Swansea City v Nottingham Forest - Championship Match - 21-22 - Issue 13

SEASON 2021-2022

VERSUS

NOTTINGHAM FOREST Saturday, December 11, 2021 - Kick-off 3pm

ISSUE 13

JOMA-SPORT.COM PAGE 2

CONTENTS Page 9 - A Message from Russell Martin

Page 18 - Meet the Opposition

Page 23 - Match Highlights

Page 32 - Interview with Matt Grimes

Page 38 - History Makers

Polite Warning: The British courts have now imposed a standard minimum three-year ban from all football grounds for football-related arrests – both inside and outside the ground. CCTV is currently in operation inside and outside the stadium, while police are also using handheld video cameras.

Offences include: obscene or racist chanting or gesturing; consuming alcohol in seated areas; continual standing in seated areas; aggressive behaviour; going onto the pitch; throwing of items; drunk and disorderly behaviour or under the influence of drugs. Please note there is also a no-smoking policy within the stadium. If broken, you could be ejected. Sales of goods inside and outside the stadium is prohibited unless via official registered sellers. The club badge is a registered trademark and unauthorised use of it will not be permitted. High-quality cameras are not permitted inside the stadium.

STUDY STUDY AT AT ASTUDIWCH YM SWANSEA MHRIFYSGOL SWANSEA UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY ABERTAWE WHERE BRIGHT FUTURES BEGIN

WHERE BRIGHT FUTURES BEGIN DISCOVER MORE DISCOVER

MORE >

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TEACHING EXCELLENCE & STUDENT OUTCOMES FRAMEWORK

FFRAMWAITH RHAGORIAETH TEACHING EXCELLENCE & &STUDENT DEILLIANNAU MYFYRWYR OUTCOMES FRAMEWORK

(The highest award for Teaching Excellence at UK universities)

(Y dyfarniad uchaf am Ragoriaeth Addysgu ym mhrifysgolion y DU)

(The highest award for Teaching Excellence at UK universities)

Chief Executive Julian Winter Board Of Directors Directors: Romie Chaudhari, Bobby Hernreich, Huw Jenkins, Jason Levien, Martin Morgan, Gareth Davies, Julian Winter, Jake Silverstein, Terry Sinnett, Sam Porter Honorary Club President: Alan Curtis; Associate Directors: David Morgan, Sian Davies Team Management Head Coach: Russell Martin Assistant Head Coach: Luke Williams Behind the Team Technical Development Coach: Matt Gill Goalkeeping Coach: Dean Thornton Head of Physical Performance: Matt Willmott Head of Medicine: Dr Jez McCluskey First-Team Performance Analyst: Ben Parker Sporting Director: Mark Allen Staff: Ritson Lloyd, Ailsa Jones, Matthew Murray, Adele Callaghan, Daniel Morris, Lee Watkins, Chris Watkins, Daniel Nisbet, Michael Eames, Shaun Baggridge, Huw Lake, Ashley Gill, Steffan Popham

Senior Management Group Andrew Davies (Head of Operations, Facilities & Development); Gareth Davies (CFO); Mark Allen (Sporting Director); 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 Head of Safeguarding: Rebeca Storer HR Manager: Nicola Butt Senior Commercial Sponsorship Manager: Lee Merrells Head of Marketing: Katie Hughes Head of Media & Communications: Ben Donovan Media Manager: Chris Wilson-Barney Ticket Office Manager: Luke Hughes Operations & Events Manager: Matthew Daniel Facilities Manager: Gordon David Grounds Manager: Evan Davies Disability Access Officer: Catherine Thomas Swansea City AFC Foundation Manager: Helen Elton Club Ambassador: Lee Trundle

Programme Production Contributors: Ben Donovan, Chris Wilson-Barney, Andrew Gwilym, Sophie Davis, Adam Evans, Dom Hynes, Julie Kissick, Gwyn Rees, Alun Rhys Chivers Designers: Callum Rothwell, Jordan Morcom, Lewis Ward Photography: Athena Picture Agency, Natalie Davis, Alamy Swansea City AFC Swansea.com Stadium, Landore, Swansea, SA1 2FA CP-D Dinas Abertawe Stadiwm Swansea.com, Landore, Abertawe, SA1 2FA Telephone/Ffôn: 01792 616400 Web/Gwe: swanseacity.com Email/E-bost: info@swanseacity.com

OUR FORTRESS, YOUR HOME. Season Ticket Renewal 2022-23 Visit swanseacity.com

PAGE 6

A MESSAGE FROM

JULIAN WINTER G

ood afternoon and welcome back to the Swansea.com Stadium for this afternoon’s Championship clash against Nottingham Forest.

Today’s game is our dedicated Rainbow Laces fixture as we proudly support Stonewall and back their campaign for LGBTQ+ fans, players and staff across the game.

Stonewall’s 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 have also been working closely with Proud Swans, the official supporter group for LGBTQ+ supporters of Swansea City. Their mission is to empower, support and build LGBTQ+ inclusion for fans and staff at Swansea City. As a club we aim to be a safe, friendly and inclusive space for fans visiting the Swansea.com Stadium and work to tackle homophobia in football.

Earlier this week we were also represented at the EFL’s first ever LGBTQ+ fans forum, where our head of fan engagement, Catherine Thomas, formed part of a panel where she spoke about the activations which are in place for today’s game as well as the launch of our first ever Pride merchandise range which is now in the club shop.

Yesterday (December 10) saw us announce our season ticket campaign and pricing structure for the 2022-23 season, with season tickets being available to purchase from Monday (December 13).

Our focus for the campaign is about you, our loyal supporters, who have played such a pivotal role during what has been a challenging 18 months for everyone across the world and here in our local community.

Your support has been invaluable and having you all back inside stadiums up and down the country has been a sight to behold.

Over the past four seasons the club has reduced season ticket prices significantly, and we are pleased to offer one of the cheapest season ticket pricing structures across the Championship.

The early bird window for season ticket renewals will be re-introduced for this campaign, with 60% of our ticket holders historically renewing during this period. Supporters who renew before 31 January 2022 can take advantage of discounted prices on their season tickets.

After our last home game here against Reading we announced that Brandon Cooper had signed a new contract with the club, which is great news.

Brandon is a young player with lots of potential and he has done tremendously well in the games he has played so far this season.

Finally, I’d like to welcome the management – including familiar faces in the form of Steve Cooper, Alan Tate, Steve Rands and David Tivey - players, staff, supporters and directors from Nottingham Forest who have made the trip to down to Wales for this afternoon’s game.

Enjoy the game, Julian

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PAGE 8

A MESSAGE FROM

RUSSELL MARTIN G

ood afternoon everyone as we look forward to our game with Nottingham Forest here at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Forest’s results have certainly improved since Steve’s appointment, and we’re l o o k i n g fo r wa r d t o a t o u g h game this afternoon.

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.

You will have seen in midweek that a number of our players featured in a friendly match against Brentford B.

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.

T h e c o n d i t i o n s we re p rett y difficult in Fairwood due to the weather, but it was a great exercise for us.

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.

We’ ve had a fairly consistent starting XI, which has meant s o m e g u y s h a ve n ’ t h a d t h e 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

PAGE 9

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A MESSAGE FROM

MATT GRIMES G

ood 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.

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.

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.

Supporters are the most important part of any club and we loved being able to speak to so many of you.

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.

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

PAGE 11

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A MESSAGE FR M

ADAM LEWIS

A

s we fa c e o n e of t h e natural ebbs that occurs in a Championship season, we welcome back a few fa m i l i a r fa c e s t o t h e 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 P otter 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 o b l i g a t i o n t h a t w e t a k e seriously. We want to ensure that your voice is being heard and so if you do have questions, email us (info@swanstrust.co.uk) o r c ont ac t 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 experienc e 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!

PAGE 13

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wansea 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.

PAGE 15

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wansea 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.

To d a y ’ s g a m e h a s b e e n 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-c oloured armband.

Meanwhile, we will also be using rainbow-coloured substitution boards and corner flags.

Stonewall’s campaign fo c u s t h i s y e a r i s ‘ L a c e U p a n d S p e a k U p’ . To c r e at e a b r o a d e r, l o u d e r a n d m o r e

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 m i s s i o n i s t o e m p o w e r, 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 S w a n s e a .c o m S t a d i u m a n d work t o t ackle homophobia in football.

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.

A s part of the Rainbow L aces campaign we're asking Swansea City suppor ter s to ‘L ace Up and Speak Up’ and have the conversations we need to have to make spor t everyone's game.

