1981–82 Swansea City A.F.C. season
During the 1981–82 English football season, Swansea City A.F.C. competed in the Football League First Division, following promotion from the Second Division. It was their debut season in the English top flight and the first season in which a Welsh club was part of the top English league since arch-rivals Cardiff City were relegated at the end of 1961-62.
1981–82 season | |||
---|---|---|---|
Chairman | Malcolm Struel | ||
Manager | John Toshack (player-manager) | ||
Stadium | Vetch Field | ||
First Division | 6th | ||
FA Cup | Third round | ||
League Cup | Second round | ||
Welsh Cup | Winners | ||
Cup Winners' Cup | First round | ||
Top goalscorer | League: Robbie James(15) All: Robbie James(20) | ||
Highest home attendance | 24,115 vs Manchester United (30 January 1982) | ||
Lowest home attendance | 11,811 vs Stoke City (6 March 1982) | ||
Average home league attendance | 18,194 | ||
| |||
Background
Swansea's rise to the top flight of English football had come only four seasons after competing in the Fourth Division and thus few tipped Swansea to survive in the First Division. Swansea soon proved the naysayers wrong by crushing Leeds United 5-1 in their first match ever in the top flight, with debutant Bob Latchford scoring a hat-trick. The win saw Swansea rise from the basement division to the top of the entire Football League in barely three years. Victories over footballing royalty such as Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur followed as the club topped the league on several further occasions. However, injuries to key players took their toll, and the lack of depth in the squad meant that the season ended in sixth-place finish.
Transfers
In
Dai Davies - Wrexham, July Ray Kennedy - Liverpool, January, £160,000 Ian Walsh - Crystal Palace, February Colin Irwin - Liverpool, £338,800
Out
Leighton Phillips - Charlton Athletic, June, £25,000 David Giles - Leyton Orient, December, loan
Football League First Division
Results
29 August 1981 1 | Swansea City | 5 – 1 | Leeds United | Swansea |
Charles Latchford Curtis |
Parlane |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 23,500 Referee: S Bates |
1 September 1981 2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1 – 2 | Swansea City | Hove |
Ritchie |
L.James Latchford |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 19,885 Referee: D Vickers |
5 September 1981 3 | West Bromwich Albion | 4 – 1 | Swansea City | West Bromwich |
Regis MacKenzie |
Robinson |
Stadium: The Hawthorns Attendance: 18,063 Referee: R Bridges |
12 September 1981 4 | Swansea City | 3 – 2 | Notts. County | Swansea |
Curtis L.James Latchford |
O'Brien McCulloch |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 14,391 Referee: T Spencer |
19 September 1981 5 | Manchester United | 1 – 0 | Swansea City | Manchester |
Birtles |
Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 47,309 Referee: GJ Napthine |
22 September 1981 6 | Swansea City | 2 – 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | Swansea |
R.James |
Hoddle |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 22,206 Referee: DW Civil |
26 September 1981 7 | Swansea City | 2 – 0 | Sunderland | Swansea |
Curtis L.James |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 17,826 Referee: R Baker |
3 October 1981 8 | Liverpool | 2 – 2 | Swansea City | Liverpool |
McDermott |
L.James Latchford |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 48,645 Referee: A Challinor |
10 October 1981 9 | Swansea City | 2 – 0 | Arsenal | Swansea |
L.James Thompson |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 20,600 Referee: LM Robinson |
17 October 1981 10 | Stoke City | 1 – 2 | Swansea City | Stoke-on-Trent |
Griffiths |
Stanley Latchford |
Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 14,665 Referee: D Scott |
24 October 1981 11 | Coventry City | 3 – 1 | Swansea City | Coventry |
Hateley Kaiser |
Curtis |
Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 14,050 Referee: M Lowe |
31 October 1981 12 | Swansea City | 0 – 0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Swansea |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 17,750 Referee: E Read |
7 November 1981 13 | Ipswich Town | 2 – 3 | Swansea City | Ipswich |
Mariner Muhren |
Curtis Latchford Stanley |
Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 24,190 Referee: K Salmon |
