List of Swansea City A.F.C. seasons

The Swansea Town team during its first season, 1912–13

This is a list of seasons played by Swansea City Association Football Club in English and European football. It covers the period from the club's inaugural season in 1912, to the end of the last completed season. It details the club's achievements in all major competitions, together with top scorers. Details of the abandoned 1939–40 season and unofficial Second World War leagues are not included.

Swansea have won the League Cup once, the Football League Trophy twice and the Welsh Cup 10 times. They have also qualified for UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 7 times and the UEFA Europa League once. In 2011, Swansea became the first Welsh club to play in the Premier League.

History

For a written account of the club's history, see History of Swansea City A.F.C.

The club was founded in 1912 as Swansea Town,[1] and were elected to The Football League for the 1920–21 season.[2] The club changed their name in 1969, when it adopted the name Swansea City to reflect Swansea's new status as a city.[3]

Swansea City Seasons from 1920 until 2023

In 1981 Swansea won promotion to the top tier of English football, achieving a club record highest league finish of sixth position after having led the table for a brief period, but a decline then set in the season after and were relegated, before in 2003 the club narrowly avoided relegation to the Football Conference. In 2000, Swansea won the fourth tier of the English league, during a time this league was known as the Third Division, due to the 1992 formation of the Premier League. They went back into the fourth tier the following season, until a promotion from the newly named League Two followed, achieving a league finish of third place in the 2004–05 season. Three years later, their 2007–08 season in League One, ended in a first-place finish and promotion in the process to The Championship.

After a few near-misses reaching the play-offs, which included a last day of the season miss for a play-off berth, due to a 0–0 draw with Doncaster Rovers during the close of the 2009–10 season, Swansea later finished 3rd the following season. The "Swans" were promoted to the Premier League in 2011 after winning the play-off final at Wembley Stadium against Reading, thanks to a 4–2 victory and in the process became the first Welsh team in that league since its formation in 1992. This was the second time the Swans had made it to the top flight of English football, and having completed seven seasons in the Premier League they have spent a total of nine seasons in the top flight.

In Swansea's centenary year, the club won their first major English trophy beating Bradford City in the 2013 Football League Cup Final.[4]

Key

1st or W Winners
2nd or RU Runners-up
Play-offs
↑ Promoted
↓ Relegated
♦ Top scorer in division

