12 minute read
A Message from Russell Martin
Good afternoon everyone as we look forward to our game with Nottingham Forest here at the Swansea.com Stadium.
It’s great to be back on home soil after a long trip to Middlesbrough last weekend – a game that ended in a narrow defeat.
Advertisement
That came on the back of a loss here to Reading, and those results proved very frustrating because we could have won them with the amount of chances we created.
That’s football at times, there are fine margins. We understand why we’ve been beaten, which is important, and hopefully we’ve learned from that.
We’ve worked hard in the meantime and we’re looking to give our home supporters something to cheer about this afternoon.
Forest, of course, arrive with some familiar faces in their coaching set up. Head coach Steve Cooper led this club to two play-off appearances – including a trip to Wembley last May - while his assistant Alan Tate is synonymous with Swansea City following his service as a player and then as a coach. Forest’s results have certainly improved since Steve’s appointment, and we’re looking forward to a tough game this afternoon.
You will have seen in midweek that a number of our players featured in a friendly match against Brentford B.
The conditions were pretty difficult in Fairwood due to the weather, but it was a great exercise for us.
We’ve had a fairly consistent starting XI, which has meant some guys haven’t had the minutes they would have liked or needed to stay really match fit when they’re needed in the team.
Brentford B were really good opposition who are used to playing together a lot. They were really aggressive and athletic, so it was a great test for our guys in difficult conditions and they got a lot out of it physically while the coaching team took a lot from it tactically and the way they worked together. It was really important that their team-mates also watched the game. They don’t get to step back and watch how everything pans out in a live game, but this gave them that opportunity. Everyone took something from the game.
It looked like a first-team game with the way our guys approached it.
We said before and after the game – everyone trains and gets all the detail possible because you could be needed at any point.
You could go from out of the squad to into the starting XI, which has happened this season, to going from the bench to starting.
You have to give the best version of yourself every day, and that’s the attitude we have here.
With today’s game being the final match here before Christmas Day, on behalf of the staff and players I’d like to wish all Jacks a Merry Christmas.
Enjoy the game,
Russell
education furniture - fitted & loose "Proud sponsors of Swansea workplace furniture showroomCity" wallart - hoardings - signage
At Ministry of Furniture, we’re experts in creating inspirational workplace and educational environments.
Ministry Group specialises in furniture supply, recruitment and graphics.
At our factory in Ystalyfera in the Swansea Valley, we remanufacture and manufacture our own ranges of fitted furniture, storage and tables.
Our print production facility specialise in contract graphic design and large scale print, such as wallart, hoardings and building signage. Our design team are experts in creating inspirational interiors that will help you achieve the best use of space in your workplace. We’re literate in the very latest space design and BIM modelling software, and can plan the smallest scheme to the very largest of contract projects. PROUD
SPONSORS OF SPONSORS OF
Ministry of Furniture, Neath 01639 812382 sales@ministryoffurniture.com www.ministryoffurniture.com
Contact us to find out more or to book a showroom visit!
MATT GRIMES A MESSAGE FROM
Good afternoon and welcome to everyone joining us from around the world for this afternoon’s Championship fixture against Nottingham Forest at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Last time at home we fell to a 3-2 defeat to Reading, and looking back on the game we were sloppy at times. We were very disappointed to concede within a minute or so of scoring on two occasions and know we cannot afford to be letting that happen.
Our aim is to keep the Swansea.com Stadium a fortress and we were frustrated to not come away with anything.
In terms of intensity we were nowhere near good enough in the first half, and played some better stuff in the second half but were hurt to concede in the manner we did. At Middlesbrough last weekend, we were punished for one poor moment and not being clinical enough. We played the game we wanted to play and were pleased with our second half performance and didn’t make it easy for them at home.
We had a couple of penalty shouts dismissed and Joel also saw an effort cleared off the line, so on another the day the scoreline could have been very different. On reflection, we played away from home against a good side, and experienced the better of long spells of the game with chances to win it.
It’s now about learning from that and not dwelling on the loss as there is still a long way to go between now and the end of the season. I recently went along to the Swans Disabled Supporters' Association Christmas party and we all had a great evening. It was brilliant to see so many supporters together and enjoying themselves after such a difficult time for everyone over the last 18 months.
Supporters are the most important part of any club and we loved being able to speak to so many of you.
We’ve had a week to prepare for this afternoon’s tough test against Forest and we are determined to bounce back. We’ve been strong at home this season and we want to get back to winning ways ahead of the busy Christmas period that is quickly approaching.
Enjoy the game today!
Matt
A MESSAGE FR M ADAM LEWIS
As we face one of the natural ebbs that occurs in a Championship season, we welcome back a few familiar faces to the Swansea.com Stadium.
It would be remiss not to mention Steve Cooper, who took us to the edge of the Premier League in two consecutive seasons. Steve joined us at a difficult time and should certainly be proud of his work, especially in giving young players a chance. Alan Tate also returns today, albeit in the away dugout. I’m sure he will still receive a warm welcome for his tremendous service to the club.
This week saw the departure of head of recruitment Andy Scott. Andy was instrumental in reshaping the squad and provided much-needed stability after the departure of Graham Potter and his staff. The players that Andy brought in are embedded throughout the first team and the Supporters’ Trust would like to place on record our thanks to Andy for his great work. We wish him all the best for the future.