21 November 1981 14 | Manchester City | 4 – 0 | Swansea City | Manchester |
Tueart Reeves |
Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 34,744 Referee: G Courtney |
24 November 1981 15 | Swansea City | 0 – 0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Swansea |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 14,459 Referee: K Baker |
28 November 1981 16 | Swansea City | 1 – 0 | Birmingham City | Swansea |
R.James |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 15,097 Referee: D Hutchinson |
5 December 1981 17 | Everton | 3 – 1 | Swansea City | Liverpool |
Sharp O'Keefe |
Latchford |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 23,860 Referee: KA Redfern |
12 December 1981 18 | Swansea City | 1 – 2 | Nottingham Forest | Swansea |
R.James |
Young Robertson |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 17,550 Referee: D Lloyd |
15 December 1981 19 | Swansea City | 2 – 1 | Aston Villa | Swansea |
R.James |
Thompson |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 15,191 Referee: AR Glasson |
28 December 1981 20 | Southampton | 3 – 1 | Swansea City | Southampton |
Armstrong Keegan |
Rajković |
Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 22,703 Referee: LC Shapter |
16 January 1982 21 | Leeds United | 2 – 0 | Swansea City | Leeds |
Stevenson Butterworth |
Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 18,709 Referee: NL Wilson |
30 January 1982 22 | Swansea City | 2 – 0 | Manchester United | Swansea |
Curtis R.James |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 24,115 Referee: JE Martin |
6 February 1982 23 | Notts. County | 0 – 1 | Swansea City | Nottingham |
L.James |
Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 10,070 Referee: N Midgley |
13 February 1982 24 | Middlesbrough | 1 – 1 | Swansea City | Middlesbrough |
McAndrew |
Kennedy |
Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 11,209 Referee: D Webb |
16 February 1982 25 | Swansea City | 2 – 0 | Liverpool | Swansea |
L.James Curtis |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 22,604 Referee: VG Callow |
20 February 1982 26 | Sunderland | 0 – 1 | Swansea City | Sunderland |
L.James |
Stadium: Roker Park Attendance: 13,163 Referee: RF Nixon |
27 February 1982 27 | Arsenal | 0 – 2 | Swansea City | London |
Kennedy R.James |
Stadium: Highbury Stadium Attendance: 29,724 Referee: H Taylor |
6 March 1982 28 | Swansea City | 3 – 0 | Stoke City | Swansea |
R.James Charles |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 11,811 Referee: LF Burden |
13 March 1982 29 | Swansea City | 0 – 0 | Coventry City | Swansea |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 16,425 Referee: LF Burden |
20 March 1982 30 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 – 1 | Swansea City | Wolverhampton |
Walsh |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 14,158 Referee: T Fitzharris |
27 March 1982 31 | Swansea City | 1 – 2 | Ipswich Town | Swansea |
R.James |
Brazil Gates |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 20,750 Referee: BL Newsome |
30 March 1982 32 | Swansea City | 0 – 1 | West Ham United | Swansea |
Van Der Elst |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 20,272 Referee: BT Stevens |
6 April 1982 33 | Swansea City | 3 – 1 | West Bromwich Albion | Swansea |
Marustik Curtis Latchford |
MacKenzie |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 15,744 Referee: RG Milford |
10 April 1982 34 | West Ham United | 1 – 1 | Swansea City | London |
Goddard |
R.James |
Stadium: Boleyn Ground Attendance: 26,566 Referee: A Robinson |
13 April 1982 35 | Swansea City | 1 – 0 | Southampton | Swansea |
Curtis |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 23,771 Referee: AJ Hamil |
17 April 1982 36 | Swansea City | 2 – 0 | Manchester City | Swansea |
Stanley Latchford |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 19,212 Referee: KW Baker |
24 April 1982 37 | Birmingham City | 2 – 1 | Swansea City | Birmingham |
Broadhurst Harford |
Walsh |
Stadium: St Andrew's (stadium) Attendance: 14,973 Referee: CB White |
1 May 1982 38 | Swansea City | 1 – 3 | Everton | Swansea |
R.James |
Heath Sharp |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 16,243 Referee: DA Hedges |
5 May 1982 39 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2 – 1 | Swansea City | London |
Brooke |
L.James |
Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 26,358 Referee: LC Shapter |
8 May 1982 40 | Nottingham Forest | 0 – 2 | Swansea City | Nottingham |
R.James |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 15,037 Referee: KP Barratt |
15 May 1982 41 | Swansea City | 1 – 2 | Middlesbrough | Swansea |
Latchford |
Otto Stanley |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 12,961 Referee: D Letts |
21 May 1982 42 | Aston Villa | 3 – 0 | Swansea City | Birmingham |
Morley Bremner Withe |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 18,294 Referee: M Dimblebee |
Last updated: 4 September 2013
Source:[2]
Classification
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 67 | 48 | +19 | 71 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1982–83 First round[lower-alpha 1] |
5 | Arsenal | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 48 | 37 | +11 | 71 | UEFA Cup 1982–83 First round |
6 | Swansea City | 42 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 58 | 51 | +7 | 69 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1982–83 First round[lower-alpha 2] |
7 | Southampton | 42 | 19 | 9 | 14 | 72 | 67 | +5 | 66 | UEFA Cup 1982–83 First round |
8 | Everton | 42 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 56 | 50 | +6 | 64 |
Notes:
- FA Cup winners
- Swansea City qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as 1982 Welsh Cup winners.
Results summary
Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
42 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 58 | 51 | +7 | 69 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 34 | 16 | +18 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 24 | 35 | −11 |
Source: statto.com
Results by round
FA Cup
2 January 1982 Third Round | Swansea City | 0 – 4 | Liverpool | Swansea |
Hansen Rush Lawrenson |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 24,179 Referee: CB White |
Last updated: 4 September 2013
Source:[3]
Football League Cup
6 October 1981 Second round, first leg | Barnsley | 2 – 0 | Swansea City | Barnsley |
Riley Evans |
Stadium: Oakwell Attendance: 12,793 Referee: RA Banks |
27 October 1981 Second round, second leg | Swansea City | 3 – 2 (a.e.t.) (3–4 agg.) | Barnsley | Swansea |
L.James Irwin Curtis |
Glavin Cooper |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 9,897 Referee: A Seville |
Last updated: 4 September 2013
Source:[3]
Welsh Cup
2 December 1981 Third Round | Stafford Rangers | 0 – 4 | Swansea City | Stafford |
Curtis Thompson Harris Latchford |
Stadium: Marston Road Attendance: 3,077 Referee: EG Morgan |
22 December 1981 Fourth Round | Swansea City | 6 – 0 | Worcester City | Swansea |
R.James L.James Stanley Attley |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 4,838 Referee: C Thomas |
9 February 1982 Fifth Round | Swansea City | 2 – 2 | Colwyn Bay | Swansea |
Stanley Irwin |
Phillips |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 3,385 Referee: EG Morgan |
2 March 1982 Fifth Round Replay | Swansea City | 0 – 3 | Colwyn Bay | Swansea |
Curtis R.James |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 4,922 Referee: EG Morgan |
16 March 1982 Semi-final first leg | Bangor City | 1 – 2 | Swansea City | Bangor, Gwynedd |
Urquhart |
L.James Curtis |
Stadium: Farrar Road Stadium Attendance: 7,500 Referee: R Bridges |
20 April 1982 Semi-final second leg | Swansea City | 0 – 0 | Bangor City | Swansea |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 5,700 Referee: R Bridges |
11 May 1982 Final first leg | Cardiff City | 0 – 0 | Swansea City | Cardiff |
Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 11,960 Referee: GP Owen |
19 May 1982 Final second leg | Swansea City | 2 – 1 | Cardiff City | Swansea |
Latchford |
Bennett |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 15,828 Referee: GP Owen |
Last updated: 19 January 2014
Sources:,[3] Welsh Football Data Archive[4]
European Cup Winners' Cup
16 September 1981 First round, first leg | Swansea City | 0 – 1 | Swansea | |
Kinne |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 10,295 Referee: J Quinou |
30 September 1981 First round, second leg | Lokomotive Leipzig | 2 – 1 (3–1 agg.) | Leipzig | |
Kinne Moldt |
Charles |
Stadium: Bruno-Plache-Stadion Attendance: 22,500 Referee: M Ciulli (Italy) |
Last updated: 4 September 2013
Source:[5]
Kit
Swansea's kit was manufactured by Belgian company Patrick. The kit bore no sponsorship.
