The Swans Go Up
After countless years of struggle and heartbreak, Swansea City have gone up to the Premier League.
Captain Gary Monk and his team beat Reading 4-2 at Wembley Stadium yesterday, in what was a euphoric climax to their season.
A hat-trick from hero of the day Scott Sinclair was capped by a goal from Stephen Dobbie, and the history books were written in Swansea's favour as the first Welsh side to ever reach the Premier League.
40,000 Jacks made the pilgramige to Wembley (attendance: 86,000), and not one of them was left anything other than elated by The Swans' performance, or indeed the final result.
With an estimated £90m purse for the winners, manager Brendan Rodgers had plenty to celebrate as the final whistle went. Whether the fact that Reading are his old club did anything to dampen his spirits is unclear (not to mention unlikely), but he was given little time for reflection as he was thrown into the air by his team.
"I couldn't have dreamed for this to go any better,'' says Scott Sinclair on Swansea City's website. "But I wouldn't have been bothered if I scored or not because it wasn't about me, it was about us winning the game and getting to the Premier League.
"I said before the game I didn't mind if I scored or not, but if I did I wanted them to count and mean something so it's fantastic that's the case.
"I know not many people score a hat-trick at Wembley and they were probably the most important goals I've ever scored because it takes us to the Premier League. It's the stuff you dream of.
"I wasn't nervous with the penalties - I felt confident stepping up like I always do and stuck to the same routine I always have.
"It was an amazing feeling to see them go in, but the day was about the team and the lads have been exceptional all year.
"It's not about me, it's about all of us and we've all achieved this together.
"I made the decision to leave the Premier League and step down to the Championship. I think that decision has been vindicated now. It's been a great move.''
All of us at Shouttawe would like to say congratulations - UP THE SWANS!
SOURCES: Swansea City Football Club Official Website / Wales Online
