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 5' Latchford 46', 50', 55' Curtis 70' |
Parlane 26' | Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 23,500 Referee: S Bates |
1 September 1981 2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–2 | Swansea City | Hove |
Ritchie 33' | L.James 10' Latchford 14' |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 19,885 Referee: D Vickers |
5 September 1981 3 | West Bromwich Albion | 4–1 | Swansea City | West Bromwich |
Regis 17', 67', 73' MacKenzie 69' |
Robinson 76' | Stadium: The Hawthorns Attendance: 18,063 Referee: R Bridges |
12 September 1981 4 | Swansea City | 3–2 | Notts. County | Swansea |
Curtis 23' L.James 37' Latchford 52' |
O'Brien 65' (pen.) McCulloch 85' |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 14,391 Referee: T Spencer |
19 September 1981 5 | Manchester United | 1–0 | Swansea City | Manchester |
Birtles 37' | Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 47,309 Referee: GJ Napthine |
22 September 1981 6 | Swansea City | 2–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | Swansea |
R.James 62', 74' | Hoddle 65' (pen.) | Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 22,206 Referee: DW Civil |
26 September 1981 7 | Swansea City | 2–0 | Sunderland | Swansea |
Curtis 56' L.James 82' (pen.) |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 17,826 Referee: R Baker |
3 October 1981 8 | Liverpool | 2–2 | Swansea City | Liverpool |
McDermott 59' (pen.), 63' (pen.) | L.James 15' (pen.) Latchford 57' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 48,645 Referee: A Challinor |
10 October 1981 9 | Swansea City | 2–0 | Arsenal | Swansea |
L.James 38' Thompson 83' |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 20,600 Referee: LM Robinson |
17 October 1981 10 | Stoke City | 1–2 | Swansea City | Stoke-on-Trent |
Griffiths 35' | Stanley 65' Latchford 79' |
Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 14,665 Referee: D Scott |
24 October 1981 11 | Coventry City | 3–1 | Swansea City | Coventry |
Hateley 37', 53' Kaiser 39' |
Curtis 74' | 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 53' Muhren 81' |
Curtis 7' Latchford 63' Stanley 83' |
Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 24,190 Referee: K Salmon |
21 November 1981 14 | Manchester City | 4–0 | Swansea City | Manchester |
Tueart 41' (pen.), 86' Reeves 63', 84' |
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 66' | Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 15,097 Referee: D Hutchinson |
5 December 1981 17 | Everton | 3–1 | Swansea City | Liverpool |
Sharp 49' O'Keefe 62', 67' |
Latchford 79' | Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 23,860 Referee: KA Redfern |
12 December 1981 18 | Swansea City | 1–2 | Nottingham Forest | Swansea |
R.James 34' | Young 77' Robertson 89' (pen.) |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 17,550 Referee: D Lloyd |
15 December 1981 19 | Swansea City | 2–1 | Aston Villa | Swansea |
R.James 12', 40' | Thompson 14'(o.g.) | Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 15,191 Referee: AR Glasson |
28 December 1981 20 | Southampton | 3–1 | Swansea City | Southampton |
Armstrong 3' Keegan 50', 67' |
Rajković 14' | Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 22,703 Referee: LC Shapter |
16 January 1982 21 | Leeds United | 2–0 | Swansea City | Leeds |
Stevenson 17' Butterworth 48' |
Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 18,709 Referee: NL Wilson |
30 January 1982 22 | Swansea City | 2–0 | Manchester United | Swansea |
Curtis 54' R.James 56' |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 24,115 Referee: JE Martin |
6 February 1982 23 | Notts. County | 0–1 | Swansea City | Nottingham |
L.James 12' (pen.) | Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 10,070 Referee: N Midgley |
13 February 1982 24 | Middlesbrough | 1–1 | Swansea City | Middlesbrough |
McAndrew 67' (pen.) | Kennedy 38' | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 11,209 Referee: D Webb |
16 February 1982 25 | Swansea City | 2–0 | Liverpool | Swansea |
L.James 74' Curtis 89' |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 22,604 Referee: VG Callow |
20 February 1982 26 | Sunderland | 0–1 | Swansea City | Sunderland |
L.James 23' | Stadium: Roker Park Attendance: 13,163 Referee: RF Nixon |
27 February 1982 27 | Arsenal | 0–2 | Swansea City | London |
Kennedy 17' R.James 65' (pen.) |
Stadium: Highbury Stadium Attendance: 29,724 Referee: H Taylor |
6 March 1982 28 | Swansea City | 3–0 | Stoke City | Swansea |
R.James 34', 87' Charles 72' |
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 35' | Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 14,158 Referee: T Fitzharris |
27 March 1982 31 | Swansea City | 1–2 | Ipswich Town | Swansea |
R.James 31' (pen.) | Brazil 20' Gates 88' |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 20,750 Referee: BL Newsome |
30 March 1982 32 | Swansea City | 0–1 | West Ham United | Swansea |
Van Der Elst 9' | Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 20,272 Referee: BT Stevens |
6 April 1982 33 | Swansea City | 3–1 | West Bromwich Albion | Swansea |
Marustik 59' Curtis 80' Latchford 89' |
MacKenzie 45' | Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 15,744 Referee: RG Milford |
10 April 1982 34 | West Ham United | 1–1 | Swansea City | London |
Goddard 89' | R.James 34' | Stadium: Boleyn Ground Attendance: 26,566 Referee: A Robinson |
13 April 1982 35 | Swansea City | 1–0 | Southampton | Swansea |
Curtis 27' | Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 23,771 Referee: AJ Hamil |
17 April 1982 36 | Swansea City | 2–0 | Manchester City | Swansea |
Stanley 11' Latchford 36' |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 19,212 Referee: KW Baker |
24 April 1982 37 | Birmingham City | 2–1 | Swansea City | Birmingham |
Broadhurst 32' Harford 78' |
Walsh 54' | Stadium: St Andrew's (stadium) Attendance: 14,973 Referee: CB White |
1 May 1982 38 | Swansea City | 1–3 | Everton | Swansea |
R.James 76' | Heath 26' Sharp 50' (pen.), 60' |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 16,243 Referee: DA Hedges |
