As Good Friday three days ago was drawing to a close;
The time on earth sadly ran out for a man who's one of those
Who I would call a 'superfan' of Swansea Town and City,
So dedicated to our club, I thought I'd pen this ditty...
The love was born when he was 'leven in 1946,
His Mam she took him to The Vetch, and he was thrilled to bits
As Swansea Town they took the field, 'gainst West Brom Albion,
But spoiled the day, to his dismay, they lost the game 2-1!
This team in white, to his delight, improved as time went by
And as the decade neared its end, The Swans began to fly.
The names of men he'd oft recall, like "...Parry...Feaney...Keane..."
Of Swansea Town in '49 - the championship-winning team.
Then he was there in '64, in Villa's clinging mud,
But flukey Preston brought him back, to earth with a great thud!
Next came the gloomy 70s, the love affair survived
'Spite needing re-election, back in 1975.
But his faith was well-rewarded when, in 1978
Messiah Johnny Toshack walked right through the Vetch Field gates.
Up through the leagues he followed Tosh, was "Proud To Be A Swan",
Then burst with pride, and wept with joy, at Deepdale '81.
He caught the train in '82, as Swans were Anfield-bound
But missed the game, 'twas such a shame...no room left in the ground!
Though worse would come, as time went on, and we dropped down the leagues,
Though through the dark of '85, his support did not fatigue.
The club survived, then went back up, but the game he couldn't make it
To Torquay, down in Devon, he couldn't get a ticket!
But then the 90s they arrived, at Wembley took his place
As Swansea's trophy victory, put a smile back on his face.
Three years went by, and he was back, to take his Wembley seat
But this time sadness tasted, in last-minute defeat.
Then '99 he travelled up, to the land we all call 'Scunny'
But play-off failure once again...ALL THAT WAY!...JUST NOT FUNNY!!
2000 though, brought brighter days, for this loyal Swansea fan,
An away trip sealed the championship, at sunny Rother-ham(!)
But just twelve months were down the line, Swans back where they had started,
Then tragic'lly his wife passed on, and left him broken-hearted.
With love and care from family, he vowed he'd carry on
And in '02, "PETTY OUT!!" he'd shout, at the Patti Pavillion.
Then in '03, 'gainst Hull City, again was close to tears
But the 4-2 win, put a smile on him, and the day ended with cheers.
Just two years on, the Lib Stad came, his seat bought next to mine,
Way up high, on the eastern side, right on the halfway line,
And soon a change in playing style - Roberto at the helm,
"Brilliant football!" he declared, with joy was overwhelmed.
And so that mag'cal Wembley day, we reached the 'Promised Land'
But ill-health meant he missed the trip, fate cruelly dealt a hand,
Though once back able to support, he lived the Premier dream
And declared "West Brom home 2012's the best I've ever seen!"
But by the time the League Cup came, ill-health it had returned,
Though watching from his Wembley seat, his eyes still brightly burned.
Our win was cheered so loud and proud, a smile fixed on his face,
He felt sixty-seven years' support, was rewarded in this place.
With failing health he'd soon decide, a move was for the best
So soon his Season it was changed, to 'Disabled' in the west.
Then one last trip away from home, when his 80th came around -
A one-nil win at Arsenal away, his joy it did abound!
But...time it waits for no man, and in Janu'ry this year
Came the moment he had dreaded, and which filled him up with fear
As Spurs at home, to 'see The Swans', was to become his last
And seventy-two years' loyalty, would now be in the past.
The last match he would ever hear, was Huddersfield away,
A battling draw with just ten men, for nearly all the play.
He heard it on the radio, whilst sitting up in bed
And helped to clear ev'ry ball, he'd pictured in his head.
But now this man is history, his loyal support no more
Though I'm sure that he will watch The Swans, by peering through Heaven's floor.
And though to write this eulogy, it makes me very sad,
My over-whelming feeling is...of pride...to call him 'Dad'. |  |
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