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Swansea City Under-21s

Full name	Swansea City Association Football Club Under-21s
Nickname(s)	The Swans
Founded	1912; 112 years ago (1912) (as Swansea Town Reserves)
Ground	Landore Youth Academy
Capacity	500
Coach	Anthony Wright
League	Professional Development League
2022–23	Professional Development League 3rd of 10

Swansea City Association Football Club Under-21s is the most senior team of Swansea City's youth teams and are the club's former reserve team. They compete in the Professional Development League. The Under-21s play the majority of their home fixtures at the club's Youth Academy in Landore, with occasional fixtures taking place at the Swansea.com Stadium.

The Under-21 team is effectively Swansea City's second-string side, but is limited to three outfield players and one goalkeeper over the age of 23 per game following the introduction of new regulations from the 2016–17 season.

Ryan Davies is the manager of the entire Swansea City academy.

Anthony Wright is in charge of the Under 21s.

Under-23s

Current squad

As of July 2024. Players listed in bold have made an appearance for the first team in a competitive fixture.

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

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  WAL Ben Hughes 42 GK  WAL Evan Watts — GK  WAL Kit Margetson — DF  WAL Harry Jones 50 DF  ENG Filip Lissah — DF  WAL Seb Dabrowski — DF  ENG Jack Fanning — DF  ENG Arthur Parker 43 DF  WAL Daniel Watts

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  WAL Ben Lloyd — MF  WAL Mitchell Bates — MF  ENG Richard Faakye — MF  IRL Glory Nzingo — MF  WAL Joel Cotterill (on loan at Swindon Town) — FW  ENG Maliq Cadogan (on loan at Kidderminster Harriers) — FW  SCO Liam Smith (on loan at Partick Thistle) — FW  ENG Kyrell Wilson — FW  ENG Sammy Henia-Kamau

Honours

Professional Development League 1 Division 2

• Winners:
  • 2016–17

Professional Development League 2

• Winners:
  • 2014–15

Premier League Cup

• Winners:
  • 2016–17

Timeline

• 1912: A team is formed to play in the Welsh Football League.
• 1919: A second reserve team is added to the Western League First Division.
• 1921: The Western League team is elected into the Southern League Welsh Section.
• 1923: The Southern League Welsh Section is renamed the Western Section.
• 1925: The reserves leave the Southern League.
• 1926: But a second team is restored following election to the London Combination.
• 1930: The London Combination is split into two leagues; the Swans were placed in Division 1.
• 1933: A single division London Combination is restored.
• 1946: Following the War the Combination is renamed the Football Combination and split into two leagues; the Swans were placed in Section B.
• 1948: The team is moved into Section A.
• 1952: Section A & B are renamed Division 1 and 2, with the Swans placed in the former.
• 1955: A single division Football Combination is restored.
• 1958: Reverted to two divisions; the Swans were placed in Division 1.
• 1960: The Swans are relegated for the first time in the Combination to Division 2.
• 1961: Left the Combination after a Saturday and Midweek Section were introduced.
• 1964: The top-flight of the Welsh League is renamed the Premier Division.
• 1966: The two division system was restored in 1963 and the Swans were back in Division 2 three years later.
• 1968: A single division Football Combination is restored.
• 1974: The team withdrew from the Combination after the season had started.
• 1983: But they were back nine years later to play in a single division league.
• 1986: The team decided not to enter a team after the 1985–86 campaign ended.
• 1992: Returned to play in Division 2.
• 1996: A single division Football Combination is restored.
• 1997: The team decided not to enter a team after the 1996–97 campaign ended.
• 1999: Returned to play in a five-team Second Division – consisting of Cardiff, Exeter, Plymouth & Torquay.
• 2000: The first-team won promotion to Division 2 and the reserve team was withdrawn.
• 2003: The regional Wales & West Division was formed and this is where the Swans competed from 2003 up until and including the 2010–11 season.
• 2011: Club competed in the Premier Reserve League for the first time. They were placed in the Southern Section.
• 2012: Reserve team replaced by an 'Under-21 team' and competed in the inaugural season of the Professional Development League. They were placed in the Professional Development League 2 South.
• 2015: Under-21s win the Professional Development League 2 with a 3–2 victory over Huddersfield Town Under-21s.
• 2015: Announced that the club will play Professional Development League 1 fixtures at both U21 and U18 level from 2015 to 2016.
• 2017: Under-23s win the Professional Development League 1 Division 2 and the Premier League Cup.
• 2020: Academy is downgraded to Category Two status, due to financial difficulties. Thus the under-23s were removed from Premier League 2 Division 2.

