Bluebirds Banter - all the latest banter on what's happening at the Cardiff City Stadium

Cardiff City Supporters Trust get answers from Stadium boss Wayne Nash

2013-03-20T09:49:15Z

Cardiff City Supporters Trust has already received answers to some of the questions members raised during their recent fans' survey.
Stadium Manager, Wayne Nash, has looked at the issues concerning the match day experience and has given us the club's response.

Click here to take a look at the full Q&A

Watch this: Cardiff City's Premier League charge in Wacky Races format

2013-03-20T09:33:31Z

Think Cardiff City have blazed a trail at the Championship summit this season?
You can now watch their progress, Wacky Races style with this Championship season slider.

Click here to watch

Matthew Connolly emerges as Cardiff City player of year contender

2013-03-18T15:35:10Z

When all is said and done, it seems likely that Mark Hudson and David Marshall will receive the plaudits for the current campaign and rightfully so. But as the season progresses, I believe Matthew Connolly is beginning to emerge as a credible contender for Cardiff City player of the year consideration.

I admit, when he first arrived, I was not initially impressed. Tall, thin and pale, he looked like he had crawled from his sickbed to make his debut at Bristol City, less than 48 hours after signing for the club. His subsequent performance was underwhelming, as Cardiff were thumped 4-2.

Seemingly lightweight and positionally suspect, an outlay of £500,000 looked misguided. Fortunately, he has since more than justified the expenditure and has proven to be one of Malky's most astute signings.

]]> Slimly built, like former favourite Roger Johnson, Connolly is primarily a centre back but with so few options in defence, has featured at right back for the majority of the season. His fine form has been publicly praised by Mackay, who conceded: "His versatility has really been an asset for us."

"We have needed that and his attitude has been spot-on since he came here. The best thing really has been that he has been very consistent for us. Whether he has played at centre half or full back, there has been no drop in standards and that's what we needed from him."

His versatility extends to the players he has played alongside. Connolly has surely played with every possible combination of centre back, full back and winger at the club.

On Saturday, he featured in a makeshift back four containing a novice centre back and a player brought in at short notice, assisting in a clean sheet and hard-fought away win. He also scored the decisive second goal, his fifth of the season, matching the total managed in his entire career, prior to joining the club.

Having featured in a Championship winning side in each of his previous two seasons, with QPR and Reading, Connolly exudes a calm authority. It is a quality that will be appreciated in the coming weeks, amongst fans and players scarred by previous failures.

With both Ben Turner and Mark Hudson currently absent, Connolly and Andrew Taylor will be required to call upon their leadership and experience in the next nine games, as pressure and expectation cranks up.

Should promotion be achieved, defensive reinforcement will be a priority and Connolly may find that his first-team opportunities are limited in the top flight. Therefore, he is one of several players with extra motivation, above and beyond securing Premier League status; convincing his manager that he does not need to be upgraded.

If he maintains his current high standards, his stock is sure to rise even further and he will also deserve to be considered one of Cardiff's very best performers, when individual honours are awarded.

What needs to be done...Cardiff City 5 wins from promotion

2013-03-18T09:45:23Z

After an interesting round of wekend fixtures, we take a look at what Cardiff City and their rivals need to do to get to the Premier League promised land.
Remeber this week, the Championship enjoys and international break.The next game is on March 30 at Peterborough United.

AS IT STANDS 18/03/13

90 POINTS WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY = PROMOTION.

(ON A FEW OCCASIONS SINCE A 3 POINT WIN HAS BEEN INTRODUCED IN A 46 GAME SEASON, THE TEAM IN 3rd HAS REACHED 91 POINTS).

