Wembley Atmosphere Rises as Swansea Soar: Review of the Championship Play-off final.

Me Celebrating the famous win.

What could be better than a football final day? How about a final which takes place at Wembley and the prize is considered the richest prize in football? Yes, the Championship play-off final may be a nerve wrecking and torturous feeling but the atmosphere and the delight you get, should your team be lucky enough to win, is unbelievable. I was fortunate enough to attend this incredible event and even more fortunate to watch my team Swansea City beat Reading FC, gaining a place in the Premier League.

People have talked about Wembley days as a memorable event but I could never understand the hype. I had watched international games there in the past and despite how impressed I was with the structure itself, I felt the atmosphere was poor, the travelling was awkward and the cost was extortionate. However this was not going to stop me purchasing a ticket to see Swansea play in this iconic match. The match was played on a bank holiday Monday and it couldn’t have gone any better. The day started quietly with an early start to avoid any potential travel problems. We found a quiet bar just a short train ride outside of Wembley, slowly but steadily the football supporters from both clubs started gathering and the atmosphere became excitable.

The weather on that day was exquisite and was a real advantage. It certainly helped shape my opinion of the overall day. Whilst the pub supplied quiet anticipation and light hearted banter between the two sets of friendly fans. The train ride into the stadium was a step up in intensity as a sea of black and white flooded the carriages. The singing was loud and enthusiastic, the train was full yet the seats were unused. The Swans fans were largely friendly but no Reading fan dared get on the carriage as the ‘banter’ would be too much, like-wise with a swans fan on the Reading fans carriage.

Inside the stadium, the atmosphere once again got turned up a notch. The music blared around as the travelling ‘Jack Army’ danced and waved their flags. Black and White balloons were being passed around like champagne at a wedding and as the teams emerged from the tunnel, the heart rate was up and the nerves were unbearable.

The game itself was not one for the faint hearted. Swansea won 4-2 in an entertaining spectacle. Two goals from Scott Sinclair and one from Stephen Dobbie gave the South Wales team a comfortable 3-0 lead at half time. The second half was a different story as Reading struck back with two quick goals, putting the game on a knife edge and silencing the Swans supporters for the first time that afternoon. In the 80th Minute, my fellow Swansea supporters and I could relax once again as Scott Sinclair slotted home his second penalty of the afternoon and in doing so, completing a memorable hat trick. Swansea had won and Reading had to make the short trip home knowing they will be playing their football in the second tier of English football for another season. The Swansea fans belted out renditions of ‘Swansea, O Swansea’ and ‘Hymns and Arias’ as the jubilant players paraded the play off final trophy around the stadium.

The whole day was simply perfect. The true football fan would always choose automatic promotion to the Premier League but should your team have to endure the play off final drama, I thoroughly recommend the trip to Wembley. I can only speak as a Swansea City fan, but for a stadium known for its poor atmosphere, the Jack Army certainly raised the Wembley roof.