League history

Prior to the 2012–13 season, Swansea City's second-string side were a reserve team who had mainly appeared in the Welsh Football League and the English Football Combination. The Reserves also had some short stints in the Western League (1919–21) and the Southern League (1921–25). Following Swansea City's promotion to the Premier League in 2011, Swansea's reserve team were invited to play in the 2011-12 Premier Reserve League. They finished 7th in what would turn out to be their last season as a 'reserve team'.

The historical venue for Swansea City's reserve matches was the Vetch Field. Following the Vetch Field's closure at the end of the 2004–05 season, Swansea City's second string have played at numerous temporary homes. This has included St. Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground (2005–06), Port Talbot Town F.C.'s Victoria Road (Port Talbot) (2006–09, 2010–11), The Gnoll in Neath (2009–10), Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli (2011–12). Swansea City's home venue for their first season as an Under-21 team was Llanelli A.F.C.'s Stebonheath Park.

Academy

Swansea City Academy is the youth development system of EFL Championship team Swansea City. It fields an under-18s team in the South Division of the Professional Development League 1 and the FA Youth Cup. The academy also fields an under-19s team in the FAW Welsh Youth Cup.

The team train and play matches at the Youth Academy in Landore, Swansea and at the senior side's training base in Fairwood, Swansea.

Current squad

As of June 2024. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  WAL Sam Seager — GK  WAL Isaac Dudding — DF  WAL Osian Williams — DF  WAL Kiel Higginson — DF  ENG David Roberts — DF  WAL Iestyn Jones — DF  WAL Brogan Popham — DF  WAL Caio Ifans — MF  WAL Milo Robinson — MF  WAL Callum Jones — MF  WAL Ben Phillips

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  WAL Ramon Rees-Siso — MF  WAL Callum Deacon — MF  WAL Aidan Higgins — MF  WAL Yori Griffith — MF  WAL Jacob Cook — MF  WAL Thomas Woodward — MF  WAL Thomas Searle — MF  WAL Billy Clarke — FW  ENG Josh Pescatore — FW  WAL Harlan Perry

Honours

FAW Welsh Youth Cup

• Winners: 12 Times
  • 1999, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
• Runners-up: 6 Times
  • 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2004, 2009

Graduates

The following players have all progressed through the youth academy at Swansea City and have either made at least one appearance for the first team in professional competition, have gone on to play professionally or have represented their national team. Players in bold are still contracted to the club.

2020s

	Player	DOB	Position	Professional Debut	Appearances	Goals	Current club
	Aimar Govea	8 June 2006	Midfielder	29 March 2024 (EFL Championship with Swansea City)	Ongoing	Ongoing	Swansea City
	Filip Lissah	8 December 2004	Defender	25 January 2024 (FA Cup with Swansea City)	Ongoing	Ongoing	Swansea City
	Sam Parker	7 July 2006	Midfielder	29 December 2023 (EFL Championship with Swansea City)	Ongoing	Ongoing	Swansea City
	Josh Thomas	24 September 2002	Forward	5 August 2023 (EFL League One with Port Vale)	Ongoing	Ongoing	Swansea City
	Joel Cotterill	10 October 2004	Midfielder	9 August 2022 (EFL Cup with Swansea City)	Ongoing	Ongoing	Swansea City
	Cameron Congreve	24 January 2004	Midfielder	12 March 2022 (EFL Championship with Swansea City)	Ongoing	Ongoing	Swansea City
	Ali Al-Hamadi	1 March 2002	Forward	16 November 2021 (2022 FIFA World Cup qualification with Iraq)	0	0	Ipswich Town and Iraq International
	Daniel Williams	19 April 2001	Midfielder	10 August 2021 (EFL Cup with Swansea City)	0	0	The New Saints
	Cameron Evans	23 February 2001	Defender	9 January 2021 (FA Cup with Swansea City)	0	0	Newport County
	Oliver Cooper	14 December 1999	Midfielder	9 January 2021 (FA Cup with Swansea City)	Ongoing	Ongoing	Swansea City and Wales International