Seasons

Results of league and cup competitions by season
Season Division Pld W D L GF GA Pts Pos FA Cup[a] League
Cup 		League
Trophy 		Welsh
Cup 		FAW
Cup 		Competition Result Player(s) Goals
League Europe Top goalscorer(s)[b]
1912–13 South 2 24 12 7 5 29 23 31 3rd — — — W — — — Billy Ball 19
1913–14 South 2 30 20 4 6 66 25 44 4th R2 — — SF — — — Billy Ball 22
1914–15 South 2 24 16 1 7 48 21 33 4th↑[c] R2 — — RU — — Ivor Brown 15
1915–19[d] — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
1919–20 South 1 42 16 11 15 53 45 43 9th↑[e] QR6 — — SF — — — William Brown 11
1920–21 Div 3 42 18 15 9 56 45 51 5th R2 — — R3 — — — J Edmondson 24
1921–22 Div 3 (S)[f] 42 13 15 14 50 47 41 10th R3 — — R4 — — — J Edmondson 15
1922–23 Div 3 (S) 42 22 9 11 78 45 53 3rd QR5 — — SF — — — Jack Smith 30
1923–24 Div 3 (S) 42 22 8 12 60 48 52 4th R2 — — R5 — — — Harry Deacon 18
1924–25 Div 3 (S) 42 23 11 8 68 29 57 1st↑ R2 — — SF — — — Jack Fowler 28 ♦
1925–26 Div 2 42 19 11 12 77 57 49 5th SF — — RU — — — Jack Fowler 35
1926–27 Div 2 42 16 11 15 68 72 43 12th R6 — — R5 — — — Leonard Thompson 28
1927–28 Div 2 42 18 12 12 68 72 43 6th R3 — — R6 — — — Wilf Lewis 27
1928–29 Div 2 42 13 10 19 62 75 36 19th R4 — — R5 — — — Harry Deacon 13
1929–30 Div 2 42 14 9 19 56 61 37 15th R3 — — R6 — — — Ronnie Williams 13
1930–31 Div 2 42 12 10 20 51 74 34 20th R3 — — SF — — — Ronnie Williams 20
1931–32 Div 2 42 16 7 19 73 75 39 15th R3 — — W — — — Cyril Pearce 40 ♦
1932–33 Div 2 42 19 4 19 50 54 42 10th R3 — — R8 — — — Tudor Martin 20
1933–34 Div 2 42 10 15 17 51 60 35 19th R5 — — R6 — — — SH Lowry 11
1934–35 Div 2 42 14 7 20 56 67 36 17th R4 — — SF — — — Tudor Martin 14
1935–36 Div 2 42 15 9 18 67 76 39 13th R3 — — R7 — — — Jimmy Brain 14
1936–37 Div 2 42 15 7 20 50 65 37 16th R5 — — R7 — — — Jimmy Brain 10
1937–38 Div 2 42 13 12 17 45 73 38 18th R3 — — RU — — — I Lewis 9
1938–39 Div 2 42 11 12 19 50 83 34 19th R3 — — R5 — — — Tommy Bamford 15
1939–40 Div 2 3 1 0 2 5 11 2 15th — — — RU — — — Tommy Bamford 4
1939–45[g] — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
1945–46 — — — — — — — — — R3[h] — — — — — — Trevor Ford 3[i]
1946–47 Div 2 42 11 7 24 55 83 29 21st↓ R4 — — R6 — — — Norman Lockhart 11
1947–48 Div 3 (S) 42 18 12 12 70 52 48 5th R3 — — R5 — — — Sammy McCrory
Fred Rawcliffe 		15
1948–49 Div 3 (S) 42 27 8 7 87 34 62 1st ↑ R2 — — RU — — — Stan Richards
Frank Scrine 		26
1949–50 Div 2 42 17 9 16 53 49 43 8th R4 — — W — — — Frank Scrine 15
1950–51 Div 2 42 16 4 22 54 77 36 18th R3 — — R6 — — — S Howarth 10
1951–52 Div 2 42 12 12 18 72 76 36 19th R5 — — R5 — — — Ronnie Turnbull 21
1952–53 Div 2 42 15 12 15 78 81 42 11th R3 — — R7 — — — Terry Medwin 20
