Goodbye Saltergate from a Bluebird

As the old cliché goes, it’s a sign of progress that Cardiff City never go there, or think about going there anymore, but it’s only 7 years ago we last visited the place and new were there 4 times in as many years.

I always found it, in keeping with that crooked spire, one of the weirdest away towns to visit as the pubs were quaint, the townsfolk contained some of the ugliest folk I’ve ever seen (many resembled a scientific chemical test gone wrong), a fair portion of the home fans were the nastiest around hanging about on street corners looking out for Cardiff fans to pick off (a classic small town mentality amongst them) and one bizarre experience where my brother completely lost the plot in a way I’ve never seen before or since (thankfully). He went AWOL after the game, somehow ran the 7 miles from the town to the M1 and was picked up on the M1 hard shoulder. Only in Chesterfield!

However there were highlights as the ground, including;

A big open away end

Chesterfield fans running a full length terrace towards us at half-time until City ran over and banged on a corrugated iron fence separating them and us (the deafening thudding from City fans was enough to send them scarpering 100 yards quicker than they ran towards us and into another terrace behind the opposite goal).

Danny Gabbidon scoring a back-heeled flick at a corner as we headed to promotion

Gareth Ainsworth doing cart-wheels, back flicks and bowing as he was felled for free-kicks

A game where it peed down non-stop and monsoon like on us and every City fan was soaked through from head to toe. I’ve only ever been wetter at a football match once in my life (Chelsea in the early 80’s) made worse as we were 2 up early on (Kevin Evans scoring a 30 yard cracker in front of us) but we ended up drawing.

Photos of the day/game can be found here > http://nigelblues.blogspot.com/2008/08/doncaster-rovers-1-cardiff-city-1-in.html


When Cardiff City last visited Doncaster Rovers in November 1997, both teams scored in the second half to share a 1-1 draw with City coming back from behind. History repeated itself. Ross McCormack rescued a point in the 88th minute to level Lewis Guy putting Rovers ahead 20 minutes earlier.

A satisfactory point, an unsatisfactory performance and a poor match devoid of quality or much excitement. A bit like the latest Big Brother series, you watch it, kind of enjoy it but come away wondering if you really saw anything interesting at all as neither side showed great ability to make chances or look as if they have goals in them - no wonder goalmouth action was at a complete minimum.


While Cardiff remain unbeaten in a reasonable start to the season, it served as a reminder that unless Dave Jones unearths a strong centre-half replacement for Loovens, adds midfield bite and finds a goalscoring forward, we're going nowhere fast and destined for another season talking about or "nice" football but worrying nobody in particular in mid-table. "We nullified each other" said Dave Jones afterwards which translates as, "bloody hell, how boring was that?".

Little else compared to that 1997 game. Then it was a pitiful 1,004 spectators at Belle Vue in League Two, the Bluebirds fielding a side with some players I've almost completely forgotten - 'legends' such as Mark Harris and Glenn Crowe. The new Keepmoat Stadium (a sterile experience to remind us new grounds are really not everything and always lose atmosphere) saw a crowd 11 times greater, 11 years on. 11,874 with 2,200 from South Wales as Doncaster rejoiced playing their first home game at this level for exactly 50 years. It was a surprise they didn't sell out, City fans taunting their low (no) volume support - save 1 drum! - with "empty seats" songs. A good day out though and that's what much of the awayday experience is about - as long as City score to give us our jumping about moments and don't lose, we're generally satisfied.

Our carload headed off on the 210 mile trip to Donny hopeful, each of us predicting a draw, all of us guessing 1-1 too yet none of us bet on the scoreline. The long trip was relatively swift, the low being a four car M1 pile up near Sheffield, the high was various gestures to Leeds United fans (which were twice as enjoyable afterwards as they lost at home) but we still arrived in good time.

As soon you enter Doncaster, the stadium (good to see a new ground with 'proper' floodlights) can be seen but it is in the middle of a clinical country/retail park. It would be like City having their stadium at the far end of Cosmeston Park! Presumably built on regenerated land from old mine workings or similar, it was all too pleasant. Parked up, the walk to the ground was around a lake pathway full of 'blue green toxic' algae(!!) and built up masses of mad made land hills, similar to where The Tellytubbies 'live'. Donny fans came and left over them like worker ants ... with us singing The Automatic hit, "What's that coming over the hill?".

