Bartley and Bartley!

Sound like a Father and Son firm! In a way you would be correct as Mumbles Rangers Football Club have an ex Swans legend and his son within their ranks.

Danny Bartley and his son Kevin Bartley are lending their support and experience these days to the rise of Mumbles Rangers. Danny Bartley made his debut for the Swans back on the 25/08/1973 against Chester.

Danny went on to make 199 appearances for the Swans before he moved on to play for Hereford. I had a quick chat to Danny before and during this afternoon’s friendly game at Underhill Park against Aberfan FC.

As a Swans fan for over 55 years I reminded Danny of the night we played Chesterfield at the Vetch Field, a game we needed to win to gain promotion to League Division 2 now known to everyone these days as the Championship.

John Toshack was the Swans Manager and he was hungry for success and chasing a second promotion in succession after beating Halifax the season before to gain promotion to Division 3.

The atmosphere at the Vetch was electric and it was tense to say the least. It was Danny’s left foot kick that had pin point accuracy that was met by Tosh’s head that looped over the Chesterfield defence into the net which sent the Swans supporters wild with excitement and joy as we celebrated promotion.

Danny said to me “ that if I hadn’t had got that delivery right then Tosh would have chased him round the pitch! “ A tongue in cheek comment but that game was a magnificent highlight within his Swans career.

Danny joined the Swans from Bristol City. Danny was a winger with real pace. Danny credits the late Swans Manager Harry Griffiths as the man who changed his position to a left full back come wing back.

Danny also told me that Harry also changed Alan Curtis position to a central forward. Curt had never looked back since that day! I asked Danny about the players he had played with and he was impressed by ex Liverpool legend Ian Callaghan when he joined the Swans. Swans legend Robbie James was highly thought of by Danny.

Danny has some fond memories of his footballing career and has mixed it with the best. Danny looks on now at his son Kevin Bartley who is playing up front with Mumbles Rangers and you can see that Danny kicks every ball and enthuses about the game.

If he could he would don his boots and play on the excellent playing surface of Underhill Park. It was a real pleasure for this Swans supporter to be in the presence of a true Swans legend and someone who contributed heavily to Tosh’s success and culminated in that game in Preston over 40 years ago. So Mumbles Rangers have the experience and support to call on from the Bartley’s!