If you want to get in touch you can find Proud Swans o n Tw i tt e r, Fa c e b o o k and Instagram via @ProudSwans or by emailing j ac kn p r o u d @ g mai l .c o m

Proud Swans are pleased to be working with Swansea City for this year ’s #RainbowLaces campaign, which seeks

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NOTTINGHAM FOREST

NOTTINGHAM FOREST NOTTINGHAM FOREST NOTTINGHAM FOREST THE GAFFER NOTTINGHAM FOREST NOTTINGHAM FOREST NOTTINGHAM FOREST NOTTINGHAM FOREST CLUB CAPTAIN NOTTINGHAM FOREST NOTTINGHAM FOREST NOTTINGHAM FOREST NOTTINGHAM FOREST OWNER

NICKNAME

FOUNDED

Evangelos Marinakis and Sokratis Kominakis

The Reds

1865

STADIUM

OPENED

CAPACITY

City Ground

1898

30,445

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

@NFFC

@officialnffc

/officialnffc

The former Swansea boss joined Forest following Chris Hughton’s departure a few months after his exit from SA1.

Having worked in the Wrexham and Liverpool academies, he enjoyed great success as England Under-17s coach, leading them to a European final and World Cup glory in 2017.

STEVE COOPER

He joined the Swans in the summer of 2019 and twice led them to the play-offs, where they were beaten by Brentford at the semi-final and final hurdles respectively.

Grabban has been the man entrusted with the armband by Cooper following his appointment, having also had the armband for stints under Sabri Lamouchi and Chris Hughton.

Experienced striker Grabban, 33, has long been a reliable goalscorer and he is well-travelled having had spells with Crystal Palace, Oldham, Motherwell, Brentford, Rotherham, Bournemouth, Norwich, Reading, Sunderland and Aston Villa before joining Forest.

LEWIS GRABBAN

PAGE 18

He has 39 goals in 100 league appearances for the Reds.

T

T T T T T T T T T T T

CITY GROUND MEET THE OPPOSITION

HOW’S THEIR FORM?

Nottingham Forest are currently contesting their 14th successive season in the Championship.

The club has a rich history, winning the First Division title in 1977-78 under manager Brian Clough, who also led Forest to memorable European Cup triumphs in successive seasons.

The club has not featured in the Premier League since relegation in 1999 and have spent all bar three of the intervening seasons in the second tier.

Forest have seen a real upturn in form and have lost just one of their last 13 Championship fixtures, winning five of them.

They have a stacked trophy cabinet, with four League Cups and two FA Cups to their name in addition to those famous league and European triumphs.

They had drawn five of their last six prior to last weekend’s clash with Peterborough, while they have not lost an away fixture since August.

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ONES TO WATCH

ONES TO WATCH

JOE WORRALL

ONES TO WATCH

ONES TO WATCH ONES TO WATCH

ONES TO WATCH

POSITION

CB

NATION

AGE

SHIRT NO.

24 2

ONES TO WATCH

ONES TO WATCH ONES TO WATCH ONES TO

ONES TO WATCH

WATCH ONES TO WATCH

ONES TO WATCH ONES TO WATCH

ONES TO WATCH ONES TO WATCH

ONES TO WATCH ONES TO WATCH

ONES TO WATCH ONES TO WATCH

ONES TO WATCH ONES TO WATCH PAGE 20

A

nother to come through the academy ranks at the City Ground, centre-half Worrall has racked up 153 first-team appearances since making his debut in 2016.

His first exposure to senior football came via a loan spell with Dagenham and Redbridge, with his debut coming at Goodison Park in an FA Cup tie against Everton.

A further loan spell with Rangers came during the 2018-19 season as he made 32 appearances for the Scottish giants.

He has been a Forest regular – injury permitting – ever since and has made 16 appearances so far this term.

BRENNAN JOHNSON POSITION

FW

E

NATION

AGE

SHIRT NO.

20 20

xciting winger Johnson is enjoying a breakthrough campaign for club and country.

A product of the Forest academy, he has three goals and four assists under his belt, and made his first senior start for Wales against Finland in September.

Nineteen of his 27 appearances for Forest have come this season, and he netted his first goal for the club in a draw at local rivals Derby in August.

His early-season form saw him named the EFL Young Player of the Month for September.

PHILIP ZINCKERNAGEL POSITION

FW

NATION

AGE

SHIRT NO.

26 11

F

ormer Denmark age-grade international Zinckernagel has been a lively presence for Forest since joining on loan from Watford over the summer.

He has three goals and six assists to his name in just 20 appearances for the Reds and has caught the eye in a number of those outings.

Zinckernagel spent time in the youth setups at FC Copenhagen and FC Nordsjaelland before making his senior bow with HB Koge.

Spells at FC Helsingar, SonderjyskE and Bodo-Glimt followed, with Zinckernagel helping the latter to a first-ever Norwegian top-flight title in 2020.

A move to Watford transpired in J anuary 2021, prior to his loan switch to the City Ground.

PAGE 21

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WATCH HIGHLIGHTS

SWANSEA 2 READING 3 SWANSEA CITY FELL TO JUST A SECOND HOME DEFEAT OF THE SEASON AFTER TWICE CONCEDING WITHIN MOMENTS OF SCORING AGAINST READING AT THE SWANSEA.COM STADIUM

TEAM LINEUPS Swans: Ben Hamer; Ryan Bennett (Liam Cullen 82), Kyle Naughton, Rhys Williams; Ethan Laird, Korey Smith (Flynn Downes 62), Matt Grimes (captain), Ryan Manning; Olivier Ntcham, Jamie Paterson; Joel Piroe.

Subs not used: Steven Benda, Brandon Cooper, Joel Latibeaudiere, Jake Bidwell, Liam Walsh.

Reading: Luke Southwood, Tom Holmes, Alen Halilovic (Femi Azeez 66), Andy Carroll (George Puscas 81), John Swift, Danny Drinkwater, Andy Yiadom (captain), Tom Dele-Bashiru, Baba Rahman, Scott Dann, Josh Laurent.

Subs not used: Rafael Cabral, Dejan Tetek, Mamadi Camara, Tyrell Ashcroft, Kelvin Abrefa.

Referee: Tony Harrington Attendance: 16,980

PAGE 23

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS

MIDDLESBOROUGH 1 SWANSEA 0 SWANSEA CITY WERE LEFT TO RUE MISSED CHANCES AND BEING DENIED A PENALTY AS ISAIAH JONES’ FIRST-HALF STRIKE GAVE MIDDLESBROUGH THE SPOILS AT THE RIVERSIDE STADIUM PAGE 24

TEAM LINEUPS Swans: Ben Hamer; Ben Cabango, Kyle Naughton, Rhys Williams (Michael Obafemi 67); Ethan Laird (Joel Latibeaudiere 78), Flynn Downes, Matt Grimes (captain), Ryan Manning; Korey Smith (Olivier Ntcham 46), Jamie Paterson; Joel Piroe.

Subs not used: Steven Benda, Ryan Bennett, Liam Cullen, Jake Bidwell.

Middlesborough: Luke Daniels, Anfernee Dijksteel (Dael Fry 90), Marcus Tavernier, Andraz Sporar (Uche Ikpeazu 72), Jonny Howson (captain), Paddy McNair, Duncan Watmore (Onel Hernandez 72), Sol Bamba, Matt Crooks, Marc Bola, Isaiah Jones.

Subs not used: Joe Lumley, Neil Taylor, Martin Payero, James Lea Siliki.

Referee: Andy Davies Attendance: 18, 707

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS

SWANSEA XI 2 BRENTFORD B 2

PENALTIES FROM LIAM WALSH AND MICHAEL OBAFEMI SAW A SWANSEA CITY XI DRAW 2-2 WITH BRENTFORD B IN A FRIENDLY AT FAIRWOOD.

TEAM LINEUPS Swans: Steven Benda, Joel Latibeaudiere, Brandon Cooper, Rhys Williams, Morgan Whittaker, Daniel Williams, Yan Dhanda, Liam Walsh, Lincoln Mcfayden, Liam Cullen, Michael Obafemi.

Subs not used: Lewis Webb, Cian Williams, Ben Margetson, Rio Campbell.

Brentford B: Nathan Shepperd, Tristan Crama, Daniel Oyegoke, Lewis Gordon, Max Haygarth, Myles Peart-Harris, Jan Zamburek, Dominic Jefferies, Joel Valencia, Nathan Young-Coombes, Trialist.

Subs not used: Roco Rees, Jude Russell, Val Adedokun, Roy Syla, Ryan Trevitt, Wraynel Hercules, Lachlan Brook, Trialist.

PAGE 25

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STILETTOS AND STUDS BY JULIE KISSICK

R

eunions. We’ve all been to them. Some are hugely successful in as much as everyone has great fun and leaves vowing to be back in touch on a regular basis.

