Swansea City will make the trip to Hull on Friday for a 12:30pm kick-off the following day at the MKM Stadium. Hull, located in the East Riding of Yorkshire, is a historic wool port that has been home to a football club since 1904. The city’s accessibility was greatly improved with the construction of the Humber Bridge in 1981. Nearby rivals include Grimsby Town and Scunthorpe United.
The Absurdity of the EFL’s Approach to Swansea City Fixtures
The English Football League (EFL) has long been criticized for its handling of fixture scheduling, with clubs often feeling frustrated by the lack of consistency and logic behind the arrangements. One club that has repeatedly borne the brunt of these decisions is Swansea City. The Swans, based in South Wales, have found themselves subject to some of the most illogical and frustrating fixture lists in recent years, raising questions about the EFL’s commitment to fair and reasonable scheduling for all teams.
At the core of the frustration is the sheer inconsistency with which the EFL arranges Swansea’s fixtures, especially when it comes to travel. Due to their location, Swansea faces significant travel time for away games, particularly those in the north of England. However, despite these geographical challenges, the club often finds itself facing a grueling run of away games in quick succession, sometimes with no consideration for the physical demands on players or the long hours on buses and trains. The Swans have frequently been forced into awkward mid-week fixtures, leaving them little time to recover between matches.
One glaring example came in the 2023/24 season, where Swansea were scheduled to play away at Hull City on a Tuesday night, followed by another lengthy trip to Middlesbrough the following Saturday. The timing of these fixtures seemed bizarre, especially when considering that other teams with similar geographical challenges were given more balanced scheduling. For a club like Swansea, whose fanbase is loyal but not vast, the EFL’s disregard for these travel burdens feels even more pronounced.
Moreover, the EFL’s refusal to accommodate Swansea’s needs regarding kick-off times only adds to the frustration. Evening fixtures, particularly those scheduled at the last minute, put a strain on both the club and its supporters. Fans from Swansea are often required to take time off work or school, making these games difficult to attend, especially when they fall on weekdays.
The EFL’s refusal to learn from past mistakes further compounds the situation. It is not a new issue for Swansea City and their supporters, yet the league continues to schedule fixtures in a way that leaves many questioning the logic behind these decisions. A more considered approach, taking into account travel distances, fan welfare, and player recovery, would surely benefit the league and all its clubs, not just Swansea.
In the face of these challenges, it is clear that the EFL’s scheduling practices need a major overhaul. Swansea City, like many clubs, deserves better treatment, with fixture lists that are balanced, fair, and respectful of the club’s circumstances. Until this changes, the absurdity of the EFL’s fixture planning will continue to be a source of frustration for the club and its loyal supporters.
