a slice each of the Victoria sponge we’d helped to bake in the morning before the match. They were incredibly happy days. Or at least, that’s how I remember them. I don’t remember the losses or the boring 0-0 draws. I remember being with my family and the pre and post-match rituals we observed on a weekly basis. I remember the players who were bought and sold, the ones we celebrated when they arrived and lamented the loss of on their departure. Those we cheered for as they warmed up ahead of the game or prior to coming on as subs, and how disappointed we were not to see the names of our favourites on the match day programme when they didn’t feature.

I remember chatting to Dolly the tea lady and her stories of washing the kit and looking after ‘my boys’. And getting home frozen to the bone and eating hot buttered crumpets and drinking tea to ‘thaw out’. If we’d had a good win we would sometimes get a fish supper or rissole and chips, washed down with a tip top drink which always tasted of plastic but somehow had to be consumed because it was a rarity and therefore a ‘treat’. They were happy, bonding days and they shaped not only my childhood but also my future career. Today’s visitors, Huddersfield Town, were a familiar foe back in those old Fourth Division days of the mid 1970s and 1980s. My memory of them was as a team we seemed to draw against. The Terriers currently occupy 19th spot in the Championship table, having lost two, won one and drawn the game before the international break. And with three wins and a draw under our belt, let’s hope for a memorable encounter and result, more akin to the last time we met when we came away 3-1 victors, rather than a re-run of the 1-1 draw of last November.

Ministry

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Ministry

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ERTHYGLAU CYMRAEG BY OWAIN LLYR, BBC WALES

wi’n siwr bod pawb sy’n gysylltiedig â chlwb pêl-droed Abertawe yn teimlo’n falch iawn wrth wylio gemau diweddar Cymru. Mae gan y tîm cenedlaethol lot i fod yn ddiolchgar i’r Elyrch amdano, yn enwedig y ffordd maen nhw wedi meithrin chwaraewyr ifanc dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Mae amddiffyn Cymru bellach yn llawn chwaraewyr sydd â chysylltiadau agos â chlwb Abertawe sef Connor Roberts, Ben Cabango, Joe Rodon a Ben Davies. Gwych hefyd oedd gweld Ben yn cael y cyfle i fod yn gapten ar ei wlad am y tro cyntaf yn erbyn Lloegr. Er nad oedd Neil Taylor ac Ashley Williams yn y garfan y tro hwn, mae’r ddau ohonynt yn dal ar gael i Ryan Giggs. Er nad ydi o ddim yn chwarae’n rheolaidd i Manchester United ar y funud, mae Daniel James yn dal i fod yn un o chwaraewyr ymosodol pwysicaf Cymru oherwydd y cyflymder sy’n perthyn i’w gêm. A phan mae o’n ffit, mae Joe Allen yn un o’r enwau cyntaf mae Giggs yn ei ddewis yn ei dîm. Mae dylanwad Abertawe i’w weld yn gryf ar y garfan genedlaethol, ac mae’r clwb yn haeddu lot fawr

o glod am y gwaith maen nhw wedi ei wneud yn datblygu chwaraewyr ifanc Cymru. O ran Abertawe y tymor yma, wel am ddechrau mae tîm Steve Cooper wedi ei gael. Ennill tair ac un gêm gyfartal, a dim ond un gôl maen nhw wedi ei hildio. Mae’r chwaraewyr mae Cooper wedi eu harwyddo yn barod wedi creu argraff, yn enwedig Morgan Gibbs-White yng nghanol y cae. Dwi’n falch eu bod nhw wedi arwyddo Victor Gyokeres ar fenthyg o Brighton. Roedd angen chwaraewr fel hwn yn y garfan, ymosodwr naturiol fydd yn cadw amddiffynnwyr ar flaenau eu traed. Mae Gyokeres yn edrych yn chwaraewr cryf ac y mae o’n barod wedi ennill dau gap dros Sweden, gan sgorio un gôl. Dwi’n ysgrifennu’r erthygl hon cyn i’r cyfnod trosglwyddo diweddaraf ddod i ben, felly mae’n amhosibl gwybod sut fath o siâp fydd yna ar garfan Abertawe erbyn dydd Sadwrn. Ond beth bynnag fydd wedi digwydd, mi fydd Cooper wedi paratoi mor drylwyr ag arfer gyda’r chwaraewyr sydd ar gael iddo.

Q&A WITH JAMAL LOWE

Age: 26 Position: Forward Nationality: English Former Clubs: Barnet, 14 Apps, 0 Goals Portsmouth, 119 Apps, 30 Goals Wigan Athletic, 46 Apps, 6 Goals

JAMAL LOWE HAD TO ENDURE HIS FAIR SHARE OF SETBACKS EARLY IN HIS FOOTBALL CAREER, BUT NOW HE HAS HIS SIGHTS SET ON RETURNING SWANSEA CITY TO THE TOP-FLIGHT FOLLOWING HIS SUMMER MOVE FROM WIGAN ATHLETIC. HERE, THE FORWARD E X P L A I N S T H E U N L I K E LY ROLES RAHEEM STERLING AND EDGAR DAVIDS PLAYED IN THE FLEDGLING STAGE OF HIS CAREER, AND THE MOMENT HE PACKED IN HIS TEACHING JOBS TO FOCUS ON HIS DREAM. Jamal, you are a few weeks into your time at Swansea City. You’ve already got a goal to your name and the team are unbeaten in the league. You must be feeling good?

