Getting To Know You - Swansea City
Last updated : 18 October 2002 By Robert Craven
 | Roger Freestone |
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Roger FreestoneSquad Number: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 34 Height: 6ft 2ins Weight: 12st 2lbs
Born: Newport
Career (559 League Appearances/ 3 Goals): Newport County (13/0), Chelsea (42/0), Swansea City [loan] (14/0), Hereford United [loan] (8/0), Swansea City (482/3)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 14/0
Details: Signed for the Swans before the 1991/2 season for £45,000 by then boss Terry Yorath after he had impressed during a loan spell at the Vetch two seasons previously. His chances at Chelsea had been limited to just 42 League games, mostly coming in the 1988/9 campaign. Holds one full cap for the Welsh national side, won two years ago in a 3-0 defeat against Brazil. His three goals came during his spell in the mid-1990's as penalty-taker. Last season was a busy one - he was awarded his testimonial and had a spell as assistant caretaker manager with Nick Cusack in March.
Kristian O'Leary
Squad Number: 4
Position: Midfielder
Age: 25 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 12st 9lbs
Born: Port Talbot
Career (136 League Appearances/ 7 Goals): Swansea City (136/7)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 11/0
Details: Combative defensive midfielder who was sent off against Blues last season. The one-club man, who progressed through the youth ranks to get a regular spot last year including a period as captain, has represented his country at youth level.
Jason Smith
Squad Number: 5
Position: Defender
Age: 28 Height: 6ft 3ins Weight: 14st
Born: Bromsgrove
Career (115 League Appearances/ 5 Goals): Coventry City (0/0), Tiverton Town (no figures available), Swansea City (115/5)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 5/0
Details: The Midlander has been out of action with a groin strain, but was back in time for last week’s fixture. A recurring ankle injury meant that he missed much of the last two campaigns; although after his £10,000 switch from non-League Tiverton he had been almost ever present between 1998 and 2000. Spent five years at then Premiership side Coventry City without making a League appearance.
David Theobald
Squad Number: 6
Position: Defender
Age: 23 Height: 6ft 3ins Weight: 12st 8lbs
Born: Cambridge
Career (31 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Ipswich Town (0/0), Brentford (31/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 7[1]/0
Details: The East Anglian-born Theobald began his career at nearby Ipswich Town, but he never broke into the first team and he joined Brentford in 1999. However, he did not play as many games as he would have liked at the Second Division club and was mainly used as a substitute, making just six appearances in League football last season. A tall player who the Jacks hope can produce good football at the back, Theobald is looking to cement a place in South Wales.
Andrew Mumford
Squad Number: 7
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Age: 21 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 12st 3lbs
Born: Neath
Career (38 League Appearances/ 5 Goals): Swansea City (38/5)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 4[2]/1
Details: Mumford began his career at Llanelli as a centre-back, but the switch to Swansea saw the tall Welshman move into a midfield role, which he took to immediately. Bagged five goals in 32 games last season, a record that attracted the Welsh Under-21 set-up.
Matt Murphy
Squad Number: 8
Position: Midfielder
Age: 31 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 12st 12lbs
Born: Northampton
Career (258 League Appearances/ 38 Goals): Oxford United (246/38), Scunthorpe United [loan] (3/0), Bury (9/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 5[1]/0
Details: The attacking right-sided midfielder was a casualty of Bury's financial plight, and moved to Swansea in the close season to ease the Lancastrians wage-bill. He had played his football predominantly at Oxford prior to Bury, scoring all of his 38 League goals at that club.
James Thomas | Kristian O'Leary |
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Squad Number: 9
Position: Forward
Age: 23 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 13st 5lbs
Born: Swansea
Career (33 League Appearances/ 5 Goals): Blackburn Rovers (4/1), West Bromwich Albion [loan] (3/0), Blackpool [loan] (9/2), Sheffield United [loan] (10/1), Bristol Rovers [loan] (7/1)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 11/5Details: The local-born lad has been one of the bright spots of the Swans disastrous season so far, hitting the net five times at a goal a game. Previously, the tall and well-built front-man had plied his trade at Premiership Blackburn, but his chances were limited to four games in the 2000/1 season and loan spells at predominantly First Division clubs. Thomas holds the record of 21 Wales Under-21 caps.
Steve Watkin
Squad Number: 10
Position: Forward
Age: 31 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 11st 10lbs
Born: Wrexham
Career (380 League Appearances/ 97 Goals): Wrexham (200/55), Swansea City (180/42)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 6[1]/1
Details: Watkin, who can operate in a midfield or striking role depending on the needs of the team, needs just 13 more League Appearances and two more goals to take his record to 400 games and a century of strikes. Had played 200 times for Wrexham, helping them in their FA Cup exploits of the early 90's before moving to the south of the country for £108,000 in 1997.
