MONTHLY NEWSFILE
MARCH 1998

Tuesday 31st March 1998

Jimmy Rollo has left Cardiff for a months loan with Ebbw Vale. Jimmy follows Steve White who left Ninian for a month at Cwmbran.

Former City keeper George Wood has been appointed as a coach by Frank Burrows.

City fell from 17th to 18th in the third division tonight after Darlington won at home to Shrewsbury. The quakers are now above us on goals scored.

Newtown have progressed to a semi final tie with Wrexham in the FAW. The beat Bangor tonight 5-3 after extra time.

Sunday 29th March 1998

Next weekends fixture against Scarboro is on Friday evening. Kick off 7:30pm. Not Saturday as previously reported.

Saturday 28th March 1998

Cardiff City 0 - 0 Brighton - Report.

Cardiff continued towards the record for the most number of draws in a season with golless draw with Brighton. City are now only one short of equalling the record of 23 games.

Steve White has joined Cwmbran town on a months loan.

Thursday 26th March 1998

The extension to Danny Hill's loan spell is off. Hill is carrying a back injury and will not be fit for several weeks. The deal has therefore been quoshed.

Scott Partridge has completed his transfer to Torquay Utd. He has signed an 18 month contract and all clearance have been given for him to make his debut this Saturday. A nominal fee was involved.

Wednesday 25th March 1998

The semi final draw for the FAW Invitation Cup has been made. City have been drawn against Merthyr and will be away in the first leg. The away game will be at Penydarren Park on Tuesday 7th April and the return at Ninian Park on Tuesday 21st April. The other semi final sees Wrexham at home first to either Bangor or Newtown.

Scott Partridge is on the verge of joining promotion chasing Torquay. Frank Burrows has said he will not stand in Partridges way providing he can agree terms with Torquay. Thursday 26th March is transfer deadline day so we should know within the next 24 hrs if there are to be any comings and goings at Ninian.

Wales have drawn 0 - 0 at home to Jamaica. Ninian Park looked brilliant with so many people inside it.

Wrexham became the third team into the semi finals of the FAW Invitation Cup. They beat Swansea 5 - 4 on penalties after the game ended 2 - 2 at the end of 120 mins.

The Reggae Boyz come to Ninian tonight when Wales play Jamaica. A sell out 14000 crowd is expected and you can get full coverage on Eric the Reds Welsh Football site.

Tuesday 24th March 1998

Gareth Stoker will have an operation this week after damaging the cruciate ligaments in his knee. Gareth will be out of action for several months.

Danny Hill has returned to Spurs after his loan spell at Ninian Park. Spurs are refusing to extend the loan period but Frank Burrows is at the moment trying to sign Danny as a Cardiff City player. More news as it happens.

Sunday 22nd March 1998

City favourite Carl Dale has been linked with a move to Third division play off hopefuls Leyton Orient. Orient are chasing Dale and see him as the man to fire them into the play offs and then promotion. The O's have offered a deal which includes a bonus payment should they be promoted. City have knocked back the approach but know that Dale is a free agent in the summer unless he signs a new contract at Ninian Park. Dale is only three years away from his testimonial and would find it hard to leave the club but who knows. Also available on free transfer at the end of the season are Craig Middleton and Mark Harris. Jason Fowler, Chris Beech and Lee Jarman are also out of contract but because of the Bosman ruling (all players are under 24) City could could demand a fee if they were to be transfered.

Saturday 21st March 1998

Hull City 0 - 1 Cardiff City - Report.

Christian Roberts scored his third goal in the last seven days to give City victory in the North East. Roberts pounced on a long clearance from Jon Hallworth and finished to earn three points.

Our deepest sympathy goes to the family of ex City manager Jimmy Scoular who died this week aged 73. Here are some comments from City fans.........

Nigel writes...
Jimmy Scoular was a hero to any City fan who
watched the late 60's/early 70's side. He and his sides are why I will
support City forever. I had my 1st season ticket at age 6 (in 1967) when
Scoular was in his heyday.
He was renowned as a hard and demanding manager - dare I say, a similar and
demanding style to Frankie - although even more dour. He was totally loved by
the fans and by his players. There can be no doubt, his team are by far and
way the best seen at Ninian in my 30 yrs of watching City.
If it wasn't for a short-sighted board selling John Toshack in 1970 (at a time
when we were top of the 2nd Division), he would have brought 1st division
football to Ninian. Crowds were 25-30,000 every game.
I know all City owners have sold star players since but this is the moment
that started the rot in the eyes of many City fans from which we're hopefully
just starting to recover. Who knows where City would be today if we had made
it to the 1st then?
Jimmy also got City so close to glory in the 1967-68 Cup Winners Cup when an
horrendous error by our goalie, Bob Wilson, (another one!) denied us in the
semi-final v Hamburg. This is what the current regime and side must aspire
too.
Jimmy Scoular had a long illness - he will be sadly missed but remembered
fondly by all fans from that era.
R.I.P. Jimmy

Muhz writes...
Sad news to hear about another nice guy who has left us.
described by Dave Mackay as the Hardest man he ever played against.
Always a gentleman off the field.
best wishes

Ray writes...
Jimmy Scoular,the man who took City to the semi finals of the ECWC and
led the team to the famous win against Real Madrid has died aged 73.
Sadly missed.