left winger there who was about a year-and-a-half younger than me and they thought was going to be the next big thing. It turned out that kid was Raheem Sterling, so I suppose I can’t really say they got it wrong! He got the deal and I didn’t! From there I went to Barnet and got a scholarship and a first-year pro deal and started to get some games under my belt in League Two. Edgar Davids ended up being your player-manager there for a bit. Fair to say it was a bit of a turbulent time, how did you find it? To be honest, he and I did not really see eye to eye. I was not in his plans and I went on loan a few times to teams in non-league. I was excited when he arrived, I was doing well and I was playing. I wanted to learn off him, but it went sideways very quickly. I went from starting most games to sitting on the bench and not coming on. Soon after that I was not in the squad. It was hard to take at the time. I did not give up, I tried to fight my way back in, but he just made it clear to me that no matter what I did, I would not be in his plans. I played for the under-21s and was scoring regularly but there was no chance. I had to move on from there.

I’m really happy. We have started off pretty well, we are unbeaten and, on a personal level, it’s been really good to get a goal early in the season. I just want to keep that going. And how have you and your family settled in off the field? We have settled in well, the club have been really good for me and my family in terms of trying to find us accommodation and making us feel at home. I was in a hotel for around a week, and then we found a nice place and moved everyone down. My kids have really been enjoying it, my missus is really happy down here, and that’s when you can relax and focus. That’s when you get the most out of football because your home life is sorted. You got your professional chance at Barnet, how did that come about? I wasn’t originally at Barnet, I was at QPR but I did not get offered a scholarship there. At the time I was there, I was playing left wing and there was another

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So how hard were the loan spells you had in nonleague? How difficult was it to motivate yourself going down a level, and knowing the boss at your parent club would not give you a chance? Non-league football is hard, full stop. But the thing for me is I knew I was going to play, from there I figured that while he (Davids) might not want me, if I performed well there would be someone out there who would. I knew I really had to prove myself so another club might come in. But to say it is easier than it is to do it. You are playing men, it is a lot rougher and more physical. There are some great talented players in there too, but there are others who use it as a stress relief. They take their week in the office out on the game, and have a few pints later. So, you have some guys trying to get back to professional level, but there are also guys who’ve had a pint or two with lunch before coming to the game. It’s not as thought everyone is on the same page, we’re not all playing with the same goal in mind. I wanted to make sure I slept well the night before the game, I would not drink. It would be different for other players. Was it around this time that you took up a job as a PE teacher? Yeah, I did, because the money I was getting in nonleague was not really enough to live on. I was only 19 so I didn’t have huge bills to pay, it was only really my phone, my car and petrol. The football money covered it at a push, but there was nothing left for anything else. I needed something else, so I got a job as a football coach after school at Coombe Hill Junior School. It went so well that they invited me to be their main PE teacher. I had to do a few courses to get myself qualified. Every term the sport would change, so I had to be qualified in cricket, rugby, tennis. The curriculum guides you, I had to do more than football. But it was a good experience, it showed me the real world outside the football bubble. It was a reality check for me. If football does not work, this could be me until I am 65. Did you enjoy it? I did, particularly at the start. It was new, I enjoyed helping the children improve. But, over time, it sunk in that I just wanted football so badly. It came to a point where I even took another job coaching the Met Police Under-16s and it clashed with my football training because they were in the night. Yet I knew

I could not afford to miss work. That was when I decided if I really wanted to be a footballer, I would have to bite the bullet. So, what was the next step when it came to doing that? I quit all my jobs. I just knew that if I had done that job until I was 65 or whenever, I would have looked back at the end of it and been disappointed with myself for not having made that extra effort to do what I really wanted to do, which was play football. I vowed I would stick with it as long as it took. So, when I was not training with Hampton & Richmond Borough, I would either be working out in the gym, or I would take a bag of footballs to a park and work there. I’d be running, doing weights, whatever I needed to do until I got a chance somewhere. I did that for four months until Portsmouth came in for me and I signed for them. That was a pre-contract agreement which I signed in October, but I kept training on my own because I wanted to start there in the best shape I could, and I didn’t want to let Hampton & Richmond Borough down by taking my eye off the ball as they had given me the platform to show what I could do and stand out enough at that level. That’s when it clicked for me, everything in my life came together. How did it feel when you signed for Portsmouth? I felt unbelievable. I remember when they had been a Premier League club, with so many great players and they are still a big club with a great fanbase. Here I was, signing for them and moving to them. It was weird for me, but it was an opportunity I was absolutely buzzing for. Paul Cook was the man who signed you for Portsmouth, and again at Wigan. How big an influence on your career has he been? He is a massive character. I played for him at two clubs and he was great to work with. He just gave you such belief as a player. You can have those doubts of whether you are up to playing at a certain level. Can you make that step up? I knew what it felt like to have those doubts from earlier in my career, so it was maybe easier for me when I went there. But his job was to make myself and the players feel that confidence and he just made me feel at ease. He settled me in so well, he made me believe I was ready for the step up.

