Now there's a headline.
This article was worth writing just for the connotations in headlinery available, however it does run the risk of peaking within the first sentence. I'll do my best to make sure that isn't the case, and to that end I've managed to speak with Kevin Johns. Broadcaster, Swansea City club chaplain & fanatic, Panto dame, singer, and more - Kev has more strings to his bow than most!
TSW: Hi Kev, you're known across South Wales as a man synonymous with Swansea City FC. It's unlikely you've been pitted against the Dalai (or Dai, as he's called around here) Lama before - how did that come about?
KJ: Its the real Dalai Lama! He went to a conference and met people from Bradford and remarked that their colours were similar to his robe so he was given a Bradford shirt, and sent a letter of blessing wishing Bradford all the best for Sunday's game.
TSW: What's been your favourite story in the build up to Wembley?
KJ: I have enjoyed the media's reception to the prayer story It was a bit tongue in cheek but it shows the appetite for stories about the Swans.
TSW: Times haven't always been so good in South Wales - If you had to pick your "lowest" moment following the Swans, what do you think it would be?
KJ: The loss of Terry Cole at Rotherham We were so happy that we were Champions and then the news spread that one of our fans had lost their lives. We are a like family and we lost one of our own that day. No one should lose their life at a football match
TSW: Excluding the playoff final (and of course the Bradford game), what would you say is the biggest thrill you've had from following the Swans so far, and why?
KJ: I love every game I will never forget the thrill of walking up the slope to the North Bank at the Vetch and catching that first glimpse of the pitch especially for an evening game. Scoring seven against Bristol City was a great day!
TSW: Who is your current favourite Swansea City player, and who is your favourite player from times gone by?
KJ: I am a big fan of Leon Britton, who has grown into a Premier League player. I had lunch with Leon today with the Chairman and Gareth Vincent of the Evening Post for a TV football programme and he loves the Swans through and through!
In the past my favourite player was Vic Gomersall - a left back in the 1960's and early 1970's. In the 90's I played alongside Vic in a Charity football team and that was a proud moment. He still lives in the area and works at Llanelli AFC.
TSW: I remember Cyril the Swan ripping the head off Millwall's Lenny the Lion (and booting it into the North Bank) well - what's your favourite non-football story connected with the Swans?
KJ: It was Zampa the Lion! That was brilliant, but his head fell off on its own. Cyril just drop kicked it towards the North Bank!
TSW: What is the best aspect of your role as club chaplain at Swansea City?
KJ: Most of those moments are unseen but I love a chance to support people during difficult times.
TSW: Have you had a moment, like most Swans fans, where the reality of the clubs achievements over the last 10 years has suddenly dawned on you? If so, what was it that triggered it?
KJ: Its when I look around the press box at the Liberty on Match day and see live commentary by TV stations from all over the world!
TSW: Lastly, and understandably, what's your prediction for Sunday's game?Well, Kev is confident! I think deep down I'd been imagining a similar scoreline, but I've been scared to voice it due to my predictions seemingly becoming a curse on my beloved Swans!
KJ: I think it will be a tough game but I've got the Swans 3 - 1!
Kev has been one of the constants of Swansea City for me. Through my formative years and on to the current day, his voice is part of the fabric at SA1 now, and given the loss of our historic Vetch Field, people like Kevin Johns are integral in terms of bridging the gap between the Swansea City many of us still have in our head (3,000 people, pasties which were both hot and cold, and THOSE toilets), and the Swansea City many new fans know and love. In an age which is all too quick to forget and throw away, for me the more ties with the past, and continued traditions, the better.
Another constant in Swansea City's rise to prominence is, of course, Huw Jenkins. When the consortium took over back in 2002, I remember hearing noises of a "10 year plan to get to the Premiership". Looking back, I definitely thought that, while the ambition shown was admirable, I'd have taken a couple of seasons kicking around the lower leagues if it meant we didn't get relegated! It shows the vision of the man, and the men around him, that not only has this been achieved, it's been surpassed, and it's been done in a style seemingly unrivaled in British football at present. What with the continued capitulation of Arsenal, it looks likely Swansea could soon become universally regarded as the most attractive football team in the land.
Supporters' Trust spokesperson Alan Lewis: "I am sure his fellow board members would say themselves that Huw deserves huge credit. Huw has probably put in as much time as anyone in getting the club to where we are now. He would admit himself that when the consortium got together he ended up as chairman as no-one wanted to do it, and none of them had ever run a football club, even though they were businessmen.
"It was a huge personal effort on his behalf and the club ethos he has put in place is one all the directors sign up to and he leads the way in that. His contribution has been as significant, if not more so, than anyone in this story. He has had to manage the profile of the club, which is as high as it has ever been, and make sure the future is a sustainable one whether the club had survived in the Premier League or not.
"It's quite incredible what has been achieved, you could not make it up frankly, and if you did no-one would believe you, it's ridiculous really."
Another by-product of Swansea's upward march is the possibility of European football returning to South Wales. I was saying the other day how if the Swans DO manage to get to Europe, our current second string is likely to be left wanting should we encounter any sides of real quality, and I stand by that. When asked by the press, however, if Swansea were ready for a European venture, the Swansea chairman replied with gusto:
“Of course we are. If we are lucky enough to get that chance, we will try 100 per cent to make a success of it and to enjoy it. We will ignore the fact that many other clubs just moan about the Europa League because of the travelling involved and the number of games you have to play.
“I would view getting into the Europa League as a massive opportunity for us. If you look back a few years, going into Europe would be far better than where we could have been travelling to if we had ended up driving around the country playing Conference games. If we can get past Bradford — and we know that we will have to be 100 per cent on our game to do that — it’s something our football club would relish. We would take the challenge on and try to compete just as we have done in the Premier League.
“This weekend is a chance for us to keep our club moving forward. If we are lucky enough to win the final, it will be a massive boost for us.”
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| Reported Swans target Jose Canas. Huw Jenkins has hinted a deal may not be too far away in the summer. |
Having said that, if anyone knows who we'll be signing in the summer, it's Huw. Maybe he knows something we don't...
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| Another reported SCFC target, Iago Aspas. |