HIS eyesight may not be as sharp as yesteryear, but for 91-year-old Joe Davies, Monday's trip to Wembley is all about the atmosphere.
And what memories of past glories he can call upon! Mr Davies is among the Swans fans for whom a long trip to London really is going the extra mile.
His first taste of live Swans action was a 2-2 draw — in 1926 — sitting atop his uncle's shoulders.
He was a regular at Vetch Field and, until a few months ago, the Liberty Stadium.
His family has insisted that he dons the black and white scarf again for the Championship play-off final and travels with them to London.
He may need some running commentary as the match progresses, but as he told Susan Johnston, his warden at Plas Melyn sheltered accommodation in Portmead: "It's all about the atmosphere, anyway."
And what a fantastic present a Swans victory would be for one of the club's most seasoned supporters, who turns 92 on Tuesday.
Another trip that has taken some planning is from Awel-y-Mor Care Centre, Gorseinon, where a trio of wheelchair-bound fans — Liberty Stadium regular John Allen, Andreas Strasser and Stella Clarke — plus staff members Joanne Thomas, Louise Kissick, Dan Ward and Richard Webster will head to a sister care centre near Wembley, and from there to the stadium with the famous arch.
Grins
Rebecca Davies, administrator at Awel-y-Mor, which specialises in head and spinal injuries, said Swans fan Joanne queued for six hours to buy tickets. The group of seven will travel in two minibuses and plan to return to the Brynafon Road care centre on the same day, hopefully with big grins plastered on their faces.
However, there are some supporters who, despite wanting nothing more than to witness the action live, simply cannot make the trip.
They include pensioner Constance Roberts, who suffered injuries after falling last week and is recovering in Morriston Hospital.
Her son Alan, who works in IT for the NHS, said: "She is 88 years young and loves listening to the games on the radio, and attends home matches with me and my son from time to time.
"My son Jack is wheelchair-bound, and she acts as his carer when we attend matches.
"She attended the two big games we had against Carlisle and Barnsley at the Millennium Stadium, and was due to come with me and my son to Wembley for the game against Reading.
"She is devastated, and we will have to take her a radio in to listen to the match as they don't have Sky television in the ward where she is."
Mr Roberts, 55, of Newbridge Road, Port Talbot, added: "My mum is so outgoing and funny and she has had them all in stitches in the ward with her chirpy sense of humour.
"I have emailed the Swans to see if they could help to do something to cheer her up."
richard.youle@swwmedia.co.uk
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