Others, not so much. You turn up over or under-dressed, recognise only the people you want to avoid and leave hoping no-one realises you’ve gone - and the reality is they won’t care even if they do.

Then there are the hugely successful television reunions, (think Friends and Parks and Recreation), where the cast of a well-loved series gets back together, they make loads of money and the audience loves reconnecting and reminiscing.

Everyone is a winner.

In football though, that can’t happen. There can be only one winner.

For me, the Nottingham Forest fixture usually reconnects me with a friend I rarely get to see these days. (That’s the new ‘norm’ now, right?) We’ve often met up ahead of or after the game and discussed the position our respective teams find themselves in as well as catching up on life in general. It is the annual event we look forward to when the fixtures are announced.

There won’t be a reunion for us this year, but of course, there will be a significant reunion at the stadium as this game reunites two significant figures with Swansea City. Former head coach Steve Cooper led us to the play-offs in both of his seasons in charge and Alan Tate, well, Tatey is synonymous with Swansea City.

His story dates back to 2002, he enjoyed three promotions and the Football League Trophy during his years with us and who could forget him standing in as a goalkeeper on two occasions following injuries to Roger Freestone and Dorus de Vries?

Over the last few months, I’ ve been working for the club to publicise the newly formed Former Players’ Association and what has been significant about so many of the stories I’ve heard from ex-pros is that for all the apparent ‘glamour’, there are absolutely no guarantees for anyone in football. It isn’t a profession for those who want stability, that’s for sure!

And talking of the FPA, if you haven’t read the interview I did with Swans great Cliff Jones, you really must! You’ll find it in the FPA pages of this programme and on the website.

Not only is Cliff a great story-teller, he still has huge affection for both the club and the city of his birth. He may have lived in London for most of his life, but his heart never left south west Wales.

He’s a great example of a player who moved on for the good of his career and his family.

The same reasons many of us move jobs.

However long or short a tenure a player or coach has with us, they leave a mark.

Some do nothing more than complete their contractual obligations and move on, many build an emotional connection that never goes away.

They all leave something behind as they contribute in their own unique way to the Swansea City story.

PAGE 29

ASTUDIA YM MHRIFYSGOL ABERTAWE DRWS I DDYFODOL DISGLAIR DYSGWCH FWY

FFRAMWAITH RHAGORIAETH & DEILLIANNAU MYFYRWYR PAGE 30

(Y dyfarniad uchaf am Ragoriaeth Addysgu ym mhrifysgolion y DU)

WELSH COLUMN BY ALUN RHYS CHIVERS, GOLWG

C

hwe wythnos yn ôl, prin y byddai neb wedi disgwyl i Nottingham Forest ddod i Stadiwm Swansea.com un safle uwchben yr Elyrch. Ond dyna’r sefyllfa heddiw wrth groesawu Steve Cooper â’i dim i’r ddinas ar gyfer gêm y bu cryn edrych ymlaen ati ers i gyn-reolwr Abertawe gael ei benodi yn y City Ground.

Pan ddaeth cadarnhad o benodiad y Cymro ddiwedd mis Medi, roedd Forest un safle o’r gwaelod. Ac yn union fel y gwnaeth e ar ôl cyrraedd Abertawe, mae e wedi gwyrdroi perfformiadau a chanlyniadau ei dîm newydd fel eu bod nhw bellach yn drydydd ar ddeg, un safle ac un pwynt uwchlaw tîm Russell Martin.

Digon tebyg fu wythnosau cyntaf Cooper yn Forest i’w wythnosau cyntaf yn Abertawe ddwy flynedd yn ôl. Mae e wedi bod yn siarad am ei falchder o gael ei benodi gan glwb mor fawr ag iddo gryn hanes. Mae e wedi bod yn sôn am bwysigrwydd y cefnogwyr, y dull o chwarae a’r chwaraewyr ifainc sydd gan y clwb. Ond yn union fel Abertawe, y canlyniadau ar y cae fyddai bwysicaf.

Yn Abertawe, Forest oedd y tîm cyntaf i guro’r Elyrch yn ystod cyfnod Cooper. Fydd y gwrthwyneb ddim yn wir y tro hwn, ond mae’n adrodd cyfrolau am ei ddechrau da mai yn erbyn Fulham (4-0) y daeth eu hunig golled hyd yn hyn. Dim ond Fulham a Bournemouth sydd wedi ennill mwy o bwyntiau na Forest ers iddo fe ddod yn rheolwr 13 gêm yn ôl. Mae’n bosib dadlau nad yw’r canlyniadau wedi bod cystal yn ddiweddar, gyda chyfres o gemau gyfartal un ar ôl y llall, ond mae hynny i’w ddisgwyl wrth i’r ‘bowns’ golli rywfaint o effaith.

Ond mae’n siŵr fod cefnogwyr Forest yn crafu’u pennau nawr wrth feddwl am y sylwadau llugoer wnaeth cefnogwyr yr Elyrch adeg ei benodi – unwaith eto, mae e wedi profi ei allu i fynd i mewn i glwb a bwrw iddi ar unwaith. A phob lwc iddo fe.

Un arall fydd â phwynt i’w brofi yw Jamie Paterson. Chwaraeodd e 55 o weithiau i Forest rhwng 2013 a 2016, gan sgorio naw

gôl. Mae e eisoes wedi sgorio wyth gôl i’r Elyrch mewn 21 gêm y tymor hwn. Gyda record cyn-chwaraewyr o sgorio yn erbyn Abertawe, mae’n siŵr y bydd Paterson yn llygadu’r cyfle i wneud hynny yng nghrys yr Elyrch yn erbyn y gwrthwynebwyr y tro hwn.

Bydd yr Elyrch hefyd yn gobeithio manteisio ar y cyfle i wneud yn iawn am y ddwy golled yn erbyn Middlesbrough a Reading yn eu dwy gêm diwethaf. Mae meddiant wedi bod yn rhan mor bwysig o batrwm chwarae Abertawe ers cyhyd, felly roedd hi’n siomedig nad oedden nhw wedi manteisio ar y 68% yn erbyn Boro ac yn enwedig y 74% yn erbyn Reading. Mae Martin a Cooper, ill dau, yn hoff o gadw’r meddiant felly gallai fod yn ornest fydd yn gofyn am oruchafiaeth dactegol.

Ydy hi’n rhy gynnar, tybed, i ddechrau sôn am drosglwyddiadau? Efallai, ond roedd y pwnc ar yr agenda dros y dyddiau diwethaf hyn yn dilyn ymadawiad Andy Scott, y pennaeth recriwtio. Mark Allen, y cyfarwyddwr chwaraeon, fydd yn gyfrifol am yr elfen yna o’r gwaith bellach ac mae’n debyg fod y gwaith o adnabod chwaraewyr wedi hen ddechrau. Mae Russell Martin eisoes yn cyfaddef fod rhaid i chwaraewyr adael cyn i rai newydd gyrraedd, ond mae’n siŵr fod y cefnogwyr yn gobeithio am ffenest bositif arall i adeiladu ar yr haf pan ddechreuodd Martin ffurfio’i garfan.

Am y tro, bydd llygaid pawb ar y gêm sydd ar y gweill prynhawn yma. Ymhen 90 munud, ai Russell Martin neu Steve Cooper fydd yn dathlu gyda’r ‘fist bump’ nodweddiadol? Fe gawn ni weld.

PAGE 31

PAGE 32

FLYNN DOWNES HAS MADE AN EYECATCHING START TO LIFE AT SWANSEA CITY. HERE THE MIDFIELDER LIFTS THE LID ON HIS NEW POSITION AT THE SWANS, HOW HIS BROTHERS HELPED KEEP HIM ON TRACK FOR A CAREER IN FOOTBALL, AND WHY HIS FAMILY’S SACRIFICES FOR HIM WILL ALWAYS BE A MAJOR MOTIVATION AS HE STRIVES TO REACH THE TOP OF THE GAME. CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE....

Flynn, you are about five or so months into your time at S w a n s e a C i t y. Yo u s e e m t o have settled in really well on and off the pitch?

I love it here, to be honest .

The gaffer, the staff and the boys have been so good. I have found no egos here, like you can at other clubs. I didn’t know what to expect as this is a big club, but it has been great. It’s been spot on.

It ’s been nic e to settle into the city too. I like having my own space, my missus is with me so I have company and we live down in the marina with a lovely beach nearby. When the sun is out you can’t beat it. You can’t go wrong.

She has just got a new job which is happy days. We are really enjoying it.

On the pitch, we see you i n a d i ffe r e n t r o l e i n t e r m s of how deep you operate from and the way you link with the back three and Matt G rime s . How have you adjusted to that ?

I have to tell you, I have loved it. Everyone has their own role on the pitch, and I like that .

