The JackArmy.net Review Of 2003 - Part II

April

April was always going to be the most crucial month and so it proved for the Swans. Matches were due against fellow relegation strugglers and they opened with a 0-0 draw at Shrewsbury at the beginning of the month. Not the win that the Swans were looking for but the important thing was they remained above one of the teams below them. A 1-1 draw at the Vetch against Scunthorpe followed - Marc Richards on target once more for the Swans before a dreadful Easter weekend for the Swans. They fancied their chances against Leyton Orient away but went down 3-1 and then Exeter visited the Vetch with the Swans knowing that a victory would all but guarantee them safety and at the same time condemn Exeter to conference football. It wasn't to be thought as the visitors ran out 1-0 victors leaving the Swans in desperate trouble. With two games to go it was real backs to the wall stuff. Indeed Swansea produced possibly the most important victory of their history up to that point with a 2-1 away win at Rochdale in the penultimate game of the season, Richards and Nugent proving their worth once more. It was now a win against Hull and safety - anything else and it was reliance on others.

Nothing else seemed to matter as April drew to a close with the league table reading as follows

May

There was only one thing on the mind of Swansea supporter's as May opened - Hull City at the Vetch. People wondered what they would feel if the results went the wrong way and everyone prayed for safety. Swans fans were packed into the Vetch early on the day of May 3rd and were not disappointed. The local lad, returned home scored a hat-trick and Lenny Johnrose got in on the act as well as the Swans won 4-2 to save their league status. News filtered in of a late kick off at Exeter and a goal that gave them victory meaning that nothing other than the win would have done us. League football had been saved and the Swans could look forward in the summer rather than wondering on what could have been.

It was enough and Swans fans had their second chance to pay homage to their heroes as Roger Freestone deservedly enjoyed a testimonial at the Vetch - Chelsea sending down a side to beat the Swans 1-0 - Stuart Roberts and Julian Alsop among the guests for the Swans.

Brian Flynn was rewarded for keeping the Swans up with a two year contract whilst his retained list showed no future at the Vetch for Andrew Mumford, Neil Sharp, Steve Watkin, Jamie Wood, Terry Evans and John Williams. Former Swans owner Mike Lewis was arrested by the serious fraud squad whilst the club mourned the death of one of it's legends - Trevor Ford.

June

The close season at the Vetch but no let up in the activity as Brian Flynn tried to rebuild his squad after the horrors of the previous season. Huw Jenkins was named as chairman of the Swans - Leigh Dineen his vice-chair whilst Roberto Martinez gave the fans a lift as he signed a new contract. Bury were named as the opening day opponents when the fixture lists came out whilst Bristol City were the opposition in the first round of the Carling Cup. Lee Trundle was revealed as a target for the club along with Chris Llewellyn from Norwich and Karl Connolly at QPR.

CLICK HERE FOR THE REVIEW OF JANUARY - MARCH

CLICK HERE FOR THE REVIEW OF JULY - SEPTEMBER

CLICK HERE FOR THE REVIEW OF OCTOBER - DECEMBER

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