FAN FOCUS: Nick Davies

We continue our weekly fans feature as we put our loyal supporters under the spotlight!
Fan Focus gives every member of the Jack Army a chance to share their favourite tales, games and goals from supporting the Swans over the years.
If you want to be involved in the feature, email jackwells@swanseacityfc.co.uk



Name: Nick Davies
Age: 35
From? Pontarddulais. Originally from Tycroes, Ammanford.

How long have you been supporting the Swans?
Since the mid-80s. I then purchased my first season ticket during the 1995-96 season.
Since then, I have only missed around half a dozen home matches. I also try to attend as many away games as possible during a season. 

What was the first Swans game you attended?
The first game I attended was during the 1986-87 season when we played Northampton Town at the Vetch Field and won 2-1.
It was a hot day and my father, my sister and I were sat in the East Stand. I remember being overwhelmed with the sound and chanting coming from the North Bank. There was also a great view of the Mumbles from the stand.

Why did you start supporting the Swans?
My father has supported the club since he was a child and, soon after he started taking me to some home games, I became totally hooked and obsessed.
The Vetch became my second home for the majority of my childhood, and I used to count down the days until the next home fixture.
I was even mascot during a home fixture in 1990 and had my picture taken with the current Welsh manager Chris Coleman. We beat Huddersfield 1-0 on that day.

What is your most memorable Swans moment?
I've witnessed so many ups and downs over the years!
For the wrong reasons, I remember Tony Petty's reign at the club. It was like a soap opera!
Luckily everyone stuck together, and I remember asking friends and relatives to contribute to the Supporters Trust.
But my most memorable moment has to be the play-off final win over Reading. It was a fantastic day, and I remember at half-time thinking about my future away trips to Anfield, Old Trafford and the Emirates.
I think that I would have been sobbing in the stands if Reading had completed the comeback.
It took over two hours to get out of the car park at the end of the game, but we didn't care!



What is the best game you've seen at the Vetch/Liberty?
My favourite Swans game was when we played Liverpool in an FA Cup third-round tie back in 1990.
I remember that my father and I queued for over four hours for tickets.
The game was memorable for so many reasons. Our keeper on the day Lee Bracey had an absolute stormer - he pulled off some magnificent saves.
It was great seeing so many superstars at the Vetch i.e. Ian Rush and John Barnes to name a couple. We won't mention the replay!

What is the best goal you've seen at the Vetch/Liberty?
I've seen so many great goals over the years, with the majority being scored by Lee Trundle.
However, Andy Legg scored my favourite goal of all-time. He scored a world-class volley past Bruce Grobbelaar when playing against Stoke during the 1992-93 season. Unfortunately we lost that game 2-1. 

Can you tell us about the greatest sacrifice you have made to watch the Swans?
When I married my wife in April 2004, I changed the dates of our honeymoon to ensure that I didn't miss a home match.
We flew to New York on the Tuesday because we had a home fixture against Hull City 24 hours before.
When I booked the trip, the Swans were flying high at the top of League Two but, unfortunately, by April 12 we had slipped out of the play-off positions, and the match was a typical end-of-season fixture that we lost. We could have had an extra day in the Big Apple after all!

Describe to us your typical pre-match ritual?
My son, my father and I always enter the East Stand through the same turnstile. We then watch the last 30 minutes of the televised match under the stand, then go up to watch the players warm up.

Who is your favourite Swans player of all time, and why?
I've had the honour of watching some great players wear the famous white shirt over the years.
My favourite player of all time has to be Ferrie Bodde. What a player he was! Some of the goals he scored for the club were truly magnificent, but he also brought some style to our play.
Bodde was such an intelligent player and read the game so very well. It was so upsetting to watch him pick up those serious knee injuries.



Who is your favourite current player, and why?
It has to be Leon Britton! I'll never forget seeing Leon play for the Swans for the first time when he joined us on loan from West Ham.
I felt a bit sorry for him because they didn't seem to have a shirt to fit him. He looked around 12 years old!
Britton became an instant hit with the North Bank. In fact, I remember the 'Battle of Britton' buckets coming around the terraces to help the club pay his wages.
I've had the pleasure of meeting him a number of times, and I must say he is an absolute gentleman and a magnificent role model to all our young fans. I'm sure he will have a statue next to the great Ivor Allchurch one day!

What is your favourite Swans kit from over the years?
I would say the current away kit. We've had some real shockers over the years, especially the bright orange kit for our first season in the Premier League.



If you could sign one player for the club, who would it be?
Probably Gareth Bale, but I don't think he would be happy sitting on our bench!

What has been your most disappointing moment watching the club?
Without doubt, losing 4-0 to Kidderminster Harriers at the Vetch during the 2002-03 season.
It was a shocking game and it was a freezing night. After the match, the players received a lot of stick and everyone felt dejected leaving the ground.
I was in my second year of teaching at Hendy Primary School, and I remember the following day having so much stick off the boys in my class.
In those days there were so many Manchester United fans in primary schools. The pupils kept reminding me that it was likely that the Swans would soon be falling out of the Football League.
Fortunately, Brian Flynn kept us up. That season caused me to have so many sleepless nights.

What makes Swansea City special to you?
The club is - and always will be - a huge part of my life. When the Swans pick up three points it can make my week.
On the other hand, when you lose it can easily ruin my weekend.
As a supporter you always worry about the club but always look forward to all matches. Without question, it's a very special club that looks after its supporters.
Swansea City is also such a unique club. If someone had told me during the Tony Petty fiasco that we would be playing Premier League football just over a decade later, I would have undoubtedly laughed in their face. What a journey we as Swans supporters have experienced.