That role is my responsibility and my job. It ’s down to me to perfect that position, and I feel like Grimesy and I can focus on our own tasks.

A s a whole, the boys are great to play alongside. The style of play the gaffer wants i s t h e b e st , i t ’ s t h e b e st t o wat c h , i t ’ s t h e b e st t o p l ay and the task is to improve and get some more wins on the board.

I enjoy the defensive responsibility as well as my job on the ball. I would be as happy to smash someone with a crunching tackle as I would be to score. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to score some goals to help the team, but if I do that a different way then I’m fine with that.

The first time we sat down and spoke about my role and worked on it on the training pitch you do sort of think ‘okay’… because it is so different and you don’t expect it. But I watched clips, and it felt weird to start with because your instinct sort of tells you that you are playing centre-back, but you’re not.

You work with the centre-backs, and once I got my head around it and got a feel for how often I got on the ball it’s something I have really enjoyed. It’s making me a better player, and I think it helps the team.

The style of play helps us and suits us. I want to be on the ball, I think that’s what every player wants deep down. Look at teams like Barcelona over the years, that is the best football to watch. I am not saying we are like Barcelona, but that is the best football to me and to try and play a style that gives the opportunity to use the ball is great as far as I am concerned.

Mistakes will happen, nothing is perfect, if we give the ball away at the back then the opposition are in on goal. So you have to be brave, and you have to make those sacrifices because when it comes together teams cannot get near you. It’s a joy to play in.

PAGE 33

Yo u s t a r t e d yo u r c a r e e r at Ipswich, joining their academy at the age of seven. How did that opportunity come about?

I was playing for my local team, Ongar, I played for them for a year, it was my first time in a proper team and I thought it was great.

I was scoring goals, everything, I was a midfielder and I just loved running around everywhere.

I was doing well, I was flames!!

The next year Steve Leslie, an Ipswich scout, came over and gave my father his card.

I didn’t think much of it, but we called up and got invited down to the development centre and it went from there.

It wasn’t totally straightforward because the day I had my trial I fell asleep in the car on the way there, and only woke up as we were there.

It threw me, I was still tired, and I just did not want to go in there. I started crying, and in the end the manager came out and sort of talked me around.

I was nervous because I was training with the age group two years above, and once I started dribbling round the cones in the first drill I was fine. I cannot even remember how they coaxed me to go in.

But I was always football mad.

When I was a kid I used to change at home and put all my kit on and just dance around the front room.

I couldn’t wait for it. I was so happy about it.

My family are West Ham fans, we used to go to Upton Park. It was such a great ground, everything

PAGE 34

was so close. I loved watching Alex Song, who had been at Barcelona and Arsenal. People said he was past his prime when he came to us, but I thought he was incredible.

No-one could take the ball off him, he kept it moving. He made it look easy, he was class. People had no idea how good he was.

The hardest thing to do is play simple football, and that’s why this suits me because I love that football.

From your home to Ipswich would have been a bit of a drive, so I’m guessing mum and dad were busy running you up there and fitting it around everything else.

Yeah, they did. Dad had his own construction company while mum did a few bits and bobs, and it was not always easy to go back and forth all the time.

It was over an hour each way and it was three or four times a week.

As a kid you don’t understand it, because you think ‘I have to get there and you have to drive because I can’t’.

But when I think about it, if I had a kid and I was doing that I would probably be thinking ‘you better make it here, lad’ but they never put that pressure on me.

Mum used to get everything ready and my Dad would take us there and back and I am aware of what they sacrificed, which is why I want to get to the top, top level. I want to repay them and make them proud.

In your journey through the Ipswich academy, were there any people who were particularly big influences on you?

There were quite a few. When I was really young, Matty Smith and Sam Morgan were good to me. As I got older there was Brian Clue, Liam Manning – who is at MK Dons now – Chris Hull, they were unbelievable for me because I went through a rough patch with football.

I think you get a bit distracted at school and I did not really know what I wanted to do. I was travelling after school all the time, I would get home at half nine at night and then go to bed and do it again.

I was knackered all the time and I did not know if I wanted to keep doing it. I was about 14, but once I got through that spell I decided I was going to go at it 100 per cent and go all in.

I spoke to my brothers and they told me to go for it because it is everyone’s dream, and ever since then I have been striving to get better and make sacrifices of my own to get to where I want to get to.

I don’t know what else I would have done with life, I don’t recall ever thinking of something else to do, I just didn’t love football as much as I had as a young kid where I would just be playing all the time. It was all I ever wanted to do and I wanted to get better.

I just stopped enjoying it, but something clicked with me and I soon rediscovered that love of it.

Like I say, my two older brothers – Mike and Brad – helped. They had experience of life outside of school and they knew how tough it could be, so they wanted to encourage me.

Life is tough, and you come to realise that, and the other aspect of that is when you have a chance to do something you love and have the chance to really help your family by making some money so they are more comfortable, then you have to do it.

I want my family to enjoy life and not have any worries, and that drives me and it comes from that experience when you are younger of understanding that things are not always easy. I’ve worked really hard to get here, I have no intention of letting it go or having any regrets.

If I don’t give it my all, or I cut corners, it will bother me. If I tell myself in the morning that I am going to go to the gym after training to do some extra work, and I then didn’t do it, I would not sleep that night. It would bother me. It’s the small things you do everyday that get you where you want to be.

Yo u g o t y o u r c h a n c e a t Ipswich under Mick McCarthy, you must be grateful to him for the opportunity?

Yeah I am, I know he is an exCardiff manager but he is a lovely man and he was great with me.

He is a family man, he had kids and given how young I was he knew how I was feeling.

He showed me what the real world of football was about.

Whenever I see him I say hello because he helped me so much and he gave me my debut. It was a massive moment for me.

It was a mad game as my friend Andre Dozzell started and he had come through the academy with

me from the age of eight.

I was on the bench, and he got injured after about half an hour and I was so nervous.

Mick McCarthy called me and said I was going on and I can feel my palms sweating now just thinking about it.

I went on and I had the game of my life. Everything came off, I was playing through balls without even knowing if anyone was there and there would be someone running onto it.

It was a dream come true. My parents and my brothers were there, we got in the car after and all I could think was that I had to step it up from there.

I had a taste, but I wanted so much more and I wasn’t going to stop until I got there.

You had a loan spell with Luton and you got to experience promotion as a teenager with them.

That was great for me, that was another stage where I wasn’t quite enjoying my football as I felt I was working really hard but I couldn’t get in the team regularly.

It frustrated me, but Mick McCarthy recognised it. He could see it, he spoke about it with me, and then told me there was interest in Luton and I wanted to do it.

It was one of the best times of my life. There were a few boys there who had grown up near me

CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE....

PAGE 35

in Brentwood and we shared lifts and it was so good. There was Oli Lee, Elliott Lee – who went to my school – Andrew Shinnie and Scotty Cuthbert.

It took me back to being a kid, I was playing and I was loving it. Nathan Jones put trust in me and at such a young age I got to experience promotion.

There was a bus parade, there were people everywhere and Luke Chambers, the captain, told me to take it all in and appreciate it because a lot of players never get to be part of something like that.

It was a mad experience, everyone was buzzing. It stuck with me, and I want to be winning things. I hate losing, and seeing something like that just adds to my appetite to have more of it. I would love to come and do that here. That’s what we are going after and what I want to be a part of.

I went back to Ipswich and felt so much more confident, I had more games under my belt which a lot of young players don’t always get.

You have to play as a youngster because that’s how you learn.

Not too long after that you became Ipswich’s youngest captain, a record you still

hold. Given the club’s history that must mean a tremendous amount to you?

That’s one of the biggest honours for me, so far. That made me realise the hard work was worth it because I never thought for even a second I could be captain.

I can’t describe how it felt to lead those 10 other boys out. I’m not a big shouter, I didn’t look to hype people up, I tried to lead by example on the pitch.

There are all sorts of different captains but you have to be true to who you are, you can’t fake it.

I tried to be myself, but it was a mad feeling.

Obviously the way it ended there was not easy, but I have a lot of good memories and I will forever be grateful to them.

Just finally, how do you relax away from football. D o you have any hobbies?

I love reading, I find it just gets me out of my own head. It’s the first thing I do in the morning, I try to set aside half hour just to read.

I’ll read most things, but I enjoy reading about business, I like to learn about things I don’t know much about, even if it’s taxes or real estate!

I recently read ‘The Monk Who Sold his Ferrari’, I enjoyed that so I’m reading another one by Robin

PAGE 36

Sharma called ‘The 5am Club’.

It’s good, I’m enjoying it and I would prefer to learn new things. I want to get better every day, I want to know more and understand things better.

That keeps me happy. I’m a simple bloke, I like to read, I like to learn, I like to get better.

