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 MONTHLY NEWSFILE |
Monday 29th September 1997 A six figure bid for a new striker is still ongoing. The Club have refused to name who they are chasing after the well publicised breakdown of the Leo Fortune West saga. Some think the bid maybe for Fortune West who can only get on the subs bench at Gillingham. Tony Philliskirk is currently having talks with Macclesfield. Philliskirk still lives up North and regularaly trains with Burnley. He is still a Cardiff player and comes down when he is needed. He scored for City reserves last week but would love to have a permanent move to a Northern club. Jon Hallworth has been given the all clear after his head injury at Cambridge. He was not concussed so he can resume playing immediately. Chris Beech received 9 stitches in his head after a clash in the Cambridge game. Again this is not affecting him and he can continue playing. Ben Chenery, the Cambridge full back, who was seriously injured in a challenge with Mark Harris on Saturday, has gone home from hospital with a broken collar bone. He also suffered concussion. he is expected to be out of action for at least 6 weeks. Samesh Kumar is still pursuing a £100,000 compensation claim against Manchester City for the departure from Ninian Park of Phil Neal. Neal went to Maine Road as assistant manager to Steve Coppell who then left leaving Neal in charge. He quit after 33 days. Kumar feels he has a valid claim as Neal broke his contract with cardiff. Tony Elliott will get some more action this week when City reserves travel to AFC Bournemouth for a friendly on Wednesday. It looks likely that David Penney will also play some part in the match. Saturday 27th September 1997 RESULT A last gasp equaliser by Jeff Eckhardt earned City a point in a match that could have gone either way. Chriss Greenacre gave Cardiff a half time lead but Jamie Barnwell netted twice for Cambridge in the second half. Friday 26th September 1997 David Penney now looks like playing for an hour tomorrow. Gareth Stoker is expected to make way for the skippers return. Thursday 25th September 1997 Coventry manager Gordon Strachan has refused to let Cardiff have Simon Haworth back on loan. The deal would have had to be agreed with he Football League but thats not necessary now. The club are still actively looking for a striker and still hope to sign somebody before Friday's 12 midday deadline. Jon Hallworth appears to have shrugged off his groin strain and looks likely to play on Saturday. Penney will probably miss out again. Carl Dale has resumed light training and Kevin Nugent has had his plaster removed. Christian Roberts has had cartlidge surgery and will be out for 4-6 weeks. The reserve team, which included several first team players, beat Bristol Rovers reserves at Ninian Park last Tuesday. Goals from 16 year old Robert Earnshaw (2) and a penalty from Tony Philliskirk gave Cardiff the victory. Jimmy Rollo played as well as Jeff Eckhardt, Craig Middleton and Tony Elliott. Elliott played his first action for several months after having back problems. Tuesday 23rd September 1997 Cardiff are trying to get special permission from the Football League to have Simon Haworth back at Ninian Park on loan. Haworth went to Coventry City last summer for £1/2m. Under norman circumstances a player is not allowed to go back to his former club within a 12 month period but this law can be revoked for special circumstances. The league have Cardiffs application and Coventry City have been approached. Tony Elliott and David Penney are both to get a run out this afternoon in a reserve team friendly against Bristol Rovers. Elliott maybe need for first team action as Jon Hallworth suffered a groin strain at Lincoln last Saturday. Penney is hoping to be fit for the trip to Cambridge this Saturday coming. Saturday 20th September 1997 RESULT City failed to gain any points from the trip to Lincoln today. Swansea were also beaten 0 - 1 at home to Colchester. Mansfield, who City have beaten this season, gave Chester a 4 - 1 hammering. Chester of course beat us last Tuesday. Funny old game. Friday 19th September 1997 Cardiff's injured list still reads like a scene from Casualty. David Penney is still not fit from his hamstring problem. Strikers Christian Roberts (knee), Carl Dale (ankle) and Kevin Nugent (ankle) are all out. Penney is hoping to be fit next week. The squad for the weekend will remain as it was for the Chester game. Look out for ex Cardiff hero Phil Stant who is still banging in the goals for Lincoln. Wednesday 17th September 1997 New dates have been released for the FAW Invitation Cup. Most significantly the televised clash at home to Wrexham has been brought forward 24 hours to Monday 27th October so it does not clash with a League Of Wales game on the 28th. It is the agreement that the LoW have priority over the Cup competition. For all the other dates go to The FAW page. Tuesday 16th September 1997 RESULT Cardiff missed out on the chance to go top of the third division. Sloppy play was punished by a poor but consistant Chester City. Monday 15th September 1997 It seems that the speculation over Leo Fortune-West is to come to nothing. The approach made