"The negative crowd couldn't be bothered to turn up" Says

Cardiff City Fan Zone: Gemma Collard admits she loved watching the Bluebirds' FA Cup win in a positive atmosphere


Sunday Jan 04, 2015



" The negative crowd couldn't be bothered to turn up,I support the team "

By Gemma Collard

Cardiff City Fan Zone columnist Gemma Collard gave the boycott a miss on Friday night and spent her time doing something far more constructive – supporting her team. Here's how it went.


Russell Slade smiles as his team dodge an FA Cup banana skinRussell Slade smiles as his team dodge an FA Cup banana skin
As I drove in and first caught sight of the Cardiff City Stadium, the red light of doom was shining brightly,but by the time I was actually standing on CCS soil, the light had changed to blue, which felt like a good omen!

Ben Turner was named captain and I was glad this role had been moved further up the pitch. Good luck Ben.

I moved seats and could immediately overhear a new character, I'm going to call her LOL (Little Old Lady). Anyway, she cheered on David Marshall, even though he wasn't playing. Kind of her I thought.

In the seventh minute this game came to life thanks to Federico Macheda's run - yes! Macheda with a run!

Joe Ralls looked sharp from the start and his 12th minute shot provided no goal but a deserved round of applause for the glimmer of hope. Again, Kadeem Harris looked confident, I want to see him consistently start for us.

One of the highlights of the first half for me came when 'LOL' just randomly shouted out 'Offside!' - I love her.

Then, those of us there, were celebrating in the 33 minute when another corner ended with Ralls putting City 1-0 up with a deflected goal.

The celebrations were made all the more bizarre when I overheard, somebody shout somewhere behind me: “:Keep it tight, keep it nice now.”



But five minutes later stand-in keeper Simon Moore was forced to make a fantastic save, as Colchester finished the half strongly.

Then there was a bit of an uprising around me.

'LOL' is shouted "Get 'em" and someone else was having a go at Parka (you'll meet him later in the blog) - "You're just an angry fan, angry for the sake of it." To soften the atmosphere somewhat, someone around me shouted: "C'mon Whitts, we all love you butt."

At half time it was 1-0 City. I was pretty sure 'LOL' shouted "come on sexy!" Oh wait, maybe she meant City?

In the 52nd minute Kadeem Harris made it 2-0 City. Couldn't happen to a more deserving player.

Earlier I mentioned 'Parka'. He's a toothless character, a legend of the terraces I'm sure. He stirred the atmosphere by shouting at Kenwyne Jones, who was warming up in front of us.

He gave it: “Come on son, sort 'em out, you're big enough, you're about 7 foot 4, that's it, strip off Kenwyne, come on then son..." Maybe it's got to be heard to be found amusing.

On the 57th minute, a nice shot by Adeyemi resulted in a near miss. Shame, he deserved a goal.

Then, just before the hour, those who turned up were delighted as Macheda went off and Jonesy came on.

Within seconds, City won a corner and Jonesy headed in a rare goal scored in the same minute he walked onto the pitch. Always believe Parka!

As the half wore on Craig Noone looked goal hungry and treated us to some superb runs down the middle and shots on goal but the end result isn't quite going his way.

Then the Blue Army sounded off again, shouting: "Stand up if you want Tan out."

Funny how the 4,000 fans that were there had their heads in the game and had no time for negative energy.

I do believe the team thrived on a small, yet positive crowd against Colchester. The feeling all around me was we were with them, each and every player and they could feel us because we weren't blinded out by the boycott.

Don't think for a second I don't miss the blue, we will always have a blue soul but we've got to support the team.

When the final whistle blew we all cheered the tame off and I must admit I loved being there.

Why did I love this game? I loved it because there was positivity all around.

The negative crowd couldn't be bothered to turn up, nobody booed when it didn't go our way. I'm a City fan, I'll always be there for my club.

Agreed, im pissed off playing in red and wont be there next year but not only because of the colour we play in also the shit atmosphere ,we dont get behind the team anymore, surely we can protest and get behind the team
until we get our blue back and show other fans that we aint as fickle as we seem.

This is going to be one of those debates where each side has a valid argument.

I personally would love to see a total boycott for one game soon. This woman would disagree. A united fan base sticks together and needs leadership. The leadership make a decision and the fans should follow if some disagree with it or not.

Never going to happen is it?

How long has this gemma collard been a fan?,anyone know

How long has this gemma collard been a fan?,anyone know

Never heard of her.

This is going to be one of those debates where each side has a valid argument.

I personally would love to see a total boycott for one game soon. This woman would disagree. A united fan base sticks together and needs leadership. The leadership make a decision and the fans should follow if some disagree with it or not.

Never going to happen is it?

An organised boycott of a league game will happen.

That's why its not the same as it was in the past Family club of the year the atmosphere has completely gone, it's the happy clappys turn ............

How long has this gemma collard been a fan?,anyone know

Never heard of her.

Call 24,000 the negative crowd is a big shout

How long has this gemma collard been a fan?,anyone know

Never heard of her.

Call 24,000 the negative crowd is a big shout

Yes that's a lot of people she is accusing of not supporting the team. Very brave statement.

This is going to be one of those debates where each side has a valid argument.

