The Swannies arrive at the ground on Saturday for the Champs.

National Prez, Phil Johns gives a wrap up from the 2011 Asian Champs at which the Swannies made our first ever appearance in the semi finals.

Dear Swannies, Sponsors and Supporters

As many of you will now be aware, on Saturday, the Vietnam Swans played off in the semi finals of the 12^th Annual Asian Championships. While we lost our semi final (convincingly) to eventual Cup holders, Singapore, this weekend marked a key milestone in the development of this Club.

In 2007, we played in our first Asian Champs as minnows. At this, our 5^th Asian Champs, we had the greatest number of tourers of any club and we had the second highest number of players. Earning the right to play in the semi final was our Club’s greatest on-field achievement in our eight year playing history. Other clubs looked up and noticed the Swannies. The Swannies were playing at the business end of the lightening premiership. It was a testament to the dedication and commitment of the players, the coaching panel and supporters who made the trip to Bangkok.

What a terrific sight it was to see the national coaching panel comprising Saigon’s Josh (National Coach), Dez (Saigon Prez), Nick and Dukes (Skipper) and Hanoi’s C Dan (Hanoi Prez) and Adrian (Hanoi Coach) sitting down together nutting out the best options for the next game. And then to see the players from Hanoi, Hoi An, Saigon and Vung Tau (and the Flyer from Singapore) playing so closely together on the field. How good was it to see Dez and Dukes, who led on and off the field like generals all day, pick up All Asia Awards? Thoroughly deserved and applauded by everyone who was there in Bangkok helping them all the way.

But, of course, success always has a history. And great names from the Swannies’ short history have been sending in their congratulations. Examples include Jarrod Dale (former Skipper and coach of the team that recorded the Swannies first victory back in 2006), Monkey (former Skipper who must have sometimes felt a bit like Allan Border), Scotty Stacey (pushed for the national team and played a key role in setting up Saigon. Saigon President and coach of the Swannies at our first Champs), Danny Armstrong and family (former National Treasurer), Willy (former Hanoi President), Dave Hadley (former key driver of many of the Swannies community initiatives), Kev Dacey (key tourer and supporter). Then there’s the current guys like Matt Natalotto, Matt Townsend, Dan Kindness, Spencer, Boz, Shannon etc etc.

Special mention is due to four of the tourers. National Coach, Josh Little, who played/coached his last game for the Swannies as a Vietnam resident. Ross McRae for his first tour and his umpteenth amazing banner. Kev Hornblower who has now played eight of the last nine Asian Champs for three clubs. His experience on the weekend benefitted our team greatly. And then there was Micky Francis. Mick’s the man who played a key role in getting the whole Swannies Show on the road back in 2001 at the Pepperonis Pizza Parlour in Hanoi. There were pizzas and beers upstairs in the Bobby Skilton Room and the footy panel rocked alongside the Friday night footy on ABC Asia Pacific.

On the weekend, we didn’t win the 2011 Asian Champs. And the two grand finalists, Hong Kong and Singapore, demonstrated that there is lots of daylight between themselves and the rest of the competition. But the Swannies did play in our first semi final at the Champs.

Well done and congratulations to all who toured. For those who were unable to tour on this occasion for various reasons and to those who have contributed a truckload in the past, thank you as well.

Thank you to our sponsors and supporters for your continued support.

Success always has a history.

Go you honkin’ Swannies!

Footnote: Thursday, 18 August is Vietnam Veterans’ Day and marks the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966. A Vietnam Veterans’ Day Service will be held at the Long Tan Cross at 3.30pm.