South Wales derby

South Wales derby
Locale South Wales
Teams Cardiff City and Swansea City
First contested 7 September 1912
Most recent meeting Swansea City 3-0 Cardiff City (8 February 2014)
Next meeting Unknown
Statistics
Number of meetings 107
Most wins Cardiff City (44 wins)
Most player appearances Roger Freestone (19)
Largest victory Cardiff City 5–0 Swansea Town (6 April 1965)

The South Wales derby is a football local derby between Welsh clubs Cardiff City and Swansea City and is regarded as one of the most fierce rivalries in British football.[1][2] Despite both clubs being in Wales, they play in the English football league system and have won English honours: Cardiff the FA Cup in 1927 and Swansea the Football League Cup in 2013.

The most recent South Wales derby to be played took place on 8 February 2014 in the Premier League, which ended with a 3–0 win to Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.

History

The first match between the two sides took place on 7 September 1912 at Swansea Town's Vetch Field, a Southern Football League Division Two match ending in a 1–1 draw. Over the next two decades, as they rose to the national Football League, the clubs met frequently not only in league competition but also in the Welsh Cup as at the time they were two of the best Welsh teams and as such often progressed further into the tournament.

During the last few decades both clubs have been plagued by football hooliganism, notably Cardiff whose Soul Crew became notorious through their actions,[3][4] and matches between the sides have often been marred by violence between the rival sets of supporters.

In September 1988, after seeing their side win in Swansea, a group of Cardiff fans were chased into the sea by a group of Swansea fans. Since then, Swansea fans mockingly suggest to their Cardiff City rivals that they "swim away", in reference to the event.[5]

On 23 December 1993 a match between the two sides was dubbed 'The Battle Of Ninian Park' as Swansea fans were placed in the grandstand for the game. As Cardiff went up 1–0, The Swansea fans began ripping out seats and throwing them at the Cardiff supporters, which resulted in the home fans invading the pitch. The following day national news showing pictures of the violence shocked the nation, forcing the FAW to ban away fans from this fixture for several years, the first fixture in Britain to do so.

Although in recent years the hooligan violence of both sides has sharply decreased matches between the two sides can still see serious trouble, as such any games between the two teams are normally subject to a much higher level of policing than normal matches (bubble matches). A heavy police presence was also required when Swansea fans travelled to Cardiff when they played at the Millennium Stadium in the Football League Trophy final in 2006.[6]

In recent years the South Wales derby has taken place less frequently as Cardiff City moved up the leagues whilst Swansea fell on bad times and nearly dropped out of the football league and hence avoided each other. The first derby to take place in just under a decade took place in the League Cup on 23 September 2008 with Swansea winning 1–0. The match saw sets of supporters from both clubs clash with police after the match.[7] The return fixture, on 5 April 2009 at Ninian Park, was marred by referee Mike Dean being hit in the head by a coin thrown from the Cardiff crowd, as well as Cardiff fans clashing with police after the match.[8] The violence led to 5 arrests on the day and more following the use of CCTV footage.

The first derby of the 2009–10 season on 7 November 2009 at the Liberty Stadium ended in a 3–2 win for Swansea and again saw crowd disturbance as hundreds of Swansea fans waited outside the ground for the Cardiff City fans to depart. This resulted in a total fifteen arrests made during and after the match. Cardiff City fans also vandalised the North Stand in which they were placed for the game for the second year in a row. Seats and toilets were vandalised, pipe work ripped from walls and doors broken in the away fans' area. The cost of the damage is said to cost thousands of pounds. However, police praised the majority of supporters for their behaviour before, during and after the game which was attended by more than 18,000 fans. Divisional Commander for Swansea, Ch Supt Mark Mathias, who was in charge of policing the match, said: "The overwhelming majority of fans behaved extremely well."[9][10][11]

The first two South Wales derby in the Top Division took place during the 2013-14 season, following Cardiff's promotion from Championship, Cardiff City won the 1st ever Premier League Welsh Derby 1-0 from ex Swansea defender, Steven Caulker heading home for the Bluebirds. The return fixture at The Liberty Stadium saw Swansea win 3-0 after a high pressure build up with Garry Monk taking charge for his 1st game as Swansea manager.