CARDIFF HAVE 75 POINTS IN 37 GAMES = 2.03 / GAME = 67% OF POSSIBLE POINTS TOTAL OF GAMES PLAYED TO DATE @ W-23-D-6 L-8
TO GET 90 POINTS IN 9 GAMES LEFT = NEED 1.66 / GAME = NEED 55% OF REMAINING POINTS TOTAL = 15 POINTS = 5 WINS OR 4 WINS & 3 DRAWS OR 3 WINS & 6 DRAWS
MAX POINTS POSSIBLE = 102
AT CURRENT RATE OF 2.03 = 93 PREDICTED TOTAL

HULL CITY HAVE 68 POINTS IN 38 GAMES = 1.79 / GAME = 60% OF POSSIBLE POINTS TOTAL OF GAMES PLAYED TO DATE @ W-21 D-5 L-12
TO GET 90 POINTS IN 8 GAMES LEFT = NEED 2.75 / GAME = NEED 92% OF REMAINING POINTS TOTAL = 22 POINTS = 7 WINS & 1 DRAW
MAX POINTS POSSIBLE = 92
AT CURRENT RATE OF 1.79 = 82PREDICTED TOTAL

WATFORD HAVE 66 POINTS IN 38 GAMES = 1.73 / GAME = 58% OF POSSIBLE POINTS TOTAL OF GAMES PLAYED TO DATE @ W-20 D-6 L-12
TO GET 90 POINTS IN 8 GAMES LEFT = NEED 3.00 / GAME = NEED 100% OF REMAINING POINTS TOTAL = 24 POINTS = 8 WINS
MAX POINTS POSSIBLE = 90
AT CURRENT RATE OF 1.73 = 80PREDICTED TOTAL

PALACE HAVE 65 POINTS IN 38 GAMES = 1.71 / GAME = 57% OF POSSIBLE POINTS TOTAL OF GAMES PLAYED TO DATE @ W-18 D-11 L-9
TO GET 90 POINTS IN 8 GAMES LEFT = CANNOT BE DONE
MAX POINTS POSSIBLE = 89
AT CURRENT RATE OF 1.71 = 79PREDICTED TOTAL

FOREST HAVE 60 POINTS IN 38 GAMES = 1.58 / GAME = 53% OF POSSIBLE POINTS TOTAL OF GAMES PLAYED TO DATE @ W-16 D-12 L-10
TO GET 90 POINTS IN 8 GAMES LEFT = CANNOT BE DONE
MAX POINTS POSSIBLE = 84
AT CURRENT RATE OF 1.58 = 73PREDICTED TOTAL

LEICESTER HAVE 59 POINTS IN 38 GAMES = 1.55 / GAME = 52% OF POSSIBLE POINTS TOTAL OF GAMES PLAYED TO DATE @ W-17 D-8 L-13
TO GET 90 POINTS IN 8 GAMES LEFT = CANNOT BE DONE
MAX POINTS POSSIBLE = 83
AT CURRENT RATE OF 1.55 = 71PREDICTED TOTAL

BRIGHTON HAVE 59 POINTS IN 38 GAMES = 1.55 / GAME = 52% OF POSSIBLE POINTS TOTAL OF GAMES PLAYED TO DATE @ W-15 D-14 L-9
TO GET 90 POINTS IN 8 GAMES LEFT = CANNOT BE DONE
MAX POINTS POSSIBLE = 83
AT CURRENT RATE OF 1.55 = 72PREDICTED TOTAL

Cardiff City star Fraizer Campbell: 'I was sent off by Nani red card ref'

2013-03-08T17:55:45Z

Fraizer Campbell watched with interest when Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir showed Manchester United's Nani a red card during their European Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
The Bluebirds striker knows how it feels to see red when Cakir is in charge, having been sent off by the same referee while on England duty.
Campbell was dismissed by Cakir four years while playing for England in an under-21 international against Sweden.