It puts me in my own little world.

I enjoy yoga and keeping fit, and I have got hooked on UFC. I love it, Conor McGregor was the main guy and my brother used to tell me he was going to be massive, and Khabib Nurmagomedov has done so much for that sport.

I do like golf too, I did get into it, but I haven’t properly played since I came down here, yet. I’m sure I will once the weather starts to get a bit better again.

PAGE 37

I

n the latest chapter of our series of features recalling Swansea City’s historic 1980-81 season, we look back at the run of form that threatened to derail their promotion bid, and how they went about turning things around.

The togetherness and tight-knit nature of the squad remained intact during a wretched start to 1981 that threatened to completely scupper the Swans’ promotion hopes.

The FA Cup defeat to Middlesbrough – a top-flight side at the time – suddenly started a losing run that appeared to come out of nowhere.

The 5-0 loss to Boro was followed by a 3-1 defeat to leaders West Ham in front of the highest crowd of the season to date as the new East Stand was formally opened at The Vetch.

Further defeats followed as Cambridge United, Queens Park Rangers, Notts County and Sheffield Wednesday all helped themselves to victories.

The Swans slipped as low as ninth in the table and the promotion dream appeared to be slipping from their grasp.

Toshack used a free weekend to take his side away to Spain for warm-weather training and a change of scenery to freshen things up ahead of the final push.

“We were sort of sliding down the table which affected confidence,” says Nigel Stevenson.

“Going into the dressing room for training on a daily basis, everyone was low in mood.

“In all fairness to Tosh and the backroom staff of Terry Medwin, Phil Boersma, Doug Livermore, they got behind us and we got back to basics. We made it difficult for the opposing side.

“At the time when we had the likes of Jeremy Charles, Robbie James, Curt, each of those could score 15 to 20 plus goals a season.

“We knew then that if they could get a couple of goals and we kept it tight at the back we’d be okay, and our fortunes started changing.”

“You just have to keep going and get that win, once that comes whatever way you get it you progress from there,” says Jeremy Charles.

PAGE 38

“With the squad we had anyone could come in and take someone’s place because there was so much talent there.

“If you were not on the top of your game he would have no hesitation in taking you out the side.”

But Alan Curtis acknowledges that the burden of history was weighing heavy on shoulders at the stage of the season, with the squad knowing they were seeking to achieve something unprecedented for the club.

“We felt a lot of responsibility, there was a realisation of what it meant to everybody, it just became stronger and stronger,” adds Curtis.

“A lot of us had been there when the club had needed to apply for re-election to the Football League, and were also aware that a team of the calibre of Ivor Allchurch, Cliff Jones and Terry Medwin had never managed to get promoted.

“It just underlined the size of what we were trying to do.

“Tosh took us out to Spain for a bonding session, it was a bit of a haze, we were given licence to go and enjoy ourselves.

“We trained hard and played hard, but it allowed us to enjoy ourselves and lift a bit of weight off your shoulders.

It brought everything back together.

“We spent time talking about how we could do better and we just snapped out of it. We did that a few times, and results invariably improved.

“No-one wanted to let each other down, but there were no excuses for the results we were getting.

“We had to start again and work harder, and Wyndham Evans would be great with that, he would push you.

“In training he would be the one telling you to run faster and to make tackles and win the ball. Then, in the evening, he’d be telling you to have another drink and sing louder.

“He was a real good character, he made sure everyone was in the right mind and he was important when he came back into the side.”

PAGE 39

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PAGE 44

QPR U23S 0

SWANS U23s 2

S

wansea City Under-23s claimed all three points in the Professional Development as they beat Queens Park Rangers 2-0 in London.

Two quickfire goals from Jaden Forrester and S am L everett were enough to claim victory for the Swans.

The win sees Swansea climb up to seventh in the Professional D evelopment L eague - leap frogging QPR in the table.

Swansea opened the scoring just 10 minutes in. A high press won the ball back in the QPR half and that allowed Dylan Morgan to slide Forrester through on goal, but he was brought down by the goalkeeper Max Litte.

Forrester stepped up to the spot and buried the penalty into the bottom right corner.

J ust two minutes later S am Leverett doubled the Swans' advantage as he fired Harry Jones’ low cross from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.

Swansea continued to cause trouble down QPR's right flank throughout the first half, with C a m e r o n C o n g r e v e’ s c r o s s finding Morgan in the box, but he c ouldn’ t get enough on his header.

The Swans continued to push for more in the second half despite the poor weather conditions.

Jacob Jones found Harry Jones in the box with a great cross, but the right-back fired his volley over the bar.

Morgan almost turned provider for Forrester again, his whipped free-kick finding the striker, but the latter couldn’t find the net in what proved the last real action of the game.

TEAM LINEUP Swans: Nico DeFreitas-Hansen, Harry Jones, Trialist, Tivonge Rushesha, Ben Erickson (captain), Jacob Jones, Cameron Congreve (Joel Cotterill, 88), Azeem Abdulai, Sam Leverrett, Dylan Morgan (Ben Lloyd, 72), Jaden Forrester Subs not used: Jamie Searle, Scott Butler, Tarrelle Whittaker

PAGE 45

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IPSWICH TOWN U18s 4 SWANS U18s 0

S

wansea City Under-18s fell to defeat against Ipswich Town U nder -18s in the Professional Development League at St George's Park.

Ipswich took the lead just four minutes in, and the Swans were then punished by a late first-half flurry that saw the Tractor Boys go into the break 3-0 up.

The Swans kept Ipswich quiet for most of the second half, but they would make it four as they claimed all three points.

Swansea found themselves behind after four minutes, a low cross finding Ash Boatswain in the box for a simple finish.

The young Swans struggled to get out in the early stages but started to grow into the game, Filip Lissah’s cross finding an outstretched Iwan Morgan, who couldn’t turn it into the back of the net.

Kian Jenkins was forced off the field after just 23 minutes, a

hard challenge seeing the fullback go down and be replaced

by Zane Myers.

Swansea started to control the game and dictate the tempo later into the half, Charlie Veevers' corner causing trouble for the Ipswich goalkeeper.

But Ipswich would double their lead against the run of play, Swansea were caught following a high press, allowing Dan Cousens to cut inside and find the bottom left corner.

Just two minutes later, Boatswain had his sec ond goal of the afternoon as he put Ipswich 3-0 up just before the break.

Ip swich’s clinic al finishing continued into the second half, Jack Manly hitting an audacious volley to convert Cousens’ cross as he made it 4-0.

Geoff Bony thought he had pulled one back after putting Josh Edwards' cross into the net, but it was ruled out for offside.

Swansea continued to search for an equaliser in the dying moments of the game, but David Roberts' mistimed challenge on an Ipswich break saw him given a red card.

Isaac Richards stepped up and hit the post from the subsequent free-kick.

TEAM LINEUP Swans: Ben Hughes, Filip Lissah, Sebastian Dabrwoski, David Roberts, Kian Jenkins (Zane Myers 21), Joel Cotterill, Josh Edwards, Charlie Veevers, Ben Lloyd, Iwan Morgan (Geoff Bony 65), Kieran Petrie (Aaron Hillier 58).

Subs not used: Sam Seager, Seb Dabrowski.

PAGE 47

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SWANS LADIES 0 ABERYSTWYTH 0

S

wansea City Ladies were held to a goalless draw against Aberystwyth Town Women at Llandarcy.

A s the first half progressed, Swansea posed more of a threat and Chivers forced Ffion Ashman into action with an acrobatic save with a shot from distance.

S oon after, L ake fed in T ija Richardson but her effort from just inside the penalty area was dragged agonisingly wide of the far post.

Shaunna Jenkins had a chance after she controlled the ball well in close quarters after Chivers’ corner, but she could only direct her shot over the crossbar.

In the hunt for the all-important winner Jess Williams leapt up to meet Chivers’ delivery but Ashman was in inspired form to keep hold of it.

Kelly Adams also came close after John-Davis laid the ball o f f p e r f e c t l y, h o w e v e r t h e midfielder ’s first-time strike rolled just wide of the far post.

In the dying stages K armyn Carter found the back of the net on her debut with a header but she was deemed to be offside.

However, Chris Church's side remain top of the Genero Adran Premier by four points.

Tiley came closest as she saw her curling effort from the edge of the box hit the crossbar.

TEAM LINEUP

Swansea had a golden opportunity to open the scoring after Stacey John-Davis played the ball across the face of goal in search of Chloe Tiley, but the winger was unable to reach it.

Swansea continued to knock on the door as Tiley was picked out in the middle of the box, but Ashman tipped the winger’s close-range header over the bar.