Record

Results summary
From 107 competitive games:

Cardiff City 44 Wins
Swansea City 35 Wins
27 Draws

Last Result
Swansea City

3

Cardiff City

0

(Routledge, 47),
(Dyer, 79),
(Bony, 85)

Saturday 8 February 2014
Premier League,
Liberty Stadium, Swansea, Wales
Attendance: 20,402

Tournament-wide summary, as of 8 February 2014

Competition Total Matches Cardiff Win Draw Swansea Win
League 56 19 16 21
FA Cup 1 0 0 1
League Cup 5 2 0 3
Associate Members Cup 4 1 1 2
Welsh Cup/FAW Premier Cup 36 21 8 7
Southern League 4 1 2 1
Total 107 44 27 35

Game list

Only results from English football league system competitions are counted in the following tally. Friendlies and Welsh cup tournament matches are not included.

The most recent game resulted in a 3–0 win for Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium.

      Cardiff City win       Swansea City win       Draw

Date Competition Stadium Score Cardiff City Scorers Swansea City Scorers Att. Ref
Cardiff City were relegated to Championship 2013–14
8 February 2014 Premier League Liberty Stadium 3–0 Wayne Routledge, Nathan Dyer, Wilfried Bony 20,402 [12]
3 November 2013 Premier League Cardiff City Stadium 1–0 Steven Caulker 27,463 [13]
Cardiff City were promoted to Premier League 2012–13
Swansea City were promoted to Premier League 2010–11
6 February 2011 Championship Liberty Stadium 1–0 Craig Bellamy 18,280 [14]
7 November 2010 Championship Cardiff City Stadium 1–0 Marvin Emnes 26,049 [15]
3 April 2010 Championship Cardiff City Stadium 2–1 Michael Chopra (2) Andrea Orlandi 25,130 [16]
7 November 2009 Championship Liberty Stadium 3–2 Jay Bothroyd, Mark Hudson Nathan Dyer, Darren Pratley (2) 18,209 [17]
5 April 2009 Championship Ninian Park 2–2 Michael Chopra, Ross McCormack Nathan Dyer, Joe Allen 20,156 [18]
30 November 2008 Championship Liberty Stadium 2–2 Joe Ledley, Ross McCormack Darren Pratley, Gorka Pintado 18,053 [19]
23 September 2008 League Cup Liberty Stadium 1–0 Jordi Gómez 17,411 [20]
Swansea City were promoted to Championship 2007–08
Swansea City were promoted to League One 2004–05
Cardiff City were promoted to First Division 2002–03
Cardiff City were promoted to Second Division 2000–01
Swansea City were relegated to Third Division 2000–01
Cardiff City relegated to Third Division 1999-00
Swansea City were promoted to Second Division 1999-00
18 April 1999 Third Division Ninian Park 0–0 10809
22 November 1998 Third Division Vetch Field 2–1 John Williams Martin Thomas, Matthew Bound 7757
Cardiff City promoted to Second Division 1998–99
8 March 1998 Third Division Vetch Field 1–1 Jason Fowler Jon Coates 5621
2 November 1997 Third Division Ninian Park 1–0 Keith Walker 6459
2 March 1997 Third Division Vetch Field 1–0 Simon Haworth 4430
3 December 1996 Third Division Ninian Park 3–1 Steve White Kwame Ampadu, Steve Jones, Dai Thomas 3721
Swansea City relegated to Third Division 1995–96
Cardiff City relegated to Third Division 1994–95
2 April 1994 Second Division Vetch Field 1–0 David Penney 3711
22 December 1993 Second Division Ninian Park 1–0 Garry Thompson 9815
Cardiff City promoted to Second Division 1992–93
16 November 1991 FA Cup Vetch Field 2–1 Nathan Blake Jimmy Gilligan, Mark Harris 13516
Cardiff City relegated to Fourth Division 1989–90
16 April 1990 Division 3 Ninian Park 2–0 John Hughes, Bryan Wade 8356
26 December 1989 Division 3 Vetch Field 1–0 Leigh Barnard 12244
27 March 1989 Division 3 Vetch Field 1–1 Jimmy Gilligan Paul Raynor 9201
26 December 1988 Division 3 Ninian Park 2–2 Jimmy Gilligan (2) David Puckett, Alan Davies 10675
20 September 1988 League Cup Vetch Field 2–0 Paul Wheeler, Terry Boyle 6987
30 August 1988 League Cup Ninian Park 1–0 Steve Thornber 6241
Cardiff City & Swansea City were promoted to Division 3 1987–88
1 January 1988 Division 4 Vetch Field 2–2 Mike Ford, Jimmy Gilligan Joe Allon, Paul Raynor 9560
29 August 1987 Division 4 Ninian Park 1–0 Jimmy Gilligan 5790
20 April 1987 Division 4 Vetch Field 2–0 Paul Atkinson, Terry Boyle (own goal) 6653