1953–54 Div 2 42 13 8 21 58 82 34 20th R4 — — R5 — — — Ivor Allchurch 19
1954–55 Div 2 42 17 9 16 86 83 43 10th R5 — — R6 — — — Harry Griffiths 22
1955–56 Div 2 42 20 6 16 83 81 46 10th R3 — — RU — — — Harry Griffiths
Terry Medwin 		22
1956–57 Div 2 42 19 7 16 90 90 45 10th R3 — — RU — — — Des Palmer 22
1957–58 Div 2 42 11 9 22 72 99 31 19th R3 — — R6 — — — Ivor Allchurch 14
1958–59 Div 2 42 16 9 17 79 81 41 11th R3 — — R6 — — — Mel Charles 15
1959–60 Div 2 42 15 10 17 82 84 40 12th R4 — — R6 — — — Colin Webster 23
1960–61 Div 2 42 18 11 13 77 73 47 7th R5 R2 — W — — — Colin Webster 22
1961–62 Div 2 42 12 12 18 61 83 36 20th R3 R2 — SF — Cup Winners' Cup PR Brayley Reynolds 25
1962–63 Div 2 42 15 9 18 51 72 39 15th R4 R2 — SF — — — Eddie Thomas 17
1963–64 Div 2 42 12 9 21 63 74 33 19th SF R3 — R6 — — — Jim McLaughlin
Brayley Reynolds 		13
1964–65 Div 2 42 11 10 21 62 84 32 22nd↓ R5 R4 — SF — — — Keith Todd 22
1965–66 Div 3 46 15 11 20 81 96 41 17th R1 R2 — W — — — Jim McLaughlin 26
1966–67 Div 3 46 12 15 19 85 89 39 21st↓ R2 R3 — R5 — Cup Winners' Cup R1 Ivor Allchurch 14
1967–68 Div 4 46 16 10 20 63 77 42 15th R4 R1 — R6 — — — Ivor Allchurch 21
1968–69 Div 4 46 19 11 16 58 54 49 10th R3 R3 — RU — — — Herbie Williams 14
1969–70 Div 4 46 21 18 7 66 45 60 3rd ↑ R3 R2 — SF — — — Dave Gwyther 24
1970–71 Div 3 46 15 16 15 59 56 46 11th R4 R2 — R6 — — — Dave Gwyther 28
1971–72 Div 3 46 17 10 19 46 59 44 14th R4 R1 — R5 — — — Dave Gwyther 10
1972–73 Div 3 46 14 9 23 51 73 37 23rd↓ R1 R1 — R4 — — — Geoff Thomas 11
1973–74 Div 4 46 16 11 19 45 46 43 14th R1 R1 — R4 — — — Tony Screen 9
1974–75 Div 4 46 15 6 25 46 73 36 22nd[j] R1 R1 — R5 — — — Robbie James 9
1975–76 Div 4 46 16 15 15 66 57 47 11th R1 R1 — R5 — — — Geoff Bray 21
1976–77 Div 4 46 25 8 13 92 68 58 5th R1 R4 — R5 — — — Jeremy Charles 26
1977–78 Div 4 46 23 10 13 87 47 56 3rd ↑ R3 R1 — R4 — — — Alan Curtis 33 ♦[k]
1978–79 Div 3 46 24 12 10 83 61 60 3rd ↑ R3 R3 — R5 — — — Robbie James 24
1979–80 Div 2 42 17 9 16 48 53 43 12th R5 R2 — SF — — — David Giles
Alan Waddle 		13
1980–81 Div 2 42 18 14 10 64 44 50 3rd ↑ R3 R2 — W — — — Leighton James 18
1981–82[l] Div 1 42 21 6 15 58 51 69 6th R3 R2 — W — Cup Winners' Cup R1 Robbie James 20
1982–83 Div 1 42 10 11 21 51 69 41 21st↓ R3 R3 — W — Cup Winners' Cup R2 Bob Latchford 34
1983–84 Div 2 42 7 8 27 36 85 29 21st↓ R3 R2 — SF — Cup Winners' Cup PR Ian Walsh 8
1984–85 Div 3 46 12 11 23 53 80 47 20th R1 R1 QF SF — — — Colin Pascoe 14
1985–86 Div 3 46 11 10 25 43 87 43 24th↓ R2 R2 SF R5 — — — Roger Gibbins
Alan Waddle 		7
1986–87 Div 4 46 17 11 18 56 61 62 12th R4 R2 R1 R3 — — — Sean McCarthy 21
1987–88 Div 4 46 20 10 16 62 56 70 6th ↑[m] R2 R1 PR R4 — — — Colin Pascoe 15
