Magnificent Swansea

While the forum yet again descends into chaos, I would like to say what a magnificent day it was yesterday to be a Swansea Jack.

Travelling up to Old Trafford for Sir Alex Fergusons final home match the fear was that the Swans would be put to the sword with a heavy defeat in front of 75,000 spectators and the tens (possibly hundreds) of millions of people watching on TV across the world.

Not a chance. The Swans more than held their own in the first half and were unlucky to be 1-0 down at half time after a disputed free kick decision. 10 years on from that magnificent day at the Vetch Field when the Club retained their Football League status the Swans were rubbing shoulders with one of the World’s major football teams on a special occasion.

And what an occasion it was.

To see the white Swans kit forming the guard of honour amongst a mass of over 70000 red flags raised the hairs on the back of your neck. I have been to many sporting occasions. The Spanish El Classico, Olympic Finals, Champions League matches, Heineken Cup Finals, Cricket Finals. This was up there with the best of them – but this was special because it was my home town Club.

Into the second half and the Swans grabbed an early equaliser to send the magnificent Jack Army into raptures. Manchester United looked there for the taking – and the Swans played purposefully for the next half hour looking the more likely to grab victory.

Into the final five minutes and the Swans looked as though a point was in the bag. But United are not English Champions for nothing. Serial trophy winners do not throw football matches. They do not put teams out that are going to be beaten – especially not on a day like this.

England International Rio Ferdinand thumped a corner into the back of the Swans net and sprinted into the Stretford End to celebrate wildly. Was this an end of season stroll for him? No chance. Ask Phil Jones was this a testimonial match. No chance. The youngster was magnificent throughout, sprinting from box to box. There was no letting up for him today. No end of season blues.

This was a match United were desperate to win – to send their manager of 26 years off with a smile on his face. And they did – but not after a severe test of their credentials by a magnificent Swansea City performance.

On to the celebrations and almost to a man 75000 fans stood there throughout the presentation of the Premier League trophy to the Champions. The Swans were applauded off by the Stretford End and the Swans fans duly respected the whole presentation ceremony.

Two great teams. Two great managers. Two great Clubs. Two great sets of supporters.

Could it get better than this? A long journey home beckoned with huge traffic jams. After several hours we had a stop in Strencham Services. The Swans players were there and some mingled with supporters and gave the youngsters a great boost for their final few hours of the journey - with photos of their heroes taken as a momento of a great day.

Rolling back into Swansea after midnight it was a time to savour the day. It was truly remarkable. A great day for Swansea City Football Club. A great day to be a Jack.

 

Awesome post mate and I'll second what a great honour it was to be at the game.

 

Isn't there one highlight of the day missing from that list ?

 

You can't count being pissed a highlight lol

 

Of course! How could I forget? The programmes were £2 cheaper than Chelsea

 

Ash, his highlight of the day happened before he even got to Manchester

 

Excellent thread/post PGF. Well done.

 

Who, pgf?

 

Yes PGF. Lets see if he says what it is ?

 

Great post PGF, and exactly as I saw it too, a well deserved send off to a remarkable career, whether you liked him or not, and Swansea graced the occasion with only the way they could, and Laudrups Swans did all of us Jacks very proud, and you couldn't but be moved by our performance to mark the occasion, and but for two silly defensive errors, we could have won, and Michu's goal was the best of the match, without a shadow of doubt. Well done PGF, that's how all of the Football world saw it too.....................

 

There was a drunk Swans fan wearing a yellow daffodil munching every pie in Wigan. Need I say more

 

What about the beer

 

Top post PGF, it was a once in a lifetime occasion that I'll never forget.
I thought it was a nice touch to give us the white flags with 'Capitol cup winners' to go with their 'Champions' flags. I obviously couldn't see how our end looked, but the sight of the red flags waving and the sound booming around the stadium was at times breathtaking!
I thought we more than held our own on the field and could have nicked it in the end...but that wasn't in the script so I wasn't too disappointed, even though I'd put a fiver on us to win 3-2 at 100/1.
I still can't believe that Dill ignored me though

 

Nice post that PGF.