Cardiff Match

[Paddy B]

TLB - I think you are being a bit flippant.

Fear is a very real emotion for away fans at NP and I believe more so than at any other grounds.

I have been to Leeds, West Ham, Millwall and did not feel half the fear that I did at NP on my one and only visit (i think 1994? 2-2 draw you equlaisied in the last minute and nearly won it at the death) We weer pelted with coins and many Albion fans were attacked in the car park - just for being English.

I am not denying places like Millwall & Stoke are tough places to go, I am saying Cardiff is the worst for the fear of actual bodily harm

 

[hutchings (48)]

Nope, no argument there at all with you. Other than a couple of thrown bottles i didn't see any trouble at all. What I did see after the game was loads of your so called Soul Crew hanging around the ground an hour , an hour, after the final whistle. What were the doing? Cardiff isn't that boring that grown men have to hang around street corners like adolescents is it ? Why didn't they go home/to the pub like 99% of the rest of your supporters ?

Well, I think we all know why, and as I say, I assumed it wasn't to thank us for coming.

I just find all this nonsense a bit pathetic, a bit tedious and more than a little childish. I'd love to be there for the game, but frankly I've got better things to do with my time than worrying whether I'm going to get a slap after the game. I've been to hundreds of away games in the 20 years I've watched Brighton and I've always felt if you want to avoid trouble, you can. The only expception to this I have found in my experience to be at Cardiff. Oh yeah and Swnasea.

No, if thats what your boys set out to do then

Enjoy the game.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Ok, lets set the record straight.
Neil Warnock said that Reading can (Note 'Can') be an intimidating place for players.

I've never, in any way, shape or form, suggested that the Madejski is a cauldron of noise, or is intimidating for fans of opposing teams.

There have been times when we've had a good atmosphere, but in general, there is a lot left to be desired.

All I've done is used Mr Warnock's comment to come back at those of you who've labelled Reading fans as 'passionless', 'quiet' and 'shit'.

How's about you don't take this thread off topic?

Cheers.

I'm probably going to Cardiff for the first time. I plan to keep my head down and get out ASAP but I erckon we'll be alright.

 

[The Laughing Bluebird]

When I go on tour I have to miss matches occasionally - I can't cram everything into the close season - and I pick 'em carefully. I'll be touring Germany next week.

Thank f*** for small mercies!

You talk of a need for modernization at Ninian Park. Do you HONESTLY believe that the situation here is the same now as it was back in 2001?

 

[The Wookiee]

Things are not so bad down there these days so I have heard.
Policing has improved, the car park has an away section and things are generally safer!
Get your miserable arses down to Cardiff and stop living in the past!

 

[Willow]

Tickets for my inaugural vist to Ninian Park arrived last week. Under the fixture they've printed ' Enjoy your trip to Wales', so I'm expecting a jolly good time with lashings of ginger beer.

 

[The Laughing Bluebird]

TLB - I think you are being a bit flippant.

Fear is a very real emotion for away fans at NP and I believe more so than at any other grounds.

I have been to Leeds, West Ham, Millwall and did not feel half the fear that I did at NP on my one and only visit (i think 1994? 2-2 draw you equlaisied in the last minute and nearly won it at the death) We weer pelted with coins and many Albion fans were attacked in the car park - just for being English.

I am not denying places like Millwall & Stoke are tough places to go, I am saying Cardiff is the worst for the fear of actual bodily harm

The 2-2 draw was August 1993.

I appreciate what you say about the fear factor, Paddy. And I also hear what you say about the anti-English thing. I suppose it is similar to the anti-Welsh thing our fans encounter almost everywhere we we go.

The most frightened I've ever been at an away game was at Millwall in 1999. Loads of nutters surrounded our coach in the streets outside the ground after the game. I was relieved to get out of there alive. It looked touch and go at one point! But I've been back there twice since and encountered no problems at all.

The attitudes of the thugs at places like Cardiff, Millwall, Leeds, West Ham, etc, may not have changed a great deal. But, in my experience, both the authorities and the clubs concerned have got better at dealing with the hooligan problem in recent years.

Nothing I say will make any difference. I appreciate that. But there is no doubt that the situation for visiting fans at Ninian Park has improved considerably since Albion's last visit in 2001, and there have been no major problems either in or around the ground for several seasons.

I'm currently gathering as much information as I can for the Albion fans who are going to make the journey on the 12th, and I'll post it up on here when I've got it, which should be later this week.

 

[Franks Wild Years]

Cheers TLB.

Only one question is there away parking ?

Oh god I'm getting middle aged.

 

[Paddy B]

I hope you're right but only time will tell, I am still cynical at the welcome we will get

I, unfortunatly can't make it (got a 4 week old baby and probably pushed my luck too far by going to Leeds) but I will be interested to hear from others at the new improved away day experience at NP

I would still be willing to bet that there is not a pub in Cardiff where away fans (Swansea, Brizzle & Millwall excepted) can have a pre-match drink with the Bluebirds fans

 

[clapham_gull]

Ok, lets set the record straight.
Neil Warnock said that Reading can (Note 'Can') be an intimidating place for players.

I've never, in any way, shape or form, suggested that the Madejski is a cauldron of noise, or is intimidating for fans of opposing teams.

There have been times when we've had a good atmosphere, but in general, there is a lot left to be desired.

All I've done is used Mr Warnock's comment to come back at those of you who've labelled Reading fans as 'passionless', 'quiet' and 'shit'.

I understand the Madejski crowd is quite intimidating towards the home players ?


booo, boo, booo

 

[The Laughing Bluebird]

Cheers TLB. Only one question is there away parking ?

I know there is a seperate section in the car park now for away coaches and minibuses, but I'm not sure about cars. That's something I'll be finding out in the next couple of days, when I'll be talking to the guy who is in charge of policing at Ninian these days.

 

[Rambo]

Iam not going, cos I am a YELLOWBELLY.




<-----------------------------------see.

 

[Cantona's Flying Dropkick]

 

[Richy_Seagull]

How far is the train station from the ground? Will be my first visit and don't fancy a long trek through the streets with what has been said in this thread.

 

[napier's kit man]

First visit. Looking forward to it.
Had the pleasure of the Millennium Stadium in the sun.
Seems right to turn up for Ninian Park in the gloom.

 

[Gully]

I am really looking forward to this one, any ideas if it is all ticket for away fans and how far is it from the city centre as I plan to come to Cardiff by train?

 

[Braders]

pay on the gate and not a clue

 

[LANGDON SEAGULL]

Cardiff Central is quite a way, a 25 min walk westwards, but there is a small station round the corner from the ground, from Central its four minutes, leaving at 39 and 47 past the hour, and return at either 17.02 or 17.33 according to rail enquries. Hope this helps.

 

[The Laughing Bluebird]

Ninian Park is about a 20 minute walk from the city centre (and from central station). Langdon Seagull's info about the trains to Ninian Park halt from central is spot on. It's a very short journey from central on the Radyr line. The next stop in fact. A point to bear in mind though - the train back at 17.02 is always heaving, as you can imagine.

If there are a couple of you coming by train and you don't want to mess about with the Radyr service to Ninian, there is a taxi rank right outside central station and another on St Mary's Street (where the best pubs are), as well as various other ranks dotted around the city centre. A taxi to Ninian from any of those will only cost you a few quid.

 

[bathseagull]

I really fancied this one.
Never been and wanted to make my on mind up on the atmosphere.
However, i've been offered a days work and can't afford not to do it.

Be there in spirit tho...