“That was the best trip I’ve ever been on” – the words that I cannot help throwing around in my head every time I think back to a magical night in Spain that is now incredibly seven years ago today but will live with me for ever – the night Swansea City really returned to the European stage.<\/p>\n
I know for many clubs the Europa League feels like an inconvenience in the early stages but for me it was a competition that I never really believed we could be part of and was definitely part of the camp that said our days of European football were well behind us the moment we were no longer competing in the Welsh cup.<\/p>\n
But promotion in 2011, the arrival of Michael Laudrup in 2012 and a League Cup win in 2013 changed all of that and it was the Europa League that we started in on 1st August by destroying Malmo at the Liberty to do the hard work before handing out similar treatment to Ploiesti (5-1) and all but secure our place in the group stages.<\/p>\n
I distinctly remember the group stages being drawn, Valencia were first out of the hat for the Swans and the plans were underway to get to Spain.\u00a0 \u00a0It wasn’t a traditional way but it was Luton to Madrid with a car to get to Valencia – out the day before the game and back home the day after.\u00a0 \u00a0There was simply no way this was being missed.<\/p>\n
If you were there you just know how magical this trip was.\u00a0 \u00a0From the time of arrival, Valencia had turned into a warm version of Swansea.\u00a0 Jacks were gathering everywhere in the square and each and every one of us knows that the beer tastes better in the sun, it tastes better when its a football tour.\u00a0 This was a good night.\u00a0 No it was an excellent night, we drank and laughed and shared football memories but it really was the warm up to the main event the following day.<\/p>\n
As you would expect the following day started early.\u00a0 There was more beer – I think there may have been food – but there was more beer.\u00a0 \u00a0I saw people I hadn’t seen for so long and time passed in a square and a town full of Jacks.\u00a0 This was a good trip without the football, the football though was to make it a perfect trip.<\/p>\n
As we made our way towards the Mestalla, spirits were good.\u00a0 There was not a hint of trouble and that was exactly how it should be.\u00a0 This was Swansea fans on tour and enjoying making memories amongst some of Europe’s elite clubs.<\/p>\n
My vertigo problems were tested to the limits in the early stages inside the ground – the steepness of the Mestalla should not be underestimated but by the time Wilfried Bony opened the scoring it had long since been forgotten and the Swans were winning.\u00a0 Michu doubled the lead, De Guzman added a third and at that point I genuinely think I had reached my football high.\u00a0 Over many years the Swans have given me highs – two promotions to the top flight, a magical night at the Liberty (Pratley from the halfway line) are just some of them but this was a new level of elation and disbelief.\u00a0 Swansea.\u00a0 In Europe.\u00a0 In Spain.\u00a0 In Valencia.\u00a0 \u00a03-0 up.\u00a0 \u00a0Surely this was a dream?<\/p>\n