Swans: Claire Skinner, Ellie Lake, Jess Williams, Alicia Powe (captain), Ria Hughes, Tija Richardson, Shaunna Jenkins, Kelly Adams, Stacey John-Davis, Chloe Tiley (Karmyn Carter 75), Chloe Chivers.

The Swans dominated the proceedings from the offset and created several opportunities in the first half but couldn’t find a way through Aber’s defence.

T he sec ond half followed a similar pattern, but Aberystwyth successfully kept the league leaders at bay as the Swans' perfect start to the season came to an end.

There were claims for a penalty as the Swans claimed for a handball against Josie Pugh, however, the referee waved the appeals away with confidence.

The Swans kept the pressure on in the very early stages of the sec ond half and T iley s aw another he ader denied

by A shman.

Subs not used: Sarah Adams, Nieve Jenkins, Gwen Horgan.

PAGE 49

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Ironmongers, ship workers, spring makers and cobblers, all formed clubs which decades later are still prospering.

But nowadays, you’d think it was all eyewatering transfers, Super Leagues and mega sponsors, detached from the humble origins of our historic clubs.

That’s why eBay are proud to support 300,000 small businesses who help power EFL clubs nationwide. We’ll be donating our advertising space to a lot of these businesses – on match day hoardings, around grounds and beyond – throughout the coming season, to ensure they can continue to thrive in our local communities. So, join us in giving your support to Small Business Power, because today, they need us more than ever.

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PAGE 50

A

s I sit down to write this week’s article, the news is full of extreme weather stories.

JACK THE LAD

Scotland and the north of England are still recovering from storm Arwen, with hundreds of households still without electricity following high winds and heavy snow.

The weather forecast is warning of a new storm, named Barra, which is on its way from the west.

So in this climate of wild weather, it’s appropriate the Swans are preparing to play Forest on the 40th anniversary weekend of a particularly chilly First Division clash between the two clubs.

In fact, chilly is a massive understatement.

December 12, 1981, proved to be one of the most miserable, freezing cold and disappointing afternoons I ever experienced at the old Vetch Field.

The occasion had promised so much.

Forest arrived as double European Cup winners, with skipper John McGovern having held the trophy aloft at Madrid’s magnificent Santiago Bernabeu Stadium just 18 months earlier – repeating the feat achieved the previous season.

The Swans, for their part, were looking for a win which could possibly send them back to the top of the old First Division, having briefly climbed to the summit of English football a couple of months before with a win at Stoke.

The stage was set for an exciting afternoon.

But the match almost didn’t go ahead at all.

The previous night had been the coldest for almost a century, causing many other matches to be postponed.

I n s o m e p a r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y, t h e temperatures had dropped to a bonechilling -20 degrees and there had been widespread snowfall.

PAGE 52

Only two other matches went ahead in the First Division that afternoon, giving the Swans an even greater chance of going top.

While south west Wales had escaped the snow, I don’t think I had ever felt so cold as the match kicked off seven minutes late due to Forest’s arrival from the Midlands being delayed by the awful weather.

I can only imagine how the players felt out on the frozen pitch, which seemed to be getting harder as the game wore on.

However, Robbie James warmed up the home support when he managed to find himself completely unmarked at the near post to head Leighton James’s pinpoint cross past England legend Peter Shilton, following a short-corner involving Alan Curtis.

As darkness fell, so did the temperature, but the thought of celebrating a tabletopping home win was just about keeping out the biting cold until the 78th minute that is.

Just as Robbie James had found the net from a near post corner at the Double Decker end, so did Willie Young, Forest’s new signing from Arsenal, to make it 1-1.

Although disappointing, it looked as though the Swans would at least get a point.

But in the very last minute, a harmless looking cross bounced awkwardly across the frozen home penalty area towards Forest winger John Robertson, who was lurking on the edge of the box.

I n e x p l i c a b l y, S w a n s f u l l - b a c k N e i l Robinson stuck out a hand, just inside the area and diverted the ball away from Robertson.

The ref immediately pointed to the spot, and Robinson, who had scored the winner in his side’s 1980 European Cup success, sent Dai Davies the wrong way.

The short walk back to the Quadrant station to catch the bus home seemed to last an eternity on that bitterly cold and disappointing evening.

However, the Swans didn’t have to wait long to reach the top of the First Division table, three days later they entertained league champions Aston Villa, who were themselves on their way to European Cup success later on in the season.

Robbie James was once again on the scoresheet as he scored both goals in a memorable 2-1 win, which saw the Swans once again looking down on the best English football had to offer.

When younger fans look out at the lush green playing surface here at the Swansea.com Stadium these days, it must be difficult for them to imagine how difficult those conditions were on a frozen Vetch Field pitch in those days before undersoil heating all those years ago.

One thing that’s likely to raise the temperature that little bit more is the return to Swansea of Steve Cooper, who helped us reach the Championship playoffs two seasons in succession.

The Welshman has helped turn around Forest’s fortunes since arriving at the City Ground.

It will be fascinating to see how Russell Martin’s return to the “Swansea Way” will fare against his predecessor’s new team. One thing’s for sure, Cooper should receive a warm welcome one way or another.

Hopefully, the Swans will provide a performance to warm the cockles of the home fans hearts and help melt away the memories of that cold December afternoon at the Vetch 40 years ago.

C’mon you Swans!

Hopefully the weather will be a little less cold for this afternoon’s clash than it was in 1981, but it is sure to be just as hotly contested.

PAGE 53

FORMER PLAYERS’ ASSOCIATION PAGE 54

O

wain Tudur Jones is one of a rare breed of players who, even as a youngster, had thought and planned for life post-football.

Signed by Kenny Jackett as a 20-year-old, he moved from north to south Wales to get his professional career started at Swansea City.

The promising beginning didn’t become the long-term reality unfortunately, as injury plagued much of his time at the then Liberty Stadium.

Jones found himself drawn to the media world when he hung up his boots, something he describes as having “half an eye on” during his playing days.

He recognised the need to build a network and explore options for when he was no longer able to play.

He’s very much an exception to the rule though, which is why he’s keen to endorse the move by Swansea City to launch a Former Players’ Association and offer ex pros the chance to return to the fold and support them, however long ago they retired.

“It’s such an important thing for the Swans to do. As soon as I saw the idea I knew how important it was going to be,” he said.

“It means so much more than people think because you can feel that you’ve been forgotten about, definitely.

“Not every player is still going to be recognised at former clubs and something like this gives players the opportunity to go back and have a reason for doing so.

“ Whether that’s speaking at a hospitality lounge as a one off or meeting up with former team-mates and just catching up and having a reason to do that, it means a lot. “ S o m e p l aye r s fa l l o n h a r d t i m e s aft e r t h ey f i n i s h a n d t h at s o m et i m e s g o e s d ow n to finances or problems with gambling or drinking or whatever it may be and just knowing that there is a crutch out there and a group of people out there to help them, that’s a really important thing.

“It ’s a massively impor t ant thing whether you need support or not.”

Support was something the young nor th Walian needed during his four years with Swansea because injuries kept him off the pitch and spending more time than he wanted on the treatment table.

Darren Way and Garry Monk were also suffering long-term injuries and Jones says inevitably players bond when they are going through testing times because friendships are developed through mutual experiences.

“Sam Ricketts was someone who had been through non-league and being the kind of person he is anyway, he was always there to help me and Monks roomed with Sam so Garry was one through the years I got close to and still speak to now.

“The treatment room is a horrible place to be, you don’t want to be there but inevitably when you are going through the same thing you bond with people because it’s a lonely time.”

There was certainly no shortage of big characters in the Swansea side during the time Jones was there, including the likes of Willy Gueret, Alan Tate, Bayo Akinfenwa, Kristian O'Leary and FPA chair, Lee Trundle.

“With the benefit of hindsight, you look back and it was such a strong dressing room, and I don’t just mean good players.

We had really good players who went on to do great things in their careers, but we had really strong characters in there.

“It was an interesting dressing room to go into and what that did to me was help me develop a thick skin and that helps me even today really. “ That dressing room was so ruthless in a way but in a good way for me because I learned quickly that you have to be strong minded to survive and I think even though it didn’t happen as I would have liked at Swansea, I think it helped me then and later in my career, and when I finished football.

“Even though my body sometimes let me down I always felt confident that my mind was strong and I could get through anything.”

Now working as a television presenter and podcast host, Jones has maintained contact with the club that gave him his first professional contract. He’s no stranger to Swansea and is encouraging of others not to be, especially now because of the added bonus of the FPA. He added: “The more players that become aware of it and realise that it’s a good thing to get involved in the better it is, for all sorts of reasons.”