Keeping with these surroundings, the only pub near the ground was a Beefeater but away fans in colours were very welcome. The Grangetown boys were there with their wives on romantic weekends - staying in a Travel Inn by Keepmoat Stadium, apparently persuading them that it was in the Lake District(!?). Donny fans with huge numbers of them wearing replica kit were shiny happy smiley people still not believing that they were in the Championship and basking in their opening day win at Derby. They loved our appreciation and thanks to them for beating Leeds in the play-off final, the club half of Doncaster supported until their rise! It was all very pleasant, far too pleasant, it felt bizarre watching City away in these surroundings. Although the police helicopter overhead, their ridiculously large numbers and some of their OTT antics die try to redress the balance a tad. Good effort plod.

At least The Keepmoat is a traditional four sided stadium although (a low) bowl shaped outside but with a capacity of just 15,321, it is a League One ground by size with no stand having more than 18 or so rows. The Away End, behind a goal, was typical of those provided in new grounds even if it is set a few yards away from the goal but it had all those modern facilities - decent pricey catering, a bookie, spacious toilets (perfect for the sneaky smokers!) and a bar which even sold wine by the glass (how lovely) yet they shut it without announcement for half-time. Spoilsports.

It ended a typical Cardiff City week. A Cup win, Capaldi still injured but now joined by Gavin Rae (injured in the victory at Bournemouth), some bids for our players reportedly turned down for Ledley, Johnson and Whittingham but Peter Ridsdale, like the Del Monte man, said "yes" to selling Loovens to Celtic making him the fourth player to have played in the F.A. Cup final just 13 weeks ago to have since left the club. In fact, just half of the 14 players used in the F.A. Cup Final were on show. Loovens was due to have made his 100th City league outing today but, after refusing to sign a new contract, Cardiff were faced with the option of letting him leave for Celtic with £2.5M in their pockets for replacements or losing him for nothing next summer - not much of a choice really. It's good business they tell us. Yeah, yeah, yeah ... only if Dave Jones does see that money after a big sale for once ... and if he spends it well! That's big IF's with our lot.

If there was a surprise, it was up front where Dave Jones 'dropped' Thommo was impressed pre-season and scoring in last week's opener for Paul Parry, scorer of 2 in the week. There was a strong argument for putting McCormack on the bench and going with Parry and Thommo, Ross works hard but is still settling but it's DJ in charge and he sent out Heaton, McNaughton-Johnson-Purse-Kennedy, Whittingham-Scimeca-McPhail-Ledley, Parry-McCormack. On the bench were Enckleman-Blake-Bothroyd-Comminges-Thompson. City wore black armbands but nobody not why, "It's for Loovens leaving" was the most popular remark closely followed by, "It's because we've got to play Darren Purse". Sadly, it turned out to be in respect of the wife of an Academy assistant who passed away.

Donny followed their great opening day win with a surprising midweek Carling Cup defeat at Notts County but reverted to the team used last weekend Ex-Jack and ex-Pineapple Head Jason Price plus the striker we love to goad, Darren Byfield, were both injured. The only known player is veteran keeper Neil Sullivan who was joined by O'Connor-Mills-Hird-Roberts, Stock-Wellens-Coppinger-Taylor, Guy-Hayter. Sullivan kept goal in front of City fans 1st half. He was reminded of his Leeds past with "there's only one Scott Young" and general abuse but took it well and enjoyed playing the villain. He also made the only save of a dour first half, a superb one handed flying save as Paul Parry's effort was rising for a top corner.

Other than that, there was little to get excited about as the half was a near replica of last week's opening 45 minutes against Southampton but without the goals. City were pinned back and unable to put any passes or moves together as Donny - buoyed by their drummer making the only noise for them - were naturally up for it. They huffed, they puffed, they made sure they were busier in midfield but didn't give Heaton any work other than goal-kicks, their best effort was a shot across goal which ended up nearer a corner flag. City's only worry was when Darren Purse went down injured especially as City had no natural cover for him but he carried on.

After his recovery came City's best - some would say, only - spell of the game. They did show what they were about, how they were a better side as then played the ball around, pushed the home side back into their own half and bossed for a spell. Yet, that Parry shot apart, we offered no major threat either. Some half chances were traded but that was largely it.

Half-time: DONNY 0 CITY 0

The Doncaster programme made for entertaining reading thanks to its fantastic inaccurate claims about City which included;
1. Miguel Comminges was born in France.2. James Simmonds is still with us and squad number 223. Peter Whittingham made his Cardiff City debut against Newcastle United coming on as a sub for Gareth Barry.4. Joe Ledley came from the same Cardiff City Academy that also produced Jason Koumas.

