Swansea

Early years (1912–1945)

Following an increasing interest in football in the Swansea area, the town's first professional football club, Swansea Town, was established in 1912. John William Thorpe, a local solicitor, was elected the club's first chairman. Players were recruited from around the United Kingdom and the team joined the Southern League Second Division under the club's first player-manager, Walter Whittaker. Swansea joined several other clubs in the division, including Cardiff City, who were Swansea's first professional league opponents. The match, played on 7 September 1912 at Swansea's Vetch Field, ended in a 1–1 draw with Billy Ball scoring Swansea's first goal.

During their first season, Swansea won the Welsh Cup, the Welsh league and came third in the Southern League Second Division. The following season, the club reached the first round proper of the FA Cup and finished fourth in the league. John William Bartlett took over from Whittaker in 1914. Under his leadership, the club beat reigning English champions Blackburn Rovers 1–0 in the first round of the 1914–15 FA Cup, with Swansea's goal coming from Ben Beynon.

After the First World War, the football leagues were restructured and the club began to compete in the new Third Division of the Football League in 1920. Swansea won their first championship in 1925 under manager Joe Bradshaw after winning the Third Division (South). The following season, they reached the semi-final of the FA Cup and finished fifth in the league. After Bradshaw left the club, Swansea were without a manager until 1927, when James Thompson was appointed. The club experienced financial strain over the next few years, with players being sold for cheaper alternatives; Thompson resigned in 1931. Despite this, Swansea won the Welsh Cup again in the 1931–32 season. The club had further financial difficulties in the 1930s but avoided relegation under manager Neil Harris before the Second World War began.

Post-war (1945–1970)

When football resumed after the war, Swansea were relegated to the Third Division in 1947 but were promoted back to the Second Division as champions in 1949. During the following seasons, Swansea saw several young players break through to the senior team, including the club's eventual captain Ivor Allchurch. The club cultivated strong local support during this period, with high attendances at league games, such as a record home league attendance against Leeds United in 1955. The club continued to struggle financially, however, but they again avoided relegation on the last day of the 1957–58 season.

In 1960, Swansea played their first match in the League Cup and won the Welsh Cup the following year, qualifying for the Cup Winners' Cup. This made Swansea the first Welsh club to enter a European competition. Manager Trevor Morris also led the club to the semi-final of the FA Cup in 1964, following a run which included a 2–1 away win against Liverpool in the quarter-final. Swansea were relegated back to the Third Division the following season and the financial situation at the club became critical.

Despite finishing seventeenth in the league under Glyn Davies, the club won the Welsh Cup again and qualified for their second European adventure. In 1967, however, the club were relegated to the Fourth Division, the first time in the club's history. Despite this, Swansea saw the highest attendance at the Vetch Field (32,796) for their game against Arsenal in the FA Cup in 1968, which Swansea lost. Tragedy struck the club in January 1969 when players Roy Evans and Brian Purcell were killed in a car crash on the way to a game.

Success and decline (1970–1986)

After Swansea became a city in 1969, the club changed their name to Swansea City in early 1970. Roy Bentley's side celebrated by securing promotion back to the Third Division. After mid-table finishes at the end of the following two seasons, the club made a poor start to the 1972–73 season, which saw Bentley being replaced by Harry Gregg. Gregg failed to stop the team's decline and the club was back in the Fourth Division for the 1973–74 season. He was replaced by Harry Griffiths, the club's physiotherapist who had also played for Swansea. Financial issues continued to plague the club and Swansea were forced to apply for re-election to the Football League.

Swansea failed to win promotion in 1977, and Griffiths resigned the following year despite a positive start to the season. He was replaced by John Toshack. Swansea were promoted in 1978, and Toshack led the club to the Second Division the following season and the First Division in 1981. They beat Preston North End 3–1 to guarantee their promotion, with goals from Tommy Craig, Leighton James and Jeremy Charles. Swansea's four-year rise to the top division became a record in English football, held jointly with Wimbledon. Swansea also won the Welsh Cup that season, qualifying for Europe for the first time since the 1965–66 season.