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You enjoyed success with Portsmouth too, scoring as they secured promotion and the League Two title. You also scored in their EFL Trophy win over Sunderland last year? Those were brilliant moments, especially the goals to clinch promotion and the title as they came so soon after I had joined. You dream of being successful and part of moments like that. It’s what I’d always wanted, but it also made me want more. You want to keep improving, to keep going up a level and showing you can handle it. But they were special days. Kenny Jackett was your manager for most of your time at Portsmouth. He was obviously the manager here at one point, leading the Swans to promotion. How did you find working with him? I liked Kenny, he was a quieter manager than Paul Cook and they were different in that respect. Kenny just went about his job, but like Paul Cook he was also good at giving you that confidence that you were ready, that you were prepared and able to deliver your best. That’s what any player wants. You made the step up to the Championship with Wigan and progressed as the season went on. How did you find your first season at this level? I thought it went well, I felt I got stronger as it went on, a bit like the rest of the side where we really hit form over the second half of the season. I think lockdown helped me in terms of needing to grow and get used to the fitness side of it.

do it. We went down by a point in the end and it was so hard to take. It felt ridiculous but there was nothing we could have done about what happened. It was nothing to do with anything we had done on the field. I just hope Wigan can get back on track. It’s a good club with good people. There were people who had worked hard for that club for 20 years and more who lost their jobs. A lot of players who were looking forward to pressing on have lost contracts, lost teammates. I just wish them all the best and I always keep an eye out for their results. And following your move to Swansea, what do you hope you can achieve here? I want to help the club get to the Premier League. The stature and size of the club is something you cannot escape. You cannot ignore it, and every time the gaffer spoke to me, he told me the story of what he is looking for and I completely bought into it. He spoke about the hunger of the players, he spoke about what a tight-knit squad there is here, and that is massive for me. Some clubs have not got the right environment for it all to fully flourish, but this sounded like the perfect package and a good fit for me. I want to show what I am capable of and help this club be successful.

I used it as a pre-season during the season, if you like, and I felt like that helped me. I want to carry on from there because I felt very strong over the second half of the season. Wigan were one of the form sides in the Championship over that period, but you suffered relegation through something you had no control over. That must have been very hard to take? It was really bad. At one point we were on top of the world, on a long unbeaten run and top of the form table. We were clear of the relegation zone, we were up to about 12th in the table and just flying. Then that comes along and it killed us. It was heartbreaking, we tried so hard to try and overcome that 12-point deduction and it looked like we might

JACK THE LAD hey say the best things always come in small packages.

Never was that phrase truer than in the case of diminutive Swans winger Nathan Dyer. The former Southampton player may measure just 5ft 5ins in his stockinged feet, but he is up there with the giants of Swansea City history. If you’re assessing Nathan’s contribution by bare statistics, they are impressive enough. But, just like Nathan himself, mere numbers don’t come close to providing the full measure of the man. A total of almost 350 appearances and 38 goals across 11 years at the Liberty Stadium would put him up there with the club’s most loyal players. But when you consider the highs that were achieved during those 11 years, you get a much clearer picture of Nathan’s contribution to the club’s success. When he arrived as a youngster on loan in 2009, the club were looking to unlock his potential. From those early days, he has grown into a player described by head coach Steve Cooper as a “role model” who will always be welcome at the club whatever his immediate future holds.

Confirming Dyer was looking for a new club, the Swans manager said: “I reminded the squad, the ones who have been here a while and even the new boys, about Nathan’s contribution in terms of his appearances and his successes as an individual. “Not only is he an excellent role model, but he’s been a winner for the football club.” W hen Dyer won the Swans’ player of the year award during the Premier League promotion season, then manager Brendan Rodgers also heaped praise on the player. The current Leicester City manager said: “He had some difficulties early in his career, but since I walked in here I’ve had no problems with Nathan. He is a terrific young man, very clever and very intelligent. I talk straight with him. I tell him where he needs to improve but also how terrific he has been. He has a lovely glint in his eye and his enthusiasm is incredible. He loves his football, and that’s the type of player I love working with.” If the likes of Cooper, Rodgers and other Swans managers and coaches loved working with Dyer, then I loved watching him. My early recollections are of a thrilling, jet-heeled winger, who used to leave full-backs in his vapour trail.