]]> In all, Cakir has sent off seven players in the 15 games he has officiated involving in English teams - all of whom were representing the English side.
Sir Alex Ferguson was so furious at Cakir red-carding Nani during Tuesday's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid that he took the unprecedented step of refusing to fulfil contractual obligations to attend the post-match press conference, a move that has prompted UEFA to open disciplinary proceedings against him.
Cakir's 15 matches featuring English teams span Intertoto Cup ties, under-21 internationals and this season's Club World Cup.
Though two of the most high-profile - John Terry in Chelsea's Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona last season and Mario Balotelli in a Europa League game against Dynamo Kiev - were clear red card offences, it possibly explains why Ferguson was wary of Cakir even prior to Tuesday's game.
Cakir has sent off only two players in the 14 matches he has refereed involving Spanish teams - one of them being Terry and the other being Barcelona's Sergio Busquets, who was dismissed for violent conduct against Benfica earlier this season.
UEFA has already said it is satisfied with Cakir's handling of the game at Old Trafford on Tuesday. United were leading until Nani's dismissal, but Real ran out victors thanks to goals from Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo.

CAKIR'S SEVEN ENGLISH RED CARDS: 2009 England Under-21 v Finland, Michael Mancienne; 2009 England Under-21 v Sweden, Fraizer Campbell; 2011 Manchester City v Dynamo Kiev, Mario Balotelli; 2012 Barcelona v Chelsea, John Terry; 2012 England v Ukraine, Steven Gerrard; 2012 Corinthians v Chelsea, Gary Cahill; 2013 Manchester United v Real Madrid, Nani.

Flashback: Cardiff City v Leicester City

2013-03-08T17:12:23Z

The Foxes have played Cardiff away 20 times in all. The Bluebirds have won 14, drawn seven and lost eight, scoring 50 goals and conceding 35.
In matches home and away, Cardiff and Leicester have met 56 times. In all, Cardiff have won 21, drawn 13 and lost 22, scoring 72 and conceding 76.

We look back at August 1951: Cardiff City 4, Leicester City 0

This was Cardiff City's best opening day result since they had entered the Football League in 1920,
Their 4-0 win against Leicester at Ninian Park during August 1951 was also the first time City had earned a victory on the opening day of a season since 1934 - a wait of 17 years!
Since winning promotion as Division Three (South) champions in 1946-47, Cardiff had finished fifth (1948), fourth (1949), 10th (1950) and third (1951).
Only two clubs were promoted in those days and this time the Bluebirds went up, finishing runners-up to Sheffield Wednesday in Division Two. They returned to Division One.

]]> Their opening day win against Leicester was all the more satisfactory considering that goalkeeper Phil Joslin had broken a leg in pre-season when he collided with team-mate Wilf Grant. The injury was so serious Joslin was unable to play again.
Manager Cyril Spiers moved to replace Joslin by signing Luton Town's Welsh international Iorwerth 'Lorrie' Hughes for £8,000.
Central defender Stan Montgomery was also injured in training, while Ken Hollyman was ruled out by a pulled muscle.
City had something of a makeshift defence with Glyn Williams switching from full-back to wing-back. Charlie Rutter took over at right-back, while Derrick Sullivan, who made just five appearances the previous season in an attacking role, was given the task of taking over from Montgomery.
The result was one of City's best displays for quite a few seasons.
Wales international winger George Edwards, who later became a club director, made it 1-0 at half-time with Grant (2) and Roley Williams completing the tally.
Spiers kept an unchanged team for the next match, at home against Rotherham United two days later, but City lost 4-2. That proved their only home defeat of the season.
Grant scored another two goals in that home clash, making it four in two matches, and he finished the campaign with 26.
Leicester finished fifth in that season and defeated the Bluebirds 3-0 in the return at Filbert Street
Cardiff's average home attendance for the season was 28,948 and the biggest crowd was 52,000 against Leeds United in early May.
The Bluebirds returned to the First Division and attendances rose sharply. Their average at home the following season was 37,937 - and it was that opening day win against Leicester which set them on their way.
Cardiff City (v Leicester): Lorrie Hughes, Charlie Rutter, Alf Sherwood, Billy Baker, Derrick Sullivan, Glyn Williams, Mike Tiddy, Roley Williams, Wilf Grant, Doug Blair, George Edwards.
Attendance: 28,973.

