Football News - Swansea City promoted to Premier League after beating Reading at Wembley
Last updated 6/6/2011 8:55:22 AM
Football News - Swansea City promoted to Premier League after beating Reading at Wembley
The ugly ducklings produce a Hans Anderson style fairy tale at Wembley.
Eight years ago Swansea City teetered on the edge of extinction, a game away from dropping out of the Football League and unable to pay their electricity bills.
They were rescued with a 4-2 win against Hull City, which included two penalties, at the old Vetch Field Grounds, with James Thomas scoring a hat trick.
On Bank Holiday Monday May 30 2011 they repeated history as they beat Reading 4-2 at Wembley with Scott Sinclair scoring a hat trick including two penalties.
You simply couldn't make it up!
Especially when the hard earned victory earned a guaranteed £91 million over the next four years - whether they maintain their newly found Barclays Premier Division status or not.
Looking for more coincidences? How about Swansea manager Brendan Rogers being sacked from Reading when their current boss Brian McDermott was his number two. Or McDermott having previously played for Swansea.
Or the fact that two players, Leon Britton and Alan Tate, emerged from that survival team in the 2002-03 season to play in Monday's extravaganza.
Nor was the game straightforward as Swansea roared into a three goal lead through Sinclair with the first two and surprise choice Stephen Dobbie only for the Royals to hit back with goals from Noel Hunt and Matt Mills while Jem Karacan hit an upright with Reading totally on top.
A second penalty scored by Sinclair wrapped it up for the ugly ducklings who, in just eight seasons, had grown into a beautiful and now, very rich swan.
It was also a happy ending for Rodgers who, after two jobs at Watford and Reading where he earned a reputation for being , shall we say, a little over the top, proved to the football world and himself that he has something to offer the game and , what is more, he can test his theories in the world's top league.
I feel desperately sorry for Brian McDermott, one of football's nice guys, who was forced to sit on the sidelines for four cup finals and when he returned to Wembley finished on the losing side.
McDermott is one of us, an optimist, who will already be convinced that his side can go one step further next season if he can hold onto star players like Shane Long and Jimmy Kebe.
Rodgers, if he is not an optimist now, will certainly need to become one as the team being promoted from the play offs don't have a great record.
Of the last seven to come through the same route only two, Hull City and West Ham United, survived the next season while they, along with Blackpool, Burnley, Derby County, Watford and Crystal Palace, no longer command a place in the top division and only Burnley (eighth) finished in the top half of the Championship last season.
That won't concern Rodgers and his board over the next couple of months and they will be convinced that with money well spent they are set for a bright future in their new stadium and with a new outlook.
There is nothing like a little Swan Upping*! ..... *Not what you might have thought – Swan Upping is the annual consensus of mute Swans on stretches of the Thames.