PURE SWANSEA: Title winner Johnston returns as Midwinter completes summer business

Pure Swansea have re-signed midfielder Tom Johnston, six years after he helped the club win the Cymru South title.

The 27-year-old arrives from Ammanford Town and is manager Jack Midwinter’s final signing of the summer window.

Johnston made 78 appearances in his first spell at the club and was part of the side that won the Cymru South in 2019-20, a season cut five games short by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We’re really happy to get Thomas through the door,” Midwinter said.

“TJ is no stranger to Swansea Bay Sports Park, having been an instrumental part of the 2019-20 Cymru South-winning squad.

“He brings added quality, experience and depth in some key positions for us, and we’re really looking forward to seeing him in Pure colours this season.”

He returns to a club transformed since he left. Then playing as Swansea University, the side lost its funding last summer before being taken over and rebuilt under the Pure Swansea name, winning promotion straight back to the Cymru South as Ardal South West league and cup winners.

The start to this season has been emphatic. Pure are top of the Novira Cymru South and unbeaten after five games, with four wins and Friday’s 4-4 draw with Pontypridd United, the only other side to have taken 13 points.

Johnston joins a squad that has already produced three call-ups to Gruff Harrison’s Tîm Rhanbarthol Cymru squad for this month’s UEFA Regions’ Cup intermediate round in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Midwinter said before the Pontypridd game that his squad’s togetherness had been central to the run, and that keeping the core of last season’s promotion side together had been a significant advantage.

Those call-ups have also reshaped the fixture list. Pure’s games against Newport City and Carmarthen Town have been postponed because of the three players’ international commitments, with new dates to be announced in due course.

Pure’s next fixture is at home to Pontardawe Town at Swansea Bay Sports Park on Friday 11 September, 7.30pm kick-off.