Planet Swans ArchivesWell it’s been a little while since we’ve seen a win at the Vetch and bar a late goal on Tuesday night against Southend quite a while since we last saw a goal as well. Is it co-incidence that the drought has come at the same time as Lee Trundle being injured? To an extent yes it is but all the same it is great to see him back in action again and slowly, but surely (touching wood, crossing fingers and holding my lucky rabbit’s foot at the same time) we must be well on the way to getting through this run of injuries that we have.
I was appalled to read in the paper this week that the club had caught one of it’s stewards letting people into the ground for free. It’s not as if the events of the past few years have not been publicised clearly enough or that we are awash with some Russian’s millions to allow this kind of thing to happen. What is good that the club is sharp enough to notice these things (or at least have them pointed out to them) and I guess that the appropriate action will be taken. Although it was written word you could almost imagine the anger in Huw Jenkins’ voice as he was recounting this to Gareth Vincent. Along with that and sponsors not paying their bills as well it seems that although the problems have disappeared at the top they still remain and prevent the club from fully moving forward.
Today will be quite interesting with Rushden returning to the Vetch for the first time since the opening day of last season. Oh how we all remember the optimism of the day and the football played was enjoyable. And of course bar an injury time equaliser we would have won the game – how things may have been different if we had? From then on in it couldn’t have been much different as Rushden lifted the championship and we……….well, you know that story! But it’s different now and with some of our regulars back in action I think we will give our visitors from a higher league a bit of a game and hopefully get a cup run going which of course in turn generates more income for the club.
I talked last week about how I love the FA Cup and it set me thinking about my favourite Swans moment in the competition. Not old enough to remember the semi final of ’64, I narrowed my options down to three instances. My favourite win has to be the games against West Ham in 1999 when we became the first third division club to beat a Premiership side in the competition. My second was two games against Liverpool in 1990 – despite losing the replay 8-0. It was an awesome night and I’m sure every Swans fan there that night will remember one of our fans scoring against Grobelaar when we were 5 or 6 down (no comments about five pound notes please!) and the one that I only just remember was a second replay win over Crystal Palace at, of all places, Ninian Park in (I’m sure someone will tell me if I am wrong) 1980. All great cup games and I am sure that you all have favourite FA Cup memories of your own. In fact, another one springs to mind even now – a 3-2 win over West Brom at the Vetch in around 1987 – cracking game!!
Anyway, that’s my trip down memory lane. On with this season’s competition and did you know you could get odds of around 1,000 to 1 that we lift the cup in Cardiff come next May. Have a pound – you know you want to!!!!!!
JACK ARMY!