There was no more satisfying sight than to see him knock the ball past a full-back and then watch the hapless defender’s bewilderment as Dyer darted past him to easily reach the ball first. It was exactly the type of play that got fans out of their seats and added an exciting injection of pace into the Swans’ evolving passing style under Roberto Martinez. As Dyer’s own play evolved he developed into a player who didn’t just beat defenders with his raw speed. He was equally at home swapping clever quick-fire exchanges with the likes of midfield pass-masters Leon Britton and Joe Allen in order to open up the tightest of defences. All of which meant he wasn’t just exciting to watch, he contributed hugely to arguably the most successful period in the club’s history. Dyer was central to the club’s rise to the Premier League and helped establish the Swans as one of the top flight’s most attractive teams to watch. He was also central to the Swans’ Capital One Cup win and their exciting Europa League campaign which saw the club face the likes of Valencia and Napoli. D yer ’s form even attrac t ed the attention of the England

management – quite an achievement at the time for anyone playing outside the usual established top six. As much as I have no interest in furthering the cause of the English national football team, the Three Lions definitely missed a trick in never using the talents of Dyer and team-mate Britton at senior level. If only football had rugby union’s residency laws, both would have been welcomed with open arms into the Wales camp I’m sure. While Dyer may not have won a full international cap he did pick up English football’s most prestigious domestic honour – a Premier League champions medal – during a season’s loan at Leicester City. And he certainly felt more than at home at the home of English football – Wembley Stadium. Nathan produced assists for Stephen Dobbie and Scott Sinclair as the Swans sealed promotion

to the Premier League in the 4-2 play-off win against Reading. And he bagged a brace of goals when the Swans beat Bradford to win the Capital One Cup at the stadium in 2013. Much was made in the press about his minor spat with Jonathan de Guzman over a penalty award which would have given Nathan the opportunity of a hat-trick. But what few people outside of the club picked up on was that Nathan broke off from the Swans players’ celebrations to jog across to the Bradford end of the pitch and console every single City player one by one. Again, a real touch of class. If his Wembley match-winning performances weren’t enough, Nathan really secured a place in Swans fans’ hearts with his happy knack of scoring against our neighbours from up the road!

His first strike against Cardiff came in the 2-2 draw at Ninian Park back in 2009, before helping to secure a memorable 3-2 win at the Liberty by claiming the opening goal with a rare header. And he repeated the feat by scoring with his head in the unforgettable 3-0 victory over Cardiff in the Premier League back in 2014. Nathan’s performances may have been few and far between recently, but he also played a significant part in the 1-0 derby day win here at the L iber ty Stadium last season. At the time of writing, Nathan’s future has yet to be finalised, but whatever the next chapter holds for him, I’m sure all Swans fans would want to join me in thanking him for his time at the Swans and wishing him well wherever his career takes him. C’mon you Swans!

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SWANS ACADEMY BY NIGEL REES

ood afternoon everybody/prynhawn da pawb. This continues to be a very challenging time in terms of the COVID restrictions, however there is light at the end of the tunnel in terms of our young players getting back to training and hopefully with the recent announcement from the Welsh Assembly, we can resume business as normal in terms of our training programme. The under-23 squad continues to work hard, culminating in a very hard working and professional performance against Colchester United â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a game that ended 3-3. The performance in the last two fixtures has shown the commitment and hard work that is being done by both players and staff since their return following the lockdown period. It is important to maintain our high standards during this very uncertain period and that we continue with our focus on a level of play in terms of technicality, physicality and intensity to bring our players as close to first-team experience as possible. The next fixture for this group is away against Hull on Monday, October 19. The under-18 squad continue to push forward and are working hard within the environment. Unfortunately, a number of clubs have not been in a position to fulfill their fixtures and therefore the group has not played since September 26 in the fixture against Bristol City. Our next fixture will be held on Saturday, October 24 at Sheffield United. Both the Youth and Foundation phase players have yet to be involved in any fixture programme but hopefully this will soon change. In the current climate it is likely that a mixture of games in the Premier League programme and both festivals and tournaments will supplement the games schedule. Competitions of this nature allow our players to experience different challenges and demands and also help maximise the opportunity for each player to pick up appropriate game-time, which is critical at the moment.

The Academy has always looked to invest in its athletic development to ensure that we expose our players to the best possible development programme. We are very proud of our staff and facilities and the development of the players is very evident in our training sessions, our games programme and when the players make the transition into the first-team environment. We will shortly be in the process (COVID dependent) of undergoing our scheduled National Benchmark Fitness Testing series of age-specific physical performance tests for all players from under-9s to under-23s. The Premier League provides all clubs with standardised equipment whilst strict protocols ensure the facilities and tests are valid, reliable and repeatable. The fitness data is recorded, which in turn allows the Premier League to benchmark the athletic development of all academy players. This provides each club with the ability to benchmark the physical profile of each player against biological (bio-banded), chronological and positional standards across the whole academy system. With these tests and processes in place it is possible that all academies can observe their playersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; individual growth and maturation status and development, to help provide specific and tailored training programmes for all our players. As with every aspect of our programme, the aim is to make young players the focal point of our Development Programme, with all our efforts generated towards acquiring and improving players who will have the ability to eventually play for the first team. Finally, we are always looking for Host families for our scholars for the current season. The host families play an integral role in the care and welfare of our players. Email Mark Phillips at safeguarding@swanseacity.com for further information. Enjoy the game!

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DATE: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4 VENUE: LANDORE TRAINING CENTRE Swans U23s: Jamie Searle;

SWANS U23S 3 COLCHESTER UTD U23S 3 MATCH REPORT S

Tivonge Rushesha, Cameron Evans (capt), Joe Lewis, Matthew Blake; Daniel Williams, Harry Pinchard; Jordon Garrick (Ali Al-Hamadi, 46; Bradley Gibbings, 70), Oli Cooper (Ryan Bevan, 78), Adrian Akande; Liam Cullen. Subs not used: Tyler Evans, Jacob Jones.

