Swansea City AFC Proudly Flies Flag for Wales in Premier League

Ladies and gentlemen, dear readers here on Bleacher Report, it is my honor to welcome another piece of history to the Premier League.

No, it's not Imogen Thomas being the reason why Manchester United squandered the UEFA Champions League title last Saturday. I'm talking about the first Welsh team in the competition.

Introducing...the Swans of Swansea City Association Football Club, also known as Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Abertawe.

Under manager Brendan Rodgers, they defeated Reading at Wembley Stadium in the Football League Championship Playoff Final 4-2 to book their place in the top flight of the English football pyramid.

Let us spare a thought for Cardiff City, who rightfully sacked manager Dave Jones after the Swans not only kept up with the Joneses, but bested them in winning the honor of the first club to represent Wales in the Premier League.

A little side note: Cardiff did spend a decade and a half in the old First Division, Arsenal">decades ago.

Back to the Swans. Not too long ago, Swansea were staring at the face of relegation to the Football Conference National. They were even looking at a winding-up from the courts.

However, a white knight by the name of Mel Nurse (bless his heart) led a consortium of supporters and local businessmen in purchasing the club, and from that point, the Swans never looked back.

"Eight years ago the club won the last game of the season against Hull to stay in the Football League," Rodgers told the BBC after the match on Monday.

"And Swansea won that game 4-2 and one player scored a hat-trick that included two penalties.

"So it is absolutely ironic that to become the first Welsh team to go into the Premier League that someone got a hat-trick with penalties and we won 4-2. The footballing gods were with us."

That man: Scott Sinclair, a former Chelsea bookend who turned in the performance of his career, scoring three of Swansea's goals.

"Years ago the club couldn't even pay the electricity bill at the Vetch [the old Vetch Field]," Rodgers remarked, "which is absolutely incredible if you look that we have just won the £90m game.

"It took brave people to come in and save the club. The club was very unstable in that moment but what you had is local businessmen and basically supporters who had the club at their heart. They were making decisions as supporters rather than as businessmen."

Rodgers admitted that Swansea had a little bit of inspiration from a certain team led by the world's best footballer who won Europe's richest club prize two nights ago.

"Nine out of 10 good managers wouldn't suit the Swansea way in how the club want to play," Rodgers said, "a wee bit like the Barcelona philosophy where they have a method and each manager brings in a new slant.

"And the Premier League will be a better place with Swansea in it."

Who knows how far Swansea City will go in the Premier League. Next year could be the only year they are in the top flight, a la Blackpool. Or they could be in it for five years. Or 10 years. Or even a while.

Regardless of the duration, one thing is for sure: Wales' second city is home to Wales' first team in the Premier League.

So I want you to raise a glass and tip your hat to the Swans. Here's to Swansea City AFC and to what we hope will be the start of numerous exciting encounters involving the best teams in England at the Liberty Stadium.