What wonderful ambassadors Heybridge Swifts were on Sunday with their brave performance in the FA Cup at Exeter.

On and off the field they epitomised all that is good in football and won many admirers within the ranks of their more illustrious opponents.

Make no mistake about it, until the last few minutes the Swifts had Exeter worried.

They could easily have forced a replay at Scraley Road - it was a sign of how well they played that the team were disappointed they didn’t manage it.

As a former councillor for Heybridge and an ex-Mayor of Maldon I had the pleasure of talking to the Exeter directors before and after the game and their praise was effusive; they had a lot of respect for the Swifts.

Swifts chairman Gary White, president Mick Gibson, secretary Chris Daines and the club’s spon- sors, who turned out in force, deserve a lot of credit, along with the 250 supporters who made the near 600-mile round-trip and gave excellent vocal backing throughout the whole 90 minutes.

All were a credit to Heybridge.

The fans received a standing ovation at the end from their Exeter counterparts, while I saw a few tears when the team spent 15 minutes after the game talking to the supporters and sharing in what was a special occasion.

I hope the people of Maldon and district realise what a sporting gem they now have in their midst and get behind the Swifts for the rest of the season.

The club deserve it.

David Scott, Torquay