Swansea City A.F.C. / Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Abertawe
The Swans, The Jacks
1912 (as Swansea Town)
Liberty Stadium
Huw Jenkins
Championship
Facts & History
Contents |
Club Overview
Swansea City Association Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Abertawe) is a Welsh football club currently playing in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1912, they joined the Football League in 1920, and have been members ever since.
Since 2005 Swansea City have played their home games at the Liberty Stadium, a ground they share with the Ospreys Rugby Union Club. Before 2005 the club's home ground was Vetch Field.
Club History
Nicknamed "The Swans", the club played from its formation in 1912 (as Swansea Town - the club was renamed Swansea City in 1970) until 2005 at the Vetch Field (1912-2005) in Swansea city centre. In the summer of 2005 Swansea City moved to the Liberty Stadium, a 20,532 all seater ground.
The early 1980s were Swansea's most successful years, under the guidance of then player-manager, Cardiff born John Toshack, the Swans gained promotion to the old First Division in 1981, won 3 consecutive Welsh Cups and subsequently appeared in the UEFA Cup Winners Cup. In their first season in the top flight they beat Manchester United at home and only a Garry Birtles 25 yarder saw them pipped at Old Trafford. They beat Arsenal, both at home and at Highbury, and also drew 2-2 with Liverpool at Anfield, finally finishing in a highest ever position of sixth, despite topping the table for large parts of the season.
In recent years the club has brought itself up from the decline of the 1980s and 1990s and has re-established itself as a strong force in the Football League. They were promoted to League One in 2004-2005 (as Third) and the League Championship (as Champions) in 2007-2008. 2008-09 will be Swansea's first season at this level since 1983-84.
Roberto Martinez is the current manager. A former player famous for his role in central midfield, he took over as manager in February 2007 and led the Swans to promotion in his first full season in charge.
Club Rivalries
- Cardiff City
- Bristol City
- Bristol Rovers
Stars of the Current Squad
Club Legends
Most Appearances
| Rank | Player | Career Dates | # Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|
Most Goals
| Rank | Player | Career Dates | # Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
Player Recognition & Awards
Team Honours
- Football League
- Football League One (third tier) champions 2007-2008
- Football League Third Division (fourth tier) champions 1999-2000
- Football League Third Division South champions 1924-25, 1948-49
- Football League Trophy winners 1994, 2006
- Welsh Cup
- Winners 1913, 1950, 1961, 1966, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1989, 1991
- FAW Premier Cup
- Winners 2005, 2006
- FAW Welsh Youth Cup
- Winners 1999, 2003, 2008
- Runners-Up 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2004
- West Wales Senior Cup
- Winners 1923, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1930, 1934, 1949, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1975, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2003
- Welsh Football League
- Division One champions 1913, 1925, 1926, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1951, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965
- League Cup winners 1931, 1933
- Football Combination
- Reserve Division Two champions 1955, 1961
- (Reserve) Cup winners 1947, 1950
- Macbar (Reserve) Cup
- Winners 1987
- Southern Football League
- (Reserves) Western Section champions 1925
Club records
- Biggest win 12-0 v Sliema Wanderers (Malta), European Cup Winners' Cup First Round First Leg, 15 September 1982
- Biggest win (League) 8-0 v Hartlepool United F.C., Football League Football League Fourth Division, 1 April 1978
- Biggest defeat 0-8 v Liverpool, FA Cup 3rd Round Replay, 9 January 1990; 0-8 v Monaco (France), European Cup Winners' Cup First Round Second Leg, 1 October 1991
- Biggest defeat (League) 1-8 v Fulham, Football League Second Division, 22 January 1938
