The Swansea Senior Association Football League or Swansea Senior League, is a league competition featuring non-professional association football clubs in the area of Swansea, south Wales. The league consists of six divisions, three for "first teams" and others for "reserves" and lower teams. The top division, the Premier Division is just below West Wales Premier League, and therefore sits at level 5 of the Welsh football pyramid.
| Founded | 1901 |
|---|---|
| Country |  Wales |
| Number of teams | 29 |
| Promotion to | West Wales Premier League |
| Current champions | St Joseph's (2023–24) |
| Website | Swansea Senior Football League |
History
editThe first football league in the Swansea area was the Swansea Association League, played as early as 1897.[1]
The current league was formed in 1901 as the Swansea Junior League, and launched a Senior League in 1903–04, followed in 1904–05 by a name change to the Swansea & District League.[2] The league was suspended during World War I.[3] During the 1921–22 and 1922–23 seasons, the league expanded to include a Gower Division and a Neath Division.
At the outbreak of World War II in September 1939 all local leagues in Swansea suspended football, but in October both the Swansea & District League and a second league, the Swansea Gwalia League approved a merger for the duration of the war years as the Swansea Gwalia Combination[4] with the league operating two senior divisions. In May 1946 the leagues agreed a permanent merger, with the league to be known as the Swansea District Gwalia League.[5] In the 1947–48, the league changed its name to the current league title of the Swansea Senior Association Football League.[6]
Member clubs for 2024–25 season
editThe following clubs are competing in the Swansea Senior Football League during the 2024–25 season.
Premier Division
edit- Blaen-y-Maes
- Brynawel
- Clase Social
- Cwmfelin Press
- Llangyfelach
- Murton Rovers
- Penclawdd
- Plough Colts
- Port Tennant Colts
- Ragged School
- Waunarlwydd Galaxy
Division One
edit- African Community Centre
- Birchgrove Colts
- Bonymaen Colts
- FC Bonymaen
- Gors
- Kingsbridge Colts
- St Thomas Stars
- Treboeth United
- Union Rangers
Division Two
edit- Cwm Albion
- Fforestfach
- Landore
- Maltsters Sports
- Newton Athletic
- Penllergaer
- Rosehill Community
- Sandfields
- Talycopa
Champions
edit1900s
edit- 1901–02: – Pontardawe[2]
- 1902–03: – East Side[7]
- 1903–04: –
- 1904–05: –
- 1905–06: –
- 1906–07: – Swansea Town[3]
- 1907–08: – Swansea Town[8]
- 1908–09: – Morriston[8]
- 1909–10: – Mond Nickel Works[3]
1910s
edit- 1910–11: – Swansea United[9]
- 1911–12: –
- 1912–13: – Milford Town[3]
- 1913–14: – Swansea Town[3]
- 1914–15: – No competition due to World War 1
- 1915–16: – No competition due to World War 1
- 1916–17: – No competition due to World War 1
- 1917–18: – No competition due to World War 1
- 1918–19: – No competition due to World War 1
- 1919–20: – Competition not completed[3]
1920s
edit1930s
edit1940s
edit- 1940–41: –
- 1941–42: –
- 1942–43: –
- 1943–44: –
- 1944–45: –
- 1945–46: –
- 1946–47: – Cwm Albions[6]
- 1947–48: – Briton Ferry[14]
- 1948–49: – Midland Athletic[15]
- 1949–50: – Stepney[14]
1950s
edit1960s
edit1970s
edit1980s
edit- 1980–81: – Bonymaen Colts[26]
- 1981–82: – Ragged School
- 1982–83: – West End
- 1983–84: – Ragged School[27]
- 1984–85: – Siliconix
- 1985–86: – West End
- 1986–87: –
- 1987–88: – Port Tennant Colts[27]
- 1988–89: – Blaenymaes[27]
- 1989–90: – Blaenymaes FC
1990s
edit2000s
edit- 2000–01: – Ragged School[31]
- 2001–02: – West End[32]
- 2002–03: – West End[33]
- 2003–04: – Bonymaen Colts[34]
- 2004–05: – West End[35]
- 2005–06: –
- 2006–07: – Winch Wen[36]
- 2007–08: – Ragged School[36]
- 2008–09: – Ragged School[36]
- 2009–10: – Ragged School[36]
2010s
edit- 2010–11: – Swansea Dockers[36]
- 2011–12: – Penlan Club[36]
- 2012–13: – Kilvey United[36]
- 2013–14: – Penlan Club[36]
- 2014–15: – Penlan Club[36]
- 2015–16: – Penlan Club[36]
- 2016–17: – Team Swansea[36]
- 2017–18: – West End Rangers[36]
- 2018–19: – Penlan Club[36][37]
- 2019-20: – Rockspur Fords[36]
2020s
edit- 2020–21: Season void
- 2021–22: – Rockspur Fords
- 2022–23: – Rockspur Fords (promoted to WWPL)
- 2023–24: – St Joseph's (promoted to WWPL)
Senior Cup winners
editThe first league cup competition was held in 1908–09 with Mond Nickel Works being winners. They were successful in all the pre-World War competitions apart from the 1910–11 season when they were knocked out at the semi-final stage by Swansea United. A partial list of the winners of the Senior Cup competition can be found below.
