Swansea Town AFC was created as a professional football team in the year 1912 when the town was invited to transport a team to join the Southern League, as several different South Wales towns were already represented.

J. W. Thorpe was the teams first chairman, Walter Whittaker its first coach. Its first secretary was S. B. Williams, who was to serve in this capacity for around thirty five years.

The club's first professional game was at the Vetch Field against Cardiff City on 7 September 1912; the score was a 1-1 draw.

After starring in the Southern League from 1912, the Swans became original members of the new 3rd Division of the Football League in 1920, and then Division Three (South) the following season.

Between the years 1926 and 1965 Swansea were constant, if unspectacular members of the Second Division, and also reached two FA Cup semi-finals, defeats to Bolton in 1926 and Preston in 1964. In 1965 the club were demoted from the second division.