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

Pld = Matches played W = Matches won D = Matches drawn L = Matches lost GF = Goals for GA = Goals against Pts = Points Pos = Final position

Prem = Premier League Champ = EFL Championship League 1 = EFL League One League 2 = EFL League Two Div 1 = Football League First Division Div 2 = Football League Second Division Div 3 = Football League Third Division Div 3 (S) = Football League Third Division South Div 4 = Football League Fourth Division South 1 – Southern League First Division South 2 – Southern League Second Division

F = Final SF = Semi-finals QF = Quarter-finals QR1 = First qualifying round QR2 = Second qualifying round QR3 = Third qualifying round QR4 = Fourth qualifying round QR5 = Fifth qualifying round QR6 = Sixth qualifying round

PR = Preliminary round R1 = Round 1 R2 = Round 2 R3 = Round 3 R4 = Round 4 R5 = Round 5 R6 = Round 6 R7 = Round 7 R8 = Round 8 R32 = Round of 32

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 [lower-alpha 1]	League Cup	League Trophy	Welsh Cup	FAW Cup	Competition	Result	Player(s)	Goals
	League														Europe		Top goalscorer(s) [lower-alpha 2]
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↑ [lower-alpha 3]	R2	—	—	RU		—	—	Ivor Brown	15
1915–19 [lower-alpha 4]	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1919–20	South 1	42	16	11	15	53	45	43	9th↑ [lower-alpha 5]	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) [lower-alpha 6]	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 [lower-alpha 7]	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1945–46	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	R3 [lower-alpha 8]	—	—	—	—	—	—	Trevor Ford	3 [lower-alpha 9]
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 [lower-alpha 10]	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 ♦ [lower-alpha 11]
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 [lower-alpha 12]	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↑ [lower-alpha 13]	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 [lower-alpha 14]	46	20	13	13	65	47	73	5th [lower-alpha 15]	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	[lower-alpha 16]	—	—	—	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 [lower-alpha 17]	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 [lower-alpha 18]	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 [lower-alpha 19]	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 [lower-alpha 20]	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 [lower-alpha 21]	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↑ [lower-alpha 22]	R4	R4	—	—	—	—	—	Scott Sinclair	27
2011–12	Prem	38	12	11	15	44	51	47	11th	R4	R2	—	[lower-alpha 23]	—	—	—	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 [lower-alpha 24]	R3	R3	—	—	—	—	—	André Ayew	18
2020–21	Champ	46	23	11	12	56	39	80	4th [lower-alpha 25]	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

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 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.

External links

• The full history of Swansea City Football Club – 1912 to 2011 at swanseacity.net
• A century of Swansea City at espnfc.com