Friday 24 June 2011

The Chance for a Revolution

Swansea and the rest of South Wales stands at a real crossroads. For the first time in a generation, there is a real chance for change. However, it's not politicians or industry that has provided this opportunity, but Swansea's footballers. There is an appetite for change in the area as a whole and the time has finally come to act upon it. And quickly.

Since Swansea's promotion at the end of May, I've witnessed an unprecedented sequence of events which have left me not only surprised but hopeful for the future. All season tickets for our inaugural Premier League season have been sold, 6000 new home shirts sold in a weekend and constant media coverage locally, nationally and even internationally.

While I've always appreciated the passion of the hardcore support with an interest in Swansea City, the move to the Liberty Stadium has provided a platform in the last 5 years has meant that many more one time customers have been transformed into regular visitors and what I would then class as supporters. This is the opportunity of which I speak. The chance that Swansea City finally has is to cement it's standing not only in the local community but in west Wales, the Irish republic, north Devon and Cornwall and even as far east as Cardiff. 

According to the 2009 mid-year ONS review, there were over 231000 people living in the Swansea area alone. Compare this to the 277000 people living in Newcastle as of in 2008 and it's clear to see that Swansea should be working harder to attract larger crowds to matches.

To truly take advantage of the progress so far, it seems that firstly, as has been alluded to by Huw Jenkins, we desperately need to increase the capacity at the Liberty Stadium. The true capacity is more 19500 than the built 20500 due to football segregation, although the club will push this figure as far as allowed next season. To attract a fan, the fan must be able to get a ticket to the game. The demand is clear to be seen now, if of course Swansea are able to keep their Premier League status. In any event, a 25000 seated stadium would have been the ideal size to build rather than what currently stands.

Secondly, the style of football has to remain in place. This has not only won Swansea the chance to play Premier League football but also many admirers throughout all walks of life, football fans or not. The truth of football football finance is that customers prefer to pay to watch a pleasing style of football. I see little problem with this at the moment as the approach taken by the board has clearly been vindicated by the success achieved.

Finally and most crucially, attitudes need to change in the area. In school being a Swansea supporter was difficult. I was ridiculed, albeit playfully, by the clubs ideal target market. It was nice to note their presence at Wembley in May for the Playoff Final however. Also gone are the days where hooligans and unpleasantness ruled football. There's still plenty of passion, especially in Swansea and you will hear expletives from time to time, but football in Swansea is something to enjoy. It is a product that can be a day out with friends or family, or can make you friends and family! 

Basically, you get exactly what you put in to supporting Swansea, unlike some other clubs. When you go to a football match here, you compete, even as a fan, directly with the opposition, who this season will be known globally. You get to do something that local politicians have been trying to do for decades here and make something good of the community and make Swansea famous and proud of something positive for once. With the Supporter's Trust having such a large stake in the club, you can even say that you're helping run the club and make decisions on it's future.

Whether at this time next season Swansea are back in the Championship or not, all I can really hope for is two things. Firstly that the children of Swansea and west Wales will not be asking for Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool shirts for Christmas but Swansea shirts with the likes of Sinclair or Graham on the back. Having the support of the wider community would be invaluable to the club in both the short and long term and is utterly critical to any future away from the lower reaches of the football league.

My second dream would be that the long term future of the club will now finally be secured. After two very close scrapes with liquidation and decades of neglect, the club is potentially secure for a decade. It's completely essential in my opinion, for the long term good of the club to construct a youth academy so that we are less reliant on the transfer market. Less money leaves the club as a result in the form of transfers and all related expenses and the club gains assets in the form of players for the first team and to sell on for a profit. The club finally has the money to do this and there's little doubt that it would suit the general ethos of the club.

The chance is finally here, I hope the people of Swansea and the surrounding area finally realise that this is their club. They can have their say, they can directly affect what happens. If you want to have a great football club to watch, if you want to compete with Manchester United and the other worldwide names weekly, then do something about it and get involved.