People will see this game as the fiercest derby in the UK, others will shout Rangers v Celtic or Manchester United v Liverpool even Swindon v Oxford (not sure why) but all of these games are different to Swansea City v Cardiff City. This game is the only ‘bubble trip’ in the country.

No fans will mingle at any point, there will be hundreds of police on duty to ensure there will be absolutely no contact with air coverage and all manner of technology. Seriously, unlike some Cardiff fans today abusing the family of Terry Coles on Twitter - the line was drawn by the Welsh FA and the police. Surprisingly only after Swans fans rioted in Cardiff, up until then it was apparently okay. This rivalry goes back to the late sixties. Even visual proof in the late seventies and early eighties of Swansea City fans in every stand at Ninian Park in 1980 is denied. That was the 3-3 John Buchannon free kick game. Easily searched out on YouTube, but the denials continue. In fact the stories coming out of Cardiff over the years are extremely questionable and have become folklore due to the amount of very fat old bald men who repeat them.

Repeat something for long enough and the dripping nonsense will be believed.

Cardiff have scored four goals against Swansea City in ten years over twelve games. The Swans have won eight, drawn two and lost only two. In the process the Swans have put twenty one into the Cardiff net. If anyone wants recent reference to the Swans being the most dominant team in Wales this alone tells the factual truth.

In the Premier League Cardiff City hardly pulled up trees, Their record is abysmal, the Swans for five seasons at least held the dominance as the best placed and top team in Wales, in fact that went on for seven years in the top flight. The Swans won a major trophy and had a great European adventure.

Bragging rights are one thing, the saddening sights are just embarrassing.

Swansea (population nearing 250,000) as a city also hold the record for the most Wales Internationals to play for their country. In one street, Alice Street, five went on to represent their country. Cardiff for all their perceived dominance, which is already now being clearly seen as a myth, with a bigger population (nearly 400,000) really don’t come close. We could visit record transfers received, the Swans win that, and not so much of a big deal in today’s modern game the record transfer fees paid, yes, you can guess the answer.

On attendances, yes Cardiff City have a larger stadium by some twelve thousand. However, the Wales national team sell it out more than Cardiff City do. The club haven’t sold out their stadium for years. And the percentage this season is averaging out at fifty six percent of capacity. The Swans around seventy eight percent. Social media tells us the Swans have over a million subscribers on X(Twitter) Cardiff City under 400k. The list is endless, this century even given the near tragic start the Swans are way ahead as the most dominant and best side in Wales.

However, that’s all in the past, just like 1927, a year when the Arsenal keeper threw the ball into his own net. However, we can’t conclude without mention of this sponsored walk tomorrow pre match (thanks Lee) It seems to be gaining momentum !

How well timed, as the only man who has kept Cardiff City alive spends another 3.2 million on a new player yesterday. Couldn’t make it up.

That’s that then more news to come, keep smiling. It really does wind them up.

Artwork by Swansea Independent

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