From Swansea City to Crawley Town, the Cardiff scum are going down.

Come on Swansea, do us fans proud!

He's on the bench most games. If you check back over the recent match reports, you'll get a much clearer picture of how he's doing - GM

I honestly belive that if/when we gain automatic promotion the boys can relax a little and put on a show(well thats the plan anyway)which would guide us smoothly towards the division 3 championship!!!have you noticed that all the promotion chasers are slipping up!!-nerves?? glad to see it`s just not us pressing the panick button!

C`mon Swansea,give us what we desperatly desire,a good run of results and to get out of this godforsaken division!!get the fans behind you and you`ll think there`s 14 playing for us!!!

Sing and scream like there`s no tommorow come saturday!!!!!!lets show them how passionate we are about our Swans, let them hear us as far away as c**dif!!!!"the jacks are going up"!!!!!!!!

sat - looking forward to seeing a big Swans win in front of a big crowd.

The gist of the article is about down and financially out Reading fans feeling depressed about their plight, staring at certain relegation and possibly bankruptsy, the fans as you can imagine were feeling a little down!!

Up step the Reading supporters internet community, get together and decide to hold a pants day(in protest of the players not trying hard enough!)they all brought an old pair of underpants and waved them/threw them around during the game!!-lot of fun, so they organise different theme`s to most games, hawaian shirts,shades and beach music was the theme at Bournmouth to out--seaside the seasiders!!!

The result has been increased attendances, more boystrous support,and can you belive better results, now some of this may sound coincidental but it sure as hell sounds like fun to me!!!!!

The ideas are posted ie, by regular fans via unnofficial web sites in competition style!!gets everyone thinking about having fun at the game (instead of boring anti Cardif songs)!!!obviously we`re not in their position of relegation and finnancial plight, but i for one think it`s a great idea to bring a lot of fun to some of those drab saturday afternoon encounters!!you see Mr Lewis how internet supporters can have a possitive influence on a club!!!!!

"Swansea's Vetch Field is an intimidating place full of Welshmen fat enough to be contenders for their national rugby team who all appear to have an in-bred dislike of of all things English, particularly so it seems football teams managed by extroverts."

"Swansea are a one-dimensional side who are close to muscling their way out of the third division. They boast a battering ram at centre forward with just three goals to his name all season, a couple of strong running midfielders, but a back four who all feast on four shredded as a pre match meal."

My reply to Mr Nigel Thornton, Acting editor, is below:

"Dear Mr Thornton (Acting editor, Peterborough Evening Telegraph)

I am writing to object to the nature of the alleged "match report" on the Swansea v Peterborough game, printed in today's ET. Why does Mr Swann consider it necessary to print offensive and puerile rubbish in the vein of "fat Welshmen" when writing about a football match. My wife and I attend around 30 soccer matches a season, and It is bad enough putting up with abusive and aggressive supporters, on both sides, without irresponsible journalists adding fuel to the fire.

As for his "in-bred dislike of everything English", every soccer club has its "supporters" who shout abuse at the opposition fans - each time we support Swansea away we have to put up with the "Sheepshaggers" taunt, which we hear every time we visit London Road. Mr Swann, are we to put that down to an "in bred dislike of everything Welsh?", or are your ears closed to the excesses of your own Posh fans?

The Swansea fans also apparently have a dislike of Mr Fry. I well recall on 3rd January that it was Peterborough's own supporters who were resoundingly calling for the head of Mr Fry, even when two goals ahead. Once again, a somewhat narrow perspective from Mr Swann. He refers to Swansea as a "one dimensional side", which is based on how many Swansea games attended this year - one or two? And gives no credit to the Swansea defence which boasts the best record in British football. Perhaps he should confine his comments to the team which he watches regularly, and remember that not all ET readers are Posh fans.

Regards - Peter Charles (Peterborough Swan)

PS Mr Thornton - you may be interested to know that I have copied the relevant section of the article to the unofficial Swansea City website, which, incidentally, includes very objective and inoffensive reports on both Swans v Posh games this year. As a Peterborough resident Welshman, who is rightly offended, I do hope that you will afford me the courtesy of a reply."

