' The 51-year wait is almost over '

The 51-year wait is almost over, the Premier League so close you can almost touch it.


Statistics show history is on Cardiff City's side in bid for Premier League survival
6th Jul 2013

In 21 years of Premier League battle, just eight promoted champions have been relegated straight back down to the second tier. Steve Tucker finds out more



The 51-year wait is almost over, the Premier League so close you can almost touch it.

When Malky Mackay’s men troop out at West Ham on Saturday, August 17 (providing Sky don’t delay it for live televised coverage, of course) it will be the Bluebirds’ first taste of top-flight action since a demoralised team trudged off at Villa Park following a 2-2 draw on May 1, 1962.

Nobody dreamt at that point that City’s absence from the top table would last so long (18,736 days to be precise), although maybe the Cardiff players that day counted themselves fortunate. After all, they had been thrashed 8-3 at Everton just three days before.

Many, of course, will be thinking ‘Pah, this is just history’ – the Bluebirds are building towards a bright new future under the man many of you voted the club’s greatest-ever manager recently, and this is true.

But lessons can be learned from history and those who do not learn from them are doomed to fail.

What the fans of today will want to know now is whether the Bluebirds’ current elevation will be a lengthy stay or a mere sojourn?

Will it be but a fleeting season before City return to the wanabees and dreamers of the Championship?

Or is this the start of something special? Establishing a foothold in the top flight and building a glorious future so bright that one can hardly bear to gaze upon it.

Who knows? We could come to a conclusion by reasoned argument and examination, but this is an exercise in studying the stats.

So let’s delve into Premier League history and see how those promoted teams actually got on in their first campaign in the so-called promised land.

There have been 21 seasons of Premier League action to date and the Bluebirds will be the 46th team to play in the competition.

Perversely, history tells us that City would have been better off finishing second in the second tier.

Yes, I’m afraid it’s true. Seven runners-up have been relegated in the post-promotion season, while eight champions have bitten the dust.

But if we are going for accuracy here, and when it comes to stats we surely must, then it has to stressed that in the the1995-96 season there was no second place.

Only the champions went up automatically as the Premier League was trimmed to its current compliment of 20 teams.

The other club promoted that year, Bolton, went up via a play-off.





Spare a thought for poor, old Reading that year, who finished second, just a point behind champions Middlesbrough, and still found themselves missing out on promotion.

That may be the kind of luck hardened Bluebirds fans will reason is usually only reserved for their side.

But justice was served cold 12 months later with Bolton occupying 20th spot the following season and slipping straight back down.

In fact, it is play-off winners who really need to be looking over their shoulders on the back of promotion.

With less time to prepare for the demanding challenge ahead, 12 of them – more than half the play-off winners – have hurtled headlong back from whence they came.

Small wonder the bookies make the play-off winners annual favourites for the drop.

Of course, as with Cardiff, Hull and Crystal Palace this time around, the three promoted teams are immediately ensconced as the three favourites to go straight back down.

But that has actually only ever happened once, in the 1997-98 season when Bolton (18th), Barnsley (19th) and Palace (20th) were all relegated.

The better news – however slightly – is that all three new boys have defied the cynics on two occasions.

Fulham, Blackburn and Bolton (yes them again) all survived in the 2001-02 season, while QPR, Norwich and Swansea defied the script two campaigns ago.

But how far can a promoted team soar in the Premier League?

The most impressive, and one of the best remembered, came very early when Newcastle, having finished as champions, finished third on their Premier League debut.

This was the cavalier reign of ‘King’ Kevin Keegan on Tyneside with the Magpies coming perilously close to claiming the title itself in subsequent years.

Big names arrived on Tyneside – local hero Alan Shearer among them for a then-world record fee of £15m – but history also tells us you don’t have to go completely cash crazy to ensure a respectable and, most importantly, a safe finish following promotion.

Sunderland found themselves nestled very nicely in seventh place in 2000, a position very much down to the incredible goal-scoring exploits of a certain Kevin Phillips. I wonder whatever happened to him?

It also seems to help if you can really put the Championship to the sword on your way up too.

Reading amassed the most points ever in the Championship in 2006, with a mighty 106 to their name.

The Royals lost only twice all season and scored 99 goals in the process under Steve Coppell.

The momentum continued all the way to the Premier League where Reading managed a highly-creditable eighth place finish the following season.

So what of the Bluebirds then?

Well, when it comes to points City’s table-topping total of 87 last season is hardly going to frighten anyone.

Not only is it a long way off Reading’s record, it is the second lowest tally of champions since the second tier became the Championship in 2004-05, West Brom’s 81-point haul in 2007-08 the smallest return.

But when it comes to money – and goals – perhaps Mackay does have the necessary ammunition.

A club record transfer fee of £8.5m was splashed on young Denmark striker Andreas Cornelius, surely an indication of City’s ambition.