by Cardiff was a couple of weeks ago and Tony Pulis, the Gills manager, said over the weekend that Leo is going nowhere. City entertain Chester City at Ninian Park tomorrow. David Penney again misses out but Chris Greenacre, substituted on Saturday, should be fit after recovering from being hit in the eye by the ball. Saturday 13th September 1997 RESULT A vital first home win of the season kept Cardiff's unbeaten run going. After some dreadful football and a needless penaly Cardiff were 0-1 down after 10 mins, but a goal from veteran striker Steve White after 40 minutes had the sides level at half time. City pressed in the second half and only made the breakthrough when substitue Jeff Eckhardt prodded the ball home with 3 minutes remaining. The other results in the division helped Cardiff, Swansea were beaten 3 - 0 away at Macclesfield and the only other unbeaten team, Exeter City went down 1 - 0 away at Orient. Cardiff are now 8th in the league on 12 pts, four teams share top spot with 14 pts but Cardiff have a game in hand on all seven teams above them. This game will be the rearranged match at home to Chester on Tuesday. Friday 12th September 1997 David Penney is out of tomorrows home clash with Rochdale. He niggled his hamstring again on Tuesday at Exeter. Anthony Carss is fit and is likely to play. News on Carl Dale is that he is out of plaster and could be looking to be back in contention in about a months time. Kevin Nugent will be a bit longer. City have 17 year old striker Christian Roberts in the squad and its possible he may be on the bench tomorrow. Roberts has been impressive while playing for the youth team. Leo Fortune-West the 6'4, 26 year old Gillingham striker is on the verge of a transfer to Cardiff. The player has already agreed terms. City have offered to take the player on loan with a view to a permanent transfer. City are waiting for Gillinghams response. It is too late for him to play tomorrow but it is hoped he could be signed in time to play on Tuesday at home to Chester City. Hibbitt wants him up front alongside Chris Greenacre. More news as it becomes available. Tuesday 9th September 1997 RESULT Both unbeaten records remain intact tonight as Steve Flack scored an injury time equaliser for Exeter to cancel out Jason Fowlers earlier effort. Cardiff also maintain their league record of scoring in every game so far this season. Cardiff to travel to Exeter City tonight to face the only other unbeaten team in the third division. David Penney is back for City, Gareth Stoker or Wayne O'Sullivan will make way for the skipper. Exeter is home to four City rejects, Lee Baddeley, Chris Fry, Jimmy Gardner and Steve Flack but the biggest threat will come from Penarth born Darren Rowbotham who has scored Exeter's last four goals in their last three league matches. All of which they have won. Wednesday 3rd September 1997 Jimmy Rollo has resumed training after his head injury gained while scoring the equalising goal at home to Southend a few weeks ago. He will be in contention for a place in the City team for the trip to Exeter next week. Also available should be skipper David Penney. He is using the next week to rest his hamstring problem but should be fit for next Tuesday. Tuesday 2nd September 1997 RESULT CIty came back from 0-2 down to keep their unbeaten record in the league. Goals from Scott Partridge and new signing Wayne O'Sullivan brought City back from the brink of defeat. A new date has been set for the trip to League leaders Exeter City. The game will take place next Tuesday 9/9/97 kick off at 7:30pm. I would imagine this will result in the cancellation of the planned FAW Cup game against Merthyr. Details to follow. Exeter won tonight away at Torquay 2-1. They stay top. Doncaster were beaten at home so they stay bottom with no points from 5 games. Swansea were beaten 2-0 at Barnet. Tony Bird missed a penalty late on for Swansea. City look set to play an unchanged side tonight against a Shrewsbury team that has conceded 12 goals in their last four matches, all of which they have lost. The only likely change would be if Lee Jarman or Jeff Eckhardt were to come off the bench. Monday 1st September 1997 There has been a change in fixtures due to the tragic death of Diana - Princess of Wales. Tuesday nights game at home to Shrewsbury WILL go ahead as planned. The game at Exeter on Saturday has been postponed. All football fixtures and many other sporting fixtures have been cancelled as a mark of respect to Diana who will be buried on Saturday. The Exeter game could well go ahead on Sunday, 24 hrs late. Friday has been ruled out by the Devon police. Next Tuesday we are due to play Merthyr in the FAW Invitation Cup, this game could be postponed if necessary but Sunday could be the best option. More news on this tomorrow. Next Tuesday game against Merthyr in the FAW has been moved to Ninian Park. The match was scheduled to be at Penydarryn Park, Merthyr but is now in the capital. I assume this now becomes a home game. Team news for Tuesday's game. David Penney looks likely to miss the game so Wayne O'Sullivan will play. Apart from the obvious injuries to Dale, Nugent and Rollo the rest of the squad are fit. |
Copyright Michael Morris 1997.