However the entertainment rudely ended as the teams returned for the 2nd half. Again, Donny pushed from the off and City were crying out for a change as they were comfortable but could produce nothing. The same could be said for Doncaster too as their edge of area free-kick flew over the stand and another half chance flew well wide. Donny fans tried to wind us up with a chant of "Play up Pompey" - we must have progressed if we best abuse we get these days is for losing a F.A. Cup Final!! Midfield were anonymous again and as McPhail was yellow carded, City fans launched into a chant of "Jonesy, Jonesy, sort it out".

Whether Jones chose it ignore it and be stubborn, only he will know but maybe he was content with a game where we never looked like losing or conceding but never looked like winning or scoring either. Except just as I was saying this, we fell behind to a sucker punch goal ... maybe the game was making our players sleepy in the humid, close weather too. It was a giveaway, a 60 yard ball found Purse and Johnson nowhere, enabling LEWIS GUY, scorer of the winner at Derby last week, to take a touch to control the ball and then fire past the advancing exposed Heaton.

Guy smiled at us, waving a finger as the Donny players celebrated in the corner nearest us. The drummer was in apoplexy. Amazingly, one City fan - a staunch home and away follower - ran to the police to berate the player's celebration and an officer was despatch to make notes about an official complain about the celebration. It seemed innocuous to me, surely we're bigger than this? A steward in front of us celebrated too, he was swiftly removed by his superior after more feedback.

It was now sub time and at least Dave Jones finally has options when we're in this position. Off came Whittingham, who started well before disappearing out of the game, for Bothroyd as Parry went wide. That made little difference so on came Thommo for Scimeca as we went 4-3-3 but Doncaster were in charge and not feeling any threat from City's wholly inadequate 2nd half output. Comminges for a limping McNaughton was the final change.

Again, it made no difference and we contemplated the long journey home being made longer still by a loss when we grabbed a just about deserved draw when facing defeat when Donny cracked and panicked to help gift us a goal to make up for the one we gifted them. It told you they were very nice and obliging in Donny!

Two minutes remained when McPhail sent in a simple ball but Sullivan, one of his defenders, Thommo and Boothroyd all went for it, the keeper fumbled, Bothroyd appeared to mishit but the ball ran wide for McCORMACK - hardly seen all game - to slot home to sent us all mental. Fans charged to the front of the stand from all parts to celebrate and wave at Donny's Ten Boys who had loved their 20 minutes of gesturing heaven while leading. A few of them decided it was "time to go", maybe helped by our singing fro them to do that, we waved them on their way.

Two "Get Out Of Jail Free" cards used in the opening two games means City are 7th when they could have been 17th without them but at least we have finally discovered the knack of scoring late, something that often worked against us last season. All credit to City for keeping going and trying to the end even when things aren't going their way. They show they have character even if they are lacking in other departments at present but, in context, Southampton and Doncaster are likely only to bother the arse end of the Championship this season. We need to improve a lot if we are finally to push on and deliver on Messr Ridsdale and Jones' fine words spoken post-Wembley and all summer.

Positives today? Hopefully, McCormack's goal may settle him but who will stop all our forwards wanting to head down the channels? We must have more directness from our strikers whose cause, admittedly, is forlorn when the service offered for McCormack and Parry was a series of long, high balls. Midfield aren't functioning well currently, Joe Ledley has been below par, Whittingham anonymous while McPhail and the hard working Scimeca never exercised any control. I know Rae was missing but they do need help anyway.

At the back, Tom Heaton has been well protected by his defence with very little to do but their slackness has still seen him concede in every game so far. Mark Kennedy worries me on the left. If he's a defender, there's still hope for me on the evidence so far. Both Southampton and Doncaster realised it and targeted him, who'd have imagined we'd be missing Capaldi once upon a time? Purse did ok even if his distribution was in his trademark wayward style a couple of times. More pertinent, Purse/Johnson just do not gel or look a partnership. They never faced much pressure today but you worry how they will cope when that happens.

The return journey was thankfully swifter even if we hit heavy rain, it was dark not long after 7pm and seemed more like October than the middle of August. Thanks Dave for the driving! A good point, an enjoyable awayday but the questions about Cardiff City's deficiencies and areas to address strike me as exactly the same ones we were talking about towards the back end of last season. Two weeks of the transfer window remain for PR and DJ to put right what they haven't so far all summer, that clock is ticking fast.