26 December 1986 Division 4 Ninian Park 0–0 11450
Cardiff City & Swansea relegated to Division 4 1985–86
31 March 1986 Division 3 Vetch Field 2–0 David Hough, Phil Williams 6643
26 December 1985 Division 3 Ninian Park 1–0 Nigel Vaughan 8375
3 September 1985 League Cup Vetch Field 3–1 Mark Farrington Colin Randell (2), Colin Pascoe 4621
20 August 1985 League Cup Ninian Park 2–1 Brian Flynn (2) Chris Marustik 4218
Cardiff City relegated to Division 3 1984–85
Swansea City relegated to Division 3 1983–84
21 April 1984 Division 2 Vetch Field 3–2 Colin Smith, Gordon Owen Dean Saunders (2), Ian Walsh 10275
26 December 1983 Division 2 Ninian Park 3–2 Roger Gibbins, Nigel Vaughan, Trevor Lee Gary Stanley(pen), John Toshack 14580
Cardiff City promoted to Division 2 1982–83
Swansea City relegated to Division 2 1982–93
Cardiff City relegated to Division 3 1981–82
Swansea City promoted to Division 1 1980–81
19 April 1981 Division 2 Vetch Field 1–1 Peter Kitchen Leighton James 19038
27 December 1980 Division 2 Ninian Park 3–3 Gary Stevens, Peter Kitchen, John Buchanan Neil Robinson, Alan Curtis, Leighton James 21198
7 April 1980 Division 2 Ninian Park 1–0 Billy Ronson 14634
1 January 1980 Division 2 Vetch Field 2–1 John Lewis John Toshack, David Giles 21306
Swansea City promoted to Division 2 1978–79
Swansea City promoted to Division 3 1977–78
Cardiff City promoted to Division 2 1975–76
Cardiff City relegated to Division 3 1974–75
Swansea City relegated to Division 4 1972–73
Swansea City promoted to Division 3 1969–70
Swansea City relegated to Division 4 1966–67
Swansea City relegated to Division 3 1964–65
6 April 1965 Division 2 Ninian Park 5–0 Ivor Allchurch (3), John Charles (2) 15896
26 December 1964 Division 2 Vetch Field 3–2 Keith Ellis (2) 17875
28 March 1964 Division 2 Vetch Field 3–0 18721
19 October 1963 Division 2 Ninian Park 1–1 Dick Scott (pen) 21417
15 September 1962 Division 2 Ninian Park 5–2 P Davies (og), John Charles (2), Alan McIntosh, Peter Hooper 23454
4 September 1962 Division 2 Vetch Field 2–1 John Charles 24687
Cardiff City relegated to Division 2 1961–62
Cardiff City promoted to Division 1 1959–60
26 March 1960 Division 2 Vetch Field 3–3 Joe Bonson, Graham Moore, Brian Walsh 24004
7 November 1959 Division 2 Ninian Park 2–1 Derrick Sullivan, Joe Bonson 34881
15 April 1959 Division 2 Vetch Field 3–1 George Kelly (2), Mel Nurse (og) 14893
7 March 1959 Division 2 Ninian Park 1–0 24450
21 December 1957 Division 2 Vetch Field 1–0 Colin Hudson 19483
24 August 1957 Division 2 Ninian Park 0–0 42482
Cardiff City relegated to Division 2 1956–57
Cardiff City promoted to Division 1 1951–52
26 December 1951 Division 2 Ninian Park 3–0 Billy Baker, Wilf Grant, Mike Tiddy 46003|
25 December 1951 Division 2 Vetch Field 1–1 Mike Tiddy 19260
24 March 1951 Division 2 Ninian Park 1–0 Marwood Marchant 41074
4 November 1950 Division 2 Vetch Field 1–0 26393
24 December 1949 Division 2 Vetch Field 5–1 Ron Stitfall 27264
27 August 1949 Division 2 Ninian Park 1–0 Thomas Best 60855
Swansea City promoted to Division 2 1948–49
Cardiff City promoted to Division 2
Swansea City relegated to Third Division South 1946–47
26 October 1940 Friendly Ninian Park 8–0 John Moore (3), Billy James (3), Reg Parker (2) 4000
No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1946 due to World War II
20 August 1938 Friendly Ninian Park 3–3 10,000
Cardiff City relegated to Third Division South 1930–31
27 December 1930 Division 2 Ninian Park 1–0 Les Jones 24232
30 August 1930 Division 2 Vetch Field 3–2 Ralph Williams (2) 20363
8 February 1930 Division 2 Vetch Field 1–0 22121
5 October 1929 Division 2 Ninian Park 0–0 29093
Cardiff City relegated to Division 2 1928–29
Swansea City promoted to Division 2 1924–25
Cardiff City promoted to Division 1 1920–21
In 1915, competitive football was abandoned in Britain owing to World War I
Cardiff City promoted to Southern Football League Division 1 1912–13
15 March 1913 SFL Division 2 Ninian Park 0–0 10000
7 September 1912 SFL Division 2 Vetch Field 1–1 Jack Burton Billy Ball 8000

