Great article from Cynthia Banham

[GoSouth33]

Was aware of Cynthia and the plane accident but didn't know about the Swans connection. Somehow the article makes you feel good about being red and white. I've sent it off to a group of people that I have in a distribution list.

[hot potato]

You can send Cynthia a rap for her article via Richard Acklands email which is at the end of his article above hers, as she didn't leave an email.
Richard will kindly forward the comments on to her email. He said she would be touched by that when I did this today.

HP

[Xie Shan]

I just saw this thread and article... fantastic reading and I think one of the reasons why I'm glad the statue was of Roos holding the cup despite the timing. Was lucky enough to wander over to the SCG a bit early to catch Roosy's speech last Saturday and he said something similar.

I will definitely be reading Fever Pitch!

[liz]

Read the article. Also made a mental note that this is the first time we have heard about the Swans reaching out to her. No publicity. From within. That is a bit of class.

I have read something else about Cynthia and the Swans somewhere. I think it was a couple of months ago and may well have been in The Record.

A few weeks ago at the Melbourne game at Manuka, I was sitting in my seat in the Bradman Stand well before the game started and just a few seats away from someone I presume was Cynthia. Paul Roos must have spent at least 20 minutes or so chatting with her and her husband (while the team was out on the ground warming up). A bit later Colless arrived and had a few words with her too.

A little off topic - but not much - one of the best "rap for the Swans" I've seen was a few years ago. I was flicking channels on the TV and came across Deborah Mailman doing a stand-up piece. I have no idea what the context was but she was talking about all the things she loved. Pretty much every third thing was "oh, and did I mention how much I luurve the Swans". It was very funny (she's a very funny lady) and very rousing for a fellow Swans nut.

[Triple B]

The club does this a bit. A few years ago a friend of mine who was a very keen fan (I met her at a Club Swans aftermatch) developed cancer very young (early 30s). The club found out and invited her to matches and coffee with the players, etc - the chance to have her photo taken with her favourite player (Baz), etc. All were very gracious. She died at the start of 2006 and her last text to me was about the Swannies chances for the season she wasn't going to see. RIP Janine.

Gee, most of us thought the flag finally being delivered in 2005 was a special moment for each of us.

Given her circumstances, I can only imagine how your friend must have felt.

Thx for sharing.

[giant]

Gee, most of us thought the flag finally being delivered in 2005 was a special moment for each of us.

Given her circumstances, I can only imagine how your friend must have felt.

Thx for sharing.

Hear hear GS, a tremendous story.

[sidswan]

Yes it was Cynthia that Paul Roos (and Richard colless) spoke to at Manuka that day. A while ago she wrote about the Swans and quoted extensively from a speech that Craig Bolton had made, but I can't remember the details now.

[Wardy]

The club does this a bit. A few years ago a friend of mine who was a very keen fan (I met her at a Club Swans aftermatch) developed cancer very young (early 30s). The club found out and invited her to matches and coffee with the players, etc - the chance to have her photo taken with her favourite player (Baz), etc. All were very gracious. She died at the start of 2006 and her last text to me was about the Swannies chances for the season she wasn't going to see. RIP Janine.

.

Ah yes the lovely Janine, man she had a great time at the '05 club dinner (Go Swannies & Janine were at our table) she was determined to get her photo with as many of the players as she could - then once she got her photo's, she was my photographer dragging me from player to player. For a person who had the odds so stacked against her, she was an inspiration and was going to make the most of every opportunity whilst she still had the strength to do it. I remember a photo I took of her holding the premiership cup like it was a baby - her absolute delight was there for all to see. the world lost a real gem.

[Xie Shan]

Fever Pitch is also one of my favourites, and I think it is required reading for any sports fan. It's about soccer generally and Arsenal specifically, however you don't need to be a fan of either to get what he means.

Champion!

I just finished reading this... fan-bloody-tastic book. Everything about it resonated-- the obsessive's memory, the pre-game nerves, being unable to enjoy the match while you're at the game, the feeling that your fortunes are somehow connected with that of the team, he is right in a sense about football being a retardant.

Thanks for the recommendation!