Mr Thornton's email address is editor@petevtel.demon.co.uk.

His ability to negotiate good players at reasonable wages is questionable (with the exception of walter, who he never plays!) also his team tactics can be alarming, especially when the obvious is there for all to see!!! ie, small defense=tall striker and vice versa!! bad weather, play on the ground (for the first time this season!) good surface, hoist it up to big jules!!

Now i`m not meaning to bash JH, he does have good points too!,*he must be one hell of a motivater to get this lot into the position we`re in!! can`t imagine cork/adams achieving this amount of success with these players!!!

he also knows how to dig deep when backs are against the wall,the owners love him to bits - thats quite obvious!! and they have confidence in him, so thats good, but he`s still got a hell of a lot of work to do before i`d commit to him for life!!

saying that i hope he does go on to bring us much success and glory nights in the future,he could start by getting the team to understand the logistics of winning games. (goals=chance of winning, more goals=better chance of winning, and so on!)

8 more points, lets do it in style, good luck john, keep this defense together (or we`re screwed next year!)

But to say that we took the comments " Too seriuosly " yet again shows the ignorance that infests certain parts of this country ( UK ) and further afield when dealing with immotive " Racist " issues.

The big question is - Would they attack say " The black community " if dealing with a similar subject ? The answer is NO. And rightly so. So why are the sheep loving, fat, aggressive, stereotyped Welsh treated differently ?

Maybe our dealings of English things is as much to blame as anything, we have all fallen in to this trap. Those Jacks that are Welsh do, those that are of other origins probably just smile, or privately boil!

This newspaper has fallen in to that trap, the fact that racism against the countries that make up the UK is hardly noted is no excuse. They stereotyped Wales in an ugly way, and the responses they got were justified.

Racism has no colour, as many are finding out. Including the ill thought out Sports Department of a local newspaper which in future would do well to " think before it prints " or find staff that can.

Mr Swann, you are a disgrace - And typify the phrase " Institutionalised RACIST " Look it up, your fellow journo's have written about it enough with regards to other walks of life, and in most cases wrongly. How does it sound ?

I hope the cap you are wearing today fits perfectly.

No words please John about how this result will only spur us on - save your breathe for abit of geeing up instead.

6 points from our next 3 games should see us through - lets not leave it to the rotherham game.

Come on lads don't throw it all away now. It hasn't been pretty, stylish or for that matter very entertaining but we are up there. I could not handle the payoffs again and certainly do not relish another season in this sh*tty league. Come to that I think Ninth Floor will be bailing out if we do not get up this time which will leave us with nothing.

COME ON!

1. Again we failed to score.
2. The behaviour from some of the people that travelled
3. We never looked likely to score
4. We had one meaningful chance

We are shaking big time now. Northampton have won twice away this week and are now 5 points behind, Peterborough will be 4 if they win their game in hand.

Hollins, sort it out - the play-offs will mean another season down here.

C'mon boys - three weeks ago we had it in our pocket don't blow it - it will shatter you.

During their "lucky" nine straight wins, many were dire to watch and too close for comfort. I think that the "one point closer to promotion" attitude Hollins and Captain Chronic are promoting is a negative one. Surely, now they have got to such a position in the league, the next step would be to go for the title? It was in sight a few weeks ago and i'm sure the players realised that.

Yesterday at Plymouth Boyd came on for Coates towards the end, Coates has had a very indifferent season and it can't hurt to play Boyd more in these last remaining games.Lets face it, Coates couldn't go past a geriatric with a zimma frame and the amount of goals Jules has scored this season proves this.

Tell me if i'm wrong but i think Boyds contract was only until the end of the seson so why not play him more? It is going to be a very dismal season next year if we struggle to put the ball in the back of the net this year.Lets hope John can capture a few more of those great League of Wales players!!!

Anyway, my personal opinion having seen us a few times this season is how poor the 3rd Division is. There appears to already be a gulf between 2nd and 3rd - rather worrying if we play at the higher level next season. Who knows what the end of the season will bring? Football is a very funny game! Good Luck Swans.

