Given the success of the team in the FA Cup to date, it came as no surprise to find the Guestbook page on the website even busier than usual.
But the following message was change from the usual type…
From: Steve Gooding Somerset Sunday, January 10
Just a quick note to say what an excellent website. As a freelance reporter sites like this make my job an awful lot easier! I have the pleasure of interviewing Mr Hollins tomorrow and this was the ideal place for up to date info. All the best for Wednesday night, fancy you might sneak it 2-1.
This prompted me to realise that this weekend sees the third anniversary of the web site. During this period, I am certain that millions of characters have been uploaded from my keyboard and I thought you might enjoy a trip down cyber-memory lane with me.
The saying goes that, "A week in politics is along time." By looking back through the archives on the site, we can see that in comparison, a season or three seems an eternity..
Here's what appeared on the site this same week in the previous years.…
From the Whispers pages - Wednesday 28th January, 1998
Christian Edwards waited anxiously at his Cardiff home today to discover whether Swansea City had granted his transfer request.
Going back two years to the Whispers pages - Monday 27th January, 1997
Jan Molby is out of contention for tomorrow's match at home to Doncaster after aggravating a hamstring strain. This puts added strain on the team selection with Dai Thomas missing through suspension and Kwame Ampadu doubtful after picking up a back injury.
The search continues for a loan signing, not only up front, but now in midfield too. If Swansea field the side that surrendered against Bristol City last Tuesday, I think we can kiss promotion goodbye.
From the Molby's mutterings pages - Wed 27/1/97
Last Saturday night after we had beaten Leyton Orient and yours truly had scored the only goal of the game everyone was on a high. It was only in the cool light of day that the full implications really sunk in. All sorts of things ran through my mind as I looked at the fixture list. Can we get the right loan player? Could we keep the momentum going? Could we keep winning? And then, what happens when the suspensions are over. As a manager you hope it's like a tap. You switch it off and switch it back on, but there are no guarantees. In Steve Torpey's case, I'd like to think he'll come back firing us towards the top of the table as he has all season. One man never makes a team, I know, and how many times have I heard that phrase trotted out over the years. It's true, of course, but right now if you took a poll among my Swansea players I'm sure to a man they would all agree that Steve is vital to the way we play.
And an old one from the Guestbook to illustrate how much things have changed
From: C Jones - 27/10/97
So Micky Adams says that he hopes the fans don't feel that he has let them down. Well he has, in a big way. The fans gave Adams a warm welcome despite resentment at losing Molby and he repays that by kicking us squarely in the teeth. He must have known the money situation before he arrived so it's no use using cash as an excuse. He simply saw the problems here and bottled out. If that is the size of his commitment to the club then good riddance. I only hope that in Alan Cork we have a manager who's prepare to roll up his sleeves and work for the club.
So there you have it. There's plenty for you to look back over on these dark, wet winter nights.
If you have any suggestions on improving the site or the content of this regular column, why not drop me an email at gary@gmartin.prestel.co.uk
Links to all Official and Unofficial sites are available at my Swansea Internet Web site. The address is http://www2.prestel.co.uk/gmartin or use the easy-to-remember version http://come.to/swanseacity