This blog is an attempt to explain to my online American friends why I am a Bluebird, and to let them know that there is a lot more to football (soccer in USA!) in the UK than what they refer to as the "EPL".
I am a Cardiff City fan - the Bluebirds. I have always been a Cardiff City fan, and when I say always, I mean just that. Somewhere in my mother's memorabilia is a copy of my Cardiff City membership filled in on the day of my birth in 1958! I attended my first game in 1967 (a 1-1 draw against Coventry), and started regularly attending in season 1967-68. Over the years, despite discovering rugby, cricket, athletics and golf, despite discovering the pleasures of alcohol and women, despite moving to work in various parts of the UK, they remain the first thing on my mind when the scores come in at a quarter to five on a Saturday afternoon. OK, I know that the modern day TV demands mean that matches don't always kick off at 3.00pm on a Saturday afternoon but you know what I mean.
The Cardiff City Stadium.
Now I quite openly admit that I didn't go to many games between between 1980 and 2005 - some people would say that I couldn't have been a true supporter because of this, but for 10 years of that time I lived away from the area, then when I returned in 1988 a combination of shiftwork, marriage and playing sport on weekends whilst I was young enough to take part kept me away. But I still looked for their result first.
Then, on 10th August 2005, I returned fully to the fold. My wife Angela got fed up with me getting under her feet at home, and suggested I went to watch the football as I had told her I did when younger. I went to see Cardiff play Leeds United, Jason Koumas came on to make his debut in the second half and scored the winning goal, and that was it - my addiction to football and the Bluebirds was back. I have missed few games since and I am now just about to commence my third season as a season ticket holder.
And what a time to return to the fold! 3 trips to Wembley, including the FA Cup final, and the best league finishes since the early 1970s. All that is missing is promotion to the Premier League! After 2 seasons of losing out in the playoffs, perhaps this is our year? Can our new manager Malky Mackay succeed where our previous manager Dave Jones didn't?
Malky Mackay
Malky has put together a new team to replace the one put together by DJ, and at the time of writing this blog has made 9 new signings, including former Cardiff star Robert Earnshaw, returning to his home town club, and Scottish international Kenny Miller. The general standard of the Championship this year is probably a little higher than last year, but I'm quietly confident that we can challenge for the promised land of the Premier League (EPL to my American friends!) again.
"Earnie" - Robert Earnshaw
Now, lets bring on August 7th and our first game against West Ham - BLUEBIRDS!