Well good luck with the rest of the seasoon and i hope to see you in division 2 next year-but i doubt we'll still be there

Although I count myself as one of the many who dislike the likes of Man Utd. mainly for the arrogant way they dismissed the F.A.Cup, when you look at the reaction of one of their players recently, after putting a 'shedful' of goals past the West Ham stand-in keeper. When asked if he felt any sympathy for the poor sod said "No, not really. We missed a load more chances, and should have gone past 10!"

To be honest, there are teams played in recent weeks who should have been 'stepped on' as we headed for the title, but instead we've capitulated to them like the wimps we are. And, as most people heve their own favourite players/team here's my 'sixpennyworth'.

Coates is a luxury we can't possibly afford, as he loses/gives away over half the balls he gets. If we're going to get some goals in the last four games, we must supply decent balls to the front players, so I would go with Casey on the left wing (from the start), and Roberts on the right wing. (presuming he is still a club member).

The ideal formation for me would be Bound + smith + howard + price at the back. Then cusack + coates + Thomas in midfield. then up front we would have he ultimate scoring team. Boyd + Alsop + Watkin (I was joking about the ultimate scoring team bit)This would hopefully result in More goals being scored. also as an extra touch Coates and Boyd should be pushed as wide players to give us that extra width that was missing when we previously played that formation.

GK - Rog of course!
RB - Steve Jones - deserves as much acclaim as Smudger and Boundy!
LB - Howard - Not too sure here, I think coatsy could do a job at LB
CB - Smith - Need you ask!
CB - Bound (c)- Born leader
CM - Thomas - commited, can tackle and id useful in attack
CM - Lacey - Gutted he got injured, I felt he was beginning to show his potential and let's face it Cusack is shit!
RM - Stu Rob - Always gives 100%, pace is electric, quite a good crosser too!
LM - Walter - Can always beat a man, cut inside, and support the front line. He beat's people every week when he drops back but nothing comes of it. If he beats them on the wing he'd be able to either supply a deadly cross or cut in and score.
CF - Alsop - Wins everything in the air, put obviously not a born goalscorer
CF - Watkin - Hold up the ball well, but yet again not a born goalscorer.

At the risk of airing dirty washing it was felt that my personal crusade against racism at Swansea (see today's EP and 'Welsh Mirror') and football in general compromised the future of the magazine. I personally don't agree; a line has to be drawn somewhere to prevent the sort of bigoted intolerant filth that plagues this club (and others). Politics plays a part in all walks of life whether you like it or not, and I'm proud to have edited a magazine that has fought against racism, lies and the corporate rape of the game I love.

All future correspondence concerning the magazine should still be directed to the contact addresses on the magazine. I will keep the e-mail address open until the season ends.

I would like to thank all those who supported the magazine both morally and financially, and those on the Black Swan team who helped to get this project off the ground. I would also like to wish them the best for the future of the magazine.

Still cannot work out what JH is thinking about with his starting line up. Thank the stars Alsop didn't last until half time and Watkin came on to partner Boyd (best game for ages). Divine intervention from above when he saw Steve on the bench ? Final three games has got to be Steve and Walter up front - PLEASE!

Pat on the back also to Price who's been out of sort in last few games - took his goal well. As usual the back four (and big Rog, thank God) had to have a tantrum and ask to play their part again in the last 10 mins - can't they settle for winning by more than a 1 goal margin or something?

Roll on Rotherham. I'd like to think it would be all over sooner but somehow I don't think so !!

here's to the promotion party

Or do you definately know something that we don't?

DON DIE HEARTED DIE HARD FAN.

If anyone knows of 3 tickets going spare please come back to me on Dave_Dalton@breathemail.net

This shambles promped me to ring the Vetch just to make sure Saturday's game wasn't all ticket and they confirmed it definately isn't - just get there early ! Here's to the promotion party on Saturday. Good luck and good riddance to this rubbish 3rd Division. We'll all wave to C*****f on the way up as they disappear in the opposite direction!

I for one think the mag is a great success and look forward to future issues. I agree with Tom, life is political and if Tom and Black Swan can be influential in making even a little difference to those who harbour racist attitudes then we will all be better off.

