Swansea soon proved the naysayers wrong by crushing Leeds United 5–1 in their first match ever in the top flight, with debutant Bob Latchford scoring a hat-trick.

The win saw Swansea rise from the basement division to the top of the entire Football League in barely three years.

Victories over footballing royalty such as Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur followed as the club topped the league on several further occasions.

However, injuries to key players took their toll, and the lack of depth in the squad meant that the season ended in sixth-place finish.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.