South Wales derby | A fan's view

Ahead of Saturday’s south Wales derby, Swansea City season ticket holder James Dow gives us a fan's perspective on the fixture, the anticipation, nerves, anxiety and excitement all Jacks will feel around the latest edition of a 112-year rivalry.

Swansea City has been a part of my life ever since I can remember. From watching matches with my grandad on the TV, and going to my first game against Doncaster Rovers at the then-Liberty Stadium in 2009, this club has been my passion.

Football has the ability to make your weekend, and ensure the start of your week is just that bit better. Alternatively, it can easily ruin any plans you have, and leave you dreading going to work on the Monday.

But the passion and pride you feel when you are truly connected with your club makes every high and low worthwhile.

Supporting the Swans has given me plenty of highs. I have been lucky enough to see my club become the first Welsh team to reach the promised land of the Premier League, and seen us win our first major trophy and compete in Europe.

Those days were incredibly special but, when the fixtures are released every June, the dates I look for are those of the south Wales derbies.

From the moment you see them on the fixture list, that feeling of excitement in the pit of your stomach is immediately there.

It’s a cliché, but it’s also true, form goes out the window with these games. They are big occasions, and it comes down to who can handle the rarified atmosphere of derby day.

What does derby day mean to me? Well, the nerves usually start in the week of the game and increase as the days pass by.

Watching highlights of previous matches the night before is a must, and then there’s a medley of Swansea songs to listen to before heading to the stadium.

From the moment I arrive at the stadium, you can sense the atmosphere. It’s bouncing, you can tell it’s not a regular game. It’s Swansea v Cardiff, Swans v the Bluebirds, bragging rights are on the line.

I have never known a football game where I will have butterflies in my stomach for the whole 90 minutes, regardless of the score. This derby is different. It’s an intertwined history spread out over 112 years, and each time it comes down to 11 players on each side of the pitch, hoping to write their names in the history books.

There have been many derbies to savour in my time supporting the Swans. The 3-0 win during the Premier League era, the Ben Wilmot winner in 2019, the 4-0 demolition to complete the first derby double in Cardiff’s backyard.

Then there’s THAT free-kick. The 99th minute, Jay Fulton hits the wall, then hits the post, the ball bounces around the box for what feels like an eternity.

It finally falls cleanly to a white shirt.

In Wyndham Evans’ words BEN CABANGOOO!!!!! I have never experienced a moment like it, the shock, excitement and disbelief that the Swans had completed the ‘double double’ in the last minute to write their names in Swansea folklore will stay with me.

Players come and go, managers come and go, that’s the nature of football. But two things will always be present, the loyal support of the Jack Army, and the special feeling that goes with south Wales derby day.

As I wrote earlier, these are games where players etch their names into memories and history books. Anyone scoring a derby winner will likely never have to buy a pint in Swansea again!

The last derby was disappointing, there’s no hiding from that, and I know everyone involved will be desperate for it to be different this time around.

There is always a lot of hype and chat in the lead up to derby day, but when that whistle blows at 12.30pm on Saturday, all that will stop.

It is down to the players on the pitch, and we will all watch on with our nerves shredded and nails bitten.

But, we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Come on you Swans!