On Saturday I stood next to my best mate on the NB, nothing unusual about that, but it struck me how racist some of his comments were - mainly directed at Walter. Now if someone as normal and otherwise agreeable as my friend can go to a match and spout such casual racist garbage, what hope is there for any youngsters that are around listening.

I constantly berate my mate for the use of such inflamatory language but he just denies he is racist in his outlook - he just can't see it.

Tom, I've never met you but I totally agree with your sentiments on this subject and if racism is a problem (I think it is) among supporters of the club then what better vehicle for tackling it than Black Swan?

It is my opinion that BS should be proactive on all issues affecting the club and the fans - this is no different. Well done to John and the boys for what looks like certain automatic promotion - be nice to do it with a flourish though wouldn't it? The 'Tom Back' campaign starts here.

Currently living in Greece, I have not been able to get down the Vetch on a regular basis but have been monitoring the Swans progress. I did get down the Vetch in September to witness an humiliating defeat against Barnet. I thought the Swans had played well that day and deserved a win.

My relatives in Swansea at the time warned me to stay away as they said I had brought bad luck with me. I must admit that I had felt like I had played a part in destroying the fortunes of a promotion destined side.Looking back on that game I now believe that it taught the side an important lesson in discipline and after the dismal few games that followed things really started to change.

The only other game I've seen this season was the Northampton encounter, broadcast live on Sky, which my father mailed over to me. Great result and even better vocal support but the perfomance wasn't too impressive, was it? Again things started too go wrong and I believe we only recorded a win, since that game, against Torquay on Saturday. So I don't mind not seeing the Swans in the flesh or on the box, just as long as they keep winning and go up as champions!!

By the way the Greeks still recall the infamous Swansea V Panathanikos match in the Cup Winners Cup a few years ago. Does anybody remember what really kicked off the trouble that day?

There will obviously be a great support on Saturday for Swansea as promotion is almost yours, and I would like to congratulate you because Exeter won't pose much a threat!!!

If you want to update yourself with the latest going-on's with the Grecians you can on www.geocities.com/ecfc

Roll on Saturday,and if the Gods are with us again (as they have been most of the season) then we will win and Rotherham will slip up and lose at Hartlepool...and we will be champeeeeeeeens!!! Mouth watering stuff.

Out of curiosity, I thought I would post a message and see if any Swans fans remember any amusing wee stories regarding former player John "Yogi" Hughes, who joined the club from Berwick in the dim and distant past.

Yogi is now captain of the mighty Hibs in the Scottish Premier, but close to being put out to grass. Still a great character though.

Finally, can I give a big shout to Chippie, who I know will be skiving work, reading the Guestbook and getting paid for it... disgraceful behaviour!

Last year's Leicester University fan survey, covering 24 Nationwide League clubs, found Swans fans were far likelier than those of any club to report having seen racist behaviour at matches. This may of course be sensitivity about those imaginative 'sheepshagger' chants beloved of the dimmer English fans but last season's game at home to Plymouth, the play-off at Scunthorpe and this year's visit to Southend strongly suggest not.

If this isn't a serious issue for a fanzine, I don't know what is.

I'm also pleased that John Hollins is still in charge and hasn't followed others in being replaced so early into their managerial contract like many others have before him. I don't believe it is possible for any manager to start with a club and be succesful so soon. To get to know the history of the club, the fans the players personalities, the overall running of the club , it's structure and youth policy, all in all everything about the club takes a hell of a long time. You have to be able to have the answer to everyones problem as the manager and if you don't then more often than not it's then end of the road. So I'm glad McClure and the gang have kept faith and are sticking with Hollins and the longer he stays the better for the club as long as he has the backing to strengthen the squad for next season. Some of the greatest managers have taken a number of years to get where they are today just like Alex Fergusson did when he started at Man U (not that we'll ever be whe! re they are now). So I hope Hollins has the ability and the backing to take us even further than the second division and establish this club as at the worst a good first division side because that's where we at least deserve to be.

Congratulations to the team, management and all the backroom staff right down to the people behind the schools policy. Big cheer for Alan Curtis too who has his heart firmly in place at this club.

Cheers,
an Exeter fan.