FACTS AND FIGURES
Founded: 1912
Nickname: The Swans
Ground: Liberty Stadium – 20,352
Manager: Roberto Martinez
SELECTED HONOURS
League Division One Champions : 2007/08
League Division Three South Champions: 1924/25; 1948/49
Football League Trophy Winners: 1994; 2006
RECORDS
Record Attendance: 32786 v Arsenal (FA Cup, 1968)
Record victory: 12-0 v Sliema Wanderas of Malta (CupWinners Cup, 1982)
Record defeat 0 – 8 v Liverpool (FA Cup, 1990)
Record Buy: Ashley Williams – £400,000 – Stockport County
Record Sale: Lee Trundle – £1,000,000+ – Bristol City
Record Appearances: Wilfie Milne 587
Record Goals: Ivor Allchurch 166
RECENT HISTORY
The new millennium started brightly for Swansea City as they earned promotion from the then Third Division as Champions, only to be relegated the following season.
This was followed by some dismal years both on and off the field, and the club lurched from one crisis to another. In 2001/02 the club managed to get through 4 different owners and 3 managers, and the following season started in a similar vein as manager Nick Cusack leaves after only 9 games with the club firmly rooted at the bottom of the entire Football League. Replacement Brian Flynn managed to save the clubs league status thanks to a true Roy of the Rovers story when local lad James Thomas scored a hat trick on the last day to ensure a 4-2 victory over Hull City.
The following season started brightly and the Swans were flying high, reaching the FA Cup 5th round , and pushing for promotion until an horrendous injury list led to a big dip in form and saw Brian Flynn replaced by Kenny Jackett. His career started very slowly and fans were soon calling for his head but thanks to an incredibly mean defence the results turned around and the Swans were promoted thanks to a last day win over Bury.
Back in Division One the Swans once again got off to a flying start at their new Liberty Stadium, only to see a dip in from in mid season, but once again a last day win saw them sneak into the play offs.
Sadly the promotion push ended in the Millenium Stadium when Barnsley beat them on penalties.
Many expected the Swans to follow this up with an automatic promotion the following season, but the team never really got going and in January Kenny Jackett resigned saying he was not getting the support from the fans, and after a short period former captain Roberto Martinez was appointed. A massive change of form followed his arrival and the club went into yet another last day of the season with a chance of the play offs, but defeat at the hands of Blackpool scuppered the dream.
The influence of the young and unproven Martinez may have been seen as a gamble by some but his team swept all before them in his first full season, gaining a record 92 points aided by 14 away wins. For once promotion was earned well before the end of the season, but still the club had to wait until after the end of the season for the decision on a Leeds United appeal against a 15 point deduction was heard.
This season has seen Swansea once again lurking around the play off spots, and it remains to be seen as to whether they will make their usual late charge at promotion or will fall short.
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