Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

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ten bellies
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Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by ten bellies » Wed Mar 18, 2020 11:40 pm

The only away game I missed that season. Natives not too friendly by all accounts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkR0kGpBHaM

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by cricketfield73 » Wed Mar 18, 2020 11:49 pm

Very nasty atmosphere at the end as the Cardiff fans exited right behind the away end and began showering us with coins and stones. We had to go on the pitch to get away. There were marauding gangs milling around the car park, thankfully my windscreen stayed intact, others were not so lucky.
I've not watched the video yet, but if my memory serves me right, at one point the commentator has cause to say "You can tell this is a big game because there's a dog on the pitch!"
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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by tim_noone » Wed Mar 18, 2020 11:49 pm

Well Done those Burnley fans...

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by Holtyclaret » Thu Mar 19, 2020 2:13 am

I was there too, nasty horrible bunch. One of which spat in my face in the car park :(

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by Vegas Claret » Thu Mar 19, 2020 3:07 am

it was a huge win for us

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by Eddiebfc » Thu Mar 19, 2020 6:48 am

I was there too as I lived in Cardiff at the time. We were kept in after the game and I approached the local police to tell them I lived locally and ask if I could be let out early to mingle in with home fans. They said no and so I had to leave with rest of away fans and was then on my own as everyone got on coaches and in cars etc. Luckily I managed to slip through without being spotted by the waiting home fans but it wasn't a pleasant experience!

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by scouseclaret » Thu Mar 19, 2020 7:53 am

I think it’s the only time I’ve ever felt genuinely concerned for my safety at a football match. Was in a line of traffic on the way to the ground and there was a minibus full of Burnley fans in front of us getting absolutely trashed.

Scoring twice in the last 10 minutes hardly endeared us to the locals. After being held back for half n hour on the pitch, we got a police escort down to the end of the road, and then we were on our own. Had to walk past a pub called “The Ninian” to get to the car - absolutely sh!tting ourselves. When we got there, battery was dead - I’d put my lights on for fog on the way down and left them on!

Happy days - at least we won!

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by TheOriginalLongsider » Thu Mar 19, 2020 8:46 am

I could never understand why they hold the away fans back at Cardiff when they could just let them straight out and the car park was opposite the away end. Instead they let all the cardiff fans fill the car park then let us out to join the party. Always hated Nubian park - fans, stewards, players and the ground itself.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by claretonthecoast1882 » Thu Mar 19, 2020 8:52 am

The only game I have been to where the mini bus was attacked before and after the match.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by 1fatclaret » Thu Mar 19, 2020 9:16 am

scouseclaret wrote:
Thu Mar 19, 2020 7:53 am
I think it’s the only time I’ve ever felt genuinely concerned for my safety at a football match. Was in a line of traffic on the way to the ground and there was a minibus full of Burnley fans in front of us getting absolutely trashed.

Pretty sure I was in the minibus in front. We ended up doing a u-turn over the central reservation and headed off into a housing estate. There we met up with 2 other minibuses. We were relieved to begin with, until we saw the other buses occupants tearing down fencing to fashion weapons so they could ‘go back in”.

We followed them for about 50 yards and then made our break for it on our own.

After the game we had to wait while our driver was taken to pick up the bus. Ours was one of the last to arrive outside the ground. By which time there were only 3 coppers left. This was a straightforward invitation for the local hoolies to just wander up and take pot shots at us.

Still remember conroy running the length of their long side kissing his badge after putting us 2-0 up. Worth every minute of it for that memory.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by LeadBelly » Thu Mar 19, 2020 10:02 am

I was at that one too; memorable for (as well being a big win) it being the only footy game I've ever watched from the Directors' Box (such as it was at Ninian Park).
I was living & working in Merthyr Tydfil at the time (at Hoover HQ). The MD was a big footy man (director of QPR and mixing with such like at Cardiff City). He knew I was a Claret & footy man and, as he wasn't going. loaned me his pass.
I met a co-worker Cardiff fan for a beer before the game well away from the ground but going down towards the ground there was a lot of lads looking for bother and we witnessed a few skirmishes.

