MONTHLY NEWSFILE
June 1999

Matt Brazier's now imminent move to Cardiff has been further confirmed by Fulham. While its still officially a secret at this end the Fulham Official Website has announced the following:-

"""Fulham have signed 27 year old goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann from Colorado Rapid. 6'3" Marcus joins us for a fee of $150,000 and will complete his move after a medical this Friday.

Meanwhile, Fulham have agreed a fee for left wing back Matthew Brazier (Cardiff City) and striker Paul Moody (Millwall). Both players are expected to finalise moves later this week after medicals and the club would like to wish both players every success for the future.

Moody, who scored a hatrick on the last day of the season will be fondly remembered by the Fulham faithful for his honest displays and sometimes spectacular goals. Matthew Brazier, who's first team opportunities had been limited by the form of Rufus Brevett, impressed during his loan spell at Cardiff at the beginning of last season."""
(Courtesy of www.fulham-fc.co.uk)

The new signing that was expected today has been put back to Monday. We are assured by the City board that there is no problem with the signing just some personal dealings need to be finalised by the player in question. With all the clues that have been given the idenity of the player seems to obvious for it to be anyone else (see name mentioned above).

1. City v Wrexham is now Friday August 20th at 7:30pm instead of Saturday 21st August.

2. City v Wycome is now Friday March 3rd at 7:30pm instead of Saturday 4th March.

3. City v Colchester is now Friday March 17th at 7:30pm instead of Saturday March 18th.

It is also likely that the match at home to Reading on Boxing Day will be a 12:15pm kick off. Confirmation of that when I get it.

Sat Aug  7 Millwall H
Tue Aug 10 QPR H Worthington Cup 1 (1)
Sat Aug 14 Oxford A
Fri Aug 20 Wrexham H
Wed Aug 25 QPR A Worthington Cup 1 (2)
Sat Aug 28 Luton Town A
Mon Aug 30 Scunthorpe H
Sat Sep  4 Brentford A
Sat Sep 11 Wycombe Wrs A
Wed Sep 15 Worthington Cup 2 (1)
Sat Sep 18 Notts County H
Wed Sep 22 Worthington Cup 2 (2)
Sat Sep 25 Wigan Athletic H
Sat Oct  2 Bury A
Sat Oct  9 Bristol Rovers A
Wed Oct 13 Worthington Cup 3
Sat Oct 16 Oldham Athletic H
Tue Oct 19 Stoke City H
Sat Oct 23 Wigan Athletic A
Sat Oct 30 F.A. Cup 1
Tue Nov  2 Blackpool H
Sat Nov  6 AFC Bournemh A
Sat Nov 13 Chesterfield H
Sat Nov 20 F.A. Cup 2
Tue Nov 23 Colchester Utd A
Sat Nov 27 Gillingham H

Wed Dec  1 Worthington Cup 4
Sat Dec  4 Millwall A
Sat Dec 11 Bristol City H F.A. Cup 3
Wed Dec 15 Worthington Cup 5
Sat Dec 18 Burnley A
Sun Dec 26 Reading H
Tue Dec 28 Cambridge Utd A
Mon Jan  3 Preston North H
Sat Jan  8 Bristol City A F.A. Cup 4
Wed Jan 12 Worthington Cup S.F. 1
Sat Jan 15 Oxford United H
Sat Jan 22 Wrexham A
Wed Jan 26 Worthington Cup S.F. 2
Sat Jan 29 Luton Town H F.A. Cup 5
Sat Feb  5 Scunthorpe Utd A
Sat Feb 12 Brentford H
Sat Feb 19 Gillingham A F.A. Cup 6
Sat Feb 26 Notts County A
Sun Feb 27 Worthington Cup Final
Fri Mar  3 Wycombe Ws H
Tue Mar  7 AFC Bournemth H
Sat Mar 11 Blackpool A
Fri Mar 17 Colchester Utd H
Tue Mar 21 Chesterfield A
Sat Mar 25 Reading A
Sat Apr  1 Burnley H
Sat Apr  8 Preston North E A
Sat Apr 15 Cambridge Utd H
Sat Apr 22 Oldham Athletic A
Mon Apr 24 Bury H
Sat Apr 29 Stoke City A
Sat May  6 Bristol Rovers H
Sat May 20 (F.A. Cup Final)