- Highest attendance (Vetch Field) 32,786 v Arsenal F.C., FA Cup Fifth Round, 17 February 1968
- Highest attendance (Liberty Stadium) 19,288 v Yeovil Town, Football League One, 18 November 2005
- Lowest attendance (Vetch Field) 1,301 v Northampton Town, Football League Fourth Division, 18 September 1973
- Lowest attendance (Liberty Stadium) 5,321 v Rushden and Diamonds, Football League Trophy Second Round, 22 November 2005
- Highest final position 6th (Division One), 1981/82
- Lowest final position 22nd (Division Four), 1974/75
- Most points in one season 92 (in League 1) 2007/2008
Club Management
Board of Directors
- Chairman: Huw Jenkins
- Vice Chairman: Leigh Dineen
- Directors:
- David Morgan
- Brian Katzen
- Gwilym Joseph
- Martin Morgan
- Huw Cooze
- Don Keefe
- Steve Penny
- Associate Directors:
- John van Zweden
- Will Morris
Team Staff
- Team Manager: Roberto Martinez
- Assistant Manager: Graeme Jones
- First Team Coach: Colin Pascoe
- Chief Scout: Kevin Reeves
- Goalkeeping Coach: Inaki Bergara
- Coach & Scout: Alan Curtis
- Director of Youth Football: Tony Pennock
- Physiotherapists:
- Richard Evans BSc
- Ailsa Jones
- Football Utilities Co-ordinator: Suzan Eames
- Club Doctor: Dr. Streph Amos
- Football In The Community Officer: Linden Jones
Management Staff
- General Manager: Alun Cowie
- Club Secretary: Jackie Rockey
- Business & Merchandising Manager: Andrea Morris
- Commercial Sales Executive: Joe Kelly
- Media & Communications Officer: Jonathan Wilsher
- Media Assistant: Owain Johns
- Community Co-ordinator: Bob Morgan
- Match Day Host: Alan Curtis
- Club Chaplain: Kevin Johns
Uniforms
Stadium
Swansea City Association Football Club Limited Liberty Stadium, Morfa Swansea SA1 2FA
Contacts:
- General Enquiries: +44 (0)1792 616600
- Commercial Enquiries: +44 (0)1792 616492
- Fax Number: +44 (0)1792 616606
- Youth Development: +44 (0)1792 616609 / 616610
- Football In The Community: +44 (0)1792 616607 / 616608
- Media Enquiries: +44 (0)1792 616600
- Club Shop: 0871 222 3434
- E-Mail: info@swanseacityfc.co.uk
Main Office
Normal Opening Hours: Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm Non match Saturdays: Closed Matchday Saturdays: 10am - kick-off.
Ticket Office
- Ticket Hotline: 08700 400 004
- Normal Opening Hours:
- Monday - Friday: 10am - 6pm
- Saturday: 10am - 4pm
Club Shop
The official club shop is situated at the entrance to the Liberty Stadium on the corner of the West and South Stands. It stocks a wide range of official Swans merchandise for all occasions.
- Normal shop opening are:
- Monday - Friday: 10am - 5pm
- Non-match Saturdays: 9am - 5pm
- Matchday Saturdays: 9am - kick-off. Re-opens for one hour after the game.
Stadium History
The Liberty Stadium (Welsh: Stadiwm Liberty), referred to as New Stadium during construction, is a purpose-built sports and concert arena and conferencing venue in the Landore area of Swansea, Wales. The stadium is all-seated, council owned, with a capacity of over 20,000 making it the largest purpose-built venue in Swansea. The Liberty Stadium is the third largest stadium in Wales after the Millennium Stadium and Ninian Park in Cardiff.
On its opening in 2005, it became the home to Swansea City football team (replacing the Vetch Field) and the Ospreys regional rugby team (replacing St Helen's). The opening match at this venue was between Swansea City A.F.C. and Fulham (then managed by former Swansea player Chris Coleman) on 23 July 2005. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
During its building, a variety of names were suggested for it: particularly commonly-used were "Morfa" (after a former athletics stadium on the opposite bank of the Tawe) and the "White Rock" stadium (after the copper-works of the same name which existed on the site historically). While a sponsor was being sought for the stadium, it was called "New Stadium". Following sponsorship from Swansea-based developers Liberty Property, it became the "Liberty Stadium" on 18 October 2005.
A statue of Ivor Allchurch was erected outside the stadium before a league match with Oldham Athletic. It was to commemorate the Swansea-born star who during two spells for the club scored 164 goals in 445 appearances.
roguesoul