Nine minutes into the second half, it was three with Cullen notching his second after connecting with Williams’ inviting free-kick – making it 12 goals in his last five appearances for the development side.

wansea City Under-23s were held to a draw by Colchester United in an entertaining Professional Development League encounter at Landore.

A Liam Cullen brace sandwiched a fine strike by Oli Cooper as the young Swans opened up a commanding 3-0 lead early in the second half. However, Colchester fought back to snatch a point, although the hosts did well to hold on for a share of the spoils after Daniel Williams’ red card in the latter stages of the contest.

Jon Grey and Martin Davies made eight changes to the side that were beaten 3-0 by Bristol City last time out, with Cullen and Jordon Garrick handed opportunities to get some valuable game time under their belts.

At that point, the Swans were cruising, but they were pegged back within a minute after a neat cross was met by a half-volley that left Jamie Searle with no chance. Searle was beaten again by a header at the far post in the 65th minute as the visitors capitalised after the hosts failed to take opportunities to kill off the game. And a penalty completed Colchester’s comeback four minutes from time as Williams was penalised for a tug in the box and subsequently shown a second yellow card. “We’re a little bit disappointed with the result,” said under-23s coach Grey.

There was also a first start of the season for Joe Lewis in defence, while 16-year-old summer arrival Adrian Akande was handed a debut at this level.

“We were 3-0 up at one point and we’ve and created and missed enough chances to win three or four games; the game should have been out of sight.

The Swans took the lead from the penalty spot in the 27th minute. Cullen marked his first under-23s appearance in just over eight months by finding the net after Garrick was pushed in the box.

“There were times in the game when we needed possession of the ball rather than trying to score whenever we had it.

Cooper doubled the advantage just eight minutes later with a fine strike following a wonderful move of over 20 passes by the hosts.

“We created that many chances that we just thought we’d score every time we went forward. In the end, the game became like a basketball match.”

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DAVIES KEEN TO CONTRIBUTE

aura Davies has set her sights on silverware after the off-season signing made her Swansea City Ladies’ debut in the recent win against Port Talbot Town. Davies signed for the Swans from Welsh Premier Women’s League counterparts Abergavenny, after spending three years as a player and one as a manager with the Monmouthshire-based club. Following on from Davies making her Swansea City Ladies debut in the 4-0 win over Port Talbot at Llandarcy, she revealed her ambitions for the season ahead. And the midfielder admitted it was a pleasant surprise to be named in the starting line-up in the handsome win. “It was really good. I wasn’t really expecting to go straight into the starting 11 so it didn’t give me time to be nervous,” she said. “But a couple of touches on the ball to begin with helped me settle in quite well. “It was (a surprise to be starting). Being involved in the squad last week, it was nice to just play football and - without the cameras - it was a bit more of a relaxed setting.”

Davies produced a fine display, but she insists she has no real interest in any personal accolades, and is just solely focused on playing her role to help the Ladies achieve as much as possible and build on their recent success. “I just want to contribute to the team and hopefully have a successful season,” she added. “Obviously, what the girls did last season was incredible, so to be a part of something like that would be great for me but I am just happy to be here. “I’d like to chip in with a couple of goals if I can. If I do, I do, but I am happy just to contribute on the pitch and be a part of the squad that hopefully wins something this season. “I’m happy to get the three points. In the first half we played well and Port Talbot defended well. “They were very organised, which maybe frustrated us a little bit, but we stuck to playing the way we were told to in training. “Once we got one goal, we were more relaxed on the ball and started to play some really good stuff in the first half. “In the second half again, we were just playing our football. It was a good win.”

STYLE

LIKES TO PLAY LONG BALLS PLAYS THE BALL OFF THE GROUND OFTEN LIKES TO SHOOT FROM DISTANCE GETS FOULED OFTEN

SWANSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; RECORD v HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

FEWEST GOALS CONCEDED

20-21

SWANSEA CITY 3-1 HUDDERSFIELD HUDDERSFIELD 1-1 SWANSEA CITY HUDDERSFIELD 0-0 SWANSEA CITY

SWANSEA 1 READING 1 WATFORD 1 BRISTOL CITY 2

SWANSEA CITY 2-0 HUDDERSFIELD HUDDERSFIELD 0-1 SWANSEA CITY

fter the October international break, attention turns

S mith is averaging a respec t able 40 passes per 90

back to domestic duties as Swansea City seek to

minutes in the Championship this season, while a pass

maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

success rate of 78.1% is the fifth best of any Swansea

The Swans are one of five teams yet to lose a Championship

player.

match in 2020-21 and come into Saturday’s welcome of

The former Bristol City man is an experienced and canny

Huddersfield in fourth spot having picked up 10 points

Championship performer, and he carries out his necessary

from the 12 available.

duties in midfield to good effect, and has proved

While Swansea have made a solid start to the season,

important for any side he has represented.