5 May 1982 39 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2–1 | Swansea City | London |
Brooke 23', 55' (pen.) | L.James 70' | Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 26,358 Referee: LC Shapter |
8 May 1982 40 | Nottingham Forest | 0–2 | Swansea City | Nottingham |
R.James 2', 83' | Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 15,037 Referee: KP Barratt |
15 May 1982 41 | Swansea City | 1–2 | Middlesbrough | Swansea |
Latchford 77' | Otto 84' Stanley 89' (o.g.) |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 12,961 Referee: D Letts |
21 May 1982 42 | Aston Villa | 3–0 | Swansea City | Birmingham |
Morley 36' Bremner 44' Withe 65' |
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 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[lower-alpha 1] |
5 | Arsenal | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 48 | 37 | +11 | 71 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
6 | Swansea City | 42 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 58 | 51 | +7 | 69 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup preliminary round[lower-alpha 2] |
7 | Southampton | 42 | 19 | 9 | 14 | 72 | 67 | +5 | 66 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
8 | Everton | 42 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 56 | 50 | +6 | 64 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
- Tottenham Hotspur qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round as the 1981–82 FA Cup winners.
- Swansea City qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup preliminary round as the 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 35' Rush 45', 88' Lawrenson 73' |
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 47' Evans 73' |
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 18' (pen.) Irwin 66' Curtis 73' |
Glavin 46' Cooper 114' |
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 23' Thompson 30' Harris 49' (o.g.) Latchford 90' |
Stadium: Marston Road Attendance: 3,077 Referee: EG Morgan |
22 December 1981 Fourth Round | Swansea City | 6–0 | Worcester City | Swansea |
R.James 2', 21', 84' L.James 29' Stanley 34' Attley 55' |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 4,838 Referee: C Thomas |
9 February 1982 Fifth Round | Swansea City | 2–2 | Colwyn Bay | Swansea |
Stanley 25' Irwin 62' |
Phillips 9', 52' | Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 3,385 Referee: EG Morgan |
2 March 1982 Fifth Round Replay | Swansea City | 3–0 | Colwyn Bay | Swansea |
Curtis 2' R.James 4', 58' |
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 27' | L.James 57' Curtis 78' |
Stadium: Farrar Road Stadium Attendance: 7,500 Referee: R Bridges |
20 April 1982 Semi-final second leg | Swansea City | 0–0 (2–1 agg.) | 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 (2–1 agg.) | Cardiff City | Swansea |
Latchford 7', 18' | Bennett 3' | 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 | Lokomotive Leipzig | Swansea |
Kinne 70' | Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 10,295 Referee: J Quinou |
30 September 1981 First round, second leg | Lokomotive Leipzig | 2–1 (3–1 agg.) | Swansea City | Leipzig |
Kinne 13' Moldt 22' |
Charles 78' | 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 | Dai Davies | 41 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 53 | 0 |
- | GK | Chris Sander | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
- | GK | David Stewart | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- | DF | Ante Rajković | 40 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 51 | 1 |
- | DF | Colin Irwin | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 2 |
- | DF | Džemal Hadžiabdić | 25(+1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 33(+1) | 0 |
- | DF | Max Thompson | 22(+1) | 1 | 0(+1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 27(+2) | 2 |
- | DF | Nigel Stevenson | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0(+1) | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28(+1) | 0 |
- | DF | Dudley Lewis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
- | DF | Wyndham Evans | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(+2) | 0 | 1(+2) | 0 |
- | DF | Gary Richards | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
- | DF | Dave Rushbury | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- | MF | Robbie James | 42 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 53 | 20 |
- | MF | Leighton James | 34(+4) | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 46(+4) | 12 |
- | MF | Neil Robinson | 27(+2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37(+2) | 1 |
- | MF | John Mahoney | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3(+2) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32(+2) | 0 |
- | MF | Gary Stanley | 22(+7) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 31(+7) | 5 |
- | MF | Chris Marustik | 19(+3) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27(+3) | 1 |
- | MF | Ray Kennedy | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 |
- | MF | Brian Attley | 2(+2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(+1) | 0 | 0(+1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3(+4) | 1 |
- | MF | Jimmy Loveridge | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
- | MF | David Giles | 0(+2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(+2) | 0 | 0(+4) | 0 |
- | MF | Tommy Craig | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- | FW | Alan Curtis | 40 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 52 | 13 |
- | FW | Bob Latchford | 31 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5(+1) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 41(+1) | 15 |
- | FW | Jeremy Charles | 9(+4) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 14(+4) | 3 |
- | FW | Ian Walsh | 3(+2) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(+1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3(+3) | 2 |
- | FW | Darren Gale | 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
- Specific
- "Swansea City - Transfers 1981/1982".
- 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.
- "Swansea City - Squad 1981/1982".
- Jones (2012), p. 330.