WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

We catch up with Swansea City’s 1999-2000 title winners

JOHN HOLLINS told his side to remember the pain they felt as they sat in the Glanford Park dressing room after losing a play-off semi-final to Scunthorpe United.

He wanted them to use it as motivation when they returned the following season to go one step further and climb out of the Third Division.

Hollins made Swansea watertight for their tilt at the title. Roger Freestone was sensational in goal and, along with central defenders Jason Smith and Matt Bound, the Swans kept 22 clean sheets.

Goals were in short supply, only 51 all season, with Walter Boyd, Nick Cusack and Steve Watkin all bagging seven each.

Bound said: “To keep that number of clean sheets was bonkers for that league. At one stage, we kept eight in a row. And we nicked a lot of games 1-0.

“We just dug in and were quite a strong team so, in the end, we overpowered a lot of teams.

“Roger Freestone was amazing in goal. He had a great season. But everyone just worked well together.

“The midfielders and forwards all did their job in defending as well. We had big Julian Alsop coming back and defending corners – he was a monster. Our goals total was really low, probably one of the lowest ever for a promoted team.

“It was scrappy but really good fun to be a part of. We had some great ding dongs.”

The Swans secured promotion with three first-half goals against Exeter at the Vetch Field but had to avoid defeat at second-placed Rotherham on the final day in a winner-takesall shoot-out for the title.

Two thousand fans made their way up the M1 from South Wales to Millmoor to watch the Swans secure their first title since 1949, something even the great sides of John Toshack failed to achieve.

Referee Rob Styles sent off Rotherham’s Darren Garner and Brian Wilsterman in the build-up to Bound scoring the 88th-minute penalty equaliser in a 1-1 draw which secured the title.

“There was a lot of needle between us and Rotherham, and it was a great game to play in,” added Bound. “Scoring that penalty still stays with me. It was a great experience and way to win the title.

“There were pitch invasions, police horses on the pitch and I got rugby tackled by the fans. We got taken off the pitch and brought back on again.

“Sadly, one of the police horses trampled one of the Swans fans, Terry Coles, and killed him. That put a massive downer on the day.” 1. Steve Jones: Right-back later won promotion with Cheltenham Town. Became a director at Edge Electrical South West.

2. Jason Smith: Central defender retired after three ankle operations. Coached at Bideford College and has worked in schools. 3. Jason Jones: Wales Under-21 goalkeeper studied physiotherapy at Swansea University and has coached in New South Wales.

4. Roger Freestone: Goalkeeper spent 13 years at Swansea. His career was ended by an ankle injury. Works for Tuffnells Parcels Express in South Wales.

5. Carl Mounty: Goalkeeper now living in Caerphilly. Works for supermarket company Morrisons.

6. Matthew Bound: Central defender named in the PFA Team of the Season in 2000. Had a firm marketing holiday cottages and now runs a sports tours company. 7. Kris O’Leary: Midfielder who has managed in the Welsh League. Was appointed Swans Under-23 coach late last month.

8. Ryan Casey: Rep of Ireland Under-18 left-back has been an FAI development officer and worked in the US. He is now Sligo Rovers’ Under-17 manager.

9. Tony Bird: Wales Under-21 attacker won promotion with Cardiff before becoming a qualified dog groomer and opened a business, Immaculate Muts.

10. Steve Watkin: Striker who scored in Wrexham’s shock FA Cup win over Arsenal in 1992. Is now finance director for 24-7 Recruitment Services in Wrexham. 11. Damian Lacey: Midfielder was forced to retire with a foot injury and had a spell on the backroom staff. Now lives in his native Bridgend and has managed Llangeinor FC.

12. Jason Price: Wales Under-21 striker won promotions with Hull City and Doncaster. A heating engineer and is coaching in Doncaster’s youth set-up.

13. Nick Cusack: Midfielder was a former player-manager of the Swans. Won a Scottish Cup with Motherwell and is now assistant chief executive of the PFA.

14. Ritchie Appleby: England Under-18 winger has travelled the world after he qualified as a commercial deep sea diver.

15. Keith Walker: Central defender was a play-off finalist with Swansea in 1997. Returned to Scotland after a spell as player-manager at Merthyr Town and joined the police.

16. Jamie Davies: Swansea-born striker only made one substitute appearance for the first-team. Is still living and working locally.

17. Julian Alsop: Striker ran a business qualifying youngsters as coaches and then became a teaching tutor for Let Me Play.

18. Stuart Roberts: Winger whose career was ended by injury. Now runs a landscape gardening business with his brother. 19. Jon Coates: Welsh U21 winger whose brother Marc also played for Swansea. Remained local and works as a carpenter. 20. Martin Thomas: Midfielder scored the goal that knocked West Ham out of the FA Cup in 1999. Returned to his native Hampshire where he has been a publican.

21. Michael Howard: Defender worked as an employment trainer before joining Swansea City community trust in a similar capacity. 22. Bari Morgan: Midfielder is on the coaching staff of Aberystwyth Town, where he made over 300 appearances, and works in sales for Pugh Computers.

23. Alan Curtis: The Swansea legend served the club in various capacities until his retirement and is now honorary club president.

24. John Hollins: He is now living in London, where he hosts a lounge at one of his former clubs Chelsea and does corporate hospitality at Arsenal.

25. Leigh de Vulgt: Wales Under-21 defender, the brother-inlaw of John Hartson, has been a Lloyds bank manager.

26. Michael Keegan: Midfielder has played for several League of Wales sides and works as a football agent.

27. Lee Jenkins: Wales Under-21 defender suffered several injury problems which restricted his appearances. Now lives in Blackwood, Caerphilly.

28. Gareth Phillips: Midfielder has coached in the Swansea academy and works for Forest Traffic Services.

29. Danny Barwood: Wales Under-21 winger joined the fire service and became a fireman based at Caerphilly Fire Station.