By Paul Jones
Swansea City have announced the club’s women’s squad will become a semi-professional team with immediate effect.
The change in status also sees the team formally brought under the umbrella of Swansea City and the club’s football department, and they will now be known as Swansea City AFC Women.
Previously known as Swansea City Ladies, the team was run by volunteers for a number of years, but still became the most successful team in the recent history of the Welsh women’s football pyramid.
As part of the move, 16 Swansea City Women players have signed semi-professional contracts with the club.
Eleven of those have been awarded to players retained from last season’s squad.
The Swans have won six league titles since the formation of the current top-flight, including three of the last four, as well as enjoying success in the Welsh Women’s Cup and the Welsh Women’s League Cup.
https://twitter.com/SwansWomen/status/1691736566253719617?s=20
They have also represented Wales in the Champions League on six occasions and will be out to reclaim the title in the upcoming 2023-24 season.
Swansea City Women general manager Ian Owen said: “I couldn’t be any prouder of this change.
“We’ve been working towards this day for more than 20 years and to see it come in now – not just at our club but at others as well – is excellent.
“A lot of our players have been with us for a long time and they thoroughly deserve this. I also want to thank all the players who came before this current group, because without them laying the foundations we would not be in this position today.
“The club have been fantastic over recent months with the plans, and the vision for women’s football is really pleasing. Moving forward, we want to get back to winning ways and keep promoting the game in the right way.”
Swansea City Women captain, Katy Hosford, who has played for the Swans for 10 years, added: “It’s an amazing moment for all of us and we’re really excited.
“I love this club. I’ve been playing here since I was 16 and been involved with the Swans since I was 12. This is something we’ve been hoping for over all the years I’ve been here. To be given this opportunity is something I’m really grateful for.
“For the club to recognise what we’ve achieved – winning cups, the league, competing in the Champions League – is great, the team and the staff really want to make this most of this opportunity.”
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Swansea City chairman Andy Coleman said: “This is a seminal moment for our club and our players, and something everyone here is very excited and passionate about.
“We are committed to helping grow the women’s game here in Wales and to push our players to new levels.
“I also want Swansea City Women to inspire and provide real opportunities for the next generation of girls in our local community to play football.
“I will be personally overseeing the women’s team in my role as chairman, and I will not consider my tenure at Swansea City a success unless we have made a significant and positive impact on women’s and girls’ football in our community and across Wales.”
Lowri Roberts, head of women’s and girls’ football at the Football Association of Wales, said: “We are in a very exciting period of growth and progress in the women’s game in Wales.
“There are increasing demands on the players in the Adran Leagues in terms of performance on the field, playing in front of large crowds and the increasing media coverage, so it’s great to see that this is being recognised and rewarded at Swansea City.”
Ecstatic for the girls and everyone associated with @SwansWomen . A big statement from the club and certainly a huge credit to all those who helped shape Swansea City Women on and off the field from its inception. #ourway https://t.co/IXyf3jIBhB
— Ceri Phillips (@_Ceri_Phillips) August 16, 2023