How Time Flies......

On 18 September 2002, a goal from Simon Weatherstone and a red card for Jamie Wood was enough to sink the Swans to the bottom of the football league for the first time in their history. And while it is fair to say that it's not all been plain sailing from there it seems incredible to find us in this position three years on.

That match at Boston which we lost was the last rites for Nick Cusack as Swansea manager with Brian Flynn appointed before the next game against Torquay. The Swans had sunk as low as they could afford to go and something had to be done to rectify that before the unthinkable happened.

In those three years, the ship has been led by Brian Flynn and Kenny Jackett and between them they have delivered league safety, a host of new names, some real cracking ones, a 5th Round FA Cup run, promotion and a wonderful start to the season - what odds would you have got on that at your local bookie back in September 2002.

What I find even more incredible is not just the change of fortunes over that three years but also the change in personnel. On 29 October 2002, I saw the Swans lose 4-0 to Kidderminster at the Vetch. It was one of the worse performances I have ever seen from a Swansea side. Kidderminster eased off when they scored their fourth after the hourad yet still they were three country miles better than us. The Swans side read: Freestone, Howard, Mumford, Smith, Cash, De-Vulgt, Jenkins, O'Leary, Reid, Wood, Thomas and on the bench was Murphy, Theobald, Phillips, Watkin and Williams. Oh My God. You name me which one of those players would get into the side we sent out at Hartlepool yesterday?

Moving on, that game was watched by just 3,421 people. This coming Saturday, over 15,000 will be inside White Rock to watch former European Champions Nottingham Forest take on the Swans with the former 17 places below Jackett's side. Again, what odds on that three years ago?

The turnaround has been awesome to say the least and who is to say when the momentum will end? It would be incredibly stupid to predict a guaranteed promotion in September but as Luton and Hull proved last season, a good start often means a promotion. I watched Hull lose 4-2 at Swindon last November and let me assure you we look a better side then they did that day. Now that surely has to give us hope?

And to be fair hands up to all who looked at September's fixtures back in July when they were released and pinpointed it as our hardest month? Drizzle, Hartlepool. Forest and Bournemouth all in the same month? Four points from them so far and I personally am confident of another success on Saturday. And add to that the goals that we have flown into the net this season as the country's leading scorers and how good does it feel at this moment in time?

However, when we do lose a couple - and it will happen at some stage - just look back and remember three years ago the feeling that you had on 18 September 2002 and realise that anything in the top half of League One really isn't that bad.

Exciting times to be a Swans fan and I'm lovin' it!!!