In The Programme - Leyton Orient

WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE! Or at least we were when I sat down to write these notes - the result at Southend on Saturday will determine whether we have held onto that position.

I have seen many sides at the Vetch over my time as a Swansea fan and maybe I speak too soon when I say that this one we are watching at the moment is up there with the very best of them. Defensively I would say we look better than the record breaking side that won us a championship in 2000 and the flair that runs through the side elsewhere is up there with the best of them. All this flair though does lead to a mystery why the goals are not flying in for us at the moment. I look back to the Mansfield game and we created some very good chances that only desperate goal line clearances prevented more goals. We were then reliant on the last minute winner to secure the three points. From an outside view anyone looking at the result would have said we were lucky but in my opinion we were far from it.

I look at the players that we have in midfield and attack and the likes of Trundle, Connor, Robinson et al have too good an eye for goal not to start hitting the net on a regular basis soon but until then I will take 1-0 wins because the games are far from boring.

Anyway, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Leyton Orient to the Vetch tonight - maybe quite appropriately they arrive here at this time of year. Last week (10^th October) represented three years to the day since Tony Petty went for his players in such spectacular fashion and I also believe it was the day that fashioned the Swansea City that we know now. The supporters trust was a fledgling organisation then and has grown to be one of the largest in the UK. The fans all united against one man in their fight to win back their football club meant that lifelong friendships were formed with people that we hadn't met before and this became a united club who all wanted it rid of one people.

Leyton Orient arrived at the Vetch on 20^th October and joined in the protest march that started at Castle square and ended at the Vetch Field. They carried their own banner that simply said "PETTY OUT - Orient fans against asset stripping" - words that said it all but it was a day that fans of two opposing clubs joined forces to make their feelings clear and for that show of unity we will always be thankful to Leyton Orient. I hope that some of the fans that were on that march have made the trip down tonight and they enjoy their last visit to the Vetch Field.

That Leyton Orient match was watched by just 3,600 people. The Swans lost and slipped to 23^rd in the 3^rd division (as it was then.) Tonight we will see a clash between two promotion chasing sides watched by a crowd of around 8,000 if not more. As I said earlier those dark days of October 2001 changed this clubs direction and had we not had those bad times I am convinced we would not be where we are now. We have a club to be proud of, we have a new stadium just over 8 months away from being opened and we have a side that we hope will be playing a division higher next season. It may sound a strange thing to say in the league's basement but we have a good future ahead of us. And everyone that has played a part in modelling that future be it in investment, protest marches, the workers in the trust or even just by being here week on week should be proud of this club and what it has achieved, and what it can do in the future.

Anyway, that is enough about the past, it's the present that matters tonight and as we aim for our 6^th consecutive win at the Vetch. I wrote back in these pages before the Lincoln game that we just needed one win to kick start a run and that is exactly what happened. Since I wrote that particular page, we have won 7 out of 9 games and moved from near the relegation places to the top of the league. It was clear to me then that this side was too good to be at the bottom and I'm just thankful that the premonition was right. We would all have hated it to be wrong. Now the job is just staying there but I have two crisp £10 notes riding with Mr Coral that this happens. Fingers crossed.

Enjoy the game tonight, and get behind the lads - JACK ARMY!

Phil Sumbler

You can keep updated on the views of the fans by visiting www.jackarmy.net - Supporting the Swans, All Day, Every Day.

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