Bob Bank Hero

Zois Is A Legend

Let's be honest -we've had our fair share of dodgy keepers since the start of the nineties. For good ones you could say Gavin Ward, Neil Alexander, Kasper Schmeichel and (although the jury is still out) David Marshall.

Sadly, this small list is outnumbered by some real stinkers (mainly signed by Dave Jones it has to be said.

Here BBH's top five goalkeeper errors to have a giggle at.

PS if anyone finds videos send them on to us at editor@bobbankhero.com

PPS I know Peter Zois was most probably the worst but I honestly can't remember if any of those goals against Rotherham wer ehis fault. I just remember a comedy of errors.

5 Tony Warner Cardiff City 2 - 3 Lazio. Tuesday August 3 2004

There were a few eyebrows raised when we signed the former Millwall goalkeeper after he had previously thrown a coin back into the Grange End when playing against the Bluebirds at Ninian Park.

Making his debut in a friendly against Lazio he managed to scuff his kick out for a throw in.

Lazio took it quickly and Roberto Mussi smashed in a 35 yard effort catching Warner by surprise. The 6ft 3in keeper managed to embarrassingly drop the ball into his own net. Unfortunately, his time at Ninian was plagued by errors like this one.

4 Dimi Konstantopoulos against Norwich 0-2 Tuesday March 10 2009

Tony Capaldi failed to deal with a long ball from a Norwich defender,

Ex-Swan Konstantopoulos comes forward indecisively only to see Mooney beat him to the ball to score.

Even DJ admitted it was an absolute stinker.

After the game he said: "It was a nothing through ball that should have been dealt with but Dimi hesitated when he should have put his boot through it and their player nipped in to score."

3 Mark Howard 0-2 Barnet Tuesday August 22 2006

There was a quiet optimism when we signed Howard form Arsenal. Surely from training with the likes of defensive legends Seaman, Adams and Keown would've rubbed off?

Sadly not – it was another case of "dodgy keeperitis" from Davey Jones. His most memorable blooper was against Barnet on a cold and miserable Tuesday night in the league cup.

City fielded a team consisting mainly of kids but Howard didn't really do anything to steady their nerves.

There had already been a few close shaves from the ex-gunner’s kicking before he sliced his backpass straight to Trevor Kandol who duefully lobbed the ball into an open net.

Howard was released at the end of that year and ended up playing for St Mirren in Scotland.

2 Peter Enckleman  0 -1 Portsmouth FA Cup Final Saturday May 17 2008

If there was one game you didn't want a goalkeeping error it was this one. To be fair to the guy he wasn't given much help by left-back Tony Capaldi who should've stopped a cross coming in from the right wing.

Encks managed to fumble the ball into the path of Kanu who gleefully knocked it into the net. Absolutely gutted.

1 Dimi Konstantopoulos  Wolves 2-2 Saturday February 21 2009

 

Another Dimi classic that only just pipped his Norwich blooper.

With a priceless three points beckoning with City 2-1 up at Molineux against eventual champions Wolves, Dimi managed to somehow dropped Kyle Reid's left-wing cross over his own line.

You could say it cost us a place in the playoffs but then you could just as easily say the same about Eddie’s own goal, or Mark Kennedy’s own goal, or just the fact that we let in six against Preston…..

Quiffs & Bowler Hats Part Two

David Rogers takes us through the modern era of football fashion.

The 70's

The popular look on Sloper Road during the 70's was all about the flares, tank tops, platform boots & denim jackets all topped off with the feather cut. The aforementioned blue, white & yellow bar scarf migrating from the neck to wrist. In addition to this look was the Clockwork Orange inspired white butchers coat with the other 70's must-have-item being the scarf of the opposition worn as a badge of honour gained defending the Grange End.

Late 70's to early 80's

During this time City fans had a bit of an identity crisis as many different styles vied for supremacy in the Ninian fashion sakes. The birth of punk had an impact along with the skinhead and mod revival movements. This meant it all depended on which tribe you pledged allegiance to define the look of the individual with more bile aimed at members of other tribes than even supporters of other teams.

The 80's

During the 80's  one look ruled the Ninian terraces alone and that was the look of the terrace casual. The casual scene was the first football diven youth movement in the uk and really took a hold at Cardiff as it coincided with a low point on the pitch as the team was in free-fall through the leagues.

