A lot has changed since Alan Tate first donned his Manchester United baseball cap and walked through the gates at the old Vetch Field in November 2002.
Tate arrived for his first of two loan spells at Swansea under Brian Flynn before eventually completing a permanent deal in February 2004.
And as the defender looks back on his five seasons in Swansea colours, he revealed for the first time that he nearly didn't make it to the Liberty Stadium.
It was May 2005 and Swansea had just completed their final game at the Vetch Field by adding the FAW Premier Cup to their successful attempt to clinch promotion to League One.
But while everyone in Swansea was looking forward to League One life at a plush Liberty Stadium, Tate was called into Kenny Jackett's office for an end of season chat with the manager.
"If I'm honest, I didn't really get on that well with Kenny in the early days,'' admitted Tate. "Perhaps it was because I was only 21 and a bit immature. I suppose I couldn't keep my mouth shut at times.
"But basically he said that while he thought I was a good player, he was prepared to let me go on a free to Oxford who had expressed an interest in me. He gave me the choice of fighting for my place at Swansea or enjoying an easy life at Oxford.
"But even back then I never wanted to play my football anywhere else apart from Swansea - okay and possibly Sunderland - and I think a lot changed after that chat.
"I shut my mouth and Kenny played me. I even got Player of the Year that season!
"I think it helped me mature as a player on the pitch. I don't know about off it, but I'm trying,'' he joked.
Having gone on to complete nearly 200 first team appearances for the club, Tate has never regretted his decision to stay and is even looking to emulate the remarkable achievements of team-mate Kristian O'Leary who is currently celebrating his testimonial year.
"I've got to earn a new contract first,'' added the 25 year-old. "My current deal expires at the end of the season and I'd love to keep playing here for a long time to come.
"What Kristian has achieved at this club is remarkable. For a player to be loyal to a club - and for a club to be loyal to a player - for so long in the modern game is rare.
"I've got the utmost respect for him. I've seen a lot of change in the six years I've been at the club, but he's seen it all. He's even been sacked at Christmas!'' laughs Tate referring to the dark old days of owner Tony Petty.
But the changes Tate has seen at Swansea have been for the better - on and off the field.
"I look back at the first time I walked into the Vetch Field dressing rooms and shudder. I can still feel the cold first thing in the morning now.
"Then after training most of the boys would walk over to Tesco in the city centre and tuck into a full cooked breakfast with all the trimmings.
"Now the club provides us with breakfast - healthy stuff not full fat - before training; lunch afterwards and even the likes of pasta and chicken to aid the recovery process straight after every home game. We are not allowed to go home until we've eaten.
"Let's just say that everything at the club is a lot more organised at the Liberty than it was at the Vetch. Even the showers work!''
And Tate believes it is one of the main reasons why Swansea are doing so well at the moment.
"We are still in two cup competitions and top of the league,'' pointed out Tate, "so something must be working. You certainly can't complain.''
Tate, however, still feels he has a lot of personal challenges ahead of him this season after a knee injury earlier in the season allowed Dennis Lawrence and Garry Monk to establish themselves as the regular choice in the heart of Swansea's defence.
"At the moment there are three of us challenging for two spots,'' added Tate. "But I couldn't complain about being out of the side because the lads were doing well. I've just got to do well when my chances come along.''
An injury to Monk gave Tate his chance against Northampton, while he also figured in both FA Cup ties against Horsham.
"Apart from the first 20 minutes against Northampton, I thought I did okay. I was poor early on, but I think it was because I was trying too hard.
"I had a word with myself - you'd be surprised how many players talk to themselves on the pitch - to relax and just play my normal game. It went okay from then on.
Tate followed up a convincing 3-0 victory over Northampton with another winning performance against Horsham to set up a third round tie against his former Swans team-mates Andy Gurney and Neil Sharp at Havant & Waterlooville.
But while Tate wouldn't complain about clinching a fourth round tie against his old club and good mate Darren Fletcher at Manchester United, there are two clubs ahead of the Red Devils on his wish list.
"I'd love to draw Sunderland or Cardiff,'' he declared. "Sunderland because it's my home-town club and Cardiff because I would love to experience a Welsh derby.
