It was 30 years ago today….

No matter what your age, every Swansea City fan has certain memories that they hold close to their hearts.   I am fortunate enough to be of an age that I can remember so many significant milestones in our club’s history and each of them stand as fresh in the memory as they did on the day of their inception.

Whether it was the win at Preston to seal the first division or that magical day at Wembley when the Premier League welcomed a first Welsh side they all stand out as days that should always be treasured and one that will evoke lots of conversation when you speak to supporters of those eras.

I remember the 24th April 1994 as if it was yesterday.   It was the day a Swansea City side graced the Wembley turf for the first time.   Back in those days trips to Wembley for lower league clubs certainly were not the norm, the play offs were in a relative infancy with the finals only taking place at the Stadium from 1990 onwards.   And, as a side firmly rooted in the bottom two divisions the chances of appearing in a major cup final was likely to be rare.

And so it became that the Football League Trophy (as it started life as) would be the best chance a club like us had of reaching the Twin Towers and that dream (again for fans of a certain age it was a dream) to play under them was finally realised in 1994 when we reached the final of what was then known as the Autoglass Trophy.

Swansea fans travelled in their numbers to the famous old ground (sadly we were outnumbered by Huddersfield fans) to watch our side playing in the final which, of course, we eventually won thanks to a penalty shoot out at the end of the game.

Odd things stick out for me from the day.  I remember Andy MacFarlane giving us the lead and I remember the wall of noise from the other end when Huddersfield equalised.   I remember a guy next to me leaving before penalties because “I can’t take the pressure of these” and I often wonder whether he did stay or whether he was halfway up Wembley Way when Roger saved the crucial penalty.  Speaking of which I swear there was time for me to get on the pitch and save the penalty as it seemed to all happen in slow motion.   And I remember seeing a mini bus at the services on the way home where, as the incumbents got out, they had the “Autoglass Winners” banner that the team posed behind on the turf just hours before.

They are all memories that I treasure deeply and memories that make supporting a side like the Swans so special.   I am grateful I had the chance to experience that moment and I now look back and wonder how thirty years have passed in what seems like the blink of an eye.

Back in 2004, when the day was just ten years previous, we covered the Autoglass win in some depth here on JackArmy.net and obtained many memories from posters of the day or their own recollections of Wembley.   These can be found now on our forum here but reproduced below are the words of Frank Burrows and Doug Sharpe ahead of that first ever visit to Wembley.

Frank Burrows: “Everyone knows the Autoglass Trophy is a very slow starter. The opening matches have to be fitted in alongside your early league games, and the various other cup competitions, where we had some great battles against both Bristol City and Premier League Oldham. Added to that, our group matches were against useful teams in Exeter and Plymouth – particularly Plymouth. From that slow start though, the tournament most definitely leads to something, and the fans warm to it – even people who don’t normally associate with the club or come to matches start to get excited. That’s why I was pleased to get the aggregate result against Wycombe, as by then, I knew the expectations of the city were high for a trip to Wembley.

“I don’t agree with the idea that “our name is on the cup”. When I was coach at Sunderland we reached the League Cup Final against Norwich, we beat some cracking teams on the way to Wembley – Chelsea, Notts Forest and Spurs – when the odds against us were 100-1, but then, as now, I believe it’s a case of who plays well on the day that wins. That was proved again with this year ‘s Coca-Cola Cup Final – Manchester United were the favourites, but Aston Villa played better on the day, and they won the trophy. I know that if my team play well, they’ve got the ability to beat any team in our Division, and if they concentrate and work hard on April 24th, there’ s no reason at all why we can’t win at Wembley. I’m delighted for the people of the city that they’ve got the chance to see us play in a Wembley final. Mr Sharpe and myself have worked hard to keep the club progressing in the right direction, and during my time here, we’ve won the Welsh Cup, got to the play-offs and reached a Wembley final. We need to keep increasing support at the club though, and I see our success in this Trophy as a step to get more people interested, generate more money, and hopefully keep them interested, with our aim being to reach the First Division, and then ultimately the Premiership.

