They were saved from the brink of bankruptcy and only avoided dropping out of the football league entirely during a nail biting final match of the season.<\/p>\n
Now they are among football\u2019s elite clubs welcoming the likes of Manchester Unites and Chelsea to their home ground.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re the ups and downs that a leading football author and journalist claims have given Swansea City a \u201cromantic\u201d reputation around the world.<\/p>\n
The club\u2019s meteoric rise was led by former Wales boss and free scoring Liverpool striker John Toshack.<\/p>\n
But after two seasons at the top the club dropped down the divisions again and 10 years ago was saved from bankruptcy by a local consortium.<\/p>\n
The team\u2019s fans had to depend on a nail-biting last match of the season win against Hull City to avoid going out of league football.<\/p>\n
After all that, the Swans\u2019 much admired pass and move game saw them rise once again last to British football\u2019s top tier at their new \u00a327m Liberty Stadium home.<\/p>\n
They are now a globally recognised outfit, with millions of Scandinavians tuning in to games every weekend to follow the fortunes of Danish manager Michael Laudrup.<\/p>\n
The club is now also building a following in southwest Asia where fans follow 23-year-old Korean midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng who is happily ensconced in a high-rise Meridian Quay flat overlooking Swansea Bay.<\/p>\n
Hunter said: \u201cI\u2019m of an age which means the Swans are a romantic football name.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was about 13 when they started their rise under John Toshack, with whom I\u2019m friendly and often work with.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat they achieved at the old Vetch Field was immensely thrilling.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn those days Swansea used one or two players who I liked hugely: people like Leighton James, Tommy Craig, an ex-Aberdeen player, which is my team, and of course the mighty Tommy Hutchison – for a long time my favourite player.\u201d<\/p>\n
More recently, Hunter said he has taken notice of the Swansea City name once again, thanks to former manager Brendan Rodgers and current manager, former Barcelona legend Laudrup.<\/p>\n
He said: “Just before he joined Swansea, Brendan Rodgers got in touch with me a lot in the 2008\/9 season because he was keen to come over and study Pep Guardiola\u2019s training methods at Barcelona.<\/p>\n
\u201cMichael Laudrup is another guy I\u2019ve worked with, respect and who was a player of undervalued genius.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope he gets the results his football deserves.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hunter said he was \u201cdelighted\u201d to be part of the Dylan Thomas Festival which runs until November 9.<\/p>\n
Before his speech at the Dylan Thomas Centre, at which he discussed the similarities between the philosophies of Barcelona and Swansea City, he said: \u201cIt\u2019s a privilege that a festival as prestigious as this has extended its vista to include my work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nick Bradley, of Swansea council, said: \u201cWe\u2019re delighted that a sports writer of Graham\u2019s calibre has been part of this year\u2019s Dylan Thomas Festival.<\/p>\n
\u201cFC Barcelona is known for its unique footballing style which has seen the team dominate the world game.<\/p>\n
“But from a local point of view, Swansea City FC has adopted a similar playing approach that’s fantastic to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n
The inclusion of a football writer in the Dylan Thomas Centre was a nod to the fact Swansea City is this year celebrating its centenary.<\/p>\n
It was 100 years ago this September the club had its first professional match against perennial rivals Cardiff City. The match ended 1-1 at the Vetch Field<\/p>\n