Further to the above, I do know that there are posters who would be quite happy if we stayed in the Championship and I understand the arguments they make for doing so. My take is that I've supported the Swans for most of my life and for the majority of that time we have played in the lower leagues. I've had more than enough of that and during what remains of my life I want to see my club playing at the highest level.
Twice we have been at that level: once with Tosh in the First Division and then, most successfully, with Laudrup in the Premier League. I have to say that those years were easily the most enjoyable of my 'footballing life'. It was great to revel in the high profile of the club and remember that the Swans were NEVER out of the top 6 under Tosh and actually headed the table on occasion. We featured in all the top football programmes of the day and I recall the time when the Saint and Greavsie analysed our play in their show, pointing out that we were the very first team in the UK to play a dedicated sweeper system with that prince of centre backs Anto Rajkovic doing the job. And I was there the night we beat Sliema Wanderers 12-0 in the European Cup Winners Cup. Okay they were a lowly Maltese club but we still had to do the job but I was also there when we put 7 past Red Star Belgrade in a friendly and they were anything but lowly!!
Of course what made it all the sweeter was the number of Welsh lads in the team, many of them local, including Dai Davies, Curt, Robbie and Leighton James, Charlo, Wyndham, John Mahoney and others. On the other hand, Laudrup's team had a decidedly Spanish influence and played the Swanselona Way so well that the team received accolades from all over the world and from players such as Fabregas and van Persie. Then to cap it all we won our first silverware after beating the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea, both away, on our way to Wembley. I took such pride from all this AND I WANT SOME MORE before I pass on to that great stadium in the sky.
I really don't see the point of just existing in a League. Surely there has to be something to play for, a target to aspire to, otherwise, what's the point? Win, lose or draw it wouldn't matter. There'd be no excitement about the games, nothing to quicken the pulse or get the adrenalin flowing. The football would merely become a secondary interest to socialising with friends on matchdays, which you can do at any time really.
So, I'm hoping against hope that the Swans can really make a concerted effort this season for me to relive all those glorious moments I enjoyed so much in the past. We might not make it but I'm banking on my Swans to give me one final swansong at the very top. Please.