1988–89 Div 3 46 15 16 15 51 53 61 12th R2 R1 PR W — — — Andy Melville 14
1989–90 Div 3 46 14 12 20 45 63 54 17th R3 R1 PR R3 — Cup Winners' Cup R1 Paul Raynor 10
1990–91 Div 3 46 13 9 24 49 72 48 20th R3 R1 R1 W — — — Jimmy Gilligan 24
1991–92 Div 3 46 14 14 18 55 65 56 19th R2 R2 PR R5 — Cup Winners' Cup R1 John Williams 12
1992–93 Div 2[n] 46 20 13 13 65 47 73 5th[o] R4 R1 SF R3 — — — Andy Legg 15
1993–94 Div 2 46 16 12 18 56 58 60 13th R1 R2 W SF — — — Jason Bowen 17
1994–95 Div 2 46 19 14 13 57 45 71 10th R4 R2 SF [p] — — — Steve Torpey 17
1995–96 Div 2 46 11 14 21 43 79 47 22nd↓ R1 R1 R2 — — — — Steve Torpey 17
1996–97 Div 3 46 21 8 17 62 58 71 5th[q] R1 R1 R2 — — — — David Penney 13
1997–98 Div 3 46 13 11 22 49 62 50 20th R1 R1 R2 — QF — — Tony Bird 16
1998–99 Div 3 46 19 14 13 56 48 71 7th[r] R4 R1 R2 — QF — — Steve Watkin 20
1999–2000 Div 3 46 24 13 9 51 30 85 1st ↑ R2 R2 R2 — QF — — Steve Watkin 11
2000–01 Div 2 46 8 13 25 47 73 37 23rd↓ R1 R1 QF — RU — — Giovanni Savarese 14
2001–02 Div 3 46 13 12 21 53 77 51 20th R2 R1 R1 — RU — — Steve Watkin 11
2002–03 Div 3 46 12 13 21 48 65 49 21st[s] R1 R1 R1 — QF — — James Thomas 15
2003–04 Div 3 46 15 14 17 58 61 59 10th R5 R1 R2 — SF — — Lee Trundle 21
2004–05 League 2[t] 46 24 8 14 62 43 80 3rd ↑ R3 R1 R2 — W — — Lee Trundle 23
2005–06 League 1 46 18 17 11 78 55 71 6th[u] R1 R1 W — W — — Lee Trundle 22
2006–07 League 1 46 20 12 14 69 53 72 7th R4 R1 R2 — QF — — Lee Trundle 20
2007–08 League 1 46 27 11 8 82 42 92 1st ↑ R3 R2 SF — QF — — Jason Scotland 29 ♦
2008–09 Champ 46 16 20 10 63 50 68 8th R5 R4 — — — — — Jason Scotland 24
2009–10 Champ 46 17 18 11 40 37 69 7th R3 R2 — — — — — Darren Pratley 7
2010–11 Champ 46 24 8 14 69 42 80 3rd ↑[v] R4 R4 — — — — — Scott Sinclair 27
2011–12 Prem 38 12 11 15 44 51 47 11th R4 R2 — [w] — — — Danny Graham 14
2012–13 Prem 38 11 13 14 47 51 46 9th R3 W — — — — — Michu 22
2013–14 Prem 38 11 9 18 54 54 42 12th R5 R3 — — — Europa League R32 Wilfried Bony 25
2014–15 Prem 38 16 8 14 46 49 56 8th R4 R4 — — — — — Wilfried Bony 9
2015–16 Prem 38 12 11 15 42 52 47 12th R3 R3 — — — — — André Ayew 12
2016–17 Prem 38 12 5 21 45 70 41 15th R3 R3 — — — — — Fernando Llorente 15
2017–18 Prem 38 8 9 21 28 56 33 18th↓ QF R4 — — — — — Jordan Ayew 11
2018–19 Champ 46 18 11 17 65 62 65 10th QF R2 — — — — — Oli McBurnie 24
2019–20 Champ 46 18 16 12 62 53 70 6th[x] R3 R3 — — — — — André Ayew 18
2020–21 Champ 46 23 11 12 56 39 80 4th[y] R5 R1 — — — — — André Ayew 17
2021–22 Champ 46 16 13 17 58 68 61 15th R3 R3 — — — — — Joël Piroe 23
2022–23 Champ 46 18 12 16 68 64 66 10th R3 R1 — — — — — Joël Piroe 20
2023–24 Champ 46 15 12 19 59 65 57 14th R4 R2 — — — — — Jamal Lowe
Jerry Yates 		9

