Phil SumblerIt’s Christmas Eve and, as can become tradition in many places, its time to talk about Christmases past, present and future so as we wish all our readers and followers a Merry Christmas here is our version of that very scenario.
Planet Swans this year celebrates it’s 21st Christmas. We have come a long way since the first Christmas we celebrated here at the site where we had the sad task – on Christmas Eve – to report that there was no money to pay the players.
To take you back to the words that we used at that time: “This morning Mr Goss called in Peter Owen, Jackie Rockey, Colin Addison, Peter Nicholas and Nick Cusack to deliver the news that there is no money there for the wages. They were informed that the PFA have been asked for a loan to pay the players but this won’t be available until the second week of January by all accounts. Also he has asked for £225,000 to cover the wages – three months worth. Surely the PFA will only pay one month at a time – what does he need three months up front for? Silly question? As for the rest of the staff, there is nothing there at all. Goss is hopeful that they could be paid by cheque – I will at this point advise Petty that it is illegal to write cheques on a bank account unless there is funding there to pay it so no post dating please Mr Petty.”
This highlights just how transformational the club has been during the time we have covered the Swans. From not paying the players to three promotions, a League cup, seven years in the top flight and a European campaign. And that tells you just a small part to the story.
If the Christmas of 2001 is the “ghost of Christmas past” then the “ghost of Christmas present” will be remembered for a time when football fixtures are being called off all around the country thanks to a global pandemic that has been with us for almost two years. The Swans have not played for two weeks and – with positive cases in our own camp – it could be some time before we play again. We are an established club in the top two divisions – now spending a 14th successive season in those two top divisions.
There is still an ongoing legal dispute between the Supporters Trust and the football club (we think) that relates to a sale of the club five years ago and the Welsh government have recently closed the doors of sports grounds in Wales which means even if we play next week then we will all be forced to watch it at home.
Had I written the “ghost of Christmas present” as a “Ghost of Christmas future” a few years back you wouldn’t have believed it.
So what of that “ghost of Christmas future”? We could use poetic licence here and create a long drawn out fantasy story but what we all want right now is a future where we can all safely attend games without real fear of infection or illness. Games continue in front of crowds and, of course, the Swans win far more games than they lose.
Financially, we want a stable club (because we remember those dark days of 2001) and we want to remain competitive in at least the Championship with a football side that is as entertaining as it is successful. That is the ghost of Christmas future as a minimum, anything more than that is a bonus.
It has been fantastic to be with the Swans over the past twenty years and we hope- all things being equal – to be here for many years to come doing the same thing but for now we have a few simple things to say.
Stay safe, say healthy and enjoy those around you with the best Christmas you possibly can. A very merry Christmas from everyone here at Planet Swans and best wishes for a very happy and prosperous New Year ahead.
