Whats The Story Behind Swim Away ?

I have only been coming down the City For 4 or 5 Years and what is the story behind swim away and why do the Jacks do it to us

The correct question is "What's the myth behind the Swim Away?"

I can't normally be bothered with all the hooligan stories, but the best one I read in one of Annis' books was about a group of Jacks who tried to take over a pub in Canton at 9:30 on a Saturday night only to get a good kicking from the OAP's who had just exited the Bingo Hall next door.

That one is known as the 'Flyer'

Honestly they are a frigging joke

Happen over 25 years ago.

We had just played the Jacks at the Vetch and some of our straggling fans were caught by a group of Jacks. The Jacks outnumbered our fans by about 50 to 6 or approximately. The chased them into the sea hence the swimaway.

The stories range from our guys being the top boys claimed by the Jacks to us saying they were schoolkids lost. Basically that is it.

Ok Thanks

Happen over 25 years ago.

We had just played the Jacks at the Vetch and some of our straggling fans were caught by a group of Jacks. The Jacks outnumbered our fans by about 50 to 6 or approximately. The chased them into the sea hence the swimaway.

The stories range from our guys being the top boys claimed by the Jacks to us saying they were schoolkids lost. Basically that is it.

I was at that game, like almost all of the cardiff fans i had no idea of this so called "swim away" happening because i/we were all in their town centre taking over the place, it,s funny the jack tramps never mention that!!!!

I was at the game too as a youngster. I remember being sat on one of the buses waiting to be taken back to the railway station when a handful (7-8) of what I would have said then were older boys (late teens) from Port Talbot (I think), came and sat on the bus opposite me, they had tide marks up to their shins/knees and had been chased into the sea.

When the found out that.."EARNIES GONNA GET YA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

They were from Port Talbot and Neath. The oldest one was about 18 the youngest 15. There was about 10 of them and we were all pissing ourselves over the next couple of days, reminiscing over what happened. My brother was one and my mate I work with was another. I was with them all day and going to the game but unfortunately the police decided I was chanting to vigorously in the game and took me back to the police station so I could catch my breath. It shows how old we were by the fact that my father had to come and sign me out cause I was a juvenile and my mates who got wet were mostly the same age in school.

I'm not proud but I'm not embarrassed either and neither are any of the boys who were there....they were just kids.

Now some say it was like the film "300" when thousands of Persians were driven into the sea by the few Spartans which makes me think, was this bit of history written by an ancestor of Tootsie (or what ever his name is). After reading a few pages of his book "From Dimhead to Stone Island" I think this is a possibility.

tootsie

The guys a class A WANKER !!

Pretty sure it has been documented by Tony Rivers in the Soul Crew book..
From what i remember Cardiffs firm had been in and around the town centre and had Scattered most of swanseas crew apart from a few game lads who remained. And a group of the Scattered teens rounded up and chased a few Cardiff top wearing lads onto the beach and into the water. Hence the Swim away......You have to remember folks from the times gone by most football firms ie ICF,Bushwackers,Headhunters to Hoardes, Zulus and Frontline and the 6.7 all have tales,admiration,dislikings and respect for Soul Crew and Other names Cardiffs firm have gone under....not many of them mention swansea as a stand alone firm...mainly because they dont stand alone....You have to remember folks from the times gone by most football firms ie ICF,Bushwackers,Headhunters to Hoardes, Zulus and Frontline and the 6.7 all have tales,admiration,dislikings and respect for Soul Crew and Other names Cardiffs firm have gone under....not many of them mention swansea as a stand alone firm...mainly because they dont stand alone...

I have only been coming down the City For 4 or 5 Years and what is the story behind swim away and why do the Jacks do it to us

You seem like a sensible enough chap, so please allow me to tell you the whole truth and not the drivel that's been put forward so far. I was there that evening, Here is my account.

General Carl and Field Marshall Annis were heading a 500 strong army of hardened Cardiff heads that were attempting to infiltrate the sandfields area of Swansea, when they were outflanked by a group of 20 15 yr old jacks from the right, and with further groups of teen jack militia from the centre and left.
Field Marshall Annis advised to retreat in an orderly manner but General Carl lost his bottle and you lot broke ranks and headed for the sea.
The teenie jacks advanced, but the police were called by 83 yr old widow Edith Jones who stated " I've never seen anything like it in my life!
Thankfully the police were able to hold the Jack teens at bay for 3 days despite constant air attacks whilst a floatila of ships of all sizes sailed from Cardiff to evacuate the trapped 'troops'. It was widely reported in the Cardiff press and still to this day is talked about it being the soul crews finest hour in respect of the fact that so many were rescued in such a short time, and lived to fight another day!