Earnshaw the latest victim of Malky's hard-line approach

2013-03-05T14:40:00Z

Malky Mackay's 'treat them mean, keep them keen' approach has been working wonders, but there have been casualties along the way. As Robert Earnshaw slips out of the back door, overshadowed by the name change controversy, he is the latest victim of the Glaswegian's hard-line approach.

I recently interviewed Anthony Gerrard with regards to his time at Cardiff. He is still disappointed at missing out on two Wembley finals, but he was more aggrieved at the treatment he received from Mackay. I was asked by Huddersfield to omit his comments, ahead of the two sides meeting a few days later, a request I reluctantly agreed to. The following day, the Huddersfield Examiner ran similar comments which were widely circulated and resulted in Mackay denying Gerrard's claims.

In this section of the interview, Gerrard claimed: "I was treated like a joey to be honest. The way he spoke to me on the training ground, being put down, I don't think you should speak to people like that. A few of us were treated unfairly in my eyes to be honest." The other players in question presumably being the likes of Dekel Keinan, Paul Quinn and Jon Parkin, frozen out of the first team set up at the time. After the indulgences of the Dave Jones era, Mackay's drive and ambition was always likely to ruffle a few feathers.

]]> Earlier in the season, Craig Conway felt the need to hand in a transfer request, due to a lack of playing time. The request was rejected and Conway soon returned to the side, but the incident should have been avoided and alluded to a break down in communication.

Recent visitors to the training ground have also reported that Earnshaw, Etien Velinkonja and Filip Kiss were training with the youth side, which can only be demoralising for such high-profile players. Mackay's treatment of Earnshaw seemed particularly harsh, considering he would have known exactly what he was getting, having previously played with and against him. Incompatible with Kenny Miller, he hardly featured last season and was a complete outcast this term. As a club legend, he deserved far better.

Kiss was with the club for a year on loan before signing permanently in the summer, which makes his exclusion also rather strange. Velikonja is adapting to a new league and it has been claimed that he needs to bulk up to withstand the rigours of Championship football, but has been prolific for the development side and has not been afforded the same opportunities as Kim Bo-Kyung. We are not privy to the daily exertions on the training ground, but this still appears to be an odd situation from the outside.

Mackay was evidently the right man at the right time for Cardiff City, he picked them off the floor and whipped them in to shape. He has benefitted from substantial investment, but that does not guarantee success and he has managed the situation perfectly. He has developed a tremendous rapport with the fans and is a very good politician, he would never be short of offers were he back on the market. A fierce competitor as a player, he has transferred this persona to management and players that fail to meet his exacting standards are cast aside and banished.

He is fortunate that he is at a club where he is able to write of significant investments at a stroke, but you do wonder if this ruthless approach is unnecessarily harsh. It may work with a winning side, but may prove to be more of hindrance than a strength in the Premier League, when points and morale may be more scarce.

With promotion on the horizon, we may soon find out whether the club can match Mackay's ambition and also whether he will need to adapt his current approach to ensure his side is able punch above their weight amongst the elite.

Memory Lane: Middlesbrough 3, Cardiff City 4 - League Cup tie at Ayresome Park, October 3, 1960

2013-03-01T17:04:42Z

England forward Brian Clough scored twice for Middlesbrough at their Ayresome Park home, but Cardiff City emerged winners in a seven-goal thriller.

It was Cardiff's first ever League Cup tie and Aldershot-born Brian Walsh, a skilful winger, netted their first ever goal in the competition.
The former Arsenal winger, who spent six years with the Bluebirds, and City's former long-serving full-back Ron Stitfall said of his team-mate: "On his day Brian could take anybody apart."
Walsh played a key role in City's promotion back to Division One in 1959-60, playing alongside former Arsenal club-mate Derek Tapscott, who said: "Walshy could take on any full-back and usually get past him."