Memorable matches

Player records

Most derby appearances*

Ranking Player Derby Appearances Club
1 Roger Freestone 19 Swansea City
2= Ivor Allchurch 17 Swansea Town & Cardiff City
2= Alan Harrington 17 Cardiff City
2= Herbie Williams 17 Swansea Town
5 Ron Stitfall 16 Cardiff City

* – Excluding wartime fixtures.

Most derby goals*

Ranking Player Goals Club
1 Brayley Reynolds 8 Swansea Town
2 Ronnie Williams 7 Swansea Town
3= Jimmy Gilligan 6 Cardiff City & Swansea Town
3= Herbie Williams 6 Swansea Town
5= George Johnston 4 Cardiff City
5= John Toshack 4 Cardiff City & Swansea City

* – Excluding wartime fixtures.

Crossing the South Wales divide

A number of players who have played for both clubs during their career

   

Newport rivalry

Newport County are also part of South Wales derbies, regarding both Cardiff City and Swansea City as rivals, but particularly Cardiff for reasons of proximity and historic rivalry between the two cities. 24,268 spectators saw County and Cardiff play at Somerton Park Newport in 1937, which remained a ground record despite other high attendances for derby games between the clubs in the 1970s and 1980s. The clubs' relative league positions meant that Newport have rarely played Cardiff or Swansea since 1989, though they have faced each other in cup competitions; the most recent encounter being Newport's FAW Premier Cup victory against Cardiff at Ninian Park in February 2008.

A 2008 survey carried out by Planetfootball.com saw Swansea fans not even vote Newport into their top three rivalries, instead finishing behind Cardiff, Bristol City and Bristol Rovers, while Cardiff fans voted that they considered Bristol City, known as the Severnside derby, to be more of a rivalry than Newport.[22]

References

  1. "Cardiff City vs Swansea City" Footballderbies.com Retrieved on 28 January 2008
  2. "The Top Ten British Rivalries" oleole.com Retrieved on 28 January 2008
  3. "Cardiff and the hooligan element" BBC Retrieved on 28 January 2008
  4. "Hammam calls for anti-thug summit" BBC Sport Retrieved on 14 May 2008
  5. "News paper report on 'The Night In Swansea Bay'" Geocities Retrieved on 14 May 2008
  6. "Police ready for Swans invasion" BBC Retrieved on 28 January 2008
  7. "Fans clash with police at Derby" BBC Sport Retrieved on 24 September 2008
  8. "Arrest after ref hit by missile" BBC News Retrieved on 5 April 2009
  9. "Fifteen arrests at football derby". BBC. 8 November 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  10. Dulin, David (7 November 2009). "Swansea 3–2 Cardiff". BBC News. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  11. "Stadium damage to cost thousands" BBC Sport Retrieved on 10 November 2009
  12. "Swansea 3–0 Cardiff". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 8 February 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  13. "Cardiff 1–0 Swansea". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 3 November 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  14. Dulin, David (6 February 2011). "Swansea 0–1 Cardiff". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  15. Shuttleworth, Peter (7 November 2010). "Cardiff 0–1 Swansea". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  16. "Cardiff 2–1 Swansea". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 3 April 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
  17. Dulin, David (7 November 2009). "Swansea 3–2 Cariiff". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  18. "Cardiff 2–2 Swansea". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 5 April 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
  19. "Swansea 2–2 Cardiff". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 30 November 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
  20. "Swansea 1–0 Cardiff". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 23 September 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2008.
  21. "Saturday night fever for south Wales derby". BBC Sport. 2010-08-31. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  22. "Football rivalries: The complete results" Planetfootball.com Retrieved on 28 January 2008

Further reading