Paul Reid
Squad Number: 11
Position: Midfielder
Age: 34 Height: 5ft 8ins Weight: 12st 3lbs
Born: Oldbury
Career (531 League Appearances/ 57 Goals): Leicester City (162/21), Bradford City [loan] (7/0), Bradford City (82/15), Huddersfield Town (77/6), Oldham Athletic (93/6), Bury (110/9)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 12[1]/1
Details: The left-sided midfielder was the captain at Gigg Lane before he too became a casualty of the Shakers financial crisis and was released on a free transfer at the end of last season. Reid began his career at Leicester City, racking up 162 League appearances at Filbert Street in seven years. When Brian Little took over the Foxes he was deemed surplus to requirements and after a loan spell at Valley Parade he made the transfer permanent. Subsequent spells at Huddersfield, Oldham and finally Bury have all been successful, but the 34-year-old moved to the Vetch in the summer in the hopes of holding down a regular spot.
Andrew Marsh
Squad Number: 12
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 18 Height: 6ft 2ins Weight: 10st 9lbs
Born: Swansea
Career (0 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Swansea City (0/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 0/0
Details: Substitute goalkeeper, who was on the books at Liverpool, but chose to move back to his native Wales. Had a spell with Pontardawe, but has signed a one-year deal to learn from Freestone.
Jonathan Keaveny
Squad Number: 15
Position: Forward
Age: 20 Height: 5ft 9ins Weight: 11st 2lbs
Born: Swansea
Career (0 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Port Tennant Stars (no figures available), Pontardawe (19/22), Carmarthan (9/11), Swansea City (0/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 3[3]/0
Details: Keaveny has endured an incredible year, starting last season with Port Tennant Stars before moving to Pontardawe, where he hit 22 goals in 19 games. He was quickly snapped up by Carmarthan Town, where he smashed home 11 goals in just nine games. Made a dream move to Swansea during the summer, but has yet to hit a League goal.
 | Steve Watkin |
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David MossSquad Number: 16
Position: Forward
Age: 33 Height: 6ft 2ins Weight: 13st 7lbs
Born: Doncaster
Career (219 League Appearances/ 71 Goals): Doncaster Rovers (18/5), Chesterfield (71/16), Scunthorpe United (4/0), Partick Thistle (8/11), Falkirk (61/25), Dunfermline (49/12), Ayr United [loan] (5/1), Falkirk (3/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 4[6]/2
Details: Moss was captain during his first spell at Scottish First Division side Falkirk, and his time north of the border was successful on the whole, including an incredible record of 11 goals in just eight league games at Partick. The physical playmaker did not enter professional football until the age of 24, but can be used as a target man or as an attacking midfielder. Made a number of substitute appearances so far for Swansea.
Michael Howard
Squad Number: 20
Position: Defender
Age: 23 Height: 5ft 7ins Weight: 10st 7lbs
Born: Birkenhead
Career (165 League Appearances/ 2 Goals): Swansea City (165/2)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 11/0
Details: Tiny left-back who was snapped up from the Tranmere youth system at the age of 18. When he found the net in Swansea's 4-2 capitulation at Roots Hall last season, he was finding the back of the net for only the second time in his career. Reliable full-back who has made the first-team most of the time during his time at the Vetch Field.
Damien Lacey
Squad Number: 22
Position: Midfielder
Age: 25 Height: 5ft 9ins Weight: 11st
Born: Bridgend
Career (94 League Appearances/ 2 Goals): Swansea City (94/2)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 5[2]/0
Details: Lacey has progressed past 100 League appearances for the Jacks during the start to this season. Has been playing for them for over six seasons now, coming through the youth ranks, but he has constantly been hampered by heel problems which have always put a cap on his number of games in a season.
Leigh De-Vulgt
Squad Number: 24
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Age: 21 Height: 5ft 9ins Weight: 11st 2lbs
Born: Swansea
Career (19 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Swansea City (19/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 0[1]/0
Details: Youngster who looks set to be forced into action on Saturday due to a defensive crisis at Swansea. Still has a year to run on a twenty-four month contract penned a season ago, but his first-team opportunities have always been restricted until now. Has played for Wales at Youth and Under-21 level, and can operate in the right-back role.
Jamie Wood
Squad Number: 25
Position: Forward
Age: 24 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 12st 11lbs
Born: Salford
Career (63 League Appearances/ 6 Goals): Manchester United (0/0), Royal Antwerp [loan] (no figures available), Hull City (47/6), Halifax Town (16/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 7[1]/3
Details: Had a trial at the Vetch under Nick Cusack towards the end of last season and was offered a twelve-month deal as a consequence. Began his career with Manchester United, but was soon moved to Hull. Before this season, he had not hit the back of the net for two seasons at Hull or latterly relegated Halifax. This time around he has hit three goals, and the Swans will be looking for that to continue.
Brian Cash (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
Squad Number: Unknown
Position: Midfielder
Age: 19 Height: 5ft 9ins Weight: 11st 1lb
Born: Dublin
Career (5 League Appearances/ 0 goals): Nottingham Forest (5/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 0[1]/0 (for Nottingham Forest)
Details: Cash was signed on Thursday in a deal which saw him move on a month’s loan to the Vetch Field with a view to the Republic Of Ireland Youth and Under-21 midfielder gaining some valuable first-team experience. His signature was captured in timed for Cash to make the starting eleven against the Shrimpers if Swansea manager Brian Flynn sees it fit.