Where are the last semi-final Swans?
Phil Cadden looks back at the Swansea side that beat Liverpool to reach the 1964 FA Cup semi-final before losing out to Preston North End at Villa Park
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Your support makes all the difference.Swansea City's semi-final first leg against Chelsea in the Capital One Cup at Stamford Bridge tonight is only the third time in the Welsh club's history that they have been in the final four of a major cup competition. For the others you need to dust off the Rothmans: they were 1926 and 1964. On the previous occasion, almost 49 years ago, Swansea Town, as they then were, faced Preston North End in an all-Second Division FA Cup tie on 14 March at Villa Park.
Swansea, who had triumphed over Bill Shankly's famous Liverpool in the quarter-finals, lost 2-1 despite having a following of 30,000 supporters in the 68,000 capacity crowd.
Manager Trevor Morris saw Northern Irish striker Jim McLaughlin open the scoring on the stroke of half-time before Preston hit back through Alex Dawson's 53rd-minute penalty and a 30-yard piledriver from centre-half Tony Singleton to break Swansea hearts.
Since then, Swansea have played at Wembley, the home of English football, in a memorable Championship play-off final 4-2 win over Reading in May 2011 when they clinched promotion to the Premier League.
But, while Michael Laudrup's current crop of players aim to make history by booking a debut final appearance by overcoming Rafa Benitez's men, where are Swansea's stars of yesteryear now?
1. Noel Dwyer
Born in Dublin, the goalkeeper played 14 times for the Republic of Ireland as well as making 140 appearances for Swansea in a career that also included spells with West Ham United, Plymouth Argyle and Charlton Athletic. He died in January 1993 at the age of 58. His daughter is married to the former England striker Frank Worthington.
2. Roy Evans
A Welsh international who scored eight times in 213 games before joining Hereford United, right-back Evans was tragically killed in a car crash on his way to play at Nuneaton in January 1969.
3. Brian Hughes
A product of Swansea's youth team, he left the club in 1964. He played two seasons in the fledgling North American Soccer League with Atlanta Chiefs and also coached in Canada.
4. Mike Johnson
The once-capped Welsh international centre-back spent several years as understudy to Mel Nurse before replacing the Swansea legend after his move to Middlesbrough. He died in 1991.
5. Brian Purcell
Centre-half Purcell played a major role in Swansea's run to the FA Cup semi-finals. He joined Roy Evans at Hereford and was killed in the same car crash as Evans.
6. Herbie Williams
The Wales midfielder helped Swansea to win promotion in 1970 before emigrating to Australia in January 1975. He became player-coach in charge at Wollongong before returning home in November 1976, he now works locally as a postman.
7. Barrie Jones
After hanging up his boots following a double leg break in 1969, the 15-cap Wales winger ran a squash centre in Swansea. He now coaches sport in schools while attempting to lower his golf handicap.
8. Derek Draper
Inside-forward Draper left home-town club Swansea in 1966 to join Derby County for £5,000. He later joined Chester and, with 322 league appearances and 54 goals to his name, he features in both the club's top 10 Football League appearance and goalscoring lists. After retiring, he has been employed as a milkman and postman in the Chester area.
9. Eddie Thomas
The centre-forward joined Swansea from Blackburn in a £10,000 move in July 1962 and finished top scorer with 15 goals. He moved to Derby two years later before dropping down into non-league football. He died in Derby in November 2003.
10. Keith Todd
The forward netted 78 goals in 198 appearances for the Swans. He spent 30 years as a draughtsman and engineer for International Nickel before retiring in April 1997 and still lives in Swansea.
11. Jimmy McLaughlin
The Northern Ireland winger scored the FA Cup quarter-final winner against Liverpool in front of the Kop before netting in the semi-final. His 25-year managerial career began and ended at Dundalk. In January 2010 he was awarded the SWAI Special Merit Award for his contribution to Irish football. His grandson Ben plays for Everton.
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