“We’ve had our disappointments this season, particularly being knocked out of the FA Cup by Nuneaton, but although I felt there was a hysterical reaction to that, particularly in certain areas, that’s part and parcel of my job. I’ m proud to be manager of the Swans and to be a Jack, and I want to be King of the Jacks at Wembley on April 24th. No criticism can deflect from the pride I get when I see my side play well and win, and particularly when the young players do well. I also get a tremendous buzz from seeing the progress made like Des Lyttle and Andrew Legg, who’ve played under me at this club before moving on. I’m expecting a crowd of between 45 and 60 thousand for our big day at Wembley, and although playing there is such a special feeling, the players have to remember is that their job is to play for that particular 90 minutes – as I said earlier, whether it’s a World Cup Final or an Autoglass Trophy Final, it’s the performance on the day that counts. It’s important to enjoy the occasion by playing well. I went to Wembley as a player with Swindon in 1969 – we played well, I didn’t do too bad personally either, and it was an enjoyable day. When I was there as coach of Sunderland though, we didn’t play well, and the occasion was far more muted. I just hope that when we go there, the fans enjoy the atmosphere, and we give them something to cheer about by picking up the Trophy.

“I won’t have any special preparations or superstitions leading up to Wembley – I’ll just get ready as thoroughly as possible, and I’m certain I’ ll enjoy every bit of the build-up and the day itself. I enjoy every aspect of my work – I look forward to coming in to work, and though its hard work, I enjoy it all. This will be the first time the city of Swansea and its football club have been to Wembley – I hope the weather’s fine, everyone has a good day out and cheers the team on to victory – I certainly hope we sell all our tickets and have as many supporters there as possible. One last thing – I might ask them to play the Welsh National anthem – I’d love to hear that sung at Wembley, because its been a long time since the Welsh have been there and sung their own anthem! I’m proud to be a Jack – enjoy the day at Wembley and thank you as always for your continued support.”

Doug Sharpe: “Sunday April 24th at Wembley will be a special day for myself and everyone else connected with Swansea City Football Club. I’ve been to Wembley on a number of occasions, but going there, as Chairman, with Swansea one of the teams involved, will be tremendous. It’ll be a smashing day out for the city of Swansea, and I hope people will be taking their children and families along, as the facilities at Wembley are excellent. I’m looking for us to be taking around 25 to 30 thousand supporters, and I hope we can do the business on the day. The atmosphere at Wycombe for the return leg of our semi-final there was superb. Our supporters were magnificent, they got behind the team from beginning to end, and though we had to do some defending up there, especially in the first half, we came back extremely well, and could easily have scored some goals ourselves in the second half. Success in the Autoglass Trophy obviously helps the bank balance of a club like ours – getting to Wembley itself makes quite a lot of money for the club, and so makes things easier in the future. Since Frank Burrows has been our manager, a lot of good things have happened, including on our youth side, and hopefully we’ll now continue to see young players coming through into the first team and even higher. Frank is a good motivator and a good manager, and we’re certainly on the right track.

“At one stage this season we had as many as six first-team players out injured – even the likes of Arsenal and Manchester Unites can’t cope with that, but it’s nice to think that our supporters are now going to have their day out at Wembley. I remember in the first division days, the motorways were packed with Swansea supporters going to matches – let’s make it the same on the road to Wembley. And yes – I’ll certainly be bringing my famous tin hat to Wembley – it went to every game when we reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1964, and it’ll be there this time too. Enjoy the day.”

Back in 2004, Roger Freestone reflected back on the game to JackArmy.net with these words “It’s hard to believe that it is ten years ago. Indeed, until you just pointed it out to me I hadn’t realised. Some of the moments of that game stick out in my mind like they were yesterday in particular the noise that was being made from the Swansea end. There was no doubting that Huddersfield may have had the advantage in terms of number of support but, as ever, the travelling Jack Army made themselves heard.

“We dominated the first half of that game after Andy (Macfarlane) gave us the early lead and I thought we could have been another goal or two clear at the break but fair play to Huddersfield they came back strong in the second half and deserved their equaliser. Extra time was a nerve wracking affair and I remember Jason Bowen cracking a shot against the post towards the end of the game.

“Then it was down to the penalties – I guess they can make or break a goalkeeper’s career. They hit their first against the bar and we were taking what I can only say were superb penalties. Then it came down to the last one. My mind was in a blur at the time but I have since watched the video and Frankie Burrows was on the bench and he murmured ‘come on Rog’ as Cowan, I think, stepped up to take it. You’ve said to me before that it seemed in slow motion but I still guessed right didn’t I?! Of course you know I saved it but I honestly didn’t know that was it until big Lee Jones came and jumped on my back. I wondered what had hit me.

“To me that was the culmination of a lot of hard work that had gone in from everyone at the club and most of all it was a reward for the supporters that had been through so much to be there. When you think of the troubled times of the club then all credit to Doug Sharpe and everyone else for turning it round to that.

“For me, playing at Wembley was a massive occasion. You always wonder whether you will make it when you start up in the game and I am lucky to play at the two best stadiums in the World. For me the game against Brazil was massive – it’s bound to be representing your country – but playing at Wembley for the Swans I would say generated a better atmosphere.

