It has been long awaited for many Swans fans and there have been numerous comments about the content of the film and the story that it may portray but finally the film 'Jack To A King' has hit the cinema screens and it is time for us to give our review of the film.
Firstly, as a Swansea fan it is impossible not to enjoy what you are watching in front of you. We know the story, we know the start and the finish to it and we know it has a happy ending. We know most of the main characters in the story and therefore it was always going to make for a good watch.
There were some genuine laugh out loud moments - the two guys in balaclavas (protecting their identity until one of them gave the other one's name away) were brilliant and Kev Johns did what Kev Johns always does and any film about the Swans would be weaker if he wasn't in it. Some of the footage particularly at the time of Petty's reign at the club was brilliant to see again and it reminded you just how much the city backed its football team at that point in time.
Sadly it also included some attempted justification from Mr Petty as to his actions and he tried desperately to portray himself as a hero when indeed we know that he was the villain. I would completely agree now that he was a brilliant thing to happen to the club but that does not make him anywhere near the hero he would like to be but I think the film makers did just enough to make sure nobody left with that impression.
There were disappointments for me. To not hear from the likes of Brendan Rodgers, Lee Trundle, Garry Monk or Alan Tate was disappointing and the fact that we seem to have airbrushed two managers in Kenny Jackett and Paulo Sousa is quite remarkable in a ten year period.
From my perspective when I look at the Supporters Trust I still don't believe the part that was played by them was portrayed in enough detail nor by the right people therefore almost diluting the massive role that the Trust played in wrestling control of the club from the Australian based cockney. It's a small gripe but it is the role of the fans that makes this story all the more remarkable and it was a bigger part than the film would leave you to believe.
It was interesting to see some of the Evening Post headlines at the time partly because they backed Petty clearly from day one and were around 2/3 days behind this very website with their reporting of the news but eventually they caught up and played their own part in the story as the local newspaper should be.
My final sadness of the night was the lack of mention of dearly departed friends of the Trust in Richard Lillicrap and Mike Kent both of whom played a very big part in where we are now.
Overall though I would say to any Swans fan you would want to watch the film and you will enjoy it which is the main thing. Not sure how much the interest will spread outside of Swansea but definitely worth a watch.