2010s

	Player	DOB	Position	Professional Debut	Appearances	Goals	Current club
	Tivonge Rushesha	24 July 2002	Defender	28 August 2019 (EFL Cup with Swansea City)	0	0	Reading
	Jack Evans	25 April 1998	Midfielder	28 August 2019 (EFL Cup with Swansea City)	0	0	Merthyr Town
	Jordon Garrick	15 July 1998	Forward	13 August 2019 (EFL Cup with Swansea City)	14	2	Free Agent
	Kees de Boer	13 May 2000	Midfielder	13 August 2019 (EFL Cup with Swansea City)	0	0	Ternana Calcio
	Ben Cabango	30 May 2000	Defender	13 August 2019 (EFL Cup with Swansea City)	Ongoing	Ongoing	Swansea City and Wales International
	Aaron Lewis	26 June 1998	Defender	13 August 2019 (EFL Cup with Lincoln City)	0	0	Mansfield Town
	Lewis Thomas	20 September 1997	Goalkeeper	3 August 2019 (League Two with Forest Green Rovers)	0	0	Bristol City
	Liam Cullen	23 April 1999	Forward	28 August 2018 (EFL Cup with Swansea City)	Ongoing	Ongoing	Swansea City and Wales International
	Brandon Cooper	14 January 2000	Defender	28 August 2018 (EFL Cup with Swansea City)	5	0	Leyton Orient
	Adnan Marić	17 February 1997	Midfielder	6 February 2018 (EFL Cup with Swansea City)	0	0	Arendal
	Daniel James	10 November 1997	Winger	6 February 2018 (EFL Cup with Swansea City)	39	6	Leeds United and Wales International
	Joe Rodon	22 October 1997	Defender	3 February 2018 (League Two with Cheltenham Town)	52	0	Leeds United and Wales International
	Keston Davies	2 October 1996	Defender	5 August 2017 (League Two with Yeovil Town)	0	0	Pontypridd United
	Alex Gogić	13 April 1994	Defender	11 March 2017 (Scottish Premiership with Hibernian)	0	0	St Mirren and Cyprus International
	Owain Jones	1 October 1996	Striker	4 February 2017 (League Two with Yeovil Town)	0	0	Haverfordwest County
	Kyle Copp	1 November 1996	Midfielder	30 August 2016 (EFL Trophy with Yeovil Town)	0	0	Mumbles Rangers
	Alex Samuel	20 September 1995	Striker	5 September 2015 (Scottish Championship with Morton)	0	0	Ross County
	Connor Roberts	23 September 1995	Defender	8 August 2015 (League Two with Yeovil Town)	133	11	Burnley and Wales International
	Kenji Gorre	29 September 1994	Midfielder	24 May 2015 (Premier League with Swansea City)	1	0	Umm Salal
	Liam Shephard	22 November 1994	Defender	20 January 2015 (League One with Yeovil Town)	0	0	Salford City
	Scott Tancock	29 December 1993	Defender	27 September 2014 (League Two with Newport County)	0	0	Haverfordwest County
	Dan Hanford	6 March 1991	Goalkeeper	27 September 2014 (League Two with Carlisle United)	0	0	Free Agent
	Alex Bray	25 July 1995	Winger	6 September 2014 (League Two with Plymouth Argyle)	0	0	Chippenham Town
	Connor Peters	21 June 1996	Defender	3 September 2014 (2014 Caribbean Cup qualification with Antigua and Barbuda)	0	0	Wingate & Finchley and Antigua and Barbuda International
	Josh Sheehan	30 March 1995	Midfielder	26 August 2014 (EFL Cup with Swansea City)	0	0	Bolton Wanderers and Wales International
	James Loveridge	16 May 1994	Forward	22 March 2014 (League One with Milton Keynes Dons)	0	0	Llanelli Town
	Gwion Edwards	1 March 1993	Winger	2 February 2013 (Scottish Premier League with St Johnstone)	0	0	Morecambe
	Emyr Huws	30 September 1993	Midfielder	13 October 2012 (League Two with Northampton Town)	0	0	Retired Wales International
	Ben Davies	24 April 1993	Defender	25 August 2012 (Premier League with Swansea City)	85	3	Tottenham Hotspur and Wales International
	Jack King	20 August 1985	Midfielder	18 August 2012 (League One with Preston North End)	0	0	Retired
	Tom John	22 March 1995	Midfielder	23 August 2011 (EFL Cup with Hereford United)	0	0	Retired
	Lee Lucas	10 June 1992	Midfielder	7 May 2011 (Championship with Swansea City)	1	0	Merthyr Town
	Daniel Alfei	23 February 1992	Defender	8 January 2011 (FA Cup with Swansea City)	3	0	Trefelin BGC
	Joe Walsh	13 May 1992	Defender	10 August 2010 (EFL Cup with Swansea City)	2	0	Free Agent

