Memories of Cardiff.....

[floyd__streete]

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/footb ... ty-8484552

Nice little article.

This was an epic night. We were absolutely dreadful against a team from the bottom of what is now League 2 on the night and were very lucky to scrape through. This was a huge game at the time as we were in a similar position then to where we find ourselves now and the cup was a good chance of a distraction (we'd also done well in the League Cup, reaching a QF). We'd not reached Round 5 since 1935 so it was a great opportunity for some post-war history to be made.

Cardiff were getting around 2,500 for home matches at the time and I think the club and the Police were surprised by the huge travelling support for this one. They, naturally, behaved abominably. There were stories after the game of Cardiff supporters lifting a ball girl off the ground by her ponytail . There was a general air of nastiness on the night which at least made for a crackling atmosphere. There was a bit of light relief in the tannoy announcement which went round in half time of extra time: "Cardiff fans travelling by rail, your last train leaves in 5 minutes time"

The penalties were tense and having not led throughout 210 minutes of the cup tie we snuck through thanks to Nick(y). Memorable night, good old/bad old days.

[handbags_harris]

Vivid memories of both games. My first vivid experience of a "nasty" atmosphere that permeated Ninian Park (I had done Stoke City's old Victoria Ground twice in 1993 when they were on the road to promotion amongst a 16k crowd, and 95 when we were on the way to 2nd place but no promotion but my youthful 11/12 year old recollections aren't of anything overtly intimidating about the place). I remember being caught up in that and, when we equalised, clambered up on the perimeter fencing and being told in no uncertain words from some South Wales plod to not do that again. I remember Nugent giving Cardiff the lead seconds after half time, and a quick equaliser from Carl Asaba where he outjumped the 'keeper and nodded in. I remember Asaba hitting the post in the first half, I remember the wind playing a massive part in events between two markedly direct sides.

And then the replay, I remember heading into the South Bank and being met with a wall of Bluebirds fans, of them "sparking into life" as it were in response to the rallying cry of "En-ger-lund". I remember missles aplenty being thrown between both sets of fans, I remember one female steward being knocked out. I remember Carl Asaba missing a point blank opportunity early on. I remember Carl Dale stealing through Reading's hopelessly high back line to round Hammond in front of the Tilehurst end and slot in. I remember one hell of a bounce in response. I remember Morley's firm header just after half time equalising and the palpable relief that we were no longer being beaten by a team that had only recently disposed of their manager Russell Osman and were being caretaker managed for the umpteenth time by Kenny Hibbitt. I remember Morley hitting the upright and Stephen Lodge then blowing his final whistle immediately afterwards. I remember the penalties, Hammond diving both left and right to save the first two, only for Carl Asaba and Phil Parkinson to have their respective third and fourth efforts saved, low to famous hero of Oldham Athletic's run to the semi-final of 93/94 John Hallworth's right (Asaba) and then comfortably to his left (Parkinson). I remember Ray Houghton smashing the fifth into the top corner, I remember Hammond getting hands on the last Cardiff penalty but not enough. I remember Booty tucking away coolly, and then Hammond diving low to his right to win the tie for Reading. I remember feeling bereft of emotion, I remember thinking, despite being a comfortable distance away from the relegation zone, we had suddenly turned from a side able to compete with West Brom and QPR over Christmas to a struggling side finding difficulty in beating non-league and bottom of Division 3 opponents. We went on to lose 16 of our next 18 games and were relegated. Natch. I then remember Sheffield United in the next round, Friday 13th February 1998, and a heart breaking but inevitable late winner.

In many ways, Cardiff 98 was a fitting end to FA Cup football at Elm Park.

[wally bassoon]

I remember this game well, in my opinion it was the last great game at Elm Park. We were on the southbank down towards the away end and the atmosphere was electric.

I remember one lad, probably about 11 or 12 making his way back towards the exit, crying after being hit by a coin, there was another younger lad collecting up the coins that had been launched our way.

At half time I wandered right down into that corner of the southbank and it was mental, there were even idiots talking of trying to take the away end

They destroyed part of the away terracing and that area was closed for the rest of the season.

If I remember rightly there was a picture of the away end on the front of the daily mail the next day.

