Swansea City’s Kevin Johns stars in new Barclays film on the spirit of the game of football


Swansea City pitch announcer, Kevin Johns MBE, is the star of a new Barclays short film profiling individuals who represent the true spirit of the game.
The film introduces the charismatic Kevin and follows him during the first game of the Barclays Premier League season as Swansea take on Burnley at the Liberty Stadium.
It showcases his role in lifting the crowd, who he describes as the 12th man, before every home game and the passion he puts into his performances.
The film is the second in the ‘Spirit of the Game Heroes’ campaign, which chronicles those who make the Barclays Premier League what it is. Barclays asked every Premier League club in the country to nominate one person who best represented the passion behind their club. Swansea City nominated Kevin because of the passion he brings to the match day experience and his place in Swansea City folk law.
Kevin, who is a renowned actor, MC and radio DJ in the local area, spoke about his adoration for the Swans.
From falling in love with the club on his first visit to the Vetch Field to his vital role in the 2011 Play-Off final against Reading where he helped propel Swansea City to the Barclays Premier League with his famous ‘Braveheart speech’ ahead of kick off.
Speaking about his match day routine Kevin said “I get very excited on match day. All that we do is for the crowd, to get them going, to stir up the passion and stir up the atmosphere so that when the team come out the crowd is the 12th man.”
Kevin went on “There is nowhere else I would rather be on a match day that watching the Swans, and long may we continue to play in the Barclays Premier League and be part of the greatest league in the world … we are now known all over the world because we have a Barclays Premier League football team.”
Huw Jenkins, Chairman of Swansea City FC said “Kevin Johns has been an integral part of the recent history of our football club and we are proud that Barclays have made this film about him as a representative of our magnificent fanbase. He plays a vital role on match days in exciting our fans and making our passionate home advantage count.”
David Wheldon, Managing Director of Brand, Reputation, Citizenship and Marketing at Barclays, said: “At the heart of football there's a committed, passionate and generous sporting spirit embodied by millions of fans, coaches, community and club heroes and players - a sporting spirit that’s rarely illuminated or celebrated.”
“Our Spirit of the Game Heroes campaign gives us the chance to say thank you to an exceptional individual at each Barclays Premier League club and showcase their story through our matchday promotions and this series of short films. Kevin stood out because of the way he is able to galvanise the Swansea crowd through his passion for the club and I’m sure fans will enjoy his story as much as we have.”
Throughout the rest of the 2014/15 season Barclays will continue to highlight those people, both young and old, who champion the true spirit of the game and will be rewarding fans who join the conversation via the Barclays Football Facebook Page or Barclays Footy Twitter Page with exclusive ticket and merchandise giveaways.
For more information on the campaign visit www.facebook.com/barclaysfootball.

Check out the You Tube video -
http://youtu.be/tyFiD9JKSS8

About Kevin Johns:
Kev’s career has been varied – drama, musicals, stand-up, presenting and of course Pantomime!
In theatre he played Will Hay in The Wales Theatre Company’s production of the musical Amazing Grace and Vicar Joe in Toshack or Me and To Hull and Back, Broom in Dr and The Devils, Rev Eli Jenkins and Willy Nilly in Under Milkwood, Oscar in The Odd Couple, Bruno in Piaf, The Grave Digger in Hamlet, Hobson in Hobson's Choice, Sir Hugh Evans in The Merry Wives of Windsor and Ianto Pugh in his one man show Taffy Shakespeare.
Kev is also due to appear in a new comedy Hubert and Humble
He appeared in the National Theatre of Wales production of The Passion directed by Michael Sheen appearing as the MC of The Last Supper and the film version The Gospel of Us.
Kev has appeared in no less than 22 great Welsh Pantomimes the majority as Dame and has become a firm favourite as the Dame at The Swansea Grand.
Kev has worked with musical tribute show, ‘The Westenders’ and surprised everyone by playing Micho in the Ballet Russe production of La Fille Mal Gardee at the Grand Theatre.
On stage he is Wales’ most sought after comperes and is very much in demand as a conference and after dinner speaker
Kev also regularly appears with the UK Chamber Orchestra and has compered concerts for International Singers such as Katherine Jenkins, Russell Watson, Hayley Westenra, Paul Potts, Rebecca Evans, Peter Karrie, Rhydian and Jon Owen Jones.
On television Kev has appeared as Geraint Flower on the BBC Wales show High Hopes and on Songs of Praise and the ITV Wales show ‘The Market’ and regularly appears on Sky Sport channels talking about his great love, Swansea City FC.
He has just appeared in the YJB film Jack to a King and will soon be seen in the new comedy movie Lift Jockeys,
He also narrated the 4 part BBC 2W series, ‘The Demolition Men’
Kev was honoured to receive the MBE from Her Majesty the Queen for services to charity in Wales and the Ambassador for Swansea Award from the South
Wales Evening Post, along with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Swansea City and was recently given an Honorary Fellowship by The University of Wales Trinity St David and a Special Recognition Award at The Swansea Bay Volunteers Award
Kev is also much loved for his daily Breakfast Show on Swansea Sound Radio and the ever popular Sunday Hotline.
He has won an Andrew Cross Broadcasting Awards for Best Programme for That was the First Christmas.
He has written two books for Y Lolfa 'Oh Yes It Is' and 'The Vicar Joe Joke Book' and is a regular columnist for The South Wales Evening Post and Swansea Life Magazine.
When not performing Kev is usually watching football as he follows his beloved Swansea City.
Kev is an active fundraiser for local charities and is Patron of several local charities including Harry's Fund and Treat Trust Wales.
Kev is also proud to be President of Swansea Male Voice Choir and Rising Stars Theatre Company and support number of other local charities and campaigns.

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