Swansea.Com Podcast

This week, Lee Trundle talks to the ex-Wales international midfielder Shaun Macdonald, who was born and raised in Swansea, making his debut at Swansea City in 2005. 

In his time at Swansea, he made 40 appearances and helping the Swans win the football league trophy in the 05/06 season. Macdonald later found joy at Yeovil Town in the 09/10 and 10/11 seasons while on loan. 

He made his debut for Wales in Oct 2010 before signing for Bournemouth in League One in August 2011, helping them achieve promotion to the championship while being a regular starter. 

Macdonald holds the Wales U21 cap record with 25 apps. Macdonald talks about his 2 leg breaks towards the end of his career and the different managers he’s played under such as Roberto Martinez, Paulo Sousa, and Kenny Jackett. 

2x table tennis medal winner in the 2020 Paralympic games in Tokyo Paul Karabardak, talks Lee Trundle through his emotional journey after suffering a stroke at aged 10 causing his disability which saw him unable to play football.  

His career started at a local disabled youth club which his mum told him about ‘Friends of the Young Disabled’ where he picked up table tennis which he loved, and it helped with rehabilitating his left leg.  

Karabardak talks about his journey in table tennis before he won his first Paralympic medals in Tokyo, such as playing internationally including China, Brazil, USA, and many more. His motivational story is not to be missed.

In this latest episode meet Scott Otten, the fan favourite Ospreys hooker who capped 110 appearances in 8 seasons for the side, making his debut at aged 19 in 2013 against Cardiff Blues.  

We explore his early career at clubs such as Swansea, Neath, and Aberavon. Otten talks about SO Coffee, his wholesale and retail coffee selling business with the aim of bringing people together through coffee.  

Scott also talks about his career-ending injury which forced him to retire in May 2021 and his life after rugby, as he was appointed as head of the commercial at Swansea RFC in August 2021.  

In this episode, we are speaking to a Welsh rugby legend.

Jonathan Davies, also known as ‘Jiffy’, has had a successful career in both rugby union and rugby league.

Born in Trimsaran, Carmarthenshire, Davies earned 37 caps in total for Wales in rugby union, playing in the 1987 World Cup, in which Wales finished third, and winning the 1988 Five Nations Championship. He also represented Great Britain in rugby league, playing at the 1989-92 Rugby League World Cup.

He made the famous switch to rugby league in 1989 joining Widnes for a large fee, where he spent four seasons at Widnes before moving to Warrington.

Tune in as we listen to Jiffy's past tales, his MBE and OBE awards, and what he gets up to these days working as a commentator for both rugby union and rugby league, alongside his several business roles.

Jazz Richards talks about pretentious people in Swansea & how Cardiff City supporters became his favourite fans. 

Jazz Richards another local lad, born in Swansea in 1991, made 51 appearances for The Swans. Although Jazz started his professional career as a Centre-Midfielder it was Martinez's decision to convince Jazz to switch positions to Right-Back. After a number of seasons at the club, Jazz spent time at Crystal Palace, Huddersfield Town, and Fulham before making the move to Cardiff City. 

Jazz has played under many high-profile managers such as Ryan Giggs, Brendan Rodgers, Michael Laudrup and was part of Chris Coleman's historic Euro 2016 Wales squad. 

After the expiration of his contract last summer at Cardiff City, Jazz completed a surprise move to the Cymru Premier side, Haverfordwest County after a short stint out of the game. Jazz has become one of the league's highest-profile signings and believes many ex-professionals will follow. 

Tune in to listen to how football played a big part in affecting Jazz's mental health and why he made the move to Haverford Country. 

Jay Harris, a local boy from Swansea, has made his city proud on many occasions. Training in a local gym in the Townhill Area "The Gwent", Jay began his path to become a Professional Boxer at the age of 12. 

Jay is trained by his father and former British Featherweight Champion Peter Harris, and so far has an impressive boxing record of 20 fights, 18 wins with 9 wins being knockouts. 