I was expecting some nice wine and canapes in the Directors' area before the game but it was strong tea and small curly cheese sarnies. As I recall, Cardiff were fairly close on our tail pushing for promotion so it was a big match for both sides and a bigger crowd than the norm there. Cardiff fell away afterwards, finished down the league but won the Welsh Cup and got into Europe.

Watching that coverage, I cant remember the dog but I can recall that 2nd goal very well where 2 bluebirds ended up in the netting and Conroy ran down the opposite (to me) side of the ground giving it plenty.
I left on the whistle and hotfooted back to the rail station for the train up the Taff valley - guessing there's be bovver.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by Summerseat Claret » Thu Mar 19, 2020 10:45 am

I was sat in the main stand for this game, I've no idea where my dad got the tickets from, but it is the scariest atmosphere I've ever seen on a match. I remember walking down to the ground before kick off and the first thing that I saw was a brick bouncing off the window of a Burnley supporters coach. My dad gave me a look and needless to say we didn't make a sound all afternoon, even when we scored. I think that after the match had finished some clarets had to invade the pitch to get away from the bricks that were being thrown by Cardiff fans.

As I recall it was Mike Conroy's twentieth league goal that season - the first claret to score 20 in a league season for ages - although I think that this landmark was adjusted when Aldershot went bust and their records were expunged.

Another bit of trivia is that there were two future clarets playing for Cardiff that day, both mentioned in commentary.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by ClaretTony » Thu Mar 19, 2020 10:55 am

TheOriginalLongsider wrote:
Thu Mar 19, 2020 8:46 am
I could never understand why they hold the away fans back at Cardiff when they could just let them straight out and the car park was opposite the away end. Instead they let all the cardiff fans fill the car park then let us out to join the party. Always hated Nubian park - fans, stewards, players and the ground itself.
Not the only time we had problems there and always the same trying to get out into all the home fans after we'd been held in.

So different at the new ground, the best stewards in the league and everything now really friendly.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by IanMcL » Thu Mar 19, 2020 10:55 am

Vivid memory of this, like the rest of us inside!

Stones...rocks whizzing over the back wall onto the open terrace, where we stood. We all surge forward to avoid the artillery and the police think we are invading the pitch!

When we were let out, the car park was a mess. Lots of cars damaged.

I had parked in a nearby close. When I got there, the locals had blocked me in, about 6 inches front and back. The last thing on my mind was to knock the doors, to ask the nice owners to release me!

Wriggle, wriggle, wriggle, wriggle, wriggle, wriggle etc. Inch by inch, to adjust my angle. Eventually made it, with much relief.

Police were conspirators that day.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by ClaretTony » Thu Mar 19, 2020 10:56 am

Summerseat Claret wrote:
Thu Mar 19, 2020 10:45 am
Another bit of trivia is that there were two future clarets playing for Cardiff that day, both mentioned in commentary.
Gavin Ward got a lot of mentions so he's one, and interestingly their other goalkeeper at the time was Roger Hansbury. Not sure I picked up on another future Claret but I think it might have been Gerry Harrison.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by Jakubs Tash » Thu Mar 19, 2020 11:05 am

One of my all time favourite away games because it was such a huge game for Cardiff. The welsh media were building it up to be their biggest game in 15 years I seem to remember. Big crowd, hot atmosphere and the Claret following was excellent considering the distance.

We then played like Champions (elect) and saw them off. Superb stuff!

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by Summerseat Claret » Thu Mar 19, 2020 11:08 am

That's right Tony - a 19 year old Gerry Harrison played for Cardiff as well as Gavin Ward.

