Off Topic On this day

I thought he took the name from the area not the other way around - or are you playing with Taff?

 

What do you think

 

Ray chose his name from the "mill lands" area of Neath where he played as a child

 

I thought I was playing you given I posted ‘Ray Street?’

Having lived in the area all my life - apart from 3 years in Uni - I know Neath pretty well

 

On this day in 1997, Neath beat the USA 39-15.

The match was transferred at short notice to the Arms Park as the Gnoll was frost-bound.

Today Neath hosted Trebanos....

How times have changed!

 

That's where i got confused - who is zooming who!

 

After reading your posts I had a fair idea that was the case

 

On this day, 5 January 2014, in front of 73,190 people, the Swans dumped Manchester United out of the FA Cup at Old Trafford ....

“Swansea won for the first time in their history at Old Trafford as Wilfried Bony's 90th minute winner knocked 10-man Manchester United out of the FA Cup.

The Ivory Coast striker, who had caused anxiety in the United defence for most of the game, headed in Wayne Routledge's cross to book a fourth-round spot against Birmingham, Bristol Rovers or Crawley Town.

The game looked like it was heading for a replay as the hosts held on following Fabio Da Silva's red card 10 minutes from the end after he had scythed down Jose Canas.

But Bony's strike ended a run of seven games without a win for the Swans, who had opened the scoring early on through Routledge before Javier Hernandez's equaliser.”

“Prior to this win, the Swans had previously played Manchester United at Old Trafford 10 times, with the first fixture back in 1931.

However, they had never won and had drawn just twice, most recently in 1934....”

 

I was at that one. Towering header our end at the death. Got pissed in Manc and Mrs Bubbs had to collect me. She wasn’t happy. Good times.

 

On this day in 2013, Swansea won at Chelsea for the first time in 87 years to head into the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg with a precious two-goal advantage.

The hosts dominated in the first half but an error from defender Branislav Ivanovic allowed Michu to curl home.

The home side continued to press but Ivanovic was again at fault in stoppage time when Danny Graham seized on his poor backpass to seal the win.

 

My son was there - saw him on Sky going ‘mad’ along with his 3 mates - 2 of whom are English, one from Swindon and one from Hertfordshire who became converted Jacks from their time in Uni, when they’d travel down from Cardiff Uni with my son to support the Swans!

 

40 years ago, this month we played Crystal Palace 3 times in 10 days, with the deciding match ending:

Swansea City 2 Crystal Palace 1

FA Cup third round second replay on Monday, 14 January 1980.

Swansea City defeated top-flight Crystal Palace in this FA Cup third round replay at Ninian Park.

The two sides had drawn 2-2 at the Vetch Field on 5 January 1980 and 3 days later on 8 January 1980 it was 3-3 after extra-time in the Selhurst Park replay, meaning that the two teams had to meet for a third time.

The Swans won the draw to decide the neutral venue and opted for Ninian Park rather than Ashton Gate.

Wales international Terry Boyle gave Palace the lead after 12 minutes, but John Toshack's side pushed forward in the second half and Robbie James equalised in the 54th minute.

The Swans wore down their high-flying opponents and David Giles, who later played for Palace, scored the winner with 20 minutes to play.

SWANS: Letheran, Marustik, Rushbury, Charles, Phillips, Giles, Craig, James, Waddle, Toshack, Callaghan.

CRYSTAL PALACE: Burridge, Hinshelwood, Cannon, Kember, Boyle, Gilbert, Murphy, Fenwick, Swindlehurst, Walsh, Hilaire.

Whilst a fantastic result, the night was overshadowed by the killing of a Swansea fan, Dai Williams, who was stabbed outside the ground.

The Palace ‘fan’ (Barry Rondeau) who perpetrated the murder subsequently killed himself in jail some years later.

I was at Ninian Park that night - to the right of the players’ tunnel - and can remember Richie Morgan (Cardiff Manager) standing in the tunnel: the Swans fans started chanting

Richie Morgan, Richie Morgan
What’s it like to see a crowd, What’s it like to see a crowd?

 

We were parked around the corner from the murder.
We knew something had happened but at the time not so terrible.
We also knew the family.

 

I didn’t learn about it until after we got back. Went with my late Dad. He managed to arrange to park near to Ninian Park - Dad knew virtually everyone involved in Welsh football.

At his funeral, there were a number of FAW and West Wales FA officials, not to mention our former beloved Chairman.

 

I remember that game so well I had an interview at a hotel in Kensington and I told the chap doing the interview that I had to get the 5pm train from Paddington as the Swans are playing Palace. I got the job

 

Travelled up by train, . ...... escorted by Police to ground, and stoned from side streets, by Cardiff supporters,not by Palace fans. ........ Another story now, We travelled by train to Preston to see the Swans beat Preston 3-1 , On the way back Police on train told us to draw all curtains in the carriages before we passed through Cardiff, ...... indeed as we passed through Cardiff stones bounced off the top of the coaches as we passed under bridges. They were more of a bloody horrible lot then , that they are now.
These days there seems to be more control over the Nutters, with Police tactics, and Video Cameras everywhere.

O Cardiff O Cardiff o what can you do?
With your hands in your pockets and f.... all to do.
You stand on your seats, and you bawl and you shout.
All over the things you know f..k all about.

 

Nice one Vic. Hope you’re up for the game on Sunday. Should be fruity haha. More time for your stories in-between mind!

 

Now I have a cross to bear, my brother in law is a Cardiff fan and season ticket holder. So back in the days of no away fans, I went to the game at Ninian Park with him and his father. I was told shut up and sit down say nothing.

Well the game was panning out as a 0-0, till Keith Walker popped up to belt one into the onion bag, well you can’t keep a good man down, up I go arms in the air and compliment the Cardiff fans with the usual gestures, brother in law pulling me down and restraining me.

Happy days!!