The look of the casual was all about the labels with styles changing regularly, many of the crowd at the time would only turned up to show off their new trainers and get one up man ship over their fellow casuals. Must have labels of the time were Fila, Tacchini, Adidas, Lacoste, Burberry, Aquascutum, Lyle & Scott and Pringle.

1988 – 1991

As the 80's drew to a close the rave & mad-chester scenes were taking a grip and the City fans were not immune to the draw of the "second summer of love." The cloths to be seen in on the Bob Bank (1 of only 2 stands open at the time) were Barker parallel flares, kicker boots, ponchos and ponytails.

1992 – 1994

As the Rick Wright band wagon rolled in to Cardiff coinciding with the dawn of the premiership the prevailing terrace fashion must have was the Echo sponsored City top as it was finally available in the club shop. Another big look at the time was the middle eastern inspired robe and Arab headdress look topped off with false beard.

1995 – 2002

House check and Stone island were without question the prevailing look around this time with the Burberry factory in Treorchy supplying at least 80% of any Ninian crowd with 1 or more items of clothing.

2002 – Present

The advent of Chav culture (?) rendering all check especially baseball caps un-wearable and subsequently causing the the Burberry factory in Treorchy to close for good, meaning the more discerning City fan has turned to less flamboyant looking lables of late to strut their stuff at the footie. Today’s labels of choice include CP company, Paul & Shark, Prada & Armani jeans with old school Adidas trainers.

Quiffs & Bowler Hats

A light hearted look at Cardiff terrace culture & fashion history

by David Rogers

1899 - 1910

Shirts and neck-ties worn under striped blazers and long over coats, with bowler hats, straw boaters and chocolate & amber hooped  m.c.c. style cricket caps were what Bartley Wilson's mob were sporting around Sophia Gardens in the early days of CCFC or Riverside as we were then known.

1910 - 1920

Fashion takes some great strides following Cardiff being awarded city status in 1906 as quality men's out-fitters spring up all over town. Burberry & Aquascutum ¾ length Macs are seen for the first time on the terraces of the brand new, state-of-the-art Ninian Park towards the end of the decade, with many aspiring casuals influenced on trips to Europe during "The Great War".

1920 – 1930

A golden period on the pitch for the Bluebirds as they enjoy the clubs most successful period. The lads at this time deciding to turn their backs on the roaring 20s jazz scene look, instead plumping for the more classic styled, black, three piece suit & tie, worn with hob nailed, miners boots topped off with a baggy cloth cap for their many trips to Wembley at this time.

1930 – 1940

Tough times all-round. On the pitch City plummet through the leagues whilst off the pitch The Great Depression took a grip making it a dire period for the innovative terrace dandies down at NP. The main look of the era taking on a rather more dressed down approach with the "out of work miner/ docker movement" being the order of the day.

1940 – 1950

Due to the outbreak of WW2, the khaki army fatigue image was a massive influence on football fans & players alike up and down the country at the slightly depleted war time fixture schedule available.

1950 – 1960

Exciting times as youth culture explodes in south Wales following the post war period as "Teddy Boys" or "Teds" made it acceptable for young men to care about how they looked. Instead of seeing a choice of either work clothes or Sunday best worn to the games the Bob Bank & Grange were awash with Teds resplendent in their drape coats, slim-Jim ties & blue suede brothel creepers topped off with quiffs & ducks-arse hair cuts.

Early to mid 60's

Youth culture continues to grow from strength to strength in the 60's as the mod scene erupts. Seen by many as day dot for the terrace casual. Saturday afternoons at Ninian Park will never be the same again as the immaculate dandy look will continue to influence football fashion to the present day with the clean, sharp lines, polo shirts and parker jackets.

The famous City bar scarf worn around the neck and outside the parker completes the look whilst Lambrettas and Vespas are seen as the only credible mode of transport to get to games.

Late 60's to 70's

Towards the end of the 60’s mod gives way to skinhead. Though some of the fashion stays the same as Ben Sherman shirts and Fred Perry polos remain, it's the addition of skin tight, stone washed levis, braces, Dr martins boots, Crombie & Harington jackets with the hair shaved to the roots that define the look.

Ninian Park really begins to earn its reputation in earnest as one of the most intimidating grounds to visit (if the songs of period are to be believed).

Trust Magazine For City Fans Kicks Off

 
Moving to a Different Beat, Cardiff City Supporters' Trust official magazine, makes its debut at next Tuesday's Derby County game.
 
The superb, 36-page full colour magazine includes an exclusive five-page interview with Peter Ridsdale, the first part of the Fred Keenor Story, a facts and figures feature on Ninian Park, a Welsh language page written by Trust vice chairman Tim Hartley and updates on the Trust's work over the last 12 months.
 
