Personalised Swansea City Football Books
Enjoy a Newspaper History of the Swans
Swansea Town AFC was founded in 1912 and the club became known as Swansea City in 1971, when Swansea gained full city status. The Swans joined the Football League in 1920 and they reached their first FA Cup semi-final four years later. Swansea reached the FA Cup semi-final again in 1964, beating league leaders Liverpool in the quarter-final. The Swans struggled in subsequent seasons and the team fell into Division Four in 1967. Harry Griffiths began to turn the team’s form around when he became manager of the club in 1975. John Toshack continued the good work when he took charge of Swansea City in 1978. The Swans won three promotions in just four years to turn the club around. Swansea competed in the top flight for the first time in 1981-1982, where they would beat teams such as Manchester United and Arsenal. They finished the year in sixth place. The Swans were also enjoying cup success at this time. Swansea City won three consecutive Welsh Cups between 1981 and 1983, leading to qualification for the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Personalised Swansea Football Books - Inspired Gifts
A Swansea City Gift Book can be an inspired present for a fan of the Swans. It is unique, smartly presented and filled with fascinating newspaper reports on the history of the club. Being able to personalise this Swansea Football Book makes the gift even more special and shows the thought that has gone into buying it. The present will also prove to be a terrific addition to a supporter’s Swansea City memorabilia collection.
Swansea City Football Book Coverage
This Swansea Football Book opens with coverage of the club’s 1-0 win over Pontypridd in the 1913 Welsh Cup final. It goes on to cover a selection of great games through the decades of the 20th Century and many highlights from the present era.
Early top stories in the Swansea City Football Book include knocking West Ham out of the 1922 FA Cup and beating Arsenal in the sixth round in 1926. The Gift Books also feature the epic 5-4 win over Liverpool in 1959, the 1966 Welsh Cup triumph and the rise through the leagues in the 1970s and early 1980s. The Swans won promotion to Division Three in 1978, Division Two in 1979 and Division One in 1981, before briefly topping the table. Relive some of Swansea’s forays into Europe, such as beating Sliema Wanderers of Malta 17-0 on aggregate and playing against teams like Paris St. Germain. The Swansea Football Books contain coverage of the record attendance of 32,796 at the Vetch Field against Arsenal in 1968. It also incorporates reports on Swansea City being wound up in the High Courts in 1985 with forty-six staff sacked (including Manager John Bond), before their subsequent revival.
More recent articles in this special Gift Book include winning the Autoglass Trophy at Wembley in 1994, lifting the Football League Trophy and reaching the play-off finals in 2006 and Swansea’s 2008 promotion to the Championship, having won the League One title.
Newspaper coverage continues right up to the end of last season. This unique insight into the Swans’ history makes these books truly memorable gifts and a great addition for a collector of Swansea memorabilia.
Swansea City Memorabilia
If you are a collector of Swansea City memorabilia or looking for other Swansea gifts, why not consider our Swansea City Calendar or Swansea City Diary? Each month features a newspaper headline on one of the Swans’ key games. The presents can be personalised with the recipient’s name to make them even more special and both items make great gifts for Swansea City fans. Other Swansea presents include themed Spoof Newspaper Headlines and Personalised Commentaries.
Finally – Did You Know?
- Swansea was originally known as a rugby union area. The first football team created in the town was Swansea Villa, but it soon disbanded.
- Swansea’s first home ground was Vetch Field. The first professional match they played here was on 7th September 1912 against rivals Cardiff City. Players had to wear knee pads due to the hard, clinker surface and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
- One of the Swans’ most notable matches was the FA Cup tie against league champions Blackburn Rovers in 1914-15. Swansea won the match 1-0 despite playing the final fifteen minutes with just nine men. Blackburn also missed a penalty during the match, having converted their previous thirty-six spot kicks.
- Swansea’s all-time top scorer is Ivor Allchurch, with 164 goals.
- Swansea City shares the Liberty Stadium with the Ospreys Rugby Union Club.