Opening Salvo!
By ATFV Online Editor Nigel Davies
Hello and welcome to the first issue this season of ATFV Online – the fanzine with more guts than a retired Neil Ruddock, more brass neck than Alan Tate and even more sheer sexiness than new Swans boss Russell Martin…….
They say that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Obviously nobody had either Swansea City or A Touch Far Vetched in mind when they coined that particular phrase!
The changes at both have been profound.
There’s a change of manager, mass changes to the squad and a radical change to the playing style at Swansea City – and this issue of ATFV will explore all of that, hopefully in an entertaining manner.
But I’ll use the Salvo to share with you the significant changes at A Touch Far Vetched.
Just like the football club I’ve been hard at work over the summer strengthening the ATFV squad – and I’d like to think that I’ve done a bloody good job of it too.
The first two new recruits to the team need no introductions…Man Utd may have brought back Ronaldo but ATFV has brought back The Simmons Boys!!
Yes indeed, Ian Simmons is back as our Chief Graphical Guru and it means I can embellish articles like ‘Chicken Coops’ with some superb satirical artwork.
Meanwhile the other brother, Steve Sax, climbs back aboard to fundamentally strengthen ATFV’s fundraising campaigns – and he brings with him Marie Parton, who will be known to many in the Jack Army for her own tireless charitable exploits.
Another key capture has been Simon Daniels, and he’ll be lining up alongside Ian Simmons providing character artwork like his jaw dropping Russell Martin illustration on our ‘Is Russ Worth the Fuss?’ page.
There’s fresh blood – and much needed fresh viewpoints! – in the writing department too with the introduction of Megan Feringa and Oli Trussler-Jones joining established columnists like Leighton Jones, Andy Godden, Chris Leadbeater, Steve “SoS” Carroll and our Founding Father Phil Sumbler.
The most exciting and influential capture of all (from my viewpoint) is marketing expert Sara Arthur. Sara will be lending me her expertise in social media so that ATFV can reach a far bigger audience and grow to fulfil its new ‘online’ potential.
But perhaps the most significant change of all is the introduction of J SEVEN Media as main sponsor of ATFV for the 2021/22 season.
This is literally breaking news with the deal done just before we published this issue, so in addition to the J Seven Media logo on this page, you’ll see it integrated with all things ATFV from this moment on.
Our tie up with J Seven Media will hopefully lead to some limited paid advertising in future issues with the money being added to our charity pot as well as supplementing our own online advertising.
I maintain that the advertising will be limited as I don’t believe in overwhelming readers with intrusive ads – after all, we’re not Wales Online!
Between one thing or another, including Covid-19 of course, it’s been a sporadic start to this fanzine’s new life as an online publication.
But with this vastly expanded and considerably strengthened team I hope that ATFV Online will go from strength to strength.
We’ll keep on providing a voice for fans whilst looking to support the football club wherever possible (and speaking out when it’s needed) and we shall continue doing everything possible to support and raise money for local youth sports, schools, charities and of course the children’s wards at the city’s Morriston Hospital.
Of course we can’t make a success of all that without YOUR help, dear reader. So I shall sign off this edition of the Salvo by asking you to carry on reading, sharing and supporting A Touch Far Vetched…
…The Online Fundraising Fanzine Dedicated to Swansea City Football Club.
Nige
