Planet Swans ArchivesIt has been some time since the invite to an Uncle’s Ruby Wedding party dropped through my door but only four weeks since he informed us that a double booking at the venue meant that the party was moved from it’s original date (23rd) to the 30th November. As a predictable football fan, I look at the fixture list as soon as I’m told and realise that I am sure to miss the Shrewsbury fixture. But, 24 hours after being told we suffer a 0-4 reverse at the Vetch to Kidderminster and the pain eases slightly as I think to myself “at least I’ll have a good time”
And so, I spend last Saturday afternoon at the Hilton in Swindon glancing at the watch every ten minutes and tutting that they feel that Channel 4 racing is more important than Sky Soccer Saturday. A slope back to the hotel room at half time shows us 1-0 up and another disappearing act at full time, shows the 2-0 scoreline. I’m happy, but like every other football fan, you then want to know whether it was a lucky 2-0 win or a deserved one. Where did I put that mobile? Damn, I’ve lost that now too! Never mind, wait for the Sunday papers – they’ll tell you.
So Sunday morning comes and I open the Mail on Sunday. Flick through about 300 pages of sport (possibly a slight exaggeration) but nothing on Swansea. Not even in the Division 3 round up. I can find out about Swindon’s game, Bristol Rovers game and the Bristol City one but nothing on Swansea. And you begin to remember just what all these exiles feel about. And you begin to realise (like a sad anorak!) how much you miss the internet. No worries though, we’ll head back to Wales. Ignoring the pleas of the passengers to stop at the Mall in Cribbs Causeway (traffic was busy – honest!) we cross the Severn Bridge and immediately stop at Magor Services so I can get a Welsh newspaper and read what really happened (and this is when I realised that the Wales on Sunday can have it’s benefits!) and there it is – the report that eased some of the pain on what I had missed – the performance was top drawer.
I’m gutted that I missed this game. I’m annoyed that I had to sit through the debacle of Kidderminster amongst others whilst I missed this game. I curse my Uncle for getting married at the end of November – why not the end of October? I make a mental note not to send him a card next year. But then I remember that it only matters that we have moved four places off the foot of the table – can we end the season now please?
But it got better than that. I then come home and read what the people are saying on the internet. On here, on Dai’s site and on Swanmail. Happy people and you remember that these people are finally talking about football in a positive light. No mention of the board, the management, the fans bickering but people saying that the performance was good and the players were good. Can safely say that hasn’t happened in the past three years.
Of course, all this is down to the board!! Now you think I’ve gone mad. Well, surely when results are bad if it’s the board’s fault then when we play well it’s the board’s success? (Sorry had to get some sarcasm in there) Brian Flynn and his players take the credit for this one and full marks to them. I’m critical of them at times but also big enough to stand up when things go well and say “well done lads” and this time by all accounts they deserve it. But I’m still gutted I wasn’t there. Even fans in Russia get fed more information than I did last Saturday afternoon!!!
So if you want to know when the next fixture is that we will perform like that just look no further than Boxing Day when I find myself in Bolton. But at least then, I know that I’ll have the luxury of Sky Sports in front of me and certainly that mobile phone.
It’s nice to have people smiling again.