Happy days indeed!

[Salford Royal]

I got hit by a coin that night, along with 4 out of the 5 of us at the game. Mine missed my eye by about an inch - saw one guy who wasn't so lucky - not a pretty sight. I think the old 50 pence pieces had just been taken out of circulation, as these appeared to be the missiles of choice. I also remember the stewards at the South Bank/Town End corner were issued with safety goggles!

Went into school the next day happily showing off my minor scar. Good times.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

I remember this game well, in my opinion it was the last great game at Elm Park. We were on the southbank down towards the away end and the atmosphere was electric.

I reckon the Man City game a couple of weeks later was the last decent game at EP - again an evening game (the last at Elm Park?), decent atmosphere and won 3-0 against relegation rivals leaving us looking safe - then we lost every remaining game left apart from Stoke managed by Chris Kamara if memory serves me correct

[wally bassoon]

I remember this game well, in my opinion it was the last great game at Elm Park. We were on the southbank down towards the away end and the atmosphere was electric.

I reckon the Man City game a couple of weeks later was the last decent game at EP - again an evening game (the last at Elm Park?), decent atmosphere and won 3-0 against relegation rivals leaving us looking safe - then we lost every remaining game left apart from Stoke managed by Chris Kamara if memory serves me correct

yep, probably a fair point, I missed the City game but was at the Stoke.

[Reading4eva]

The first time I had ever seen nastiness at a football match. Considering I was 13 at the time, it came as a big shock. My dad and me were driven to the front of the Royals Rendezvous and got in with no issues. However the drive there was not particularly nice. I remember a couple of fights on the Oxford Road, which did prompt my mum to ask "is it really safe he goes to this match".

Once in, the craziness seemed not to have left. I'd never heard of Cardiff and afterwards I was hoping I never would have to again (although I did risk Ninian Park some years later).

It was a cracking match, but against a team at the bottom of Division 3 we should of made it far easier.

The only other times I've ever had problems was against BristLOL Rovers and The Golden Shower! (Aka Wolves or whatever more fitting names you have for the scumbags)

[genome]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjGk5ocfSM4

<3

[Angry Shed Sex]

Not as bad as the away trip to Barry Town. That was pure evil.

But my primary memory of Cardiff was being on Coach one with a hangover on New Years Day for a game (1990?) that was called off as we got to the ground. We weren't even allowed off the coach for a piss and were escorted out of the City by the Police.

[STAR Liaison]

Not as bad as the away trip to Barry Town. That was pure evil.

But my primary memory of Cardiff was being on Coach one with a hangover on New Years Day for a game (1990?) that was called off as we got to the ground. We weren't even allowed off the coach for a piss and were escorted out of the City by the Police.

That is terrible.

I remember going there as part of the 13 straight wins sequence in 1985. Trevor Senior got a hat-trick but they couldn't afford to let him have the match ball. Crowd of 3500!

[Alan Partridge]

Can still vividly remember the thud of the ball leaving Morley's head and hitting the net, we stood directly behind the goal that night and it was such a powerful moment as the ball hit the net for a 12 year old to experience. Being the wannabe goalkeeper seeing Nicky Hammond have an absolute blinder was pretty much it for me then, i was hooked. It wasn't just the pens he made an absolute miracle save out of the top corner in extra time at the far end if my memory is holding up right. and i also remember the tannoy announcement followed by the loudest cheer ever.

Still remember Asaba missing his penalty as well, kind of summed up his Reading time. Although I do remember him scoring a header against 9 man Birmingham for whom i think Steve Bruce was playing for that year?

[handbags_harris]

Still remember Asaba missing his penalty as well, kind of summed up his Reading time. Although I do remember him scoring a header against 9 man Birmingham for whom i think Steve Bruce was playing for that year?

Asaba winning a header was rare so when he scored the goal you mention it was met with a smirk between my Uncle and I. Birmingham lost Chris Marsden who was utter garbage all day, so shit that I remember being genuinely DISAPPOINTED he'd been sent off despite Blues losing Paul Furlong just 2 minutes earlier. That Birmingham match actually directly preceded the Cardiff game.