]]> Walsh scored 32 goals in 206 League appearances for City before moving on to sign for a £2,250 transfer fee in November 1961.
He became an accountant after retiring from playing, having qualified during his time in Cardiff. He returned to live in South East England, while he died in Epsom during 2001.
Cardiff finished 15th in Division One during the 1960-61 season. Spurs won the title.
Tapscott was top scorer with 21 League goals, 30 in all competitions.
Clough, 25, made life difficult for City in that match at Middlesbrough, but the Bluebirds came out on top thanks to goals from Walsh, Peter Donnelly, Colin Hudson and Trevor Edwards, who netted from a penalty.
City didn't go any further, losing 4-0 at Burnley in the next round.
Cardiff City (at Middlesbrough): Graham Vearncombe, Alan Harrington, Alec Milne, Barrie Hole, Danny Malloy, Colin Baker, Brian Walsh, Derek Tapscott, Trevor Edwards, Peter Donnelly, Colin Hudson.

Cardiff City Supporters Trust Board statement following Vincent Tan's interview

2013-03-01T16:38:43Z

The Supporters' Trust Board was concerned to hear that Vincent Tan would consider changing the name of Cardiff City. It was therefore encouraging to see the club move quickly to reassure fans that a name change was not on the horizon.

We believe proper prior consultation with supporters' representatives would have given Mr Tan a valuable insight into how a name change would be perceived by fans, and the consequent negative reaction could have been avoided.

Every City fan will welcome Mr Tan's words when he says that, 'Our name and identity remains at our core.' Many supporters accepted the red shirts and new logo even if they did so reluctantly. However, we were all disappointed to hear that further changes were even being considered by the club. They are not necessary and can only serve to divide the fan base when we should all be pulling together to support the team at such a crucial stage of the season as the club pushes for promotion to the Premiership.

]]> Mr Tan says he may sell the club if the fans are 'rude.' But respect works both ways and supporters too are stakeholders in the club. During his interview he stated that he would be fine with up to a quarter of our fans being unhappy with the changes he has imposed, and this we feel, is disrespectful to many of our fans.

We believe that football fans have a right to be consulted on major changes at the club which directly affect them. It is almost two and a half years since members had a chance to meet TG face to face.

The Trust has again written to the club asking for a meeting with Vincent Tan so that he can explain how he sees the future for Cardiff City and we look forward to meeting him very soon.

Yesterday's interview and statement makes the case again for a structured relationship with fans groups as well as proper consultation on any major change to be made a formal part of a football club's licence. It cannot be left to the individual goodwill of clubs. Such a move would actually strengthen the club and ensure a deeper relationship with supporters.

An online poll showed that 58% would give up their support if the name were changed to the Dragons. We really do not want that to happen. As a Trust we have asked many times for an explanation as to why these changes were needed but have not received any real explanation.

The Echo says NO - Today's name change comment

2013-03-01T16:08:38Z

Just in case you haven't seen today's South Wales Echo, here is the comment piece written about the mention of a Cardiff City name change.

Here is the back page image

Read the whole comment here
1NO.pdf

Craig Bellamy sticker collection - Gallery

2013-02-21T10:45:19Z

Take a walk down memory lane with these amazing stickers of Cardiff City star Craig Bellamy.

Did you have any stickers like this and what were your favourites?

Opportunity knocks for reluctant reds

2013-02-19T15:23:32Z

With the team doing so well, opposition to the rebrand has been largely dormant recently. Not any more.

Vincent Tan's scarf giveaway has presented disgruntled fans with the perfect opportunity to reiterate that they remain against playing in red and would also oppose any of his future whims.

With huge shirt and ticket sales, Tan would be forgiven for thinking that his changes have been embraced and accepted, hopefully Tuesday night will demonstrate otherwise.

]]> The majority of fans have been depressingly apathetic to the change from blue to red, or grudgingly tolerant. Those stoically opposed are a vocal minority and will take great pleasure in rejecting their free scarf ahead of the game against Brighton.

I remain firmly against the changes, but continue to support the team. I sympathise with those that feel Cardiff City playing in red is not for them and admit to pangs of shame about the whole situation at times. I cannot identify with grown men and women that have chosen to buy the red shirt, supporting the team is one thing but by wearing the shirt, you are making a statement, whether you like it or not. I resent that fans are divided when they should be united behind a team heading for the Premier League.

