No and No Thanks

No To CZJ, No To FAW

Did you know there's a new stadium opening in Swansea? It will play home to the city's two main sporting entities so the first game should naturally be a Welsh international and it should be opened by someone that is associated with the clubs so let's pick Catherine Zeta Jones?

The Western Mail seems to be taking great delight in pointing out that the people at the FAW are lining up Spain as the opening game at the new stadium whilst we want a celebrity to open the new stadium. In fairness, none of the football club, rugby club or council have commented on this meaning it is purely more crap from a paper that cares about as much about the Swans as I care about Cardiff City.

However, the message from me, and it appears to be the same from many fans, is stick your invitations up your arse. The FAW have never given two hoots about the Swans but all of a sudden now they want this game and no doubt some of the people that run the Welsh game have probably sold the new stadium as 'look at what we have done - come see our new stadium'

The simple fact of the matter is the first game at the new stadium should involve the Swans, the second one the Ospreys. That's not arrogance on my part but the Swans secured funding for the new stadium - he egg chasers didn't. Therefore, we should get first pick. But I do also think that the other fraternity should get a crack at the stadium before we play football league matches on it.

And as for a celebrity opening it - don't make me laugh. Yes CZJ is known through her actress work but she has no significance to either club bar she was born in Swansea. There are plenty of past players and managers of both clubs that have deserve the chance to open the new stadium. Or failing that even the widow of John Charles would have more significance. Hell, how long is it before Rhodri Morgan offers his services to open the new stadium.

Let's be honest, once it's open out of the people who love to comment about it recently who is actually going to remember it exists? The stadium is of more relevance to Swans and Ospreys fans than anyone else so let's have people that these can relate to rather than people who are celebrities yes but have almost broken links with Swansea.

And as for the first Welsh game at the new stadium, that should be well down the line and I would be extremely disappointed if anyone other than Swansea City FC opened the new stadium with a match.

Just 210 days to go.....

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