"But we've got to get passed Havant and Waterlooville first. Horsham proved that it's not going to be easy and with Havant beating Notts County in the last round and Chasetown toppling Port Vale in the week, we know we've got to be prepared and do another professional job.
"I thought Horsham gave a really good account of themselves, especially when they went 2-1 ahead. And I know they really enjoyed the whole experience.
"Their striker even asked me during the game where they could go after the match for a good night out. Obviously I directed him towards Wind Street, although we didn't go with them!
"And luckily for us they took the lead early on because I knew that with so much time left we'd be okay.
"I think Dorus (de Vries) was more relieved than anyone when the goals went flying in after his mistake gave Horsham their second.
"I know he's allowed one mistake now and again, especially as he's been fantastic so far this season, but we didn't half give him some stick after the game.
"We kept pointing out to him that we still played in white for cup games and he now had one assist to his name; but he took it in good spirit.''
But it's that spirit which Tate feels will help bring Swansea success this season, coupled of course with plenty of quality.
"This is the best squad I've been involved with at Swansea City. There's no doubt about that,'' he added. "We are all confident of clinching the place we want in the Championship next season. There's also plenty of experience here as well because quite a few of the boys have experienced being top of the league only to slip down to sixth. We are determined not to let that happen this year.''
And the fact that Tate has also taken over the captaincy duties from his close mate Garry Monk when he has been unavailable, has only helped strengthened that determination.
"To wear the captain's armband for Swansea City makes me very proud. I did it on a regular basis last season because Monks was out for so long. I always knew he would take it back when he returned, but it was a pleasure to look after it for him.
"It's something I'd like to do on a regular basis in the future, especially with Monks getting on a bit now and coming towards the end of his career!''
In the meantime, Tate is happy to keep fighting for his place, safe in the knowledge that he has no regrets about turning down that free transfer to Oxford.
From Sunderland to United
Alan Tate started his career as a nine year old with his home town club Sunderland.
But a year later his father took him out of Roker Park because he was disappointed with the set up there, taking him to Old Trafford instead.
"There were 40 kids in my age group at Sunderland,'' explained Tate. "My father felt it was far too many and we took up Man United's offer where it was limited to just 16.
"In fairness to my father, it was the right decision. He'd played for Darlington up until about 21 so he obviously knew what he was doing.''
Tate continued to play for his local junior side, Kennek Roker, until he signed as a first year YTS and then a two-year pro contract.
Having grown up watching mighty United star on TV and dreaming of a life as a professional footballer, Tate was now training alongside those very same idles.
From United to Royal Antwerp
Despite impressive performances in the youth and reserves, it was always going to be difficult, if not impossible, for Tate to force his way passed the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Laurent Blanc, Wes Brown, John O'Shea and David May at Man Utd.
And so the gradual move away from Old Trafford began.
Before his move to Swansea, there was a three-month stay at Royal Antwerp, the Belgian club not a hotel.
There he faced the likes of Anderlecht with a man-of-the-match debut as a 19-year-old - and then watched his new team-mates battle it out . . . off the field.
"That was one hell of an experience,'' explained Tate. "Before one game I sat in the dressing room and watched the whole team have an almighty punch up - with themselves.
"I didn't know what was happening at the time, but apparently the captain had come out in the press and said that the club striker's hair stank. The black lads in the team took it as a racist remark and they all started fighting with the white players. We went out and lost the game 5-0 after that, which wasn't surprising really.''
Welcome to the Vetch
"Travelling to Swansea for that first loan spell was the best five hours I have ever spent on a train,'' recalled Tate.
"It was a fantastic season. Saving Football League status was a massive thing for the club and the city as a whole.
"When I went back to Manchester I just couldn't get Swansea out of my head. I played in United's first friendly of the season against Altrincham in front of about 10 people - and there wasn't even a dog!
"Coming on the back of Swansea last game against Hull when there were over 11,000 passionate fans packed into the Vetch, it made me realise how much I missed playing first team football.
"Don't laugh, but I didn't want to be at Manchester United - the biggest club in the world. I wanted to be back in front of the North Bank.''