It was a decent Cardiff team that we beat, they also had Nathan Blake and Eddie Newton (on loan from Chelsea) playing. Up front they had Chris Pike playing who was a typical lower leagues target man, but his nephew is Gareth Bale.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by Silkyskills1 » Thu Mar 19, 2020 12:15 pm

Jakubs Tash wrote:
Thu Mar 19, 2020 11:05 am
One of my all time favourite away games because it was such a huge game for Cardiff. The welsh media were building it up to be their biggest game in 15 years I seem to remember. Big crowd, hot atmosphere and the Claret following was excellent considering the distance.

We then played like Champions (elect) and saw them off. Superb stuff!
Well, you might have enjoyed it but I didn't! :shock: The result was what we wanted,of course, but I wasn't expecting nor prepared for the reception we got. Very worrying post match but once safely on the coach a police escort got us well away from the ground.
We had a similar scary one,too, in a pub near the ground at Mansfield just a few weeks later but again lived to tell the tale. Success was bringing it's problems.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by Herts Clarets » Thu Mar 19, 2020 12:46 pm

ClaretTony wrote:
Thu Mar 19, 2020 10:56 am
Gavin Ward got a lot of mentions so he's one, and interestingly their other goalkeeper at the time was Roger Hansbury. Not sure I picked up on another future Claret but I think it might have been Gerry Harrison.
Shame Roger wasn't playing or we might have got more. I remember him conceding 3 at the Turf against us earlier in the season. And a few years prior to that, 4 in 45 minutes when in goal for Cambridge United.
Don't think he appreciated it before the game when he walked past a group of us outside the Abbey Stadium. You playing today Roger someone asked? Yes I am he replied. 3 points to Burnley then was my parting shot.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by ClaretTony » Thu Mar 19, 2020 1:20 pm

Herts Clarets wrote:
Thu Mar 19, 2020 12:46 pm
Shame Roger wasn't playing or we might have got more. I remember him conceding 3 at the Turf against us earlier in the season. And a few years prior to that, 4 in 45 minutes when in goal for Cambridge United.
Don't think he appreciated it before the game when he walked past a group of us outside the Abbey Stadium. You playing today Roger someone asked? Yes I am he replied. 3 points to Burnley then was my parting shot.
Who was he playing for on the Turf when he conceded three earlier in the season?

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by Herts Clarets » Thu Mar 19, 2020 1:30 pm

ClaretTony wrote:
Thu Mar 19, 2020 1:20 pm
Who was he playing for on the Turf when he conceded three earlier in the season?
Apologies, it was later in the season and he was, unsurprisingly, playing for Cardiff City. Conceded his first after 16 seconds from memory, before Robbie Painter's Manager had even taken his seat. Which even surpassed the one he conceded at Old Trafford from Bryan Robson, which I believe was 18 seconds.
Last edited by Herts Clarets on Thu Mar 19, 2020 1:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by Spike » Thu Mar 19, 2020 1:31 pm

we stopped the night in Worcester. Once we escaped for Cardiff the M5 was horrendous

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by LS7 » Thu Mar 19, 2020 1:41 pm

I remember approaching the ground and there was a Cardiff fan on the roof of a coach trying to get in through the skylight window

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by Bfc » Thu Mar 19, 2020 1:45 pm

LeadBelly, I was also in the directors box at that game. My lasting memory was of a gentleman stood next to me and my mate, who asked if we had come from Burnley. He then told of his happy memories playing against us. I asked his name and he seemed very surprised I could remember him as a player for Cardiff, Arsenal and Wales. His name, Derek Tapscott a top player in the early 1950s. I said I still had a football card of him, in his Arsenal strip. Before he left he signed my programme. The win capped the day for me.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by LeadBelly » Thu Mar 19, 2020 2:38 pm

Blimey Bfc- small world.
I was working at Hoover up in Merthyr in those days. MD was Tony Williamson who was a chum of Gregory at QPR (and wrote a book or two on the history of that club). He liked to hobnob down Ninian Park and watch footy there when he wasn't at QPR. I think QPR were first division at that time.

