Blast From The Past - Leon Hylton
Blast From The Past - Leon Hylton |
Injury prevented Leon Hylton to making just 21 appearances in 18 months for the Swans but like Sizzles Cafe on High St, the former England under 21 international was all about quality not quantity. Arriving from Aston Villa in 2003 like a pop idol version of 50 cent all bandana'd up, Leon was and still is, touted on the official website of the England team as being 'one of the most promising young English players from across the country.' Whether or not the FA had forgotten to add 'boom box' before 'players' has been the subject or conversation for Swans fans from East Fishguard to North Hobart ever since. Replacing scouse sensation Michael Howard in the left back spot, Leon's initial contribution to the team was very positive. His runs forward on the left flank were very entertaining to watch and his poor defensive positional play was put down to 'needing time to gel with the team.' Hopes that Leon would prove to be the answer to our left back crisis were high but unfortunately these hopes were soon dashed as Leon picked up the first of 63,004 injuries he had during his spell at the vetch and began dedicating his time in Swansea to having his legs rubbed and getting Richie Evans into hardcore gangster rap and r n' b. Fortunately, the long wait for Leon's return to first team action provided the entertainment we all craved in what turned out to be a pretty dismal 2003/04 season. Leon's first display of magic came against Orient in the league where he followed a series of needless clear outs into the stand with possibly the best free kick I have ever seen! A Swans player had been fouled on the half way line near to the left hand touchline. Sensing that this could be a good attacking opportunity, all the Swans players piled into the opposition penalty box with their markers following suit. Then, up steps Leon to take the kick and with everyone expecting him to curl the ball in towards Nugent and the other Swans players, Leon calmly chipped the ball directly in a straight line and out for a goal kick. Superbly, the ball didn't get withing 20 yards of any other player on the pitch. After his Roberto Carlos esq attacking free kick display against Orient, it was then onto North Wales for the FAW Cup Semi-final. A lot of Swans fans will remember the game for our 2-0 defeat to the non league giants of Rhyl but for me, once again, I remember it for the genius of Leon Hylton. Playing in some sort of position out on the left, Leon somehow found himself in a defensive position running for the ball. Probably believing to himself that after the prowess he showed in attack against Orient that it was about time he showed a similar level of class in defence, Leon, under no pressure at all and to the bemusement of all watching, blasted the ball straight over the stand and into the trees of the ajoining garden centre! Unbelievably, Leon actually went one better later in the game with one of his clearances hitting the greenhouse of the garden centre! Sadly, his epic display in the FAW Cup proved to be Leon's last appearance in a Swans shirt as he got injured soon after (rumours that the manager of Rhyl Garden Centre gave him a hiding are unconfirmed) and never recovered before he was released in January this year. I've got no idea what Leon is up to post 'football' but I'd be interested to know and wish him the best in whatever it is he's doing and thank him profoundly for the entertainment! Submitted By Bob Slipon (!) What to read next:It happens a lot would be the recollection from the Sheehan era. Unfortunately It still happens is the comment on Vitor Matos’s stewardship to date. And that’s conceding goals at the end of games and halves. Having got themselves into a position to take a point away from the New Den an added time winner from Millwall undone all the Swans hard work. Millwall 2 - 1 Swansea City - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report. It’s match day on the Indy. The Swans are in south east London for their Championship fixture at the New Den which kicks off at 3pm today. The Swans travelled from Swansea to their overnight accommodation prior to taking on Millwall at the New Den tomorrow (3pm) - today. A fully confident squad with more wins than losses in December. Then of course the opening game of the new year on January 1st saw the Swans defeat WBA 1-0. On the treatment table this afternoon have been Ronald (ankle / lower leg) Josh Key (foot injury) Adam Idah (long term hamstring) Ethan Galbraith (slight hamstring tweak) and Liam Cullen who is expected back for Birmingham City. That’s the latest, but things change. There were some worried looks when Swansea head coach, Vitor Matos announced his starting eleven against West Bromwich Albion, not least the fact he had no striker in the team. It turned out to be a masterstroke despite a fifteen minute period in the second half, and some uneasy moments at the end of this Championship fixture. Swansea City 1 - 0 West Bromwich Albion - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report. Swansea City take on West Bromwich Albion this afternoon (3pm) at the swansea.com stadium in the EFL Championship. We will be covering the game with a match report this evening plus team news and latest info as we get it today. Swansea City will be linked with as many targets as the summer and you can be sure of that this winter transfer window. The ill informed and basically untruthful sites (who are never challenged) spew out their latest news. Often made up these sites have no real access to agents or intermediaries who we have in our trust, That’s a two way street. After an evening of bringing in the new year, wheelies n’ all the Swans take on West Bromwich Albion tomorrow afternoon in the Championship. (3pm) |