“Walking up those steps after the game to collect the trophy sent shivers down my spine. When I took it from Corny and lifted it you could just see the banners and the joy on the faces of the supporters and that is something that will live with me forever.

“Then there was the traditional walk around the pitch to show it off to the fans that had made the trip. You know me, I’m not the best looking bloke in the world but without my teeth in I’m untouchable – maybe I should have put them in for that part of the day! And when I did the Nobby Stiles type jig with the trophy, well that was an utter disgrace!

“It’s a day that I can’t forget and I suspect that most that were there won’t forget in a hurry either. It all passed so quickly but thanks to those nice people who produced the video I have something to show the grandkids one day that their grandad graced one of the most famous stadiums in the world. Swansea were the champions.”

The Evening Post Match Report – John Burgum

SWANSEA heeded the advice of their manager in a thrilling Autoglass Trophy final to make a winning Wembley debut and put a little respectability back into the tarnished image of Welsh football.

But the first club from the Principality to leave the famous Twin Towers with a trophy since Cardiff won the FA Cup in 1927 did not achieve it without a high degree of drama.

Two hours of strained emotions had failed to separate two evenly balances teams when it all came down to a contest no-one really wanted.

Hardly noted for their penalty prowess after missing so many spot kicks in recent times, Swansea has cause to view it with a certain amount of suspicion.

But Swansea’s 18,000 strong following need not have worried. Enter Frank Burrows with calming assurance “I simply told my players not to complicate things. Make up your mind, never change it.”

That’s exactly what Swansea did. Swansea captain John Cornforth, voted Autoglass man of the match, Kwame Ampadu and Steve Torpey all succeeded without too much fuss and bother.

Burrows added: “When it comes down to penalties it’s in the lap of the gods. Your pray that the gods are with you for those two or three minutes and they certainly were.

Huddersfield duo Graham Mitchell and Phil Starbuck struck the wood work and when second half hero Roger Freestone denied Tom Cowan to crown a superb personal contribution, Huddersfield dismay was quickly over shadowed by Swansea joy.

Cornforth immediately ran over to his manager and the two hugged each other in celebration.

But the one sided penalty shoot our bore little resemblance to the previous two hours of frantic see sawing activity.

Swansea rarely looked in trouble after the recalled Andy McFarlane scored early on, but they were rocked back on their heels after the interval when Huddersfield’s physical strength threatened to disrupt Swansea’s passing game.

Having withstood the pressure not without several scares, Swansea came back strongly in extra time when Steve Francis pulled off the save of the match t turn Cornforth’s free kick around the post.

It had looked a lot more promising early on when Swansea mde the perfect Wembley start by scoring the fastest goal in the competition’s history after just eight minutes.

Freestone pumped a long free kick deep into the Huddersfield defence after Colin Pascoe had been impeded and the long striding McFarlane did the rest -chesting the ball down with nonchalant ease as Huddersfield stood and watched before turning sharply and burying a low drive into the far corner of the goalkeeper’s net.

With Cornforth directing astutely from midfield and Pascoe grafting tirelessly in support, Swansea continued to call most of the shots until the latter stages of the first half when Wembley’s soft underbelly started to dig into Swansea’s reserves.

The arrival of lively Iain Dunn at the start of the second half merely reinforced Huddersfield’s grip of the proceedings.

From then on, Swansea struggled for long periods to match Huddersfield’s greater strength and commitment. The aerial power of Andrew Booth underlined it and the problems Mark Harris and Michael Basham ensured served as ample testimony.

Almost every time Swansea gained possession the Terriers were snapping at their heels forcing the error and allowing wingers Jason Bowen and the ineffective John Hodge little room to manoeuvre even on Wembley’s vast acres.

Huddersfield pressure brought its due reward after just over an hour’s play – Phil Starbuck supplying the corner and Richard Logan the finish with a firm header.

Although scoring opportunities were at a premium both sides had chances to avoid the necessity of extra time. Mark Clode forced Francis to palm one effort over the bar before going off injured to complete a remarkable nine days which included a spell in hospital after he’d been knocked unconscious at Burnley.

Swansea’s best winning chance however, came as injury time beckoned. The hard working McFarlane cleared a long ball out of defence and Bowen raced clear pursued by Chris Billy before rattling the near post with a right foot drive.

The athletic Freestone was even more active, denying Starbuck before making a point blank reaction save to turn a header from Simon Baldry over the bar.

Swansea somehow managed to save something for the extra half hour and they finished far the stronger before that dramatic penalty shoot out earned them top billing with their rugby neighbours who lifted the coveted Heineken League title just 24 hours earlier at St Helens.