Fans Say Thanks To Rog

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At the very beginning of this testimonial year (which is actually two and a half) we decided that the match should have been 45 minutes of a football match and the usual, olden day tribute, of 45 minutes of fun. And with guest appearances from Alan Curtis, Stuart Roberts, Julian Alsop, Steve Jones, Cyril the Swan and the raffle winner, John Durstan that was what we got.

Chelsea did unveil new Â£4m signing Ambrosetti but with their season ending with a crucial match against Liverpool on Sunday we got the strongest team that we could have expected. With a guest appearance from Welsh manager Mark Hughes who played the first 50 minutes, Swansea more than held their own and 0-0 was a scoreline that possibly did not reflect the first half of play.

The only goal came from Chelsea midway through the second half but by then the result did not matter from our point of view. Roger had already stripped off his top and gloves once to venture upfield in the number 32 shirt and the fun was underway – the way that Roger, a true joker himself would have wanted it.

Roger left the field with ten minutes to play to a standing ovation and quite rightly so. If a player has ever deserved this game it was Roger and to see people like Mark Hughes appreciate that it gives you an indication as to just where he his held in people’s esteem.

It has been a tough couple of years for myself and Keith with endless hours spent working on the testimonial as a whole, sometimes on our own, sometimes with the help of people such as Gareth Keen or Gary Martin but more than anything it has been fun and tonight made it all worth while from my point of view.

The list of people to thank for assisting in making tonight possible is endless but I will single out a few people. Brian Flynn and his squad of players, in particular I have to mention Alan Tate, Leon Hylton and Leon Britton for extending their loan spells to take in this match. And also Marc Richards who wanted to be there but was required back at Ewood Park. Stuart Roberts, Julian Alsop and Steve Jones for giving the time to come back and pull on the white shirt once more. Myra, Joyce, Karina and the rest of the club shop staff for selling tickets in advance for the game and also the programmes and of course Colin Jones for putting the programme together together with Dianne who did a wonderful job with the advertising space. The catering staff at the Vetch and all the people who worked tonight for little or no cost just to pay tribute to Roger – if I named them all you’d still be reading this tomorrow. And finally the board of Swansea City for not only their continued support of us as a football club but for the use of their (our?) club for this match.

But most of all thanks to the 5077 Swans fans that took the time to watch the game – that meant alot to us but more so to Roger.

Most of all I thank Roger. Without him we wouldn’t have had 12 years of service and without him I would never have had the chance to be as involved as I was. As I say it was hard, very hard in places but Roger deserved it and because of that it was worthwhile.

Good on you Rog and you have a few years left in you yet.

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