He wasn't good enough for the level we are at now but he was at the level we were when he played for us. Whilst prone to the odd error, never lacked commitment. effort or passion, factors a lot complain about with the current team. I met him once a very nice down to earth guy.
Alan Tate is one Jack Bastard who deserves our appreciation, along with a 10 minute standing ovation from a packed out Liberty stadium. Players like him are our folk lore, our History and our legends, we should cherish them and show how much they mean to us by turning up on Thursday, if only to watch the Jack Bastard run, slowly, one more time in a Swans shirt. Not the most skilful player I know, but he sums up what it is to be a Jack; gritty, relentless, determined and ready to grind it out when you have to. Players today can learn a lot from Alan Tate, especially the pampered, over paid, can't be arsed to go on a jolly coz their head hurts types, you know the easily confused ones. They all stand on the shoulders of giants like Alan Tate. I think there should be a holy space just outside of the Liberty. Grassed over cared for by adoring minions named The Holy field of the Sons of The Swans. In it along with other statues and sculpted memorabilia should be a 20' tall polished granite statue of Alan Tate and next to it, dusted daily, an empty plinth with a sign written in ancient runic script, "For the likeness of Leon James Britton to be made from the purest gold, cast in the last light of the first Solar eclipse post retirement"
A testimonial is not about how good or bad he has been but that he has reached legend status and was put on Robby James wall of greatness before his team mates from the same era. That will do for me for what the club and fans thought of him as deserving Legend status and deserving a testimonial and i will be there cheering on some past and present great players.....I hope he will be well supported...
Ferre Bodde back for this game. His injury affected him the most of course but I always felt cheated possibly with more than any other player that we never had the chance to see him at the highest level.
It will be bursting at the seams just to get a glimpse of a proper legend.. They will be chanting Daiswan all around the liberty and demanding a statue be built and the first fan to go on the RJ wall........AYE......
If we are bringing in all the old great players i might pop down the Liberty to see if i can have my old job as a steward for the game..... It will get me in for free if nothing else....
Rodgers and Flynn have been signed up too. Hopefully Sinclair can make an appearance, even if only for a few mins.