I personally would love to see a total boycott for one game soon. This woman would disagree. A united fan base sticks together and needs leadership. The leadership make a decision and the fans should follow if some disagree with it or not.

Never going to happen is it?

An organised boycott of a league game will happen.

I would love to see that but more important it being successful.

Brighton home I would love to see a 15,000 crowd holding the blue scarves followed by the next game being the boycotted one. This is not about putting money in Tans pocket, that is already done, it is about showing what a united fanbase we are and what we want.

Thats funny gemma but I don't want to state the obvious that there were numerous videos showing protesting and that included banning.

Are you sure you were watching Cardiff City ?

How long has this gemma collard been a fan?,anyone know

Never heard of her.

Nor me . As such her opinion / article means nothing to me .

Thats funny gemma but I don't want to state the obvious that there were numerous videos showing protesting and that included banning.

Are you sure you were watching Cardiff City ?

How long has this gemma collard been a fan?,anyone know

Never heard of her.

Nor me . As such her opinion / article means nothing to me .

Cardiff City fan zone - sounds like she has done a piece for the club . If they like the positive atmosphere generated by 4k they should get used of it . Nobluenorenew. f*cking club shit houses . One club one community bollocks .

Thats funny gemma but I don't want to state the obvious that there were numerous videos showing protesting and that included banning.

Are you sure you were watching Cardiff City ?

Good/Honest/Straight to the point Reply

This is going to be one of those debates where each side has a valid argument.

I personally would love to see a total boycott for one game soon. This woman would disagree. A united fan base sticks together and needs leadership. The leadership make a decision and the fans should follow if some disagree with it or not.

Never going to happen is it?

An organised boycott of a league game will happen.

I would love to see that but more important it being successful.

Brighton home I would love to see a 15,000 crowd holding the blue scarves followed by the next game being the boycotted one. This is not about putting money in Tans pocket, that is already done, it is about showing what a united fanbase we are and what we want.

Agreed mate.
After Brighton game will be interesting

Thats funny gemma but I don't want to state the obvious that there were numerous videos showing protesting and that included banning.

Are you sure you were watching Cardiff City ?

Good/Honest/Straight to the point Reply

The people protesting looked like they were 15/16 years old just there to show off to their friends. The same group of people who were protesting shouted "you're just a shit Barry Island" at the Colchester fans... Never knew Colchester was by the coast to be honest...

This is going to be one of those debates where each side has a valid argument.

I personally would love to see a total boycott for one game soon. This woman would disagree. A united fan base sticks together and needs leadership. The leadership make a decision and the fans should follow if some disagree with it or not.

Never going to happen is it?

An organised boycott of a league game will happen.

I would love to see that but more important it being successful.

Brighton home I would love to see a 15,000 crowd holding the blue scarves followed by the next game being the boycotted one. This is not about putting money in Tans pocket, that is already done, it is about showing what a united fanbase we are and what we want.

Agreed mate.
After Brighton game will be interesting

Good call. That would be Sat 14th Feb v Blackburn = The Valentines Day Boycott

This is going to be one of those debates where each side has a valid argument.

I personally would love to see a total boycott for one game soon. This woman would disagree. A united fan base sticks together and needs leadership. The leadership make a decision and the fans should follow if some disagree with it or not.

Never going to happen is it?

An organised boycott of a league game will happen.

I would love to see that but more important it being successful.

Brighton home I would love to see a 15,000 crowd holding the blue scarves followed by the next game being the boycotted one. This is not about putting money in Tans pocket, that is already done, it is about showing what a united fanbase we are and what we want.

Agreed mate.
After Brighton game will be interesting

Good call. That would be Sat 14th Feb v Blackburn = The Valentines Day Boycott

I told Bakedalasker a couple of weeks ago on here that after the two advertised protests we would step up if no sign of progress on the return to blue.

It's all getting very tedious now, millions of different opinions! Would have loved to see a forum during late eighties and nineties. That be comedy gold!

Is this Gemma on Fooking drugs or what ?

No offence Gemma but I hope I don't have to read one of your blogs again.

Rare goal for Jones??

How long has this gemma collard been a fan?,anyone know

Never heard of her.

Nor me . As such her opinion / article means nothing to me .

I've Been there since the late 90s, Does that mean my view or opinion doesn't matter?

If she shared the same view as you , would her opinion matter then?

I went. It was like a reserves game there.. If you call that positive. I always enjoy a cup game though.

in denial and deluded

theres nothing "cardiff city" left to support

youth
aint got a clue
https://www.facebook.com/gemma.collard.7
n shes happy shes getting the attention

Is this Gemma on Fooking drugs or what ?

Should get back in the kitchen

How long has this gemma collard been a fan?,anyone know

Never heard of her.

Nor me . As such her opinion / article means nothing to me .

I've Been there since the late 90s, Does that mean my view or opinion doesn't matter?

If she shared the same view as you , would her opinion matter then?

If you have been around since late 90's mate , then in my opinion your view would count for something . That is more than can be said for 'fan zone' Gemma .

She tried way too hard to be funny.

I doubt the players thrived on the "positive energy" from the crowd of 4,000 I reckon it was more to do with the fact we were playing a team who are 23rd in League One.

How long has this gemma collard been a fan?,anyone know

Probably less than 10 years