Huddersfield have found the going tougher. The Terriers

He does the simple things well and in order to limit

lost their opening two league matches of the campaign

Huddersfield’s time on the ball, Cooper will look to Smith

but, to their credit, are now unbeaten in two following

and Grimes to keep play ticking over as Swansea push to

up a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest with a 1-1 draw at

secure another three points.

Rotherham last time out.

It is an approach that has worked to good effect for the

However, Huddersfield have had few reasons to enjoy

Swans this season. No team has conceded fewer goals

their recent away-day excursions, winning just one of

than Cooper’s side (one) in the Championship this term,

their 11 league matches on the road.

and it is no c oincidenc e that this defensive resolve

Additionally, the West Yorkshire side have struggled in their recent meetings with the south Wales side. Indeed, the Swans are unbeaten in their last five e n c o u nt e r s w i t h t h e Te r r i e r s , w i n n i n g t h re e t i m e s , including a 3-1 win in this fixture last season. Steve Cooper will be looking for a repeat of that final result at

has improved with Smith joining and helping shield the defence. Against a Huddersfield side that has scored the fourth fewest league goals this season (two), one of which was an own goal, Swansea have the means to shut Corberan’s men out and earn their fourth clean sheet in the process.

the Liberty Stadium this weekend as he seeks to oversee

In limiting the time the Huddersfield players have on the

a fourth win from five this season.

ball, it will lessen the chances of Terriers’ youngster Josh

Ensuring Swansea maintain their high-level of possession in games could be key in looking to control the game, and

Koroma displaying his statistically calculated WhoScored. com strength of ‘key passes’.

it means summer arrival Korey Smith has a big role to play

Koroma is averaging 2.3 key passes per 90 minutes this

in the middle of the park.

season, more than any other Huddersfield player, and

The 29-year-old has slotted in seamlessly in midfield, playing every minute so far and forging a solid partnership with captain Matt Grimes. Keeping Carlos Corberan’s men from retaining the ball may prove vital as Swansea aim to come away from the

while he is yet to provide an assist in 2020-21, it’s only a matter of time before that changes. Smith, then, will need to remain alert and ensure the visitors see little of the ball to minimise the risk of Koroma having a positive impact for the away side.

clash with all three points. Indeed, one of Huddersfield’s

Should Smith carry out his required duties to the

statistically calculated WhoScored.com styles of play

standards expected of him – and of which he has long

is ‘possession football’, but Smith has the retention

shown he is capable - then Cooper’s chances of another

qualities to minimise the Terriers’ time on the ball.

three points and clean sheet would receive a considerable boost.

BACK A JACK CAMPAIGN S

wansea City has been proud to continue supporting EFL charity partner Mind for this year’s World Mental Health Day, and we are delighted to be able to recognise the selfless and supportive nature of our fans through the Back a Jack initiative.

Yo u c a n a c c e s s t o A l f i e ’ s J ust Giving page to donate or find more information h t t p s : // w w w . j u s t g i v i n g . com/fundraising/sarahb r u c e 1 3 ? f b c l i d = I wAR06HPNeIiGfQOiFwz NUz9pqV2K8nzvG_u_bJtraT8 e3bte72d-i2Owmx0.

The Back a Jack campaign was set up in order to highlight the partnership with Mind, raise awareness of the importance of mental health and to encourage conversations with and between fans and the general public in the week leading towards World Mental Health Day on October 10.

Alfie is a season ticket holder in the East Stand and Joe says: “I know Alfie is missing watching live football matches probably more than most as he usually enjoys the ‘banter ’ with the group of us that travel together to matches from Clydach, and it’s done wonders for his selfconfidence over the years.”

It tied in with the EFL and Mind’s ‘Do One Thing’ campaign and, at a time when looking after our mental health has never been more important, Back a Jack allowed fans to nominate and highlight the good work of fellow Swans supporters Whether they’ve supported the NHS, been a frontline worker, contributed to their local community or have continued to spread positive messages to others through what has been a very difficult time, we have been inundated with examples of our supporters going above and beyond. We selected a quintet of supporters, with one winner and four runners-up, and all received a special treat from the club for their efforts.

OVERALL WINNER Alfie James (Nominated by family friend, Joe Slater) Our overall winner Alfie lost his father to a brain tumour and recently completed a weekend climb up Pen y Fan whilst raising money for Brain Tumour Research. Alfie, who hails from Clydach, has had a tough few years but has shown tremendous character and selflessness. Through his fundraising efforts he has turned his attention on how he can help others. When receiving the news that Alfie had won, mum Sarah said: “We knew that Alfie had been nominated, but thought nothing more of it. We are thrilled Alfie has won and are so proud of him”.

As recognition of his efforts, Alfie received a signed Swans shirt and got the chance to speak to Swans head coach Steve Cooper about his fundraising efforts and love of his club. You can view their chat by clicking the play icon on this page. In addition, the Swansea boss has invited Alfie to spend a day with the staff and players at their Fairwood training base once circumstances allow. The club has also pledged to match the £700 Alfie has already raised with a contribution of its own, while Steve Cooper will also make a personal donation and ensure the 12-year-old gets the shirt of his favourite player, Andre Ayew. Congratulations, Alfie!