Onto Supporters’ Trust matters, we were pleased to meet with chief executive Julian Winter and head of commercial Rebecca Edwards-Symmons on Tuesday at our monthly board meeting – it was a productive and lengthy discussion, covering a broad array of topics related to the club and the supporters. Julian and Rebecca are always generous with their time and candid in their responses, which is critical and much appreciated as we look to understand the latest from within the club. This is in addition to the regular meetings that Terry Sinnett, our supporter director, has with Julian and the senior management team. At the outset of the season we committed to creating more transparency of our work with the club, and so we were pleased to publish extracts of Terry’s meeting last week on our website.
We recognise that not all supporter groups have this level of access to the boardroom and club directors, and it’s an obligation that we take seriously. We want to ensure that your voice is being heard and so if you do have questions, email us (info@swanstrust.co.uk) or contact us via social media (@swanstrust) and we will ask them. In previous notes I have referred to our website redevelopment work – I’ve been leading the project and am happy to announce that we expect it to go live in early 2022. It has been a fantastic project to be involved in and our new website celebrates all that the Supporters’ Trust has done and sets us up for all that’s yet to come. I hope that you’ll have a more streamlined, enjoyable experience when visiting and engage with us more than ever before.
As this is our last home game before Christmas, I’d like to wish you all a very merry Christmas from all of us at the Supporters’ Trust. We hope you can spend time with your loved ones and experience all the joy that this festive period brings.
A Swans win today would be a nice early Christmas gift for us all.
Stay safe and enjoy the game!
education furniture - fitted & loose workplace furniture showroom wallart - hoardings - signage
At Ministry of Furniture, we’re experts in creating inspirational workplace and educational environments.
Ministry Group specialises in furniture supply, recruitment and graphics.
At our factory in Ystalyfera in the Swansea Valley, we remanufacture and manufacture our own ranges of fitted furniture, storage and tables.
Our print production facility specialise in contract graphic design and large scale print, such as wallart, hoardings and building signage. Our design team are experts in creating inspirational interiors that will help you achieve the best use of space in your workplace. We’re literate in the very latest space design and BIM modelling software, and can plan the smallest scheme to the very largest of contract projects.
Ministry of Furniture, Neath 01639 812382 sales@ministryoffurniture.com www.ministryoffurniture.com
Contact us to find out more or to book a showroom visit!
Swansea City AFC Foundation have partnered with the FAW Trust to launch a programme of activity for girls aged 5-12 in Pembrokeshire.
This partnership aims to encourage young females to participate in football through fun sessions open to all abilities.
The initiative will be launched on December 22 with a Girls only Soccer camp. All abilities are welcome with participants receiving coaching from experienced and qualified Swans Foundation staff. Participants will receive certificates and prizes.
To book your place on the camp please CLICK HERE
Additionally, the Foundation will also be delivering several turn up and play sessions. Sessions will be offered free of charge, delivered by experienced and qualified coaches in a welcoming and supportive environment in a bid to help young players discover a passion for football and eventually become confident enough to join local club teams.
Ian Owen, girls’ inclusion lead at the Foundation, believes these sessions will be invaluable to the Pembrokeshire community.
“It’s fantastic to work alongside the FAW to encourage more girls to get involved in football," he said. "We know that girls really enjoy football but play less often than boys. Hopefully, by providing additional opportunities we can get more girls taking part, with more and more transitioning to clubs in the local area.” These sessions will be taking place in the following locations beginning week commencing January 10, 2022
• Tenby - Tenby Leisure Centre (SA70 8EJ) – Tuesdays, 5-6pm
• Haverfordwest – Haverfordwest High VC School (SA61 1EP) – Tuesday, 7-8pm
• Pembroke - Pembroke Leisure Centre (SA71 4RJ) – Fridays, 5-6pm
To sign up please CLICK HERE
For further information on these sessions, and other girls sessions, please contact Ian Owen at ian@swansfoundation.org.uk
Today’s charity bucket collectors are Swansea Carers’ Centre, a specialist voluntary organisation providing support for carers and former carers across Swansea. This amazing charity supports people who care for those with an illness or disability including learning disability, mental health problems, physical disability, dementia and other long term limiting illnesses.
CAZOO YEAH! IS THERE A BETTER WAY TO BUY YOUR NEXT CAR?
Swansea City team up with Proud Swans for Rainbow Laces campaign
Swansea City will show its support for Stonewell’s Rainbow Laces campaign during this afternoon’s Championship fixture with Nottingham Forest at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Today’s game has been designated as the fixture in which we highlight our support for LGBTQ+ fans, players and staff across the game with Swans captain Matt Grimes wearing a rainbow-coloured armband. Meanwhile, we will also be using rainbow-coloured substitution boards and corner flags.
Stonewall’s campaign focus this year is ‘Lace Up and Speak Up’. To create a broader, louder and more impactful movement for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport, with the hope that every conversation will take them one step closer to achieving their ambition of making sport everyone’s game.
The club are also working closely with Proud Swans, the official supporter group for LGBTQ+ supporters of Swansea City.
Founded in 2014 their mission is to empower, support and build LGBTQ+ inclusion for fans and staff at Swansea City. We aim to be a safe, friendly and inclusive space for fans visiting the Swansea.com Stadium and work to tackle homophobia in football.
Proud Swans are pleased to be working with Swansea City for this year’s #RainbowLaces campaign, which seeks to raise the profile of homophobia in football and bring forward the issues we see in the modern game, both on and off the pitch.
As part of the Rainbow Laces campaign we're asking Swansea City supporters to ‘Lace Up and Speak Up’ and have the conversations we need to have to make sport everyone's game.
If you want to get in touch you can find Proud Swans on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram via @ProudSwans or by emailing
