Net in the Prog

Swans and the Internet

The article that appeared in the Colchester programme on Saturday 20/9/97 is reproduced here.

The Swans first appeared on the Internet in January 1996 when very few teams outside the Premiership had their own web site. Most of these sites were created by real fans and updated in their spare time. Some of the bigger clubs, of course, chose to pay thousands to have theirs professionally done but the truth is many "amateur" sites are just as good, if not better - just as fans across the country often prefer the content of unofficial fanzines to official club programmes! The Internet has grown in size and traffic enormously over the past two years and now you can find no less than SIX different web sites dedicated to Swansea City. These do not compete with each other in any way; in fact each one has it's own unique character and slant on the Swans.

As soon as the first Swans site "Just another Swansong?" appeared, I started to get email messages from Jacks all over the world who had been starved of news of their beloved team. But all that changed overnight. John in Sydney, Jay in America, Tommy in Norway and Nick in Russia could all read about the Cullis fiasco on the same day as the news broke - as well as read match reports within an hour of the games finishing at the Vetch.

Apart from being a source of information, the site also acts as a shop-window for the club and the messages on the Guest Book testify to this with, albeit grudging, compliments from die-hard Cardiff fans. In addition, the club shop's sales has benefited from this exposure with one listee from Swansea - Massachusetts in the USA ordering a full set of kit for the whole team out there.

Just after the site went onto the 'net, I started up a mailing list where Swansea fans could send a message on any Swans topic to all members of the list. These messages usually prompt replies and a healthy (usually!) discussion takes place. Currently there are 219 on this mailing list from all parts of the world. When was the last time you were able to chat about the Swans with more than 3 or 4 people?

Here's a couple of early messages to the list ..
(Note: capital letters are rarely used in email - so what follows is not really bad grammar)

	please subscribe me to your mailing list.  I am an attorney and amateur
	soccer player from Oklahoma City Oklahoma.  I made it to the Vetch this June
	when I was in Wales--the greatest place on earth.  I will try to make it back
	this fall and hopefully I can stay there.  I am striving to be an honorary
	Welshman.


	mornin' from the US of Eh.
	does the jack army exist in new york?
	will i ever get to talk with those who can see beyond manU + l'pool?
	viva the essex swans! (how's harlow, vince?)
	adios
	d.c

Click here to go back to start page