The Global Jacks and Indy weekender was something we all needed to share. "Luka Modric." An obvious answer really, if you ask some Croatian fans why they now support Swansea.

Modric : Six-time Champions League winner, 2018 Ballon d'Or, over 200 caps for his country, and Swansea City ambassador. In that order probably, but we'll take it. The three new Croatian Jacks were part of a larger troupe of international fans over for the Global Jacks weekend. They knew of Swansea City before the great man joined up, but now they are invested enough to fly from Zagreb to London to take in the Norwich and Millwall games.

We met over breakfast at the Swansea Jack bar at the bottom of Wind Street. One was a Dinamo Zagreb fan, one was a Hajduk Split fan. It just so happened that the Eternal Derby, one of the fiercest rivalries in all of European football, was also taking place on Saturday. In torrential conditions, Hajduk went 1-0 down at home, before emerging 2-1 winners, just as all the best teams do! But for this weekend, the power of the Swans united these rivals. On our approach to the ground, we saw several Canaries fans walking alongside the home fans in their yellow scarves and shirts. My new Hajduk friend was bemused - "in Croatia this wouldn't happen, if it did..."

The eventful weekend had, however, started the previous evening, when a handful of the Global Jacks community were taken on a stadium tour, thanks to the efforts of Supporter Liaison Officer Haylee Ford and the Supporters' Trust Chair Dave Dalton. Dave has been the Trust Chair since the summer of 2021, and has overseen a "very interesting" five years, as he diplomatically puts is. He is involved and engaged with the fans the entire weekend, the kind of behind-the-scenes effort that is underappreciated in his no doubt enjoyable but all-encompassing role.

The tour started in the press room, where every week Vitor Matos patiently deals with the assorted radio and TV ("he is very good-natured and gives time to everyone", I am told, which is eminently believable), before moving to the true inner sanctum of the dressing rooms. Although the starting XI will be known by the support staff on the Friday, the dressing room - and blank tactics board - is arranged after we leave, meaning I am none the wiser to what Matos has up his sleeve for tomorrow's game.

The short walk down the tunnel, flanked on both sides with images of past legends, leads to the hallowed turf. It is surreal to be on the other side, having watched countless football and rugby teams emerge from that darkness. It is striking how close you feel to the fans. Standing in the technical area, you can make out every individual seat in the arena. Those with a sharp memory will remember a time when the seats for the staff and substitutes were housed in a proper covered dugout. You can thank Take That for removing the covering during one of their concerts, and it turned out the players preferred it that way. I wonder if they would have wanted it like that if the benches happened to be in front of the East Stand, rather than the more genteel padded seats clustered around the half-way line of the West.

Our path to the actual grass is blocked by the four massive mobile rigs of LED regenerative lights. Each costing around £100k, a 2008 Ashley Williams' worth of equipment stands before me, not to mention the £100k annual electricity bill, even though they are only in place from October to March. Premier League clubs will have enough rigs to cover the whole grass, while at the Swans.com four full-time groundstaff move the equipment every 24 hours to cover a different quarter of the playing surface. Last summer, the plastic section of the East Stand roof was cleaned. Next summer the North and West roofs will be cleaned too. Take a look next time you are in the ground, you can see exactly where they stopped!

The final stop is in the Legends' Lounge, which is covered in Swans memorabilia going back to the days of Swansea Town and Ivor Allchurch, through to the Toshack years, the end of the Vetch, and the Premier League era. I read the paper cuttings from that Hull game. Do you know who went down in place of us? Answer at the bottom. I started talking to a friendly gentleman who had joined us on the tour. I can recognise the voice but not place the face. When he reveals that he is the commentator on Swans TV, it clicks. Anthony O'Connell has been involved with the Swans in different capacities for 35 years, and is as enthusiastic as ever. Thanks to Anthony for the shout-out to "Rhys from Austria" and the other Global Jacks during the half-time "Jacks at Home" segment.

On the pitch, and for the second game in a row, the Swans give us some drama by going 1-0 down before another second-half rally sees us triumph 2-1. According to Global Jacks Ambassador Tony Sharpe's detailed programme notes, fans from Poland, Croatia, Australia, Spain, Sweden, Slovenia, Austria, Brazil, and the USA will have happy home travels.

After the game, the 27 assembled GJs and Indy are taken to the lounge. Conversations, many photos, and a few drinks are enjoyed, as some club legends join us. Birthday boy Lee Trundle took photos with little and big kids alike, while the Swansea Independent's very own Roger Freestone mingled among us. He talked us through his only Welsh cap, which happened to be against Brazil at the Millennium Stadium. "I remember looking at the big screen on 60 minutes and the score was 0-0", before Cafu and Rivaldo scored in a 3-0 win, which is quite a story to tell the grandkids. That game also saw Swansea boy Dean Saunders equal the outfield cap record of the time.

Past legends were joined by the current heroes, as an exhausted but engaging Lawrence Vigouroux came up to say hello. After arriving back from North America early Thursday morning and fighting chronic jet leg, the Swans number one said it was the toughest game he has ever played in. He played in all three of Chile's games this break, which included conceding against Atletico Madrid's Jonathan David against Canada, but keeping a clean sheet in the win against Mexico in the stifling heat of Los Angeles. Let's hope he has a quieter game against Millwall this time out, after his outstanding performance at The Den last season.

After being told there was a fan over from Austria, man of the match contender and goalscorer Moussa Yeo came to greet me with his trademark big smile. His previous two clubs were both in Austria, including working with Matos at RB Salzburg, and his third goal in a row means he has firmly found his feet after swapping the cities of Mozart for Dylan Thomas. "Salzburg was nice but I like Swansea very much too."

Fifteen of the Global fans, as well as a small Dutch invasion, will be heading to East London tomorrow. Such has been the demand from the away support that another block has been opened in their North Stand. I was there in January at a frigid Den, where we lost to a last-minute goal. Milder climes and a point or three would be most welcome this time.

⚽️ Answer: Exeter City were relegated at the end of the 2002-03 season, and are currently in 14th in League Two

Thank you to the Indy, Dave, Haylee, Tony, and all involved for making it such a memorable weekend for the Global Jacks. What a fantastic community to be a part of. Danke schön. (Ed) Great report from Rhys, and many at this weekends gathering got to meet Rhys, Olle, Andy Jack Butty and yes unfortunately my good self 75% of the Indy writing team. That was the first time the Indy had all been together in the same room, although Rhys has Houdini like powers not yet familiar to the Special Air Service, let alone the Indy. Great to see some of the old Midlands Avon & Gloucester Swans, original GITS (Gloucester Independent Travelling Swans) and many others from a history that cannot be changed, we have it ll at the end of a very well oiled pen.

Photograph : Hayley Ford & Swansea Independent