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When Cardiff City played Real Madrid 50 years ago today I was 10.
Pocket money permitting I was already a Cardiff City regular though mainly restricted to Saturday afternoons rather than gloomy dark midweek fixtures.
My memories of this rather historic encounter are sketchy at best. I remember the vastness of the crowd, the excitement was tangible, ticket gripped in my hand and the constant checking on the bus trip to Canton, to ensure it was firmly in my pocket.
My brother, 3 years older than me had been pressed into making sure I got to the ground and returned home safely and wasn't best pleased to have me tagging along, but it was part of the deal when my Mum got the tickets.
Once in the ground, Enclosure ticket, I was free to roam and found myself pressed up against the Enclosure wall on tip-toe most of the game, barely seeing much action and wishing I'd brought a ladder !
I can recall the goal quite well, Nigel Rees bombing down the wing and crossing for Clarkie to score and bedlam ensued, the surge of the crowd jumping and back-slapping still brings a grin to my face, especially at the dire times over the years that our faith in the club dipped like a wonky rollacoaster.
A few years later found me playing as a teenager for Cardiff City Supporters in the Cardiff Sunday League. The shirts, well-worn were donated by the club and incredibly were from that 1970-71 season.
Not quite appreciating the significance the shirts were replaced by another donated set this time from the 1975/76 season with the classic blue and white stripe.
It's hard to think that, probably on some tip somewhere is buried a set of shirts worn by those giants ! If only I had kept a few !
Tony Woolway
