YJB Focus – Archie Artex

Welcome to YJB Focus, where we meet a loyal Swans fan who also happens to be a regular visitor to the SCFC2 website.

This week features a regular contributor to the SCFC Guestbook…

Archie Artex
Archie Artex

Name or SCFC2 Guestbook Name: Archie Artex – the self proclaimed no.1 guestbook poster!
Occupation: Ceiling Wall Texture and Designer (I have patented a number of texture designs)

How long have you been supporting the Swans?
I started supporting the Swans from about 1970.

Why did you start supporting the Swans?
I loved watching football as I wasn’t any good playing it, everyone said I had 2 left feet! Swansea was my local team so there couldn’t be any other team to support.

I was a keen army cadet – I eventually had one stripe – and taught people how to march. I used to practice marching up my garden path and even while I climbed the stairs.

Lots of my fellow cadets were Swansea fans as well and we used to get off the bus in Swansea and march down to the Vetch on match days.

What was the first Swans game you attended and what are your memories of it?
My first game with my friends was against Aston Villa down the Vetch. We gave up marching and ran for our lives when a gang of Villa fans chased us! We never marched again as we made too much noise and brought attention to ourselves.

Who is your worst Swans player of all time, and why?
A tall clumsy striker called Andy Leitch, played for us in the mid-70’s. He was gangly, slow and ponderous and we never seemed to win when he played.

6ft 5″ Leitch made his Swans debut in August 1975 and spent just one season at the Vetch, making 20 appearances and scoring 10 goals. He left the club in Febraury 1976 to return to non-league football.

What is your least favourite away ground (past or present), and why?
Ninian Park is my least favourite ground. We all marched down the road while having a police escort and I got arrested for shouting really loud to everyone to keep in step (must have been my cadet background) and swinging my arms in a threatening manner. Never again!

Funniest moment whilst watching the Swans?
Funniest time for me was at Northampton away and we were sure Swans striker Pat Lally attacked the wrong way!

Dennis Lawrence
Dennis Lawrence

You’ve got a meal deal ticket for Nando’s, which Swans player (past or present) would you take with you and why?
I would take Dennis Lawrence. Very elegant for such a tall player and a nice guy too. I actually artexed a ceiling for him and patented it as the Dennis fan design!

I remember his Swansea debut in a 2-0 win over Doncaster Rovers, winning man of the match award. I was hooked from then on and he event went on and scored 7 goals for us – not bad for a central defender!

What do you like most about the Swans?
What I like the most is the togetherness of us Swansea fans whether we win or lose. The singing/chanting.

I love ‘the bow legged chicken song’ and I sing it to my chickens in the garden now 🙂

We mustn’t forget our heroes either – Alan Curtis, John Toshack, Harry Griffiths, Leighton James, I could go on!

If there was one thing you could change about the club what would it be?
The only thing I would like to see changed would be the ground capacity. We are in danger of missing a whole generation of future fans who can’t get a ticket and I wish the West stand would make a bit more noise too!

Vetch Field pasty or Liberty hot dog?
The Vetch field pasty was the most important meal during match days and a decent price as well! Not like the over priced fares on offer at the Liberty. The pasty when washed down with a cup of tea – you simply couldn’t beat it.

If you would like to feature on YJB Focus, then get in touch via our contact us form and you never know, you could be featured here next time!

1 thought on “YJB Focus – Archie Artex”

  1. 53 years old Expat in Canada for past 4 years but die hard swans fan since the early 70’s

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