The only time I've ever watched a game from the "posh" seats; albeit the hospitality didnt match my expectations.

I remember Tapscott from when I first started watching in 1956/7/8- playing for Arsenal; I wasnt aware he's been at Cardiff to be honest.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by Somethingfishy » Thu Mar 19, 2020 6:37 pm

I was there..scary stuff but the elation of the late goals and the rubbing it in we gave the home fans made it worth it. As the Cardiff fans made their way out behind our end coins were being lobbed and at one point a lump of concrete rolled down the terracing hitting my feet. It was at that point i decided to move to the front and eventually once the final whistle came we were let out onto the pitch.
I was first back onto our coach and headed straight for the toilet...it was the only place with no windows and thus safer! I think we were one of the only coaches that escaped a smashed window. Was like a warzone on that car park and the police seemed happy to let it happen. My abiding memory was of a police officer at the gate when confronted by angry Burnley fans laughing about it all and threatening us..whilst across the road the Cradiff fans were overturning minibuses.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by Leisure » Thu Mar 19, 2020 7:21 pm

IanMcL wrote:
Thu Mar 19, 2020 10:55 am

Police were conspirators that day.

Been the same on every visit but much better now in the new stadium.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by NL Claret » Thu Mar 19, 2020 10:27 pm

Scary day, remember getting close to the ground and some knobhead was hanging out of an escort xr3i abusing us. Sat in the seats so escaped the missiles. Before the game started there looked to be plenty of scraps on terraces as the locals just paided into the away end. After the game from the main stand you could see them smashing up the coaches then it was every man for himself back to the car.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by Woodleyclaret » Fri Mar 20, 2020 1:42 am

A great day out wirh a tremendous atmosphere and lots of exercise for the dogs and horse deployed to disperse the home fans.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by ClaretPope » Fri Mar 20, 2020 9:11 am

We parked up, had a few beers and food at the Cardiff KSC Club, about 15 minutes walk away. We too were in the stand and escaped most of the mayhem. The locals were friendly at the Club but the walk through the car park after the match wasn't pleasant.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by Dressinggown » Fri Mar 20, 2020 3:45 pm

I was in the same minibus as 1fatclaret:

The journey down took about a week in a 25 year old vehicle.

We stopped for a few beers at a working men's club on the outskirts of town. I went for a slash and an OAP asked me if we were Burnley supporters. When I said yes he spat on my shoes.

Arriving at the ground we were directed by the Police down a road which only led to the home end. At this point the minibus was attacked. Some bloke tried to put the windows through using his crutches. That's when our driver somehow got us out of there (the Cardiff idiots were too stupid to try and get in via the doors of the minibus which didn't lock). We went across a central reservation, through some red lights and we ended up outside a hospital. That's when another few minibuses came round the corner all with their windows smashed. The Burnley fans then decided to pull down a metal spiked fence with the intention of using the railings as weapons. Let's ******* 'ave 'em' was the cry as the buses headed back towards the ground. We followed for a short while then headed off into a council estate where the locals were piling out of their houses to have a go. Once we got to a relatively safe place we did the unthinkable and took a vote as to whether we were actually going to the ground. It was a close call but we headed towards Ninian Park.

The Police stopped the minibus at the away end and told us to get off. At the away turnstiles there was a mob of about 50 Cardiff who were taking pot shots at us whilst we tried to get into the ground.

Mike Conroy scored the second and went down the entire side of the Bob Bank Terrace (Cardiff Nutter Zone) kissing his Burnley badge. That's when one of our party said "sh*t, we're going to die". Almost immediately afterwards the bricks and bottles started raining down on us from behind the away end. This continued after the game had ended and the Police woudn't let the Burnley fans out. Unable to escape the fusillade, the Burnley fans went onto the pitch. Jimmy Mullen came out of the tunnel thinking that we were on the pitch celebrating. He quickly turned his heels and fled.

