It's Swansea not a swan song

Manager Major Frank Buckley’s scout discovered Charles at what was then Swansea Town when he was just sixteen years’ old. The club changed their name to Swansea City soon after the club was given city status in 1969, and the M4 about ten years later, although most people have given up the will to live by the time they eventually get there. Disillusioned with lack of game time in South Wales, Charles was persuaded to have a trial for Leeds and joined the West Yorkshire club. His mother had initially thought this impossible as he didn’t have a passport!

John Charles made his league debut for Leeds United as a 17-year-old centre-half on 23 April 1949 in a 0.0 draw at Blackburn Rovers. He was particularly effective in the air after Buckley had made him leap up and head the crossbar, as though it was the ball, causing him persistent headaches - which he was happy to pass on to any other player who got in his way.

We don’t have such a colossus as him at the moment, do we? However, our more balanced team this season does have goals in it all over the pitch and the same determination not to be beaten, as witnessed last time out at QPR after the sun (and the moon and the stars) had conspired against us yet again.

I suppose it’s better to be going for promotion than worrying about relegation, although, in anticipation of the next eight matches, the nerve endings are already tangled up in my head. Perhaps heading a crossbar would have been more satisfying?

The match against them that I remember most was actually our worst ever defeat to Swansea. It came at the Vetch Field. Vetch is also known as Poor Man’s Peas - one of the first domesticated crops grown by neolithic people. I did say that it was a long way from anywhere and that time moves slowly out west… We lost 5.1 on 29 August 1981 in our first league match of that terrible season, at the end of which we were relegated.

John Toshack’s Swansea had won three promotions in four seasons climbing from the fourth tier to the First Division in 1981. They were out to make a statement; and did, finishing in a club-record sixth place that season. However, as with our own ups and downs (though not quite so bad), they then went all the way back again: relegated to the Fourth Division in 1986 – much like the rise and fall of Northampton Town in the 1960s.

Formed as Swansea Town in 1912, they played in the Southern League before joining the new Third Division of the Football League in 1920 (as did Portsmouth and QPR – subject of my two previous posts). We first played them on 8 October 1927, winning 5.0 at Elland Road, and didn’t lose to them until 1949 - although that was only four matches further on and more to do with us being in different leagues and a World War than any great defensive record.

We’ve won twice as many games against them as we’ve lost, and Don Revie’s Leeds secured promotion back to the First Division at Swansea Town on 11 April 1964 with a 3.0 win. Leeds scorers that day were Johnny Giles and two from Alan Peacock.

I also remember a third-round FA Cup win against Swansea Town on 3 January 1970, 2.1, on our way to the final when Giles also scored, as well as Mick Jones.

Naturally, we’re all remembering that amazing game against them at the Liberty Stadium back in November when we got out of jail at 4.3; not to mention the four goals we also put past them down there last season.

Pablo Hernández - who had also played for Swansea City – secured immortality among Whites supporters with his goal in a 1.0 win in our promotion season under Bielsa, but let’s not forget that we lost the home league fixture against them that season – also 1.0 at Elland Road.

For all the Joël Piroe doubters ever since Daniel Farke brought him to Leeds from Swansea, let’s also be mindful that in 1978 Jimmy Adamson brought striker Alan Curtis to the club – also from Swansea – in a real statement signing at that time. Apart from a stunning solo goal at Southampton in October 1979, it’s very hard to remember much else.

So, we need to march on together as we have always done. We go again. This particular match may not end 7.0, as happened last time against a club from South Wales, but just a 1.0 win could again be priceless! Whatever happens, it won’t be a swan song.