The scarf in question, exclusively red and omitting 'City' from Cardiff, is as insensitive and inappropriate as you would expect. It is also comes with the potential reward of a free season ticket for next season if you are photographed wearing it. Suffice to say, the main talking point has revolved around how to dispose of the scarf in the most visible way possible, as opposed to the prize on offer. I'm enthused by the reaction as disillusioned fans are usually outnumbered and shouted down by those that consider no compromise too great if it delivers Premier League football.

The timing of this gesture is also bizarre, whether to coincide with Tan's forthcoming birthday or as a sweetener ahead of further tinkering. It has taken the attention away from team when they deserve to be the focus of attention and I doubt Malky will have appreciated the distraction either. What it has provided is an opportunity for fans to make a clear statement, by both rejecting the scarf and wearing blue.

Without establishing a method of boycotting the scarves that everyone is willing to adhere to, whether leaving them on seats or in a pile somewhere, it is likely that the impact of various different ideas will be minimal. Where fans can make a striking impression is by wearing blue, all blue everything, at a game where the owners are hoping to witness a sea of red.

Whether you have embraced the rebrand, rejected it or remain somewhere in between, if you still feel strongly about the identity of your football club, make the effort to wear blue on Tuesday.

It is your only effective means of protest and it is also now or never. You will never get another opportunity like this again.

Cardiff v Brighton relived: Robin Friday soaked team-mates clothes after his early bath

2013-02-18T17:12:43Z

Robin Friday was fed up. He'd been sent off after falling out with Brighton's Mark Lawrenson at their old Goldstone Road ground in 1977 - and took it out on his own team-mates!
They returned to the away dressing room after the final whistle and discovered that Friday had thrown all of their clothes, everything he could find, into the team bath.

]]> "There had been quite a battle between Robin and Brighton's Lawrenson," said David Giles, who was in the Bluebirds squad. "I was on the bench and went on for Steve Grapes when we were 2-0 down in front of nearly 23,000 spectators.
"It all flared up just after half-time when Lawrenson tackled Robin and he didn't like the challenge. So he kicked out and was sent off.
"We lost 4-0 and when we got back to the dressing room we knew Jimmy Andrews would have something to say. One of the lads went into the shower room to get out of the way and he shouted 'Robin's thrown all our clothes into the bath'.
"Brighton had a big plunge bath and all our gear was floating in it. We wrung our underwear out and had to put that on. The rest of our stuff was soaked and we borrowed tracksuits from Brighton to wear home.
"Robin got a club suspension for that and only played once more for Cardiff. That was at Bolton six weeks later and we lost 6-3.
"He missed training several times and told the manager he was packing in football.
"I think the manager and directors were a bit relieved, but the lads were sorry in some ways. He was such a liability at times, but also an extremely good player.
"You had to laugh at some of the things he got up to - unless it affected you. He would always call the manager 'Archie' after the ventriloquists dummy.
"Robin came to a sad end, found dead in his Ealing flat during December 1990. He could have been such a great player."

Cardiff City starting line-up (v Brighton): Bill Irwin, Brian Attley, Paul Went, Keith Pontin, Freddie Pethard, Steve Grapes, Alan Campbell, John Buchanan, Peter Sayer, Robin Friday, Keith Robson.

Cardiff City v Bristol City - The Bill Shankley marathon match

2013-02-15T17:23:47Z

It was, at the time, the longest first-class match in the history of football. Cardiff City's home match against Bristol City kicked off at 3pm - and dragged on, and on, and on.
The winner was eventually scored at 6.40pm when Blaengarw-born Billy Rees (pictured) headed in for the Bluebirds - and they simply could not find the energy to celebrate! The match had lasted a mighty 202 minutes - three hours, 22 minutes.

That goal, which secured a 4-3 aggregate win was a welcome relief for players, supporters and officials.