Ex Swans who want to be involved with Swansea City Former Players’ Association are asked to fill in the registration form HERE The club is also keen to hear from relatives and friends of former players who are not online but who might still like to join the FPA. Anyone in this category is asked to call the FPA secretary, Catherine T h o m a s , o n 01792 616420 or email catherinethomas@ swanseacity.com Alternatively, the three former players on the committee, chair Lee Trundle, deputy chair Leon Britton and lifelong president Alan Curtis, are also happy to talk to players or their families directly.

The Former Players’ Association exists to unite those who have worn the club shirt and who wish to continue or renew their links with Swansea City Football Club.

The FPA is free to join and is open to men and women who have played for the club.

Its primary aims are to promote friendship, support and charitable work, including fundraising, by bringing together players from different generations and different eras.

It will also offer an opportunity to add to the archives of Swansea City Football Club by giving former players a chance to share their stories of life as a Swan.

“If we can help them in any way we will do that because they've been massive for this football club and we want to give back as much as we can.”

PAGE 55

JUNIOR CYRIL'S HALF-TIME QUIZ QUESTION ONE

QUESTION TWO

QUESTION THREE

Who did the Swans play in Steve Cooper’s first league game in charge, and what was the score?

Who scored goals for the Swans that day ?

Who is Nottingham Forest’s top scorer this season?

Tip: One is Spanish, and one is Dutch

Tip: He has played for Norwich City, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Rotherham among others.

QUESTION FOUR

QUESTION FIVE

QUESTION SIX

Two current Swans have spent time with Nottingham Forest. Who are they?

Which Swans legend is Forest’s assistant manager?

The last meeting between these sides ended in a 1-0 win for the Swans.

Who scored that day?

Tip: The game was played at The Liberty Stadium

Tip: One’s a keeper, the other joined this summer on a free transfer

Tip: We all dream of a team of this player

Tip: He’s now playing for Burnley

CYRIL AND CYBIL'S PREDICTION SWANS 2 FOREST 0

PAGE 56

PAGE 57 Cyril’s Half-Time Quiz Answers Question One - Hull City, and the Swans won 2-1 Question Two - Borja Baston, Mike van der Hoorn Question Three - Lewis Grabban

Question Four - Ben Hamer and Jamie Paterson Question Five - Alan Tate Question Six - Connor Roberts The teams are A. Sheffield Utd B. Huddersfield C. Reading D. Peterborough

CAN YOU HELP CYBIL FIND OUT WHICH TEAM PLAYS WHERE ?

R JACKS

PLAYER SPONSORS 2021~2022 STEVEN BENDA

BEN HAMER

LEWIS WEBB

KYLE NAUGHTON

JAKE BIDWELL

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RYAN BENNETT

JOEL LATIBEAUDIERE

ETHAN LAIRD

TIVONGE RUSHESHA

LINCOLN McFAYDEN

BRANDON COOPER

RYAN MANNING

FLYNN DOWNES

KOREY SMITH

MATT GRIMES

JAY FULTON

YAN DHANDA

DANIEL WILLIAMS

LIAM WALSH

MORGAN WHITTAKER

MICAHEL OBAFEMI

JOEL PIROE

TRAVEL

HOUSE .CO.UK

BEN LLOYD

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WESTACRES

CALL 01792 616 624 OR PAGE 58

EMAIL L.MERRELLS@SWANSEACITY.COM FOR AVAILABILITY

TODAY'S MASCOTS ALFIE AGE: 7 FROM AMMANFORD

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ERIN AGE: 11 FROM WEST CROSS

BECOME A MASCOT Swansea City is delighted to re-introduce its mascot packages for the 2021-22 season.

For more info and booking click HERE.

PAGE 59

FIXTURE LIST SEA FIXTURE

DATE

TEAM

Blackburn Rovers A L 2-1

Sat, Aug 7, 3pm

Benda

Naughton

Reading (CC R1) A W 0-3

Tue, Aug 10, 8pm

Benda

Naughton

Sheffield United H D 0-0

Sat, Aug 14, 8pm

Benda

Stoke City H L 1-3

Tue, Aug 14, 7.45pm

Benda

Bristol City A W 0-1

Fri, Aug 20, 7.45pm

Benda

Cabango

Bennett

Latibeaudiere

Bidwell

Smith 1

Cabango

B.Cooper

Latibeaudiere

Bidwell 3

Williams

Manning

Cabango

B.Cooper

Latibeaudiere

Bidwell

Downes

Manning

Cabango

B.Cooper

Latibeaudiere 3

Bidwell

Downes

Laird

Manning

B.Cooper

Latibeaudiere

Bidwell

Fulton Fulton

2

Plymouth Argyle (CC R2) H W 4-1

Tue, Aug 24, 7pm

Hamer

Manning 1

Joseph 3

Bennett

Latibeaudiere

Bidwell

Preston North End A L 3-1

Sat, Aug 28, 3pm

Benda

Manning

Laird

Bennett 2

Latibeaudiere 1

Bidwell

Fulton 3

Hull City H D 0-0

Sat, Sept 11, 3pm

Hamer

Laird

Williams

Bennett

Naughton 3

Bidwell 2

Downes Downes

2

Millwall H D 0-0

Wed, Sept 15, 7.45pm

Hamer

Naughton

Cabango

Bennett

Laird

Manning

Luton Town A D 3-3

Sat, Sept 18, 3pm

Hamer

Naughton

R Williams 1

Bennett

Laird

Manning

Downes 3

Brighton & Hove Albion (CC R3) A L 2-0

Wed, Sept 22 7.30pm

Benda

R Williams

Cooper

Cabango 1

Latibeaudiere

Walsh 2

Fulton

Huddersfield Town H W 1-0

Sat, Sept 25, 3pm

Hamer

Naughton

Cabango

Manning

Laird

Bidwell

Downes

Fulham A L 3-1

Wed, Sept 29, 7.45pm

Hamer

Naughton

Cabango

Manning

Laird

Bidwell 3

Downes 2

Derby County A D 0-0

Sat, Oct 2, 3pm

Hamer

Naughton

Cabango

Manning

Latibeaudiere 1

Bidwell

Downes

Cardiff City H W 3-0

Sun, Oct 17, 12pm

Hamer

Naughton

Bennett 2

Manning

Laird

Bidwell

Downes

West Bromwich Albion H W 2-1

Wed, Oct 20, 7.45pm

Hamer

Naughton

Bennett

Cabango 2

Laird

Bidwell 3

Downes 1

Birmingham City A L 2-1

Sat, Oct 23, 3pm

Hamer

Naughton

Bennett

Manning

Latibeaudiere

Laird

Smith 1

Peterborough United H W 3-0

Sat, Oct 30, 3pm

Hamer

Naughton

Bennett

Manning

Laird 3

Bidwell

Smith

Coventry City A W 2-1

Tue, Nov 2, 7.45pm

Hamer

Naughton

Bennett

Manning

Laird

Bidwell

Smith

AFC Bournemouth A L 4-0

Sat, Nov 6, 3pm

Hamer

Naughton

Bennett

Manning

Laird

Bidwell 2

Downes

Blackpool H D 1-1

Sat, Nov 20, 3pm

Hamer

Naughton

Cabango

Manning

Laird

Bidwell

Downes

Barnsley A W 0-2

Wed, Nov 24, 7.45pm

Hamer

Bennett

Naughton

Cabango

Laird

Bidwell 2

Downes 1

Reading H L 3-2

Sat, Nov 27, 3pm

Hamer

Bennett 2

Naughton

R Williams

Laird

Manning

Ntcham

Middlesbrough A L 1-0

Sat, Dec 4, 3pm

Hamer

Naughton

Cabango

R Williams 2

Laird 3

Downes

Manning

Nottingham Forest H

Sat, Dec 11, 3pm

Queens Park Rangers A

Sat, Dec 18, 3pm

Millwall A

Sun, Dec 26, 3pm

Luton Town H

Wed, Dec 29, 7.45pm

Fulham H

Mon, Jan 3, 3pm

Huddersfield Town A

Sat, Jan 15, 3pm

Preston North End H

Sat, Jan 22, 3pm

Hull City A

Sat, Jan 29, 3pm

Blackburn Rovers H

Sat, Feb 5, 3pm

Stoke City A

Tue, Feb 8, 3pm

Bristol City H

Sat, Feb 12, 3pm

Sheffield United A

Sat, Feb 19, 3pm

AFC Bournemouth H

Tue, Feb 22, 3pm

West Bromwich Albion A

Sat, Feb 26, 3pm

Coventry City H

Sat, Mar 5, 3pm

Blackpool A

Sat, Mar 12, 3pm

Peterborough United A

Wed, Mar 16, 7.45pm

Birmingham City H

Sat, Mar 19, 3pm

Cardiff City A

Sat, Apr 2, 3pm

Derby County H

Sat, Apr 9, 3pm

Barnsley H

Fri, Apr 15, 3pm

Reading A

Mon, Apr 18, 3pm

Middlesbrough H

Sat, Apr 23, 3pm

Nottingham Forest A

Sat, Apr 30, 3pm

Queens Park Rangers H

Sat, May 7, 12.30pm

Correct as of December 10, 2021.

