Twelve years ago today, Swansea City were bottom of the old Third Divison, staring the Conference straight in the face.
Today, they are established in the top flight and have just sold a player (Wilfried Bony) for over €25M.
We were joined on the show tonight by Mal Pope, director of documentary Jack to a King – The Swansea Story which charts the incredible rise of the Welsh club over the past decade.
"The turning point of the club is being bought by people who love the club," said Pope, who remembered 2001 when the club was completely broke.
Over 20 per cent of the Swans is now owned by the fans with Huw Jenkins a popular and astute chairman.
"We were like a lot of other clubs. We were playing similar football to other clubs but we didn't have any money. What Huw Jenkins realised was that we had to do something different," said Pope, who highlighted the appointment of Roberto Martinez as manager in 2007 as a key moment by introducing a passing game.
Pope described how that style attracted local fans to begin attending games and highlighted how Swansea have maintained a community spirit inside and outside the club, pointing out how Brendan Rodgers bought into the concept.
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