by Call to Arms
I'm a Community Pharmacist based in Tonypandy. Most of my patients and customers are Ponty fans! I studied in Cardiff and qualified 23 years ago. My first Cardiff game was at the age of six in 1965 against Newport at the old Arms Park, but my best memories are the wins against Australia in 1984 and the early seasons in Europe.
I joined the supporters club in the early 1980s (before the introduction of leagues) and my early memories are of away games in the Midlands. I joined when Ken Jones was head of the Supporters Club. I was a member for seven or eight years and then acted as Treasurer for five years. I've now been chairman for six or seven years.
Traditionally the supporters club provides transport for away games, but with the advent of the of internet, finding cheap air tickets has been easy for individuals. So organising trips to Magners League away games has been difficult. We still organise trips to the Liberty and Stradey, and we'll be putting on buses to the HEC and EDF fixtures, as well as the usual premiership games.
The second role of the supporters club is to provide social events for members. But with the TV companies able to change kick off times 21 days before a scheduled game, organising events is becoming far more difficult.
We have a membership of around 500 people most seasons. The figure doesn't change too much and we're already signed up more than 200 people so far this season. Most people join when we have a home game, and as we've only had one league game so far this season, we've no reason to think we won't reach 500 again.
I feel strongly that rugby should have more of a say in the running of the Cardiff Athletic Club given the overwhelming majority of members are from the rugby section.
There is clearly room for both the Trust and the Supporters Club and we should continue to work together. Even though there are no official relations between the two organisations, much of our goals are common.
I sit on the 12 man committee of the Rugby Section of CAC. That doesn't mean I sit on the management committee. Three times a season I join the Premiership Club committee (made up of representatives from the Premiership Clubs) in Aberavon.
We should stay at CAP. I am horrified and appalled at the thought of moving. I've not spoken to one person who thinks the move is a good idea and I don't agree with the board's view that profit will increase if we move away from CAP.
The dilution of the Cardiff brand with any proposed move to Leckwith will not attract people down the A470. I know. I live and work with them!
There is a real danger in annoying supporters who have followed Cardiff all their lives. The board needs to realise that by dropping the Cardiff brand, they will lose far more supporters than they will gain.
I'm not in favour of the present Celtic League competition. It is not supporter friendly. Too many home games are live on TV, so why pay for a season ticket? Kick off times are very supporter unfriendly. The balance is all wrong.
What should happen is that there should be an agreement between BBC Wales and Irish and Scottish broadcasters such that away games are televised. We need reciprocal arrangements.
No away fans means a lack of atmosphere which leads to a lack of intensity on the pitch.
I don¡¦t believe the long term future of the game is guaranteed by the present structure. The only way Welsh regions will become self-financing is if we have an Anglo-Welsh tournament. Kick off times should be mid-afternoon to allow away fans to travel.
During the Rebel Season, the WRU were offered four teams in the English pyramid. I bet they're regretting their decision now!
I'm not sure the sacrifices made by other clubs in the name of regionalism have been worth it. Is the national side any stronger than it was five years ago? Sure Wales won a Grand Slam, but that was in the first season of regionalism, so we can¡¦t attribute that success to the shake up in Welsh rugby.
I believe a return to old rivalries would be a good thing. Too many supporters have left the sport. No disrespect intended, but playing the Scots and Irish simply doesn't provide the excitement that the old derbies used to offer.
My utopia would be an Anglo-Welsh league. Now that the English are not so strong as they used to be, who knows, maybe there is still a chance for change in the near future?
One possible future scenario is that the Blues will move to Leckwith and the Premiership side will play at Sophia Gardens. This would leave the Arms Park to be developed for other uses. How would you feel about this scenario?
I am very sad and angry about this idea. The Arms Park should be redeveloped. The two sides could leave for a season or two to allow changes to be made to the ground. The Blues could play next door for a season.
I believe both teams should remain at CAP in the long term.
Why does the board feel the need to copy other sides? Just because other sides are having new stadia, does this mean that Cardiff needs a new ground?
Sure, when we reach capacity it could make sense to move, but there are many ways in which the present ground could be redeveloped.
I personally don't think it will make much difference. Peter Thomas seems to get what Peter Thomas wants.
The present situation is a stalemate, however, and something must change. Other clubs/regions can develop, but we are being held back.
I'm not convinced that the present squad is any stronger than tho one Cardiff had prior to the introduction of regions. Has regionalism concentrated talent? Where's the evidence? I think this is extremely debateable.
We need a better relationship between the board and the Athletic Club. Both sides would clearly benefit if this was to happen.