PAGE 60

Match Statistics Key

Goal =

1

ASON 2021~2022 SUBSTITUTES Cullen 2

Lowe

Paterson

Grimes

Defreitas-Hansen, Mcfayden, B.Cooper, Dhanda 1, O.Cooper, Joseph, Whittaker 2

Dhanda

Piroe

Whittaker

Defreitas-Hansen, Manning 1, Mcfayden 3, Lloyd, Joseph 2, Lowe, Cullen

Grimes

Paterson 3

Lowe 1

Cullen 2

Webb, Mcfayden, Williams, Dhanda 3, Joseph, Piroe 1, Whittaker 2

Grimes

Fulton 2

Dhanda 1

Lowe

Webb, Laird 3, Williams, Paterson 2, Cullen, Piroe 1

Grimes

Paterson

Piroe

Cullen

Hamer, Mcfayden, Williams, Dhanda, Joseph, Lowe 2, Whittaker 1

Williams

Dhanda

Lowe

Whittaker

Webb, Naughton 2, Piroe, Cullen, Cooper, Cooper 1, Laird 3

Grimes

Paterson

Cullen

Piroe

Hamer, Cooper 1, Williams, Dhanda, Whittaker, Lowe 2, Naughton 3

Grimes

Ntcham 1

Paterson

Piroe

Benda, Cabango 3, Latibeaudiere, Manning 1, Fulton, Cullen, Obafemi 2

Grimes

Ntcham 1

Paterson 2

Piroe 3

Benda, Fulton, Obafemi 1, Cullen 3, Latibeaudiere, Bidwell, Walsh 2

Grimes

Walsh 2

Paterson

Obafemi

Benda, Cabango 1, Fulton, Smith, Ntcham 2

Bidwell

Smith 3

Whittaker

Cullen

Webb, Manning 1, Rushesha, Laird, Downes 2

Grimes

Ntcham 3

Piroe

Grimes

Ntcham 1

Piroe

Grimes

Smith 3

Piroe 2

Grimes

Smith 1

Piroe

3

Grimes

Smith

Piroe

3

Paterson

Benda, Latibeaudiere 3, Williams 2, Walsh, Ntcham 1, Cullen, Whittaker

Grimes

Ntcham 2

Piroe 3

Paterson

Benda, Cabango, Williams, Fulton, Walsh 2, Cullen 3, Obafemi 1

Grimes

Ntcham

Grimes

Ntcham 1

Grimes

Ntcham

Grimes Grimes

Grimes

1

2

2

, Whittaker

, Piroe 3

, Latbeaudiere

, Dhanda 3, Piroe

Paterson 1

Benda, Cooper, Latibeaudiere, Fulton 3, Smith 1

Paterson

Benda, Cooper, Latibeaudiere 3, Fulton, Smith 1, Walsh, Cullen 2

Paterson

Benda, Williams, Laird 1, Fulton, Walsh, Cullen 2, Whittaker 3

Paterson

Benda, Cabango 2, Latibeaudiere, Walsh, Ntcham 1, Cullen 3, Whittaker

, Walsh, Cullen 2

Paterson

Piroe

1

Benda, Cabango, Latibeaudiere, Downes 2

, Whittaker 3, Obafemi 1, Cullen

Paterson

Piroe

2

Benda, Cabango, Latibeaudiere, Downes 2

, Whittaker, Obafemi 1, Cullen

Paterson

Piroe

Ntcham 2

Paterson

Piroe

Smith

Paterson

Piroe 3

Benda, R.Williams, Latibeaudiere, Manning 2, Walsh, Ntcham 1

Grimes

Smith 1

Paterson

Piroe

Benda, Downes 1, Cooper, Cullen 2, Latibeaudiere, Bidwell, Walsh

Grimes

Smith 1

Paterson

Piroe

Benda, Bennett, Obafemi 2, Ntcham 1, Cullen, Latibeaudiere 3, Bidwell

3

Benda, Cabango, Latibeaudiere, Smith 1, Walsh 3, Whittaker 2, Cullen 1

Benda, R.Williams, Latibeaudiere, Smith 2, Walsh, Obafemi 1, Cullen , Cullen 3

Supporters with a visual impairment can improve their match day experience at the Swansea.com Stadium via a special service.

Radio City 1386AM has provided audio commentary service for supporters with a visual impairment since the opening of the stadium in 2005, while it has broadcasted to the patients, staff and visitors to the Health Board Hospitals since 1968 and is one of the longest running Hospital Radio Services in the country.

They have enjoyed a long association with Swansea City dating back to the days of “Swansea Town” and the Vetch.

They cover all Swansea City home games with live commentary of the action.

Anyone with a visual impairment can request a headset which will be delivered to your seat by the Disability Liaison Team, who will collect the unit after the game finishes.

To request this free service please email accessibility@swanseacity.com or contact the ticket office.

To get more information on Radio City 1386AM visit their website on www.radiocity1386am.co.uk or email sport@radiocity1386am.co.uk

Hat-trick =

Captain =

Sub = 2 (number denotes player replaced) Booked =

Sent off =

Carabao Cup = CC FA Cup = FA

PAGE 61

TABLE 2021~2022

POS TEAM 1

Fulham

21

P W D 13

5

L 3

50

F

17

A GD PTS 33

44

2

Bournemouth

21

12

7

2

37

17

20

43

3

West Bromwich Albion

21

10

7

4

29

17

12

37

4

Blackburn Rovers

21

10

6

5

35

27

8

36

5

Queens Park Rangers

21

10

5

6

33

27

6

35

6

Stoke City

21

10

4

7

26

21

5

34

7

Coventry City

21

9

6

6

28

25

3

33

8

Millwall

21

7

9

5

23

22

1

30

9

Middlesbrough

21

8

5

8

24

23

1

29

10

Sheffield United

21

8

5

8

28

28

0

29

11

Huddersfield Town

21

8

5

8

24

24

0

29

12

Luton Town

21

7

7

7

30

26

4

28

13

Nottingham Forest

21

7

7

7

26

23

3

28

14

Swansea City

21

7

6

8

25

27

-2

27

15

Blackpool

21

7

6

8

20

25

-5

27

16

Birmingham City

21

7

5

9

20

24

-4

26

17

Bristol City

21

7

5

9

22

30

-8

26

18

Preston North End

21

6

7

8

22

27

-5

25

19

Hull City

21

6

4

11

17

24

-7

22

20

Reading *

21

8

3

10

27

33

-6

21

21

Cardiff City

21

6

3

12

23

37

-14

21

22

Peterborough United

21

4

4

13

17

40

-23

16

23

Barnsley

21

2

7

12

14

32

-18

13

24

Derby County *

21

4

10

7

17

21

-4

1

Correct as of Dec 10, 2021.

*Derby County deducted 21 points and Reading deducted 6 points under EFL Regulations.

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THE TEAMS SWANS

Head Coach: Russell Martin 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 35 37 46

Steven Benda Ryan Bennett Ryan Manning Flynn Downes Ben Cabango Jay Fulton Korey Smith Matt Grimes Michael Obafemi Olivier Ntcham Morgan Whittaker Jamie Paterson Brandon Cooper Joël Piroe Ben Hamer Tivonge Rushesha Liam Cullen Yan Dhanda Joel Latibeaudiere Jake Bidwell Lewis Webb Kyle Naughton Ethan Laird Liam Walsh Lincoln Mcfayden Daniel Williams Rhys Williams

NOTTINGHAM FOREST Head Coach: Steve Cooper 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 30 33 37 38

Ethan Horvath Djed Spence Tobias Figueiredo Joe Worrall Rodrigo Ely Loic Mbe Soh Lewis Grabban Jack Colback João Carvalho Philip Zinckernagel Jordan Smith Gaetan Bong Max Lowe Carl Jenkinson Alex Mighten Cafú Xande Silva Brennan Johnson Braian Ojeda Ryan Yates Joe Lolley Jordi Osei-Tutu Mohamed Drager Scott McKenna Brice Samba Lyle Taylor James Garner Tyrese Fornah

NEXT UP AT Luton Town Wednesday, Dec 29 Kick-off: 7.45pm

NEXT AWAY QPR Saturday, Dec 18 Kick-off: 3pm

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~ Referee: Matthew Donohue ~ ~ Assistant Referees: Paul Hodskinson and Philip Dermott ~ ~ Fourth Official: Dean Whitestone ~

Correct as of December 10, 2021

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