2000s

	Player	DOB	Position	Professional Debut	Appearances	Goals	Current club
	David Cornell	28 March 1991	Goalkeeper	25 August 2009 (EFL Cup with Swansea City)	0	0	Preston North End
	Jazz Richards	12 April 1991	Defender	15 August 2009 (vs Middlesbrough)	51	0	Haverfordwest County and Wales International
	Casey Thomas	12 April 1990	Forward	15 August 2009 (vs Middlesbrough)	2	0	Moreland City FC
	Kerry Morgan	31 October 1988	Winger	11 August 2009 (vs Brighton & Hove Albion)	6	0	Merthyr Town
	Marley Watkins	17 October 1990	Winger	8 August 2008 (League One with Cheltenham Town)	0	0	Kilmarnock and Wales International
	Kyle Letheren	26 December 1987	Goalkeeper	5 January 2008 (FA Cup with Barnsley)	0	0	Retired
	Joe Allen	14 March 1990	Midfielder	5 May 2007 (vs Blackpool)	Ongoing	Ongoing	Swansea City and Wales International
	Chris Jones	12 September 1989	Forward	17 October 2006 (vs Walsall)	7	0	Afan Lido
	Chad Bond	20 April 1987	Forward	22 November 2005 (vs Rushden & Diamonds)	3	0	Retired
	Shaun MacDonald	17 June 1988	Midfielder	23 August 2004 (vs Reading)	40	2	Trefelin BGC and Wales International
	Jamie Rewbury	15 February 1986	Defender	10 April 2004 (vs Lincoln City)	2	0	Retired
	Mark Pritchard	23 November 1985	Forward	21 October 2003 (vs Cambridge United)	7	1	Retired
	Antonio Corbisiero	17 November 1984	Midfielder	30 August 2003 (vs Mansfield Town)	5	0	Retired
	Stuart Jones	14 March 1984	Defender	22 October 2002 (vs Stevenage Borough)	38	0	Retired
	Craig Draper	4 December 1982	Midfielder	9 October 2001 (vs Rochdale)	2	0	Retired
	Richard Duffy	30 August 1985	Defender	8 December 2001 (vs Macclesfield Town)	29	1	Retired Wales International
	Chris Todd	22 August 1981	Defender	10 March 2001 (vs Northampton Town)	46	4	Retired
	Alex Davies	2 November 1982	Goalkeeper	10 March 2001 (vs Bury)	1	0	Retired
	Carl Mounty	11 December 1981	Goalkeeper	14 February 2001 (vs Brentford)	1	0	Retired
	Bari Morgan	13 August 1980	Midfielder	9 September 2000 (vs Brentford)	5	0	Retired
	Michael Keegan	12 May 1981	Midfielder	22 August 2000 (vs West Bromwich Albion)	11	0	Retired

References

1. "Swans Academy makes coaching changes". swanseacity.com. Swansea City A.F.C. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
2. "Swansea City's Under 23 Squad". Swansea City A.F.C. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
3. ^ "Welsh League final tables". Welsh Football Data Archive (WFDA). Retrieved 21 May 2011.
4. ^ Perkins, Bob (2011). The league tables of the Football Combination (1915–2010)
5. ^ "Western League final tables". Rec. Sport. Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 21 May 2011.
6. ^ "Southern League final tables". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 21 May 2011.
7. ^ "Results and fixtures 11–12". Swansea City A.F.C. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
8. "Fixtures & results 12–13". Swansea City A.F.C. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
9. "Barclays U21 Premier League Publications". Premier League. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
10. "Livingston 2–4 Morton". BBC Sport. 5 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
11. "Exeter City 3–2 Yeovil Town". BBC Sport. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
12. "Preston v Yeovil". BBC. 20 January 2015.
13. "Newport County 4–1 AFC Wimbledon". BBC Sport. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
14. "Carlisle 1–0 Tranmere". BBC Sport. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
15. "Luton 0 Plymouth 1". BBC Sport. 6 September 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
16. "Antigua and Barbuda 6 – 0 Anguilla". Caribbean Football Database. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
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18. "Stevenage 2 MK Dons 3". BBC. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
19. "St Mirren 2 St Johnstone 0". BBC. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
20. "Northampton 3 Exeter 0". BBC. 13 October 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
21. "Swansea 3 West Ham 0". BBC. 25 August 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
22. "Preston 0–0 Colchester". BBC. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
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27. ^ "Swansea 0 Middlesbrough 3". BBC. 15 August 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
28. "Swansea 3 Brighton 0". BBC. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
29. "Northampton 4 Cheltenham 2". BBC. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
30. "Barnsley 2 Blackpool 1". BBC. 5 January 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
31. "Swansea 3–6 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 5 May 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
32. "Walsall 1 Swansea 1". BBC. 17 October 2006. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
33. "Swansea 4 Rushden 0". BBC. 22 November 2005. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
34. "Reading 3–1 Swansea (aet)". BBC. 23 August 2005. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
35. "Lincoln City 2 Swansea City 1". swanseacity-mad.co.uk. 10 April 2004. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
36. "Swansea 0 Cambridge 2". BBC. 21 October 2003. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
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39. "Stevenage 2 Swansea 1". BBC. 9 October 2001. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
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41. "Swansea 1 Northampton 1". BBC. 10 March 2001. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
42. "Bury 3 Swansea 0". BBC. 3 March 2001. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
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External links

• Under-23 section at club official website
• Under-18 section at club official website
• Academy section at club official website

51°38′55″N 3°55′54″W / 51.648695°N 3.931675°W / 51.648695; -3.931675

• Swansea City A.F.C.
• Football academies in the United Kingdom
• 1912 establishments in Wales
• Premier League International Cup
• Professional Development League