MONTHLY NEWSFILE
JUNE 1998

Monday 29th June 1998

I've heard a whisper today that Darren Freeman will not be coming to Cardiff. Word is he has agreed to join Brentford. Remember where you heard it first.

Saturday 27th June 1998

Craig Middleton has signed a new contract. Only Jason Fowler remains undecided on his future.

Wednesday 24th June 1998

The games v Swansea have been moved. Both matches against Swansea next season have been put back to the Sunday with 12:00 kick offs. The away match will now be on Sunday November 22nd and the home match on Sunday April 18th.

The away fixture at Brighton has also been moved. It was scheduled for Tuesday 9th March 1999 but will now be played on Wednesday 10th March 1999 with an 8:00pm kick off.

Tuesday 23rd June 1998

There is disagreement over the signing of Mike Ford from Oxford. Todays Echo leads with the headline "CITY SIGN FORD" but when you read the article it says he will finalise talks next week. Clubcall are denying the signing but confirm they have spoken to Ford. I would imagine a scenario like the Mark Bonner one where the Club cannot officiallly confirm until the last piece of paper has been signed. Ford is 32 and played for Cardiff under Frank Burrows 10 years ago. He was club captain at Oxford and a highly regarded player. It seems a good signing to bring a first division captain to Ninian Park. If confirmed Ford will join Mark Delaney and Mark Bonner as definate signings this summer.

Mike Ford

There is another fixture change. City's match away at Halifax on September 12th has been brought forward to Friday 11th September, kick off 7:45pm.

Monday 22nd June 1998

Please note the following fixture change. Cardiff's away game at Shrewsbury on Saturday August 22nd has been brought forward to Friday August 21st kick off 7:45pm.

It is probable that both matches against Swansea next season will be moved back to the Sunday, just the same as last season. I will confirm this at a later date.

Thursday 18th June 1998

As reported on this site over a week ago we have signed Mark Bonner from Blackpool. It has been confirmed that Bonner joins us on July 1st on a three year contract.

Monday 15th June 1998

There is much speculation at the moment over who we have or who we have not signed. Following is a list of signed? or unsigned? players.

Mark Delaney - Definate signing from Carmarthen.
Mark Bonner - Not confirmed yet by the club, but widely thought to have signed already from Blackpool.
Darren Freeman - Not confirmed yet by the club, but widely though to have signed already from Fulham.
Martin Foyle - Was talked about a few weeks ago but nobody will say if he is in or out. Foyle is currently with Port Vale.
Chris Vinnicombe - Again was rumoured over the past few weeks but nothing definate. Vinnicombe plays for Burnley.
Mike Ford - Rumoured to be a target but info has gone quiet until today. A message posted on the guestbook of this website claims he has signed already. Ford, if he comes, will join us from Oxford.
Shaun Murray - Was targetted by Burrows but Murray has signed for Notts County from Bradford City.

Next seasons pre season friendlies are as follows. These are the current planned matches, they are liable to change.

*** Being played at Newcastle Town's ground (near Keele Uni).

Next seasons league fixtures have been announced. Cardiff travel to Harlepool for the opening game on Saturday August 8th. The first home league match is on Saturday August 15th against Peterboro. For the full fixture list got to the League page.

Saturday 13th June 1998

City midfielder Jason Fowler has been linked with a move to North Wales rivals Wrexham. He has also attracted the attention of Scottish Premier side Dundee United and Blackpool. The 23-year-old has still not signed a new contract to keep him at Ninian Park next season.

Thursday 11th June 1998

Reports today say we have signed a new player.
24 year old Fulham striker Darren Freeman has signed a 2 year deal.

Wednesday 10th June 1998

Ceefax is reporting that we have signed a new player. Midfielder Mark Bonner, 24, has left Blackpool and signed a 3 year deal with Cardiff City. I have contacted the Club for confimation but they could not confirm or deny as there was nobody there who knew anything about it. Funny that!!

Mark Bonner

Tuesday 9th June 1998

At the moment there is no news coming from Ninian Park. At the end of last week Chris Beech left Ninian to join Rotherham. Since then nothing. I will let you know something when it happens.

Tuesday 2nd June 1998

Physio Jimmy Goodfellow has been recruited by Wales manager Bobby Gould.
Goodfellow was among the party that left yesterday for the matches in Malta and Tunisia. “It's good to have Jimmy with us,” said Gould. “He is highly experienced, has already been a great help and fits in perfectly'.”

Monday 1st June 1998

The transfer to Cardiff City of Mark Delaney has been completed today. City's first summer signing has passed his medical and is now a fully fledged Bluebird.

The first pre season friendly has a new date. The match against West Bromwich Albion at Ninian Park has been brought forward to Saturday 25th July 1998. Kick off 3:00pm. The game was previously scheduled for Tuesday 28th July. As previously reported the only other official pre season friendly will be at Ninian Park on Saturday 1st August against Premiership Coventry City.