John Toshack
Managed the rise to the top flight in 1981.
Read the source ↗The highs. The heartbreak.
The people who made it.
This is their story.
From local beginnings to the big occasions. This is Swansea City.
Swansea Town began in 1912 after local enthusiasts pressed for a professional team. The club entered the Southern League, with the Vetch Field becoming home. The City name came in 1970, following Swansea’s attainment of city status. Source →
Under John Toshack, Swansea rose from the Fourth Division to the First Division between 1978 and 1981. They finished sixth in their first top-flight season. Relegations then reversed the rise, eventually taking the club back to the fourth tier. Source →
In 2003 Swansea needed a final-day victory over Hull City to retain Football League status. The later climb included the 2008 League One championship and victory in the 2011 Championship play-off final, bringing Premier League football to the club. Source →
The 2013 League Cup final ended in a 5–0 win over Bradford City. Managed by Michael Laudrup, Swansea secured a major cup and a place in European competition. The achievement came in the club’s centenary season, a long way from the uncertainty of 2003. Source →
The professional club is established. [source]
The club changes its name. [source]
Swansea complete a rise from the fourth tier. [source]
A final-day win over Hull protects Football League status. [source]
Swansea win the Championship play-offs. [source]
Bradford City are beaten at Wembley. [source]
The Vetch Field was home from 1912 to 2005. Swansea then moved to the stadium in Landore, known as the Liberty Stadium during the period covered here.
Read the ground’s history ↗A few figures from the milestones in this introduction.
Managed the rise to the top flight in 1981.
Read the source ↗Manager for the League Cup victory.
Read the source ↗Selected senior honours and promotions. Competition records ↗
Written in our own words, with links back to the records. Last reviewed .
Background to the club, its identity and the people in this introduction.
Competition records; the honours below are a selection within this page’s stated period.
Name change, promotions and relegations since 1970.
Toshack, survival in 2003 and the later promotion managers.
The Wembley victory and the centenary-season setting.
Our first chapter is an introduction, not an exhaustive archive. We credit existing research and will expand the collection as more material is checked. Our editorial approach ↗