Cardiff City news 08/02/01

Thurs 8th Feb 2001 - Brighton Rocks for City visit

This coming Saturday sees another massive game in Division 3. The supporters of Premiership teams will hardly cast a glance at the fixture at the Withdean Stadium but for the fans of both Cardiff and Brighton this could be the biggest game of the season. The Seagulls hold the slight upperhand at the moment, they are 2 points ahead of us with more home games than away still to play. But anything can happen.

Saturdays match was sold out within hours, The Withdean can only hold 6,000 odd fans, for Brighton its like a Palace, its in Brighton, better than the 160 odd mile round trip to Gillingham they had to endure but for away supporters its a nightmare. Only 600 odd tickets for City fans, all sold out within 90 minutes at Ninian Park. A temporary stand in one corner of the ground, a pitch which is ringed by an athletics track. A pitch that has just been relayed after Brighton were banned from using the old pitch.

But never mind its a third division top of the table clash, Brighton have Bobby Zamora, we offered Ł1.2m for him, he's bagged 19 goals this season and is only just behind Earnie in the scoring league. (Brighton have a new song for Zamora, to the tune of Thats Amore by Dean Martin they sing "When the ball hits the goal, its not Shearer or Cole, its Zamora". Unfortunately Earnie is injured so the mantle of goalscorer in chief will fall to Gavin Gordon or Paul Brayson. If Earnie was fit then we could have responded with "Earnie, he plays up front with Leo Fortune West". (for those who remember the Benny Hill classic).

For City fans who cannot get a ticket then help is at hand. Cardiff City have lined up a "beam back" service to bring the game live to Ninian Park via satellite technology and a "big screen". There were fears earlier in the week that the screen would not be available but thats all sorted and Thunderbirds are go.

Tickets costing Ł5 each can be bought from Ninian Park and over the net (www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk). For that you have full bar access from 12 noon until 6pm and the game live on a variety of screens in the bars and the big screen which can be seen from prime seats in the Grandstand.

Can I appeal to those fans without tickets not to travel to Brighton this Saturday. Ninian Park is open like a normal matchday, you can get a beer, watch the game and not have to worry about a 200 mile drive home. Those with tickets have a great day out, enjoy Brighton and leave with great memories. Neither Brighton nor Cardiff need trouble and for each others sake lets support ourselves in our promotion push.