Swansea Town v Newport- 18th April 1949

SWANS v NEWPORT COUNTY

DIV 3 (SOUTH) 18^th APRIL 1949

The club had been relegated in its first competitive season of league football after the Second World War, resulting in them playing in the third tier of league football for the first time since the 1924 - 25 season. The hoped for immediate return to Division Two did not materialise due to a poor start, and manager Haydn Green became a casualty, his resignation being followed by the appointment of Billy McCandless.

His contribution has been undervalued by many due to the success of McCandless, but Green's proficiency in the transfer market is reflected in the fact that the majority of the players in the famous 1948 - 49 promotion side were Green signings.

As the season progressed, it became apparent to all that this was an exceptional side. Unbeaten in their first seven matches, the team reached the New Year still at the top of the table. The defence was solid, with Parry, Keane and Feeney sound at the rear. The captain Weston was dominant at the centre of the defence, and was ably supported by Paul and Burns at wing half. The forward line was fast and direct, with O'Driscoll and Scrine on the flanks providing a constant supply of crosses for Stan Richards to finish off the moves. And to top it all, there was the artistry and guile of McCrory and Lucas to marshall affairs from the inside forward positions. For the younger generation, the above description outlines the side in a 2-3-5 formation, which only started to change in a wholesale fashion from the mid 1960's.

This team were to finish as champions of the division, and create records that still stand nearly sixty years later - these include a run of seventeen successive home victories and six successive away victories, with twenty one home matches ending in victory, the only home points dropped being in a 2 - 2 draw with Southend in April.

A busy holiday weekend saw the Swans triumph 5 - 2 at Newport on Good Friday, and then defeat Aldershot 2 - 1 at the Vetch on Saturday. This set up the Easter Monday return clash with Newport superbly, with victory for the Swans guaranteeing them promotion.

The gates were closed long before kick-off, with several thousand turned away. Although the official attendance was declared as 28,623, the Evening Post report suggested that there were well over 30,000 in attendance. In a tense match the Swans eventually came out on top 2 - 1, with their goals scored by Scrine and Richards, and promotion being secured. A feature of the weekend was that the Swans took over 7000 fans to Newport on Good Friday, and Newport reciprocated with a similar following at the Vetch for this Easter Monday match. The achieving of promotion saw scenes of great jubilation, and there were speeches made by the Mayors of both Swansea and Newport !

The following Saturday would see the title secured with a 2 - 0 win at Brighton, and with it a second championship for the club.

The match programme measures 8.5 x 5.75 inches and is printed black on white with 8 pages, priced at 2d. The front cover has an attractive Swansea Town heading, with the fixture details in the top half, while the bottom half has an advert for……….yes, you've guessed it - Down & Sons. The back cover shows the league table with the Swans proudly sitting on top, whilst "club notes" talks of the strenuous holiday games being played. Other notable adverts reflect the feelgood post war feeling, with presentations at the Albert Hall, Windsor and Gnoll cinemas featured, whilst "live" entertainment is available at the Empire Theatre, where "Sky High", direct from the London Palladium, is being performed, starring "Professor" Jimmy Edwards.

Estimated value of a reasonable condition copy of this programme - £40

Why not check out the latest Vetch Verdict on the BBC site?