Trust board member Dave Sugarman said: "The main aim of this magazine is to keep our existing members up to date with the Trust's activities. But we are also hoping that non-members who buy a copy will learn more about the organisation and will then be tempted to sign up and become a part of it. After all, the more people who get involved in the Trust and the bigger its membership becomes, the more work we will be able do for our fans, our football club and our local communities.

"The name of the magazine came from a suggestion by Trust member Jon Lovibond, who lives in Sheffield. It’s a reference to Jonathan Owen’s short film about being a Cardiff City supporter screened before the 2008 FA Cup Final appearance.

In his film, Jonathan said:  "If you began watching football in the late-Seventies or early-Eighties, your life was transformed from that point onwards. You were making a statement, particularly in South Wales, where you were considered a bit of a freak. To choose football meant you weren’t just choosing a sport. You were choosing a lifestyle. You wore different clothe; you listened to different music; you went to different places; you even walked differently. Basically, you moved to a different beat." Hence the name of the magazine.

The Trust is aiming to produce at least three magazines each season, so if you fancy making a contribution to our next issue, then please contact us. We are looking for articles, photographs, rare programmes, artwork –anything that you reckon may be of interest to your fellow Bluebirds. Also, if you would like to place an advertisement in future issues, or if you simply wish to sponsor a page, then please get in touch.
 
Issue One was designed and edited by Dave Sugarman and Tracey Marsh. Trust members can pick up a free copy from the Trust base in the stadium, and it’s just £1 to non-members.

Support The City!

CARDIFF CITY have a vast untapped reservoir of support living close to their new stadium, a major survey has revealed.

It is one of the key findings of a questionnaire in which more than 200 local people were asked by Cardiff City Supporters' Trust for their views and attitude to Cardiff City Football Club and watching football.

The survey found that one-third of football fans living near the stadium had never watched the Bluebirds play, despite the fact that club’s attendances have averaged more than 20,000 for their first four league games at their new home.

The findings will be given at a specially-organised event on Thursday night, September 24th (6.30pm), organised by the Trust, partnered by the British Council.

The key findings include:

• Of the 82 per cent who watched football, a total of 30 per cent said they had never watched Cardiff City play.

• 72 per cent of those interviewed intended to visit the new stadium. But of this group 36 per cent had only ever seen the Bluebirds play 2-9 times. 19 per cent had been to a match just once.

• 80 per cent of those intending to visit the new stadium have watched Cardiff City play before which means that 20 per cent are potential new supporters

• Among the comments about what they enjoyed about watching Cardiff City were "supporting my local team", "great atmosphere" and "cheap for teenagers".

• Among the comments about why they didn’t watch the City were "price of tickets", "time, family commitments", "bad behaviour and people standing up".

• People were also asked what would encourage them to go to matches. Among the answers were promotion, cheaper prices and family ticket deals, free parking and ‘taster’ tickets.

Trust board member Tracey Marsh, who organised the survey and event, said: "The survey reveals that there is untapped support among football fans living around the stadium with a significant number of those questioned not having watched Cardiff City more than nine times.

 It is up to the football club and organisations like the Trust to encourage those people to come along more often.

"If football fans did not have a great experience at Ninian Park, which some told us was the case, then we need to highlight the fantastic state-of-the-art facilities at the new stadium."

 

Loans...the best of the rest.....

Andy Campbell

Banged them in for fun when on loan at City from Middlesborough including a hat-trick in a 7-1 win at Oldham. 

City turned the loan into a £1m permanent move and it didn’t work out at all. Scored the winning goal at the Millennium Stadium to take us into the Championship but other than that did nothing. Was playing for Farsley Athletic before the club folded.
 

Peter Zois 

Does anyone remember this poor guy? Desperate for a keeper during the 1997-98 season, City manager Frankie Burrows signs up Zois.

Hopeless coming out and hopeless on his line – I honestly wondered if he had ever played football before.  One game and that was it – a 2-2 draw at home to Rotherham - and Frankie sent him home early.

Whenever we have a dodgy keeper since (and Christ there’s been a few) City fans always seem to say the same "He’s not as bad as Peter Zois." What a mark on the game.

Since his short spell at City. he has managed a few seasons in the Dutch leagues playing for NAC Breda and Willem II. He now plays for Aussie side Richmond SC.