Richard Powell was nominated by friend Jonathan Davies, who he has supported during his rehabilitation from life-changing injuries.

RUNNERS-UP T h e B e va n Fa m i l y - E m m a , Alexandra, Jessica and James (Nominated by Naomi Webborn) The Bevan family participated in a number of initiatives to aid those in their community during the Coronavirus pandemic. Emma and her children bought and painted fairy doors and laid them out in the streets around Sketty School as a fun activity and exercise for children. Daughter Jessica, 14, kept the ‘fairy garden’ in good nick in her role as ‘head gardener’, while sister Alexandra, 16, wrote a letter to everyone on their street offering to help get shopping and supplies, or pay bills at the Post Office, if needed.

In May 2019, Jonathan was hit by a motorbike in Swansea. In addition to the physical injuries, there was also a mental toll for Jonathan to deal with, but he found unstinting support in his friend Richard. Jonathan has shown great grit and determination to be able to walk again with the aid of a frame or a crutch, and Richard is also fundraising to help raise the money Jonathan requires to be able to walk unaided again, his G oFundMe page c an be found at www.gofundme.com/ f/a-new-hip-for-bushy?utm_ medium=copy_link&utm_ source=customer&utm_ campaign=p_na+share-sheet&r cid=ca863b1dcbd04324b47c87 1bf023bf9d

Oliver has set up a Just Giving page that c an be ac c essed a t w w w. j u s t g i v i n g . c o m / fundraising/olivertreviso

Jasmin and Ashwin Yoganathan (Nominated by father Thasan) Siblings Jasmin and Ashwin, both keen Judoka, took it upon themselves to put on a judo demonstration for the residents at a C artref A el Y Bryn in Ammanford during the Coronavirus pandemic. The residents thoroughly enjoyed the demonstration, which brought lots of smiles and cheers.

Swans’ fan James, nine, wrote letters to elderly and vulnerable football fans in the hope of lifting spirits during such tough times. Oliver Treviso (Nominated by brother Joseph Treviso) Oliver Treviso has set himself a massive challenge in an effort to raise money for Mind, the EFL’s charity partner.

Richard Powell (Nominated by Jonathan Davies)

His next walk will see him walk the 177 miles back down between the Welsh and English border to Chepstow. From there he will walk the 118.5 miles back to Swansea along the West Coastal Path, to bring his total travels up to 1,047 miles.

He has already raised over £6,000 after walking 751.1 miles along the Welsh Coastal Path from Swansea to Chester.

Cartref Ael Y Bryn were very grateful to Jasmin and Ashwin for going to such great lengths to rehearse and arrange their visit after school. The pair brought their own floor mats and put on an exciting demonstration to lift the spirits of the residents.

For the latest news and to share your match day experiences, followâ&#x20AC;¦

EFL

theEFL

EFL

MATCHDAY MASCOTS HARRY RICHARDS AGE 7 FROM SWANSEA FAVOURITE PLAYER FREDDIE WOODMAN

TOMAS HUGHES AGE 16 FROM SWANSEA FAVOURITE PLAYER MATT GRIMES

BECOME A VIRTUAL MASCOT Calling all young Swans fans, do you want to be a Swansea City virtual mascot from the comfort of your own home? T h e r e a r e o n l y t wo s p a c e s available for each fixture so we would encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment.

CALL US 01792 616628

EMAIL US

mascots@swanseacity.com *Terms and Conditions apply

MAIN PARTNERS

CLUB PARTNERS

WESTACRES

OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS

PLAYER SPONSORS 20-21 FREDDIE WOODMAN

STEVEN BENDA

JOE RODON

BEN CABANGO

MARC GUEHI

KYLE NAUGHTON

CONNOR ROBERTS

JAKE BIDWELL

MATT GRIMES

KOREY SMITH

JAY FULTON

YAN DHANDA

MORGAN GIBBS-WHITE

VIKTOR GYÖKERES

WAYNE ROUTLEDGE

JAMAL LOWE

ANDRÉ AYEW

LIAM CULLEN

CALL 01792 616 624 OR

EMAIL L.MERRELLS@SWANSEACITY.COM FOR AVAILABILITY 51

SEASON 2020-21

Match Statistics

Key

Goal =

Captain =

Sub = 2 (number denotes player replaced)