Squad
- Squad at end of season[6]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Left club during season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Squad statistics
- Last updated on 4 September 2013[7]
Appearances and goals
No. | Pos | Player | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Welsh Cup | Cup Winners' Cup | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
App. | Goals | App. | Goals | App. | Goals | App. | Goals | App. | Goals | App. | Goals | |||
- | GK | 41 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 53 | 0 | |
- | GK | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
- | GK | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
- | DF | 40 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 51 | 1 | |
- | DF | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 2 | |
- | DF | 25(+1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 33(+1) | 0 | |
- | DF | 22(+1) | 1 | 0(+1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 27(+2) | 2 | |
- | DF | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0(+1) | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28(+1) | 0 | |
- | DF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
- | DF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(+2) | 0 | 1(+2) | 0 | |
- | DF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
- | DF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
- | MF | 42 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 53 | 20 | |
- | MF | 34(+4) | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 46(+4) | 12 | |
- | MF | 27(+2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37(+2) | 1 | |
- | MF | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3(+2) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32(+2) | 0 | |
- | MF | 22(+7) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 31(+7) | 5 | |
- | MF | 19(+3) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27(+3) | 1 | |
- | MF | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 | |
- | MF | 2(+2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(+1) | 0 | 0(+1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3(+4) | 1 | |
- | MF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
- | MF | 0(+2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(+2) | 0 | 0(+4) | 0 | |
- | MF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
- | FW | 40 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 52 | 13 | |
- | FW | 31 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5(+1) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 41(+1) | 15 | |
- | FW | 9(+4) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 14(+4) | 3 | |
- | FW | 3(+2) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(+1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3(+3) | 2 | |
- | FW | 0(+1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(+1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(+2) | 0 |
Top scorers
Place | Position | Nationality | Number | Name | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Welsh Cup | Cup Winners' Cup | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | MF | - | Robbie James | 15 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 20 | |
2 | FW | - | Bob Latchford | 12 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | |
3 | FW | - | Alan Curtis | 9 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 13 | |
4 | MF | - | Leighton James | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 12 | |
5 | MF | - | Gary Stanley | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | |
6 | FW | - | Jeremy Charles | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
7 | FW | - | Ian Walsh | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
8 | MF | - | Ray Kennedy | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
9 | MF | - | Chris Marustik | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
10 | DF | - | Ante Rajković | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
11 | DF | - | Neil Robinson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
12 | DF | - | Max Thompson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
13 | DF | - | Colin Irwin | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
14 | DF | - | Brian Attley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
15 | - | - | - | Own goal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
TOTALS | 58 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 1 | 81 |
References
- General
- Rundle, Richard. "Swansea City". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- Bibliography
- Jones, Colin (2012). Swansea Town & City Football Club: The Complete Record, 1912-2012. From Southern League to Premier League. Dinefwr Press Ltd. ISBN 978-1904323-26-6.
- Jenkins, Geraint H. (2012). Proud to be a Swan, The History of Swansea City AFC. Ceredigion: Y Lolfa Cyf. ISBN 978-184771-481-7.
- Specific
- http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/swansea-city/1982/6/
- Jones (2012), p. 325-328.
- Jones (2012), p. 329.
- Thomas, Mel; Garland, Ian (19 January 2014). "Welsh Cup 1981/82". wfda.co.uk. WFDA. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
- Jones (2012), p. 328.
- http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/swansea-city/1982/2/
- Jones (2012), p. 330.