The professional boxer has held the Commonwealth Flyweight title since 2017, The European Flyweight title in 2019, as well as winning the IBF Inter-Continental Flyweight Champion title in 2019.

Tune in to hear Jay talk about his biggest fight in February 2020, where he lost to Mexican boxer Julio Casper Martinez in Texas and the decision to move down a weight class to Light-Featherweight. 

Cherrie Bija, CEO of Faith in Families, talks us through the work they do within the community to help make a real difference to children and families facing many difficult issues.

Working in the local authority area of Swansea since 1999, ‘Faith in Families’ has over two decades of experience which has established them within disadvantaged communities, enabling them to meet their mission.

Cherrie talks about the main aim of the charity, which is to make easily accessible opportunities for children and young people, and their families, to change their lives for the better.

Join us to hear all about the incredible journey Cherrie has gone through to get where she is today, and how she plans to take Faith in Families to a level that it has never been before.

This week we're throwing it back again to yet another Swansea legend that is, Alan Curtis. The Swans will move on, but the memories of Alan playing at The Vetch Field will live on forever.

Alan dedicated a lengthy service to the club, from scoring legendary goals to becoming coach, caretaker manager, and now honorary president. He was given an MBE for services to Welsh football.

As touched upon in last week's podcast with Wyndham Evans, Alan was a key player in the club’s rise through the football leagues. Not only did Alan have an impact on the pitch, but within the dressing room too, delivering a passionate and iconic speech to players before the 4-2 win over Hull which saved the club's football league status.

After a number of seasons at The Vetch Field, Alan signed for Leeds United in the First Division for a Third Division record of £350,000. During a season and a half at Leeds, Alan played and scored in the UEFA Cup, as well as sustaining a serious knee injury in Jan 1980 after a collision with Peter Shilton, putting his career in doubt. Shortly after Alan returned to the Swans before moving onto Southampton. 

Although many consider Curtis a die-hard Swans legend, scoring 110 goals in 412 appearances, it is important not to overlook Alan’s other achievements in Welsh football. He represented his country 35 times and played 153 matches for Cardiff City scoring 13 times for the club. This included an important goal in the 1988 Welsh Cup Final against Wrexham at the Vetch Field.

This week, we're throwing it back and going old school. 

Wyndham Evans, a Llanelli-born Swansea City legend, started his professional career with the club in 1971 earning just £20 a week. 

After playing as an amateur with Stoke City, it was then that the relationship between Wyndham and The Vetch began. With the rise through the football leagues around the corner, the solid and reliable right-back had a massive impact on the club’s climb to the top. Winning three promotions in four seasons and playing two seasons in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. 

Wyndham also had a brief spell away from the club as player-manager of Llanelli Town, before returning to the Swans. After 426 appearances and 21 goals for The Swans, Wyndham left the club to become player-manager at Pembroke Borough, as well as managing Carmarthen Town. Today, Wyndham is still seen as one of the club’s heroic players and has made an impression through his enthusiastic commentary on Swans TV. 

Playing underneath MBE John Toshack as a player, Wyndham shared the pitch with many of Swansea City's Wall of Famers. Tune in to listen to stories shared from the Vetch Field era of Robbie James, Alan Curtis, Jeremy Charles, and so many more legendary players. 

Recently retired and one of the city's most loved wingers, Dyer spent 11 years at Swansea City AFC during a golden period in the club's history. 

 Dyer’s talent on the wing has been demonstrated throughout his 15-year professional career. Making 439 appearances and netting 45 goals, whilst winning a Premier League title, League Cup and Championship play-off final along the way.

 It cannot be argued that Dyer hasn’t had a massive impact on the club, from helping to achieve promotion to the Premier League in 2011 to scoring twice in the League Cup final win over Bradford in 2013.

 Whilst he will be missed greatly on the pitch, tune in to listen to Dyer discuss his best moments at Swansea City. As well as touching on his early years, mental health and becoming a support system for his younger teammates.

It’s not to be missed 👀