Danny Hill

On loan from Spurs, had a lovely touch and quickly became a fans favourite.

Quick and skilful I always thought he was destined for bigger things, possibly even breaking back in the Spurs team. How I was wrong.  

At the end of his loan he was sold-off to Oxford and then re-appeared back at Cardiff months later. He still had all his old moves and initially it was all going well. 

Injuries got the better of him though and he fell out of favour and ended up plying his trade in the Conference for Dagenham and Redbridge.
 
Matt Brazier

Another classy player Frankie Burrows brought through. On-loan from Fulham this guy had a magnificent left foot and looked like a really talented winger. 
 
I was chuffed to bits when he signed permanently. He never re-created his previous form and after being mysteriously moved to left-back found himself bombed out of the club. Like Hill, he ended up in the lower-leagues.   
 

Top Ten Own Goals

The Other Bob Wilson takers a trip down memory lane to revisit some fantastic City own goals.

Read his top ten here.

http://tinyurl.com/mhjm29

Loan # 1

So CCMB poster The Other Bob Wilson reminded Bob Bank Hero of a fantastic loan signing which had somehow slipped our minds- Gary O'Neill. He would certainly have knocked Eddie ou of the top five anyway.

We'll most probably run a best-of-the-rest in the future and include him.

But here's BBH's number one hands down best loan signing. 

1 Jason Koumas

What can you say about the Messiah? I remember sitting at my little workdesk and nearly choking on my hot chocolate when I found out Jase has signed.
 
Just days before the season had started, and with the squad looking a little threadbare, in came the news that we had had signed one of the most talented footballers to have pulled on the Welsh shirt.
 
I was never a big fan of Koumas before he joined City – but that was just borne out of jealousy and the fact that every time he played against Cardiff he seemed to have a blinder.  

He got off to a cracking start by coming off the bench against our old friends Leeds United and smashing in a beautiful 25-yard winner at Ninian Park. He followed that up consistently during 2005-06, banging in 13 goals in 44 games.

My personal favourite was against Ipswich on a cold Tuesday night. It was 1-1 going into injury-time when he picks up the ball out wide and start running with it. Then he beats a few men, slips over, gets back up and slams it into the net.

Happy days!   Some of the moaners had a pop because apparently he didn’t pull his weight defensively side but frankly I couldn’t give a damn. He gave me more entertainment that season than the rest of the team put together.  

Sadly we couldn’t keep hold of him, and despite one of the longest transfer battles of the close summer he ended up going back to the Baggies before moving on to Wigan.  He will always be a legend in my eyes.  

Loan Rating 10/10
 

Not Just a Man's Game

Season ticket holder and CCMB poster Melly explains why women at the City is no longer a taboo subject.

I can't remember exactly when football became a part of my life. There was no specific defining moment, like chocolate growing up it was always there; and I loved it.

At the age of seven my dad passed away. I spent Saturdays sat in front of the television, curtains closed, life engaged in the football. On Sundays I'd stand and watch the local pub team play or have a kick about in my street.

Years later and with many matches under my belt I decided to get qualified and do my coaching badge. 

It was then that someone took me to Ninian Park. I'd always been a “city girl”. My dad and my mum were both City fans going back from the 60s. I'd just never had the opportunity to go before. The first time I encountered Ninian Park I ventured into the Grange End. I loved it. I was hooked.

Being a girl, and one with piercings and tattoos is always a battle in places which are male orientated. I encountered at first the banter of "Show us your T**s" -  this soon went away. Five or so games in, people started to say hi, chat to me and acknowledge the fact I was a City supporter. It wasn’t a fad, It was in my life. I felt it.

I guess that  some people are born into football, others stumble across it. People are opinionated in all aspects of life. Breaking down these preconceptions is a battle. I have been welcomed into the culture that is Cardiff. Maybe I was lucky? Maybe I met the right people - Clemo, Sludge and Vince. Who knows?

There are still men that will not accept women at football, but I do think these attitudes are breaking down.  I saw the same girls in the Bob Bank and now the Canton Stand , dedicated ,week in week out. With the ever increasing price of following this sport, I think males are accepting us more. They know a woman wouldn’t spend £400 on sitting watching a game of sport if she wasn’t 100% committed. That’s a LOT of shoes!

I've laughed and I’ve cried with this game. I’ve gone home at times with my head hung low and wanted better. I’ve sobbed my heart out at Wembley knowing we could be more.

It's about belonging. Having a feeling you’re part of something. City is my blood. We are Cardiff City.