LOOVENS SALE - THE NEWSPAPER REACTION IN WALES AND SCOTLAND

FROM THE WESTERN MAIL

Loovens deal was ‘good business,’ says Perry
Loovens in £3m Celtic deal

FROM THE SCOTTISH HERALD

Celtic snatch Loovens but Mendes is Ibrox bound

FROM THE SCOTSMAN

Celtic poised to gazump rivals in bid for Loovens

DYRHAM PARK & BATH

Went out for the day and with rain expected - although it didn't materialise - we headed over the Bridge to a stately National Trust home called Dyrham Park a few miles outside of Bath and then into the city.

Not our idea of a wild day out by any means but it was different, worthwhile and we all enjoyed.

Pics, if interested, are below.

080808_Dyrham Park and Bath

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A VISIT TO COSMESTON

With South Wales temperatures hitting the 80's for the third successive day - very welcome after a dreadful summer to date - popped over to Cosmeston Country Park near Penarth for an hour to two to enjoy it.

Within 5 minutes of getting back to the car, the mother of all thunderstorms and torrential rain, started which soaked hundreds there ... lucky escape for us.

WESTON'S BURNING

Incredible live tv pictures this morning as Weston-Super-(night)Mare's Grand Pavilion burned down in less than an hour and is still in full flow with, I imagine, the whole pier endangered.

(NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU DON'T - This picture was about half-hour into the fire, another 30+ minutes later and the whole pavilion had gone)

It's a shame as it strikes chords with most of us in South Wales who are probably the group who visit the place more than anoy other with Weston being a 45 minute drive from Cardiff. The town is a bit of a hell-hole and so obviously seen better times while the beach is more mud-flats than sand but I tended to visit it most years for a day out with the family although hadn't been this year - as my parents did with my brother and myself when we were kids.

The Pavilion is more an amusement arcade cum fairground these days with dodgems, bowling, ghost train, fun houses and more to go with the multitude of fruit and games machines.

The Pier is probably the one thing that makes the place worth a visit, it's hard to imagine going there without it.

A VISIT TO ST. FAGANS

With Summer still on hold, plans for a long day away were curtailed and we visited St. Fagans today. Just as well as the weather did the same trick it has for a few days - promising in the morning but then cloud and light rain.

St Fagans is always worth a visit as it doesn't change much but you tend to find things you hadn't noticed before. The fact it's free means it's good value too - still cost me lucnh for the family though!

There were plenty of activities on site today so it was interesting to see some of the carvings and wooden machines being produced as well as the old houses and with it being a long week, it works up a fair appetite too.

Recommended!

http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/stfagans/

ANOTHER LONG DISTANCE TRAVELLING CITY FAN

They're flying in from everywhere it seems - Australia, Europe, Ireland, USA and now the Cayman Isalnds.

Where are they when we're away at Colchester eh??? ;>)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/7376544.stm

THE LEYS, Vale of Glamorgan

With the first burst of fantastic weather this year and temperatures still over 70 in the early evening, it was perfect for being outdoors rather than inside.

Heading to the Vale coastline, many opt for Penarth, Barry Island, Southerndown or Ogmore but there's some other treasures in-between.

Popped to the Leys near St. Athan this evening which is unfortunately located right next to Aberthaw Power Station and near Aberthaw Cement Works - what glamour! - but for a quick blast of sea air, a decent walk and without going too far afield, it's a pretty decent place.

I got fond memories of it as a kid as power station water outlets visible at low tide used to be like a jacuzzi and wave machine combined. I've lived to tell the tale! It's also a mecca for bass fishing as the warm water there draws in the fish.

It is also officially the starting point of the Vale of Glamorgan Coastline Walk which extends all the way to Porthcawl ... ... although unofficially, it goes east as far as Barry Island. Not that I've ever walked it all but there are some great sights along there.

Anyway, enough of the chuff, have a look at the pics.

http://tinyurl.com/4frz8w

YET ANOTHER AVERAGE BANK HOLIDAY

With rare exception, Bank Holidays aren't great for weather but at the times of year they take place, should it be a surprise?

The weather around South Wales over this weekend was a mixed bag - fairly humid but usually dull skies and even rain at times. Annoyingly, the weather is predicted to pick up as we go back to work. Looking out my window now, we've just had heavy showers to send everyone home - marvellous!

Got a feeling the country is also starting to feel the effects of the credit crunch. With energy prices rising, petrol costs getting ridiculous, house prices falling and jobs starting to be at risk - mine certainly included - I got the feeling many curtailed ambitious plans for travle in favour of something at home or more local.

