Just wondering how most people ended up supporting the Swans. I'm sure there are lots of different reasons and stories, so what's yours? And if you're from another town (Neath, Llanelli, etc.), why do you support them over you local team?
I support the Swans because they are the local team, in a nutshell! That, and I'll always love the Vetch.
My Gran was a season ticket all her life and so was my Grandad but I didn't know him. I remember standing on the North Bank with my Gran when I was little and feeling the hairs on the back of my neck go up. I didn't need much more encouragment to support the Swans. I was born in Singleton Hospital and have lived in Skewen, Bryncoch and now I live in St Davids, Pembs. So there we go.
My Grandad supported the Swans all of his life (R.I.P). I was born in Morriston hospital, and brought up in Ammanford. Then moved to Mid-Wales when I was 8. Since that age, I had a keen interest in the Swans, and then once I'd passed my driving test, I was able to eventually watch the Swans.
I'm from Neath. First went to see the Swans towards the end of the 65/66 season. Thereafter, I was (and still am) hooked !!! Glad to say that my son (who was born in Morriston Hospital - so a real Jack) has followed in my footsteps.
My father was a swans fan and he took me to see the swans play rhyl in the fa cup when i was 9(1970), we won 6-1 if i remember right and the atmoshere in the vetch that day got me hooked and i have been a swans fan ever since
I first started supporting them in 97/98 Season when Tony Bird was leading the stike line for the Swans. The football that season was awful - think we came 21st just above relegation that year and we had 3-4 managers in one season? Not sure why I stayed - think it was because of the weekend day out on the bus with friends and enjoying the atmosphere in the Vetch I remember crying as a kid when we lost in the play offs 98-99 season to Scunthorpe so I think it was from that point the Swans bug bit me!!
Born and bred in Haverfordwest, Swans were the closest club so got hooked after the first game. Had never played football at that point as a 16 year old and only went for a change! Obviously have since, but been to many grounds following the Swans or as a "local" when living nearby and never been inspired by any other team or fans! We have something special with the Swans and hope we never lose it!
I was always interested in football but my Dad hated it. I wanted to go to matches, but it was not until I got to Comprehensive and was allowed a bit of freedom that I got my chance. I found it strange as in Port talbot in the 80's, they were mainly Cardiff fans, particularily a mob around there walking around calling themeselves the Pantsless Vest Mob or something like that. I was 12 and one of the Pantless members (a 19 year old) came into a local school and gave a lad I knew a kicking (the boy was 12 or 13). It was at that show of cowardice that made my mind up. Me and some mates decided we would go to a Swans match and we have been Jack barstewards ever since. It made living in Port Talbot a little bit more exciting!
I'm born and bred Swansea, back in the early seventies my Nan used to mind us on a Saturday and lived in Western Street, Sandfields. I would stand in the back garden listening for the roar from the crowd and have to shout the score through the kitchen to let her know! Small cheers meant Swans let one in, an an almighty roar whci sent shivers down my spine meant WE had scored........We sometimes went in to watch the second half of the game, cause there was no charge after half time! Been nothing but a Jack ever since those days, although moved away to join the army at 16 and then worked in the Outer Hebrides for years.....I was always a jack and came home on every oppertunity! I even drove down from Ullapool for a game a few weeks before the last game at the Vetch, purely so my two and four year old boys could say they had been to the Vetch Field! And Guess what? Neither of them has ever supported anyone but the Swans! We now all live back home and are season ticket holders, thankfully!
watched the swansea town v arsenal match with my dad with over 32,000+ at the vetch, i can remember it as if it was yesterday and because i was so small at the time my dad took me to the front of the north bank and put me with the other kids sitting along the touch line. i have seen arsenal a couple of times since at the vetch but nothing will compare to my first game at the vetch, we lost that game against the mighty arsenal but i didn't care at the time, my long association with the club was born and i cant wait to see arsenal at the liberty now as it is bound to get me thinking of how it all started for me...
Born and bred in Swansea, they are my local team, I have always supported them for as long as I can remember.
Saw my first game when I was 9 just a few years ago! Hooked ever since and the club has become my passion. I was fortunate to count a number of players -some famous, some not so - as friends. Old posters will know of my friendship with Ivor Allchurch, who was my roomie when our club did a short tour of Spain. I did the FAW coaching course with his brother Len and Barrie Hole was a valued client/acquaintance. Mickey Conway (Whizzer) worked for my company for a short period and Mickey introduced me to Robbie James (great guy). The three of us used to go ten pin bowling at the old Scott Lanes complex in Llanelli. Then there was "Benny" (Roy Saunders) and, to a lesser extent, Dean, then a boy and chopsy with it! Had some great nights with Benny at the dog track!! Won a few bob too - knew his dogs did Benny. There were a number of others and I cherish the friendships, the experience of knowing them, being in their company and endlessly discussing......... football, in all its shapes and guises. Happy, happy days and I thank each and every one of them for being a part of my life. Not hard to see why I support the best club in the world is it?
nice story ivor, i too have met some of those players, Benny was a character and i remember him well, he use to watch dean play for penlan school when i use to watch them, Robbie James grandmother lived two doors away from me and he was a local hero to all the kids in the street when he came to see his grandmother. hey were all down to earth guys and not like today where they are super rich and prima donnas. great days..
I met Roy through work some years ago, a complete and utter gent , and to be honest I didn't know who he was at first as he was a different generation to me, but we had many many chats about the swans and Dean. Was very sad when he passed away, he would be so proud to see the swans now bet he is looking down smiling.
yes your right jager and i bet he is not alone with all the jacks who have passed away who will be looking down and proud of our achievements..
well i wasn't much into football as a kid. coming from ogmore vale, just north of bridgend. i had no idea about any local rivalries between us and the scum. my two younger brothers were into Liverpool. so when our parents offered to take us all on our first train journey to bristol, i happily tagged along. Liverpool were playing at Ashton gate and that was the plan. by this time though, their favorite players, Keegan and toshack had moved to other clubs. so it was the likes of dalgliesh and McDermott that starred for them. the season after, they took us to the vetch so see toshack play for the swans. it still didn't mean much to me but i remember the place was rammed. we were playing southend and i loved it. we went 2-1 down at one point. tosh was sub so i remember my brother being disappointed that he wasn't playing. he did come on later and we won 3-2 with Alan waddle getting a hat trick. we were sat in the south stand near the corner and at the end of the game i invaded the pitch (along with a few others). i managed to get a few close up photo's of tosh and Robbie James as well as a few other players. i don't think I'd ever felt such a buzz until then. i couldn't wait to go again. but when i was told that we couldn't afford to go to any more games, i was gutted. so the next season after we'd got promotion to div2. i got a friend from school to come with me and we'd go on the bus. the friend turned out to be a scummer though. but that wasn't going to stop me. so i ended up going alone.
Mort family tree of Swans fans: __________________________Grandad Jack (Jack by name Jack by nature)_______________________ ______________Uncle John___________Dad_______________Auntie Thelma_____________ ____________________________Me_____________Bro___________________________________ _________________________My 3 Kids________His 2 Kids________________________ And this is why I and my children support the Swans
Since they got promoted to the Premier League* *Before i get abused from here to scumland this IS A JOKE!!!!!
