Wikipedia

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.

Swansea City
1981–82 season
ChairmanMalcolm Struel
ManagerJohn Toshack
(player-manager)
StadiumVetch Field
First Division6th
FA CupThird round
League CupSecond round
Welsh CupWinners
Cup Winners' CupFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Robbie James(15)
All:
Robbie James(20)
Highest home attendance24,115 vs Manchester United
(30 January 1982)
Lowest home attendance11,811 vs Stoke City
(6 March 1982)
Average home league attendance18,194

Background edit

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 edit

[1]

In edit

Out edit

Football League First Division edit

Main article: 1981–82 Football League § First Division

Results edit

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 edit

Main article: 1981–82 Football League § First Division

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[a]
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[b]
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
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
  1. ^ Tottenham Hotspur qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round as the 1981–82 FA Cup winners.
  2. ^ Swansea City qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup preliminary round as the 1982 Welsh Cup winners.

Results summary edit

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 edit

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundHAAHAHHAHAAHAAHHAHHAAHAAHAAHHAHHHAHHAHAAHA
ResultWWLWLWWDWWLDWLDWLLWLLWWDWWWWDWLLWDWWLLLWLL
Position116243332134343244135655432221244333345566
Source: statto.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

FA Cup edit

Main article: 1981–82 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 edit

Main article: 1981–82 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 edit

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 edit

Main article: 1981–82 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 edit

Swansea's kit was manufactured by Belgian company Patrick. The kit bore no sponsorship.

Squad edit

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.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK   WAL Dai Davies
— DF   ENG Colin Irwin (captain)
— DF   WAL Wyndham Evans
— DF   WAL Dudley Lewis
— DF   WAL Nigel Stephenson
— DF   YUG Džemal Hadžiabdić
— DF   YUG Ante Rajković
— MF   ENG Ray Kennedy
— MF   WAL David Giles
— MF   WAL Leighton James
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF   WAL Robbie James
— MF   WAL John Mahoney
— MF   WAL Chris Marustik
— MF   WAL Neil Robinson
— FW   WAL Jeremy Charles
— FW   WAL Alan Curtis
— FW   WAL Dean Saunders
— FW   WAL John Toshack (player-manager)
— FW   WAL Ian Walsh

Left club during season edit

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF   WAL David Giles (on loan to Leyton Orient)

Squad statistics edit

Last updated on 4 September 2013[7]

Appearances and goals edit

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 edit

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

See also edit

References edit

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
  1. ^ "Swansea City - Transfers 1981/1982".
  2. ^ Jones (2012), p. 325-328.
  3. ^ a b c Jones (2012), p. 329.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Jones (2012), p. 328.
  6. ^ "Swansea City - Squad 1981/1982".
  7. ^ Jones (2012), p. 330.
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