Cardiff wasn't busy yesterday in town, Cup Final mania have impacted on City attendances and the roads just weren't as congested as they typically are at Bank Holidays.

About Bank Holiday weather. Please tell me I'm not the only one peed off we get the fewest Bank Holidays of any Western European country and none of them take place during summer. There's two in April, two more in May, one at the end of August and three more at Christmas/New Year. Now England have discovered nationality - they want a Bank Holiday for St George's Day in April and Wales are talking up St David's Day in March. I despair!

Please let's just have - a Summer Bank Holiday in June or July.

This ends the appeal on behlaf of the Hacked Off With Bank Holidays Clustered Together When The Weather Is Average Party. I thank you.

.

CADOXTON IMPS WIN LOCAL TOURNAMENT

Caddy Imps with Joshua and Luke today won their own organised tournament for their age range at Barry Boys School.

A few pics from their final m,atch are here

http://tinyurl.com/3nz8o4

IF ONLY WEMBLEY CAN BE LIKE AUSTRALIA

Aussie-based Cardiff City fans - known as Bluebirds Downunder - set the ball rolling towards the F.A. Cup Final with a 5-0 thrashing of their Portsmouth counter-parts.

A number of my buddies are based in Australia and coming "home" for the Final while my match reports are used on their website so it's good to see them in fine form.

Link to story is here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/7380948.stm

TREDEGAR HOUSE and PARK PHOTOS

With some glorious weather about, I went for a lunchtime stroll around Tredegar House - seems many from my workplace had the same idea. It can't be all bad when this is on your workplace doorstep.

Anyways, if interested, here's some pics from a beautiful venue

http://www.tescophoto.com/wpp/tesco/buyprints_screennail.jsp

BLUEBIRDS D-DAY HAS ARRIVED

Been awake since 4:30am, already on my second cuppa and now I'm going to get ready.

I still can't believe I'm heading to watch Cardiff City at Wembley playing in a F.A. Cup semi-final, simply incredible.

At least 34,000 will already be in London, flying in, going by train or road for an occasion that will live with us for the rest of our days. For the players and club, it's a date with destiny and a real chance to carve their names in history.

I am like a kid at Xmas but I feel confident but nervous of course.

Let's just enjoy it, C'MON CITY!!!

1927 on Tour

I never realised City went on a tour of various towns and cities around Britain as well as Wales after winning the Cup in 1927.

Here's cine footage of the parade in Rhyader, Powys.http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7320000/newsid_7328500/7328582.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm&news=1&bbcws=1

Wouldn't it be fantastic if the 2008 Boys did a similar tour taking in all the places that love us such as Millwall, Stoke, Swansea, Bristol, Wolverhampton? Let's be'aving it!

THE PSYCHDELIC WELSH MUSIC B&B

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/7300833.stm

IT'S MIDDLEBROUGH vs CITY in the FA CUP QUARTER FINAL NEXT WEEK

It took 3 and a half hours of football to separate and 2 games of low quality and thrills before Championship Sheffield United succumbed to Middlesbrough at Riverside Stadium in an F.A. Cup 5th Round replay.

It perhaps summed up the football on show that it took a scrappy, freakshow of a goal for Boro to triumph during extra-time in the 114th minute. A shot was blocked then ricocheted off a Blades defender, struck the top of a post and was bouncing out before keeper Paddy Kenny swung out an arm to catch the ball only to succeed in pushing it in for an own goal.

Middlesbrough, of course, re now home to Cardiff in the quarter-finals, the winners go to Wembley for a semi-final. For Boro, ex-City loan player Gary O'Neill still looks good, Stewart Downing will cause problems and they have some pace but Cardiff wouldn't have seen much to over worry them. Boro favourites but City, if they play to their best, are more than capable of springing an upset.

It's going to be some day in the North East on Sunday week - C'MON CITY!!

BARRY ISLAND

Not as sunny as the previous two weekends but it was yet again dry and not so chilly for Fenruary in South Wales so went to see the relic that is Barry Island, still a decent place for a stroll as many did.

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Outing - Porthkerry Park, Barry

Another beautful February Sunday all over the U.K. so headed to Porthkerry Country Park and seafront in Barry. Altough much chilier than last weekend, it is just great to get out and about.

Here's some pics of a lovely place to visit.

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Rest Bay, Porthcawl

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND IT'S BEEN IN SOUTH WALES AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

Instead of wrapping up, it was almost t=-shirt weather inland and, at the coast, a breeze made it feel like May, not winter, with unbroken blue skies and glaring sun.

A few pics from the visit are here

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