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Liberty Crowd Saddens Welsh Chiefs

The crowd at the Liberty Stadium on Wednesday night disappointed FAW chiefs - what did they expect?

Ten days into a football season that has seen fans of the two local Championship clubs fork out in excess of £40 for tickets for both games.   Add to that the escalating costs of season tickets and - with respect to the opposition - it was hardly the most attractive of games.

At Wembley there were 20,000 empty seats and a lack of crowds were common place across Europe as fans voted with their feet that the friendly internationals just are not as attractive as the real deal - unless of course you can put on top notch opposition.

There were 6400 at the Liberty Stadium for the third international to be held there since its opening back in 2005 but it could prove to be the last one as the proverbial spokesman from the FAW expressed his(her?) disappointment at the lack of interest shown at a crazy time of the season

"Clearly grounds will stand or fall on the amount of people they have brought in." the spokesman told the Evening Post

"Clearly it is a very disappointing crowd, given the fact that the tickets were as cheap as they were.

"With international football coming to Swansea for only the third time, a crowd of that size is disappointing.

"The football fans of Swansea have done themselves no favours by once again not turning out for an international friendly."

Given a second draw of watching the nation's next generataion try to gain a qualification for the Euro finals live on TV the turnout was actually higher than many expected and of course it is possible - given the nature of the M4 - to be able to travel from outside Swansea to watch the game.

Or could it be that there just wasn't the attraction there?    Rocket science it ain't.

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