]]> Derek Tapscott, who would later play for Cardiff and go on to shine for Arsenal and Wales, was among the spectators that day at Ninian Park. 'Tappy,' then a young schoolboy supporting his local team, watched the initial 90 minutes, went home to do his paper round in Barry, and then, discovering the teams were still playing returned to join up with his pals.
"Tappy was among many people who left the stadium for various reasons and then returned," says friend John Collins, who was with him that day. "It was a truly bizarre occasion."
It was April 13, 1945 and the match was a wartime regional cup second leg match. Cardiff had won the first leg 2-1 at Ashton Gate and Bristol emerged 2-1 winners in the return.
There were no 'away goals' rule back then, while arranging replays was just about impossible. The only way to decide things was to keep playing.
Sixty seven years ago the Second World War was coming to an end. A fortnight after this match Field Marshall Montgomery accepted Germany's surrender. Long hours had to be worked by those on the home front - minors, dockers, transport workers, factory workers and more.
That included all of Cardiff City's playing staff, apart from those on active service in the Forces.
During those days when professional footballers were regularly posted to different areas of the country up to six guest players were allowed to turn out for clubs in regional league and cup games. Bill Shankly, later Liverpool's manager, was among those who played for the Bluebirds.
More than 23,000 spectators were at Ninian Park for the second leg of the Cardiff v Bristol City cup clash.
Don Clark, whose son Brian later played for both clubs, was in Bristol's squad, while young full-back Alf Sherwood was emerging for Cardiff.
Ken Hollyman scored for City at Ninian Park that day, the visitors won and, at 3-3, it was decided to play on until a winner was scored. The BBC Welsh regional radio news broadcast a news item reassuring families about why their relatives had not returned home on time.
The game descended into farce. Players collapsed every few minutes with cramp - there were, of course, no subs allowed - and when trainers were on other players laid on the pitch to ease their aching limbs.
When the Robins attacked their keeper, Alex Ferguson, aged 41, sat on the pitch against a post.
Open goals were missed, but the winner finally came at 6.40pm. Winger Colin Gibson, the only Englishman in Cardiff's team, crossed and Rees threw himself to head in. The crowd cheered, more with relief than joy, but Rees was simply too tired to get up.
Fans ran onto the pitch and carried him shoulder high, back to the dressing room.
The Western Mail described it as 'an endurance test which will forever hold a record in the annals of football.'
But less than a year later, under similar circumstances, Stockport and Doncaster played for 203 minutes before their clash was halted by bad light.
Cardiff City's team: Albert Smith, Arthur Lever, Ken Hollyman, Fred Stansfield, Danny Lester, Colin Gibson, Ernie Carless, Bill Shankly, Billy Rees, Roy Clarke, Beriah Moore.

Young striker Rhys Healey makes his Cardiff City debut

2013-02-15T16:18:23Z

Rhys Healey, Cardiff City's January signing from Connah's Quay Nomads, made his Bluebirds debut this week.
He played for Cardiff's under-18 team in a 2-1 friendly defeat against Exeter City.
Ben Watkins scored when he went for goal from 25 yards, but Exeter hit back to win.
Goalkeeper David Richards did well for City, while captain Kane Owen was another Bluebirds player to shine.
Healey had plenty of possession and went close several times. He was clean through just before half-time, but fired just wide.

]]> Exeter scored two second-half goals to win, but it was an excellent work-out for the Bluebirds.
They are at home against Charlton Athletic in an under-18 match today.
Healey has joined Cardiff on a two and a half year contract. He had scored 12 goals from 12 Welsh Premier starts and 16 in all competitions this season.
"Rhys is a young player who has a lot of potential," said City manager Malky Mackay. "He has been scoring goals at Welsh Premier level and will work with our development squad.
"He is another talented young player at our club and we have high hopes he will progress over the next couple of years."
As part of the deal, Cardiff have agreed to send a strong squad - featuring Healey - to the Deeside Stadium for a friendly next summer.