Boland signs at Ninian park

City have signed 23 year old Coventry City midfielder Willie Boland on a 3 year contract. While not the most high profile Premiership player Boland is young (24 next month) and has represented his country (Rep of Ireland) at schoolboy, youth, U21 and B international level. Willie joins Cardiff City on a free transfer but the deal will probably turn out to be one of the expensive City have ever made. Willie is 5'9, weighs 11st 2 and has made 43 full appearances for Coventry and 20 as sub in the Premiership. He joined Coventry as a junior in 1992. Boland was offered a new 1 year deal at Coventry but declined as he wanted first team football. Frank Burrows sees the move as a step up in class. Boland is reported to have previously turned down a move to Dundee Utd.

Boland surveying his new home

Make no mistake this is a quality signing. For City to have lured away a player who had a Premiership contract in front of him is great testament to Frank Burrows and Steve Borley. Well done.

With the earlier news of the signing of Willie Boland from Coventry today's news so far has been brilliant as far as City fans go.

The full draw is

Macclesfield v Stoke
Darlington v Bolton
Stockport v Oldham
York v Wigan
Blackpool v Tranmere
Sheffield United v Shrewsbury
Bury v Notts County
Halifax v West Brom
Rotherham v Hull
Hartlepool v Crewe
Lincoln v Barnsley
Carlisle v Grimsby
Chester v Port Vale
Preston v Wrexham
Rochdale v Chesterfield
Manchester City v Burnley
Nottingham Forest v Mansfield
Scunthorpe v Huddersfield
Luton v Bristol Rovers
Southend v Oxford
Birmingham City v Exeter
Brighton v Gillingham
Reading v Peterborough
Bournemouth v Barnet
Northampton v Fulham
Norwich v Cheltenham
Wycombe v Wolves
Brentford v Ipswich
Colchester v Crystal Palace
Cardiff v QPR
Cambridge v Bristol City
Torquay v Portsmouth
Swansea v Millwall
Swindon v Leyton Orient
Walsall v Plymouth

City has revealed the new kit and the new sponsorship package for the next two seasons. South Wales based Modplan have agreed a deal worth at least £40,000 per season for the next two years. If City earn promotion in either season then the amount paid by Modplan will increase to £100,000 for that season.

City will have two new kits for the FAW Cup next season and they will be used in the Centenary Tournament as well. A plain blue 1920's style shirt with a lace up neck and a shirt in the original chocolate and orange quarters will be used one in either game on the weekend of July 31st / August 1st, then used for the FAW next season. The club are currently working on a £25,000 shirt sponsorship package for those kits and for the youth team kits.

The new shirts pictured above should be on sale during the first week of July.

Video of Steve Borley commenting on the change of kit (421kb)
Video of Chris Roberts in his new away kit (113kb)

Some new pre season friendlies have been arranged. They are as follows:-

July 13th at Cwmbran.
July 27th at Bath City.
July 28th at Carmarthen.
August 3rd at Hungerford.

More details have been announced regarding the Centenary Tournament. The order of plays is:-

Saturday 31st July 1999
12:30pm - Boavista v Wimbledon
3:00pm - Cardiff City v Shamrock Rovers

Sunday 1st August 1999
1:00pm - 3rd / 4th place play off
4:00pm - Final

Tickets are available from the ticket office at Ninian Park. A weekend ticket which covers all matches costs £24.00 for the centre blocks of the Grandstand. £20.00 for the end blocks and £15.00 for the rest of the ground. Full details from the ticket office.

Samesh Kumar has today offered his shares for sale in the Financial Times. Kumar's 35% share is up for grabs again after a deal with a local businessman could not be reached. Todays Echo says that the money received for the shares would go direct to Kumar. This is not be mixed up with the share issue in July where monies raised would mean a cash injection for the football club. This looks to be the final involvement of Kumar in Cardiff City F.C. He has had no involvement since resigning as chairman at the end of last season. The Echo also confirms that Joan Hill has left the club. She has come to an arrangement with Cardiff City and no longer has an interest as a director or chief exec.

From the start of next season there will be significant changes affecting Nationwide League teams. The league will revert to goal difference and not goals scored. All teams will use squad numbers and player names will be put on the back of shirts. Each team will be allowed to name 5 substitutes with only 3 being allowed to be used. These changes bring the Nationwide League in line with the Premiership.