One thing is for sure, when the Bluebirds leave the pitch after entertaining Chelsea on May 11 it must be hoped that it will only be three months before they are playing another top-flight game – rather than the half-a-century that has just passed.

The 51-year wait is almost over, the Premier League so close you can almost touch it.


Statistics show history is on Cardiff City's side in bid for Premier League survival
6th Jul 2013

In 21 years of Premier League battle, just eight promoted champions have been relegated straight back down to the second tier. Steve Tucker finds out more



The 51-year wait is almost over, the Premier League so close you can almost touch it.

When Malky Mackay’s men troop out at West Ham on Saturday, August 17 (providing Sky don’t delay it for live televised coverage, of course) it will be the Bluebirds’ first taste of top-flight action since a demoralised team trudged off at Villa Park following a 2-2 draw on May 1, 1962.

Nobody dreamt at that point that City’s absence from the top table would last so long (18,736 days to be precise), although maybe the Cardiff players that day counted themselves fortunate. After all, they had been thrashed 8-3 at Everton just three days before.

Many, of course, will be thinking ‘Pah, this is just history’ – the Bluebirds are building towards a bright new future under the man many of you voted the club’s greatest-ever manager recently, and this is true.

But lessons can be learned from history and those who do not learn from them are doomed to fail.

What the fans of today will want to know now is whether the Bluebirds’ current elevation will be a lengthy stay or a mere sojourn?

Will it be but a fleeting season before City return to the wanabees and dreamers of the Championship?

Or is this the start of something special? Establishing a foothold in the top flight and building a glorious future so bright that one can hardly bear to gaze upon it.

Who knows? We could come to a conclusion by reasoned argument and examination, but this is an exercise in studying the stats.

So let’s delve into Premier League history and see how those promoted teams actually got on in their first campaign in the so-called promised land.

There have been 21 seasons of Premier League action to date and the Bluebirds will be the 46th team to play in the competition.

Perversely, history tells us that City would have been better off finishing second in the second tier.

Yes, I’m afraid it’s true. Seven runners-up have been relegated in the post-promotion season, while eight champions have bitten the dust.

But if we are going for accuracy here, and when it comes to stats we surely must, then it has to stressed that in the the1995-96 season there was no second place.

Only the champions went up automatically as the Premier League was trimmed to its current compliment of 20 teams.

The other club promoted that year, Bolton, went up via a play-off.





Spare a thought for poor, old Reading that year, who finished second, just a point behind champions Middlesbrough, and still found themselves missing out on promotion.

That may be the kind of luck hardened Bluebirds fans will reason is usually only reserved for their side.

But justice was served cold 12 months later with Bolton occupying 20th spot the following season and slipping straight back down.

In fact, it is play-off winners who really need to be looking over their shoulders on the back of promotion.

With less time to prepare for the demanding challenge ahead, 12 of them – more than half the play-off winners – have hurtled headlong back from whence they came.

Small wonder the bookies make the play-off winners annual favourites for the drop.

Of course, as with Cardiff, Hull and Crystal Palace this time around, the three promoted teams are immediately ensconced as the three favourites to go straight back down.

But that has actually only ever happened once, in the 1997-98 season when Bolton (18th), Barnsley (19th) and Palace (20th) were all relegated.

The better news – however slightly – is that all three new boys have defied the cynics on two occasions.

Fulham, Blackburn and Bolton (yes them again) all survived in the 2001-02 season, while QPR, Norwich and Swansea defied the script two campaigns ago.

But how far can a promoted team soar in the Premier League?

The most impressive, and one of the best remembered, came very early when Newcastle, having finished as champions, finished third on their Premier League debut.

This was the cavalier reign of ‘King’ Kevin Keegan on Tyneside with the Magpies coming perilously close to claiming the title itself in subsequent years.

Big names arrived on Tyneside – local hero Alan Shearer among them for a then-world record fee of £15m – but history also tells us you don’t have to go completely cash crazy to ensure a respectable and, most importantly, a safe finish following promotion.

Sunderland found themselves nestled very nicely in seventh place in 2000, a position very much down to the incredible goal-scoring exploits of a certain Kevin Phillips. I wonder whatever happened to him?

It also seems to help if you can really put the Championship to the sword on your way up too.

Reading amassed the most points ever in the Championship in 2006, with a mighty 106 to their name.

The Royals lost only twice all season and scored 99 goals in the process under Steve Coppell.

The momentum continued all the way to the Premier League where Reading managed a highly-creditable eighth place finish the following season.

So what of the Bluebirds then?

Well, when it comes to points City’s table-topping total of 87 last season is hardly going to frighten anyone.

Not only is it a long way off Reading’s record, it is the second lowest tally of champions since the second tier became the Championship in 2004-05, West Brom’s 81-point haul in 2007-08 the smallest return.

But when it comes to money – and goals – perhaps Mackay does have the necessary ammunition.

A club record transfer fee of £8.5m was splashed on young Denmark striker Andreas Cornelius, surely an indication of City’s ambition.

