Global Jacks St David’s Day event a success
Swansea City and the Swansea City Supporters' Trust hosted a Global Jacks event on the weekend of March 1, with fans from around the world travelling to attend the fixture against Blackburn Rovers and experience a weekend in the city.
The St David's Day weekend gathering was the second event of its kind, with the Global Jacks initiative having been launched in 2023 as a way of providing overseas supporters the chance to travel to Swansea to watch their team in action and be treated to a weekend full of activities.
Supporters travelled from all over the globe, with Poland, Greece and the United States among the nations represented in the group.
The weekend began with a Swansea.com Stadium tour on St. David’s Day evening, hosted by club ambassador and former Swans striker Lee Trundle.
At the end of the tour, the Global Jacks met other club greats with Leon Britton, Kris O’Leary and Alan Curtis all present, while chairman Andy Coleman also popped in to greet those in attendance, along with head of Swansea City AFC Foundation, Paul France, and the voice of Swans TV, Anthony O’Connell.
On the Saturday, the fans – with their supporter group flags proudly on show - watched the Swans’ victory over Blackburn Rovers and, after the game, Przemysław Płacheta took time out to meet the Polska Swans.
The weekend was rounded off with a Sunday morning visit to the site of the club's former home at The Vetch, and a tour of Penderyn's Swansea Copperworks Distillery.
Heather McLaughlin travelled from New Jersey for the event, and has been a Swans fan since watching Michu star in the Premier League.
When the Premier League started getting more coverage in the United States, the New Jersey Jacks fell in love with the heart and bravery of those Swansea sides as they regularly challenged and beat established clubs.
“Community is a really important thing for us, and we love that Global Jacks has allowed us to establish a community with people from all around the world who share a love of the club," said Heather.
“Getting to meet everyone in person, and getting to support the team in person is such a privilege and joy. We feel very lucky to be here.
“During Covid, because everyone was at home watching the games, it almost brought us closer to the team and getting to see our flag hung in the stadium was really special.
“It’s not an easy thing to do to make people who are far away feel really connected, but things like this are amazing.”
Ross Jones’ first memory of watching the Swans also involved Michu and his two goals in a famous late win at Arsenal in 2012.
He was watching the TV in his grandparents' house with his Arsenal-supporting grandfather and his gran, whose mother was from Swansea. When faced with the choice, he picked the Swans and has been a dedicated supporter of the club ever since.
The event marked Ross' first trip to the Swansea.com Stadium in four years, though during his university days in Nottingham he did support the team from the away end at many fixtures in the Midlands.
“It’s cool that the club and Trust reach out like this because they don’t have to do that, but I think it is important," he said.
"Coming to things like this, and chatting to Lee Trundle is so cool.
“It’s nice for the Polish guys as well because they’ve got Płacheta now and they’ve mentioned that!
“Everyone wants to be part of the football community and the club, but you can’t choose where you live. It’s nice to come in and get to watch the team like this.”