FIXTURE

DATE

TEAM

Newport County (CC R2) A L 2-0

Sat, Sep 5, 3pm

Woodman

Routledge 3

Naughton

Rodon

Fulton

Bidwell 1

Preston North End A W 0-1

Sat, Sep 12, 3pm

Woodman

Roberts

Cabango

Rodon

Guehi

Bidwell

Birmingham City H D 0-0

Sat, Sep 19, 3pm

Woodman

Roberts

Cabango

Rodon

Guehi

Bidwell

Waycombe Wanderers A W 0-2

Sat, Sep 26, 12.30pm

Woodman

Roberts

Cabango

Rodon

Guehi

Bidwell

Millwall H W 2-1

Sat, Oct 3, 3pm

Benda

Roberts

Cabango

Rodon

Guehi

Bidwell

Huddersfield Town H

Sat, Oct 17, 3pm

Coventry City A

Tue, Oct 20, 7.45pm

Bristol City A

Sat, Oct 24, 3pm

Stoke City H

Tue, Oct 27, 7.45pm

Blackburn Rovers H

Sat, Oct 31, 3pm

Brentford A

Tue, Nov 3, 7.45pm

Norwich City A

Sat, Nov 7, 3pm

Rotherham United H

Sat, Nov 21, 3pm

Sheffield Wednesday A

Wed, Nov 25, 7.45pm

Nottingham Forest H

Sat, Nov 28, 3pm

Middlesbrough A

Wed, Dec 2, 7.45pm

Luton Town H

Sat, Dec 5, 3pm

A.F.C. Bournemouth H

Tue, Dec 8, 7.45pm

Cardiff City A

Sat, Dec 12, 3pm

Derby County A

Wed, Dec 16, 7.45pm

Barnsley H

Sat, Dec 19, 3pm

Queens Park Rangers A

Sat, Dec 26, 3pm

Reading H

Tue, Dec 29, 7.45pm

Watford H

Sat, Jan 2, 3pm

Barnsley A

Sat, Jan 16, 3pm

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 October 14, 2020

SUBSTITUTES Grimes

Smith 2

Gibbs-White

Grimes

Smith

Gibbs-White

Grimes

Smith

Grimes Grimes

Benda, Rushesha, Evans, Williams, Dhanda 2, Peterson 3, Asoro 1

Lowe

Ayew

Lowe 2

Ayew

Benda, Naughton, Fulton 1, Dhanda, Routledge 2, Peterson, Cullen

Gibbs-White

Lowe 1

Ayew

Benda, Naughton, Fulton, Dhanda, Routledge, Peterson, Cullen 1

Smith

Gibbs-White 1

Lowe

Smith

Gibbs-White 2

Lowe 1

Ayew

Benda, Naughton, Fulton 1, Dhanda, Routledge, Peterson, Cullen 2

Ayew

Webb, Naughton, Fulton 2, Routledge, Garrick, Cullen, Gyokeres 1

CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE 20-21 POS TEAM

*Sheffield Wednesday deducted 12 points subject to appeal.

W D L

GD PTS

Bristol City

Reading

Bournemouth

Swansea City

Luton Town

Blackburn Rovers

Watford

Birmingham City

Queens Park Rangers

Middlesbrough

Millwall

Rotherham United

Stoke City

-1

Brentford

Preston North End

Cardiff City

-1

Norwich City

-1

Coventry City

-2

Huddersfield Town

-3

Derby County

-6

Barnsley

-4

Nottingham Forest

-6

Wycombe Wanderers

-10

Sheffield Wednesday *

-7

UPCOMING FIXTURES COVENTRY CITY (A)

Tuesday, Oct 20, 7.45pm

BRISTOL CITY (A)

Saturday, Oct 24, 3pm

STOKE CITY (H)

Tuesday, Oct 27, 7.45pm

BLACKBURN ROVERS (H)

Saturday, Oct 31, 3pm

BRENTFORD (A)

Tuesday, Nov 3, 7.45pm

Correct as of October 14, 2020

NEXT UP AT HOME - STOKE CITY

espite a sluggish start to the Championship season, Stoke headed into the international break with plenty of momentum on their side. After failing to score in their opening two league games, the Potters are now four unbeaten in all competitions – winning three – while they have beaten Wolves and Aston Villa on their way to reaching the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. Having taken over with the club bottom of the Championship in November 2019, Michael O’Neill steered Stoke to safety last season in 15th place, but will be aiming much higher during his first full campaign at the helm. The former Northern Ireland boss will also look to maintain the Potters’ impressive recent record against the Swans, which has brought them five wins in the last six meetings between the sides.

23 SWANS

30 STOKE CITY

21 DRAWS 74 PAST MEETINGS

SQUAD LIST V

HEAD COACH: STEVE COOPER Freddie Woodman Joe Rodon 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 Connor Roberts Jake Bidwell Kyle Naughton George Byers Tivonge Rushesha Oli Cooper Daniel Williams Cameron Evans Jordon Garrick Lewis Webb Ben Cabango

1 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 20 21 23 24 26 28 30 31 37 38 41 42 44

HEAD COACH: CARLOS CORBERÁN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 14 16 17 18 19 22 23 25 26 27 28 29 30 33 34 35 37 44

Ben Hamer Pipa Harry Toffolo Tommy Elphick Terence Kongolo Jonathan Hogg Juninho Bacuna Lewis O’Brien Alex Pritchard Adama Diakhaby Richard Stearman Carel Eiting Karlan Grant Demeaco Duhaney Isaac Mbenza Josh Koroma Fraizer Campbell Naby Sarr Danny Ward Christopher Schindler Romoney Crichlow-Noble Jaden Brown Aaron Rowe Ben Jackson Josh Austerfield Matty Daly Rarmani Edmonds-Green Mustapha Olagunju Joel Pereira

MATCH OFFICIALS REFEREE: TONY HARRINGTON ASSISTANT REFEREES: MARK POTTAGE AND CRAIG TAYLOR FOURTH OFFICIAL: JAMES LININGTON