Thursday 19th March 1998

Carl Dale scored a hat trick on his return from injury in a 4 - 0 reserve team victory against Oxford at Ninian Park last night. Steve White scored the other goal in a match which also saw Kevin Nugent and Kevin Lloyd make successful comebacks. Dale and Lloyd played the full ninety minutes with Nugent playing the first half.

Tuesday 17th March 1998

Cardiff City 4 - 0 Conwy - Report.

Cardiff progressed into the last 4 of the FAW Cup with a comfortable win over Conwy. Goals from Jeff Eckhardt, Christian Roberts and two from Jason Fowler earned the Bluebirds £20000 and kept City on course for the only possible chance of silverware this season.

Monday 16th March 1998

Tony Philliskirk will remain on loan at Macclesfireld until the end of the season.

City have been linked today with Bradford City midfielder Sean McCarthy. No further news.

Saturday 14th March 1998

Cardiff City 7 - 1 Doncaster Rovers - Report.

Cardiff surpassed themselves today by rattling seven goals past doomed Doncaster. Andy Saville opened the scoring on 27 mins with a second from Wayne O'Sullivan in the 45th minute. The floodgates opened in the second half with goals from Chritian Roberts, Chris Beech, David Penney, Scott Young and a second goal for Saville. Doncaster pulled one back in the 89th minute. Doncaster played a lot of the game with 10 men and an outfield player in goal as their keeper Graig Davies was sent off.

Friday 13th March 1998

Kai Siski has been released by City. The German forward is no longer required at Ninian as he is not match fit and is of no benefit this season.

Triallist Kai Siski scored for City reserves in a friendly match against Welsh league team UWIC on Wednesday. the German fired home from a Gareth Stoker cross in a match that City won 5-1. Robert Earnshaw scored twice in the last 20 minutes in a match watched by Frank Burrows. Scott Partridge and Gareth Stoker scored the other two.

In my opinion Rob Earnshaw should be given a place on the bench against Doncaster tomorrow. The season is dead and buried as far as challenging for anything goes surely now Burrows must give the boy a chance in a league match. He could be on the bench as cover for White who will undoubtedly start the game. Against condemned Doncaster, City should run riot with players trying to impress Burrows so they can be part of the squad for a promotion push next season. Earnshaw has scored over 40 goals in reserve and youth team matches so far this season.

Wednesday 11th March 1998

Merthyr became the first team into the FAW Inviatation Cup semi finals last night when they shocked Barry Town at Jenner Park. Barry were hotly tipped as possible competition winners but were beaten by the only goal of the game which was scored in extra time.

Next seasons FAW competition will have a change of format. There will be 12 teams in 3 groups. Teams will again play on a home and away basis but only the top two in each group are guarenteed progress into the quarter finals. Two of the third place teams will make the next round as well, leaving 4 clubs knocked out. This year the competition was critisized for allowing all group teams to progress into the knock out stages. It will be remaned the FAW Premier Cup and it is hoped a European place can be found for the winners.

Tuesday 10th March 1998

Steve White is on the verge of leaving Cardiff after being offered a new job with non league Yeovil. They want White as a player and a director of football. At 39 White is unlikely to play any part of City's next season and he is looking towards his future.

Kai Siski, a 24 year old German striker, is having a trial at Ninian Park. He has been recommended by an agent friend of Frank Burrows. The agent was responsible for bringing Slaven Bilic and Ludek Miklosko to West Ham.

Sunday 8th March 1998

Swansea City 1 - 1 Cardiff City - Report.

Cardiff moved one game closer to the record nuber of draws in a season. The target is 23, City now have 21. The game seemed to be a close, pretty average derby game with Cardiff taking a 58th minute lead through Jason Fowler and Jonathon Coates getting an 84th minute equaliser for the Swans. Most reports praise the Cardiff second half performance, with the exception of the goal.

Friday 6th March 1998

Countdown continues to the battle of S.Wales on Sunday. Cardiff travel to the Vetch without Mark Harris and Craig Middleton who are both suspended.

Tuesday 3rd March 1998

Torquay 1 - 0 Cardiff City - Report.

Frank Burrows tasted defeat for the first time tonight at Plainmoor. A goal from Hill on the stroke of half time was enough for Torquay to get their 8th successive victory. All attention now turns to the Vetch for the game against Swansea next Sunday.

Cardiff travel to Devon for a match against the form team in the third division. Torquay have won their last seven games and are second in the table. Hopefully we will not be steamrolled by them and I expect a draw. That would make it 21, the record is 23, held jointly by Exeter and Norwich.

Mark Harris misses the trip tonight, he has strated his two match ban and will be replaced by Scott Young. Young will partner Jeff Eckhardt in the heart of City's defence. Andy Saville will hope to continue his "goalden" spell, he has scored 6 times in the last 5 league matches to become City's highest scorer this season so far.

Sunday 1st March 1998

Happy St Davids Day.