Friends reunited by Cup

Saturday’s FA Cup action saw Chasetown supporters reunited with their Cardiff City counterparts almost five years to the day since the clubs were famously drawn together in the Third Round.

To mark the weekend anniversary of the draw a group of Cardiff fans were guests of honour at Chasetown’s 3-1 Evo-Stik NPL First Division South victory over Stamford as the clubs’ joint ‘Friendship Through Football’ group held their latest event.

Cardiff’s supporters were presented to the crowd at half time, pictured, before being awarded silver engraved silver hip flasks to commemorate the visit.

It took a 1-0 Second Round replay win over Port Vale to ensure the then Southern League giant-killers went on to play the eventual FA Cup Finalists in January 2008 as the lowest ranked side to reach the Third Round. Cardiff won 3-1 but supporters of the clubs have been firm friends ever since. Chasetown were also honoured by the Championship side later that year as the first official opponents at their new Cardiff City Stadium.

Regular exchange visits now take place every season and are all set to continue according to Cardiff City’s Supporters Trust Chairman Tim Hartley. "We were overwhelmed by the welcome we got at Chasetown and our thanks go to John Franklin, Trevor Youngmans and everyone associated with the club for giving us such a superb day out," he said.

"We may not like everything in modern football but this visit really showed what a force for good the game can be and we look forward to welcoming Chasetown to Cardiff next year to maintain our ‘Friendship through Football’."

Picture courtesy of Dave Birt, Chasetown.