Ragged School have won the cup 14 times.[38]
- 1908–09: – Mond Nickel Works[3]
- 1909–10: – Mond Nickel Works[39]
- 1911–12: – Mond Nickel Works[40]
- 1912–13: – Mond Nickel Works[40] (replay)[41]
- 1913–14: – Mond Nickel Works[40][42]
- 1914–15: – No competition due to World War 1
- 1915–16: – No competition due to World War 1
- 1916–17: – No competition due to World War 1
- 1917–18: – No competition due to World War 1
- 1918–19: – No competition due to World War 1
- 1919–20: – Gorseinon[3]
- 1924–25: – Cwm Athletic[17]
- 1925–26: – Cwm Athletic[17]
- 1926–27: – Cwm Athletic[17]
- 1928–29: – Cwm Athletic[17]
- 1929–30: – Cwm Athletic[17]
- 1930–31: – Cwm Athletic[17]
- 1931–32: – North End[12]
- 1936–37: – Alexandra[43]
- 1951–52: – Mumbles Albion[44]
- 1953–54: – Swansea Boys Club[23]
- 1954–55: – Swansea Boys Club[23]
- 1955–56: – Swansea Boys Club[23]
- 1958–59: – North End[16]
- 1963–64: – Swansea Town 'A'[20]
- 1967–68: – United[25]
- 1968–69: – United[18]
- 1969–70: – United[25]
- 1970–71: – West End[24]
- 1971–72: – United[45]
- 1977–78: – Ragged School[46]
- 1979–80: – Ragged School[46]
- 1980–81: – St. Joseph's[47]
- 1988–89: – Blaenymaes[27]
- 1990–91: – Ragged School[29]
- 1991–92: – Ragged School[29]
- 1992–93: – Ragged School[29]
- 1993–94: – Port Tennant Colts[48]
- 1996–97: – Maltsters Sports[49]
- 2000–01: – Ragged School[31]
- 2008–09: – Cwm Press[50]
- 2009–10: – Swansea Dockers[50]
- 2010–11: – Cwm Press[50]
- 2011–12: – Ragged School[50]
- 2012–13: – Swansea Dockers[50]
- 2013–14: – Ragged School[50]
- 2014–15: – Competition suspended[50]
- 2015–16: – Ynystawe Athletic[50]
- 2016–17: – Penlan Club[50]
- 2017–18: – Penlan Club[50]
- 2018–19: – Penlan Club[50]
- 2019–20: – Competition void - Coronavirus pandemic
- 2020–21: – Competition cancelled - Coronavirus pandemic
- 2021–22: – Rockspur Fords
- 2022–23: – Rockspur Fords
- 2023-24: — St Joseph's
Other competition winners
editOpen Cup Finals
edit- 1981–82: – St. Joseph's 2-1 West End
- 2021–22: – Rockspur Fords
- 2022–23: — St Joseph's
- 2023-24- Plough Colts
Charity Shield
edit- 2021–22: – Rockspur Fords
Notable players
editReferences
edit- ^ https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3356805/3356808/17/swansea%2BOR%2Bassociation%2BOR%2Bleague
- ^ a b Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 11.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 16.
- ^ Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 26.
- ^ Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 27.
- ^ a b Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 28.
- ^ Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 12.
- ^ a b Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 14.
- ^ Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 15.
- ^ a b c d e f Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 18.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20080723132113/http://www.ernie33.btinternet.co.uk/1928.htm
- ^ a b Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 19.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20080725073006/http://www.ernie33.btinternet.co.uk/1935.htm
- ^ a b Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 33.
- ^ Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 36.
- ^ a b Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 61.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 49.
- ^ a b c d e Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 74.
- ^ Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 77.
- ^ a b Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 66.
- ^ Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 76.
- ^ Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 81.
- ^ a b c d Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 116.
- ^ a b Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 93.
- ^ a b c Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 92.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20080725174156/http://homepage.ntlworld.com:80/gaz.parry3/clubhonours.html
- ^ a b c d Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 104.
- ^ "Soccer Extra". South Wales Evening Post. 24 April 1995. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 127.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20040529184643/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.habberfield/hon99.htm
- ^ a b Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 129.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20021006072429/homepage.ntlworld.com/david.habberfield/tab01fm.htm
- ^ "Easy cup success for stylish Town". Wales Online. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20041121075636/homepage.ntlworld.com/david.habberfield/hon03.htm
- ^ Johns, Owain. "Swansea To Have A Third Team In The Welsh League". Garden Village FC. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Swansea Senior League Tables". Swansea Senior Football League. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ Jones, Jordan. "Penlan Club win Swansea Senior League title". Y Clwb Pel-Droed. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ "Twitter biography". Ragged School FC Twitter. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ "Swansea League Final". The Cambria Daily Leader. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ a b c Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 47.
- ^ "Senior Cup Final (Re-Play) - Mond Nickel Works v Ystalyfera". The Cambria Daily Leader. 18 April 1913. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ "Morriston A.F.C. Juniors". The Cambria Leader. 20 July 1914. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 23.
- ^ Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 59.
- ^ Swansea Senior Football Cup winners 1975-76 Argyle 2000, pp. 92.
- ^ a b Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 106.
- ^ Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 105.
- ^ Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 131.
- ^ Swansea Senior Football League 2000, pp. 133.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Swansea Senior Cup Results". Swansea Senior Football League. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ "Swansea City legend Lee Trundle joins up with local league club Brunswick United". Wales Online. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
Bibliography
edit- Swansea Senior Football League 1901-2001: 100 Years of Local Soccer. Swansea Senior Football League. 2000. ISBN 0-9532038-3-2.