Footnotes

  1. ^ The expansion of the FA Cup, from 15 clubs in its inaugural season to currently more than 700 has meant successive changes in the competition's structure. Teams in the top two divisions were made exempt from the qualifying stages and the first two rounds of the Cup in 1925–26. Because of this rounds were renamed; the fifth and sixth qualifying rounds became first and second round proper. Since 1914–15 there have been a total of 14 rounds, in comparison to five in 1871–72.
  2. ^ Includes goals scored in the Football League, Premier League, EFL Cup, FA Cup, EFL Trophy, Welsh Cup, FAW Premier Cup and European competitions organised by UEFA.
  3. ^ Although they had finished outside the automatic promotion places in 1914–15, Swansea Town were elected to the Southern Football League Division One after the First World War.[5]
  4. ^ No competitive football was played between 1915 and 1919 due to the First World War.
  5. ^ Swansea Town were elected to the Football League and were a founding member of the Football League Third Division.[2]
  6. ^ The Third Division was divided into North and South sections. The Third Division South was mainly the continuation of the Third Division of the previous season, while most of the teams in the Third Division North were newcomers in the league.
  7. ^ In September 1939 first-class football was suspended due to the Second World War, with the 1939–40 league table voided and regional competitions contested instead.
  8. ^ The FA Cup was contested in 1945–46, but the Football League did not resume until the following season.
  9. ^ FA Cup goals only.
  10. ^ At the end of the 1974/75 season, Swansea City were re-elected to the Football League.[2][6]
  11. ^ Alan Curtis tied with Steve Phillips of Brentford with 32 league goals.
  12. ^ The 1981–82 season saw the introduction of three points for a win.
  13. ^ Promoted to the Third Division after beating Torquay United 5–4 on aggregate in the play-off final.[7]
  14. ^ In 1992 the First Division clubs broke away to form the FA Premier League. The Second Division, Third Division and Fourth Division were renamed the First Division, Second Division and Third Division respectively.
  15. ^ Lost the play-off semi-final to West Bromwich Albion 2–3 on aggregate.
  16. ^ A new Welsh Cup rule was enforced: Only clubs playing in the Welsh football league system were allowed to enter the Welsh Cup.[8]
  17. ^ Lost in the play-off final to Northampton Town 0–1.[9]
  18. ^ Lost play-off semi-final to Scunthorpe United 2–3 on aggregate.
  19. ^ Won on the final day of the season, beating Hull City 4–2, to stay in the Football League.[10]
  20. ^ The three divisions in the Football League were renamed. Division One, Division Two and Division Three were renamed The Championship, League One and League Two respectively.
  21. ^ Lost in the play-off final to Barnsley 3–4 on Penalties, after drawing 2–2.[11]
  22. ^ Promoted to the FA Premier League after beating Reading 4–2 in the play-off final.[12]
  23. ^ Swansea City were invited to participate in the Welsh Cup, but later declined after UEFA blocked European qualification for any Welsh teams playing within the English football league system.[13][14]
  24. ^ Lost play-off semi-final to Brentford 2–3 on aggregate.
  25. ^ Lost play-off final to Brentford 0-2

References

General
  • Felton, Paul. "Football Statistics Archive – League Records 1888–2008". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  • Rundle, Richard. "Swansea Town". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  • Rundle, Richard. "Swansea City". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 5 June 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. ^ Jenkins (2012), p. 8.
  2. ^ a b c "A History of Admission into the Football League". nonleaguematters.co.uk. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  3. ^ "Online exhibition: The City of Swansea celebrates its 40th anniversary – City and County of Swansea". Swansea.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Swansea City romp to record win". BBC News. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  5. ^ Jenkins (2012), p. 23.
  6. ^ Jenkins (2012), p. 103.
  7. ^ Jenkins (2012), p. 143.
  8. ^ "Top Welsh clubs could re-join Welsh Cup". BBC Sport. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  9. ^ "Northampton Town: Memories of the 1997 play-off final". BBC Sport. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  10. ^ "Swansea 4–2 Hull". BBC Sport. 3 May 2003. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  11. ^ "Swansea 2–2 Barnsley (aet)". BBC Sport. 27 May 2006. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  12. ^ "Reading 2 – 4 Swansea". BBC Sport. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  13. ^ "FAW seeks route into Europe for Cardiff and Swansea". BBC Sport. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  14. ^ "Uefa give Swansea and Cardiff European assurance". BBC Sport. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2013.