Todays Echo reports that Frank Burrows is trying to sign 28 year old Senegal International goalkeeper Khadim Faye from Portuguese 2nd division team FC Felgueiras. Burrows saw Khadim play in Portugal after going to the country to watch some recommended players and to meet officials from Boavista regarding the Centenary tournament. Khadim impressed Burrows and negotiations are at an early stage. Last season Khadim also managed to score a goal for his team.

Steve Borley has posted a note to the messageboard on this website saying that the new kit launch will be on Wednesday 16th June. Kits should be available to buy in the first week of July.

The draw has been made tonight for the FAW Premier Cup for next season. Unceded Cardiff have been drawn in group B with last seasons winner Barry Town. The full draw is as follows:-

Group A. Inter Cardiff, Caernarfon, Cwmbran, Swansea City
Group B. Barry Town, Merthyr, Newtown, Cardiff City
Group C. Wrexham, TNS Llansantfraid, Aberystwyth, Conwy

Fixtures to start in August 1999.

Wales Under 21s 1 Denmark Under 21s 2
By Paul Walker, PA Sport

Wales' kids turned in a battling performance before going down to a goal 16 minutes from time. Wales were forced to hand call-ups to a clutch of teenagers and they deserved a share of the spoils for their efforts.
It took two great saves in the dying minute from Danish 'keeper Jimmy Nielsen to keep out headers from Kevin Evans and Danny Gabbidon to ensure his side hung on. Leeds youngster Evans, on his debut, had scored a fine first half goal, and there were encouraging displays from Cardiff City duo Robert Earnshaw and Christian Roberts, the latter making his debut.

Wales fielded one of their youngest teams ever at this level, their squad decimated by injuries and suspensions after the 6-2 mauling in Italy on
Friday. Coach Tom Whalley was without seven of his first choice line-up, and pulled in half a dozen teenagers to patch up the side for this UEFA Under 21 Championship clash at Wrexham. And it was the youngest of the lot - 18-year-old Evans - who scored after just 15 minutes. The tall defender latched onto the ball 30 yards out and moved forward unchallenged as defenders backed away expecting a pass. But Evans kept going and unleashed a low shot that surprised 'keeper Nielsen, the ball going under his outstretched arm.

The Welsh lads, being captained for the first time by former Liverpool kid
Gareth Roberts - now in Greece with Panionios - responded positively to an
early Danish goal. It came after just two minutes when Brondby striker Martin Smith lashed a dipping 30 yarder into the roof of the net having been given far too much time to line up his shot. Cardiff's Christian Roberts came on as a 20th minute substitute for the injured Stuart Roberts and impressed on the right. One clever piece of skill and a flashing drive past the far post deserved more, and then Earnshaw headed a Simon Davies cross inches wide of the far post.

Earnshaw was unlucky not to get a penalty after skipping past three defenders
to get into the box only to be shouldered to the ground by centre back Martin
Laursen.

Skipper Roberts made an excellent saving tackle to stop Smith when he was
clear on goal and, at the other end, Earnshaw had a chipped effort ruled out
for offside and was denied again when Nielsen saved at his feet. Barry Town's Darren Davies came on for his debut a minute earlier, another feather in the cap of the League of Wales champions. But as the Welsh lads tired, Denmark grabbed the lead again with just 16 minutes left when substitute Iddi Alkhag cut in from the right and drilled a low shot past Anthony Williams.

Coach Whalley praised his youngsters despite the defeat and said: "I saw
plenty of things out there that pleased me. "We had a very young side out. I'd had to get a couple back off their holidays to patch up the squad because of injuries and they worked hard, played some good football and showed plenty of character. "I believe we have found another new batch of kids, who have come in to fill the gaps, who have a sound future."

Chris Roberts has been called up by Wales U21 for tonights match with Denmark. Chris joins Rob Earnshaw in the squad. Rob started last Friday for the Welsh team in a 6 - 2 defeat in Italy.

The ticket office at Ninian Park will be open until 8pm today and tomorrow to sell the discounted season tickets. After tomorrow prices will go up.

The new kit for the 1999 / 2000 season is expected to be be unveiled in the next 10 days. A new sponsorship package has been agreed and an anouncement is expected soon. It is hoped that some 3,000 replica shirts will be on sale by the end of June.