When Rovers fans tend to suggest we're a club only thirty years old (it is the only thing they've got on us really) I normally make the point that it's embarrassing to suggest a club is merely its business. Any fan who thinks that way neglects every other factor which, when combined, make the prestige of a football club. Sure, not all is crucial. Our stadium is an integral part of us, but if we move we'll have to make new history. But there's the kit, the crest, the name, the staff, players and, most important of all, us - the fans.
This is pushing it. It really is. Any Cardiff supporter must be going through an identity crisis, as their club is steadily vanishing before their eyes. The astounding thing is, for all the moaning and bitching they're letting it happen. Some are even defending it. Did you know Leeds changed their colours once, fifty years ago (they say)? Hell, we've changed our crest, what right do we have to criticise... Well plenty, as such changes weren't simultaneous by a foreign owner trying to make the club more marketable overseas. I'm surprised they even kept the same name, why not Cardiff Dragons? Americans might like the sound of that.
Being fit and proper to run a business is one thing, being fit and proper to run a football club is another.
I have a lot of sympathy with the distress all this must be causing the die hard Cardiff City fans.
My father came to Bristol in the 30's from the Rhondda valley and whilst my earliest memories of watching League football are from Ashton Gate, Dad often took me to Ninian Park in the early fifties when Cardiff were in the First Division.
Thus I was able to see many of the great British players of the era. Too many players to mention individually except Stan Matthews and Billy Wright who would even today be megastars. Teams like Portsmouth, Tottenham and Wolves who had all won the title within the previous 3 or 4 years.
And later in the decade to follow City there and I especially remember one cracking 3-2 win on Good Friday 1958 and travelling back to Bristol with the team on the supporters special train.
So while, like my father, I always want us to beat Cardiff, I hope that for the fans sake, they may be able to overturn this re-branding exercise someday.
I'm still in utter disbelief that the Cardiff City fans are taking this. I think it's safe to say that if we were purchased by foreign investors and changed our kits over to blue and white most of us would hit the ****ing roof and boycott the club.
Despite our rivalry I've always liked watching Cardiff play, but if the fans don't stand up to this bull**** then I'll lose all respect for them, and I doubt I'll be the only one. They can have all the success they want but if their rivals won't respect them then what's it all worth?