Jimmy Rimmer testimonial. Swansea City v Manchester United 24 February 1987
Category Archives: programmes
Swans v Manchester City
Click on images to enlarge. With a game against Man City coming up, here are images from the programme for the home game played almost exactly thirty years in April 1982. This is hard to believe because this is one of the games that stands out most clearly in my memory. It came at the end of a great week, in which the Swans had already beaten Southampton 1-0 at the Vetch, and the team stood in third place in Division One (the old highest division). The Swans beat City 2-0 in a game played in brilliant sunshine in front of a crowd of 19,212, and it was marked by a goal scored from a fantastic long-range shot by Gary Stanley. It seemed then that the Swans were unstoppable and could even pip Liverpool to the title. But looking back, the game against City in fact marked almost the all-time high in the club’s fortunes. Five of the remaining six games of the season were lost, and the club finished in sixth place in the league. The slump continued into the next season, and relegation ensued. The rest as they say is history. What a day that was, though, and it can be relived on Match of the Day footage to be found on the ‘golden years’ videos and DVDs.
Any thoughts or memories about that game or others against City? If so, let us have them.
Filed under 1980s, programmes
Swans v Wigan
Click on the images to enlarge. With a game against Wigan coming up, does anyone have any memories of games against the Latics? No? I thought not. The game in August 1985, featured above, was the first of a new season in what was then described as Canon League Division 3 (now League 1). The previous season the Swans had avoided the drop to the bottom division on the very last day of the season when, managed by John Bond, they drew 0-0 at home to Bristol City. The game against Wigan was lost 1-0 in front of 4,700 spectators, and this set the tone for a dismal season which eventually ended in relegation. Indeed, the club was lucky to survive at all. Bond (‘Call me boss’)was sacked just before Christmas and the Swans went into receivership. Those were very dark days, another episode in which the club nearly had its life support machine switched off.
Filed under 1980s, programmes
Stoke City v Swans
Click images to enlarge
With a Premier League game away at Stoke coming up, does anyone have any memories of games against The Potters?
I can’t recall anything about the away League Cup tie of 1990 (programme cover above), apart from the fact that it was played at the old Victoria Ground. The Swans did the hard work by drawing 0-0 in this first leg in front of a crowd of 7,806, but then promptly lost the second leg at the Vetch a week later in front of 4,464 spectators.
In 1993 Andy Legg scored a sensational volley against Stoke at the Vetch, beating goalkeeper Bruce Grobelaar in the process, but the game was lost 2-1 in front of a league-season high crowd of 8,368. I might be wrong, but I think that there was quite serious trouble after that game.
Filed under 1990s, programmes
Swans v Norwich
Click images to enlarge.
The Swans face Norwich at home on Saturday 11 February 2012.
Last time Swansea played Norwich at home in the top flight was in September 1982. On that occasion the Swans won 4-0, with Bob Latchford scoring a hat-trick, but the crowd was only 11,694. What odds on a repeat scoreline? One thing is absolutely certain, and that is that the crowd will be larger in 2012.
The Swans have played The Canaries 46 times, winning 20, drawing 8, and losing 18 games. Do you have particular memories of any of these games? If so, let us know and post a comment below.
Filed under 1990s, programmes
100 Years of Swansea City FC 