There! you have the TRUTH and don't let anyone tell you any different!


FOOTNOTE: Actually I was there. It was a right laugh, with the most violent incident being Mel Nurse who owns a guest house on Swansea sea front (and a Swans legend) Shouting at a Cardiff fan to get off his car as he was standing on top of it!

Happen over 25 years ago.

We had just played the Jacks at the Vetch and some of our straggling fans were caught by a group of Jacks. The Jacks outnumbered our fans by about 50 to 6 or approximately. The chased them into the sea hence the swimaway.

The stories range from our guys being the top boys claimed by the Jacks to us saying they were schoolkids lost. Basically that is it.

I was at that game, like almost all of the cardiff fans i had no idea of this so called "swim away" happening because i/we were all in their town centre taking over the place, it,s funny the jack tramps never mention that!!!!

i was working on a building site in swansea at the time, i finished work and had a couple of pints in town i think the pub was called the quadrant (could be wrong ) and the were at least 20 ccfc happily drinking. as time passed more and more city joined us, we left in a group near kick off and headed towards the ground. the coppers stopped going anywhere near the road leading to the north bank which would have been fun. i noticed the doors of one the jacks pub the gari singleton was firmly closed when we passed
so basicly we had the free run of their city that night while the jacks waited until well after the game before the went hunting for stagglers on the mumbles roads

fat fingers on htc desire is reason for the repeat....
fat fingers on htc desire is reason for the repeat....;--

I have only been coming down the City For 4 or 5 Years and what is the story behind swim away and why do the Jacks do it to us

You seem like a sensible enough chap, so please allow me to tell you the whole truth and not the drivel that's been put forward so far. I was there that evening, Here is my account.

General Carl and Field Marshall Annis were heading a 500 strong army of hardened Cardiff heads that were attempting to infiltrate the sandfields area of Swansea, when they were outflanked by a group of 20 15 yr old jacks from the right, and with further groups of teen jack militia from the centre and left.
Field Marshall Annis advised to retreat in an orderly manner but General Carl lost his bottle and you lot broke ranks and headed for the sea.
The teenie jacks advanced, but the police were called by 83 yr old widow Edith Jones who stated " I've never seen anything like it in my life!
Thankfully the police were able to hold the Jack teens at bay for 3 days despite constant air attacks whilst a floatila of ships of all sizes sailed from Cardiff to evacuate the trapped 'troops'. It was widely reported in the Cardiff press and still to this day is talked about it being the soul crews finest hour in respect of the fact that so many were rescued in such a short time, and lived to fight another day!

There! you have the TRUTH and don't let anyone tell you any different!


FOOTNOTE: Actually I was there. It was a right laugh, with the most violent incident being Mel Nurse who owns a guest house on Swansea sea front (and a Swans legend) Shouting at a Cardiff fan to get off his car as he was standing on top of it!

I'm sure Webber (RIP) was there and must of been the youngest. He was a year or two younger than me so must of been 15-16 at the time.

I have only been coming down the City For 4 or 5 Years and what is the story behind swim away and why do the Jacks do it to us

You seem like a sensible enough chap, so please allow me to tell you the whole truth and not the drivel that's been put forward so far. I was there that evening, Here is my account.

General Carl and Field Marshall Annis were heading a 500 strong army of hardened Cardiff heads that were attempting to infiltrate the sandfields area of Swansea, when they were outflanked by a group of 20 15 yr old jacks from the right, and with further groups of teen jack militia from the centre and left.
Field Marshall Annis advised to retreat in an orderly manner but General Carl lost his bottle and you lot broke ranks and headed for the sea.
The teenie jacks advanced, but the police were called by 83 yr old widow Edith Jones who stated " I've never seen anything like it in my life!
Thankfully the police were able to hold the Jack teens at bay for 3 days despite constant air attacks whilst a floatila of ships of all sizes sailed from Cardiff to evacuate the trapped 'troops'. It was widely reported in the Cardiff press and still to this day is talked about it being the soul crews finest hour in respect of the fact that so many were rescued in such a short time, and lived to fight another day!

There! you have the TRUTH and don't let anyone tell you any different!


FOOTNOTE: Actually I was there. It was a right laugh, with the most violent incident being Mel Nurse who owns a guest house on Swansea sea front (and a Swans legend) Shouting at a Cardiff fan to get off his car as he was standing on top of it!

Class, fair play