They were the days that many can’t remember, days that led to a dramatic fall in fortunes for Swansea City. Famous names may remain, and those games played could well be argued as the best of times but really ? Since the brilliant ‘Tosh’ has been released there definitely has been an upsurge in interest in the Swans for sure.

Yes much has been written before, even within these pages by those who were there. I, as a far younger man did not witness those days. It wasn’t until I saw my own version of the Swans this century that I somehow managed to exorcise these times that I only saw on film and photograph.

That first season was incredible really, the swans started with that famous 5-1 battering of Leeds United. The club also purchased one Ante Rajković. Now seventy years of age he played seventy five games in two hot seasons. He earned himself what some could only compare to what Ashley Williams has today regards respect and regard. He was uncompromising. My research tells me he was the heartbeat and the unsung hero of the side.

Way back before this in 1965 and 1967 saw Swansea drop into the Fourth Division. Swansea changed the club's name to Swansea City in 1969 to reflect the fact that Swansea had become a city. Three promotions in four seasons saw Swansea reach the First Division in 1981, and that gave us these memories. In their first ever match in the top flight, Swansea City thrashed Leeds United 5-1 with Bob Latchford scoring a hat-trick on his debut. Latchford produced a quick-fire hat-trick on his league debut to put the Swans firmly in control.

And then, Curtis — who had been taunted as a “Leeds reject” earlier in the match by the visiting fans — scored an unforgettable individual goal to send me and the vast majority of the 23,489 crowd ( people will challenge that low figure years later, and pictures reflect that ) into absolute ecstasy. Swansea picked up victories over Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur and topped the league on occasions, but were eventually pegged back by injuries and a lack of squad depth.

Swansea nevertheless qualified for the first round of the 1982/83 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup by virtue of their league finish. The Swans subsequently smashed Sliema Wanderers in the first round by a whopping 17-0 aggregate scoreline, but were eliminated 3-0 on aggregate by Paris Saint-Germain in the second round. Swansea dropped to 21st in the First Division in 1982/83 and were relegated again the following season, completing an astonishing fall from grace.

The 80’s reviewed.
1979-80 Welsh Cup semi-finalists, 1980-81 Promoted to Division One on goal difference Welsh Cup Winners (6th time) 1981-82 Welsh Cup Winners (7th time) 1982-83 Welsh Cup Winners (8th time, 3rd in succession) Relegated to Division Two. 1983-84 Welsh Cup semi-finalists. Relegated to Division Three. 1984-85 Welsh Cup semi-finalists. 1986 Relegated to Division Four. 1987-88 Promoted to Division Three after play-offs (only reached play-offs on goal difference) (SF Swansea City 1 Rotherham United 0, Rotherham United 1 Swansea City 1 - Agg 2-1, Final, Swansea City 2. Torquay United 1, Torquay United 3 Swansea City 3 - Agg 5-4) 1988-89 Welsh Cup Winners (9th time)

Archived photographs

Swansea City Polls