The coppers then forced us off the pitch and out of the ground where we were greeted by hundreds of Cardiff waiting in the car park and at the end of the road. There were plenty of Police about who did nothing to stop the locals from attacking us. The way to the minibuses was blocked and it was only when the minibus drivers stormed into a Police Riot Van that they managed to get to their vehicles.

Once, we were out of the city and on the motorway did we breathe a sigh of relief. A small convoy of battered vehicles and occupants went down the motorway and then some minibuses in front of us indicated to come off the motorway at Chepstow. We followed and parked up. Then around 70 of us walked into a pub in the town centre too celebrate.

We were one of the last groups to remain in the pub and the next minute a load of Welsh rugby players entered with the intention of using us as a training exercise. We were chased out of town.

All in all, it was a good day out.
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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by Dressinggown » Fri Mar 20, 2020 9:35 pm

Despite stating that I would never go to Cardiff again, I went down again last season. We won but it was a completely different experience .

We walked into a pub near the ground which was rammed with home fans who made us feel welcome.

How times change. This was over a period of decades not the changing world we have on a minute by minute basis at the moment.

Good luck, keep safe.

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Re: Cardiff 0 Burnley 2 1992

Post by JohnDearyMe » Sat Mar 21, 2020 7:23 am

Dressinggown wrote:
Fri Mar 20, 2020 3:45 pm
I was in the same minibus as 1fatclaret:

The journey down took about a week in a 25 year old vehicle.

We stopped for a few beers at a working men's club on the outskirts of town. I went for a slash and an OAP asked me if we were Burnley supporters. When I said yes he spat on my shoes.

Arriving at the ground we were directed by the Police down a road which only led to the home end. At this point the minibus was attacked. Some bloke tried to put the windows through using his crutches. That's when our driver somehow got us out of there (the Cardiff idiots were too stupid to try and get in via the doors of the minibus which didn't lock). We went across a central reservation, through some red lights and we ended up outside a hospital. That's when another few minibuses came round the corner all with their windows smashed. The Burnley fans then decided to pull down a metal spiked fence with the intention of using the railings as weapons. Let's ******* 'ave 'em' was the cry as the buses headed back towards the ground. We followed for a short while then headed off into a council estate where the locals were piling out of their houses to have a go. Once we got to a relatively safe place we did the unthinkable and took a vote as to whether we were actually going to the ground. It was a close call but we headed towards Ninian Park.

The Police stopped the minibus at the away end and told us to get off. At the away turnstiles there was a mob of about 50 Cardiff who were taking pot shots at us whilst we tried to get into the ground.

Mike Conroy scored the second and went down the entire side of the Bob Bank Terrace (Cardiff Nutter Zone) kissing his Burnley badge. That's when one of our party said "sh*t, we're going to die". Almost immediately afterwards the bricks and bottles started raining down on us from behind the away end. This continued after the game had ended and the Police woudn't let the Burnley fans out. Unable to escape the fusillade, the Burnley fans went onto the pitch. Jimmy Mullen came out of the tunnel thinking that we were on the pitch celebrating. He quickly turned his heels and fled.

The coppers then forced us off the pitch and out of the ground where we were greeted by hundreds of Cardiff waiting in the car park and at the end of the road. There were plenty of Police about who did nothing to stop the locals from attacking us. The way to the minibuses was blocked and it was only when the minibus drivers stormed into a Police Riot Van that they managed to get to their vehicles.

Once, we were out of the city and on the motorway did we breathe a sigh of relief. A small convoy of battered vehicles and occupants went down the motorway and then some minibuses in front of us indicated to come off the motorway at Chepstow. We followed and parked up. Then around 70 of us walked into a pub in the town centre too celebrate.

We were one of the last groups to remain in the pub and the next minute a load of Welsh rugby players entered with the intention of using us as a training exercise. We were chased out of town.

All in all, it was a good day out.
Thanks for the very well told story! Sounds like a hair raising experience

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