One thing is for sure, when the Bluebirds leave the pitch after entertaining Chelsea on May 11 it must be hoped that it will only be three months before they are playing another top-flight game – rather than the half-a-century that has just passed.

Did you write that yourself?

The 51-year wait is almost over, the Premier League so close you can almost touch it.


Statistics show history is on Cardiff City's side in bid for Premier League survival
6th Jul 2013

In 21 years of Premier League battle, just eight promoted champions have been relegated straight back down to the second tier. Steve Tucker finds out more



The 51-year wait is almost over, the Premier League so close you can almost touch it.

When Malky Mackay’s men troop out at West Ham on Saturday, August 17 (providing Sky don’t delay it for live televised coverage, of course) it will be the Bluebirds’ first taste of top-flight action since a demoralised team trudged off at Villa Park following a 2-2 draw on May 1, 1962.

Nobody dreamt at that point that City’s absence from the top table would last so long (18,736 days to be precise), although maybe the Cardiff players that day counted themselves fortunate. After all, they had been thrashed 8-3 at Everton just three days before.

Many, of course, will be thinking ‘Pah, this is just history’ – the Bluebirds are building towards a bright new future under the man many of you voted the club’s greatest-ever manager recently, and this is true.

But lessons can be learned from history and those who do not learn from them are doomed to fail.

What the fans of today will want to know now is whether the Bluebirds’ current elevation will be a lengthy stay or a mere sojourn?

Will it be but a fleeting season before City return to the wanabees and dreamers of the Championship?

Or is this the start of something special? Establishing a foothold in the top flight and building a glorious future so bright that one can hardly bear to gaze upon it.

Who knows? We could come to a conclusion by reasoned argument and examination, but this is an exercise in studying the stats.

So let’s delve into Premier League history and see how those promoted teams actually got on in their first campaign in the so-called promised land.

There have been 21 seasons of Premier League action to date and the Bluebirds will be the 46th team to play in the competition.

Perversely, history tells us that City would have been better off finishing second in the second tier.

Yes, I’m afraid it’s true. Seven runners-up have been relegated in the post-promotion season, while eight champions have bitten the dust.

But if we are going for accuracy here, and when it comes to stats we surely must, then it has to stressed that in the the1995-96 season there was no second place.

Only the champions went up automatically as the Premier League was trimmed to its current compliment of 20 teams.

The other club promoted that year, Bolton, went up via a play-off.





Spare a thought for poor, old Reading that year, who finished second, just a point behind champions Middlesbrough, and still found themselves missing out on promotion.

That may be the kind of luck hardened Bluebirds fans will reason is usually only reserved for their side.

But justice was served cold 12 months later with Bolton occupying 20th spot the following season and slipping straight back down.

In fact, it is play-off winners who really need to be looking over their shoulders on the back of promotion.

With less time to prepare for the demanding challenge ahead, 12 of them – more than half the play-off winners – have hurtled headlong back from whence they came.

Small wonder the bookies make the play-off winners annual favourites for the drop.

Of course, as with Cardiff, Hull and Crystal Palace this time around, the three promoted teams are immediately ensconced as the three favourites to go straight back down.

But that has actually only ever happened once, in the 1997-98 season when Bolton (18th), Barnsley (19th) and Palace (20th) were all relegated.

The better news – however slightly – is that all three new boys have defied the cynics on two occasions.

Fulham, Blackburn and Bolton (yes them again) all survived in the 2001-02 season, while QPR, Norwich and Swansea defied the script two campaigns ago.

But how far can a promoted team soar in the Premier League?

The most impressive, and one of the best remembered, came very early when Newcastle, having finished as champions, finished third on their Premier League debut.

This was the cavalier reign of ‘King’ Kevin Keegan on Tyneside with the Magpies coming perilously close to claiming the title itself in subsequent years.

Big names arrived on Tyneside – local hero Alan Shearer among them for a then-world record fee of £15m – but history also tells us you don’t have to go completely cash crazy to ensure a respectable and, most importantly, a safe finish following promotion.

Sunderland found themselves nestled very nicely in seventh place in 2000, a position very much down to the incredible goal-scoring exploits of a certain Kevin Phillips. I wonder whatever happened to him?

It also seems to help if you can really put the Championship to the sword on your way up too.

Reading amassed the most points ever in the Championship in 2006, with a mighty 106 to their name.

The Royals lost only twice all season and scored 99 goals in the process under Steve Coppell.

The momentum continued all the way to the Premier League where Reading managed a highly-creditable eighth place finish the following season.

So what of the Bluebirds then?

Well, when it comes to points City’s table-topping total of 87 last season is hardly going to frighten anyone.

Not only is it a long way off Reading’s record, it is the second lowest tally of champions since the second tier became the Championship in 2004-05, West Brom’s 81-point haul in 2007-08 the smallest return.

But when it comes to money – and goals – perhaps Mackay does have the necessary ammunition.

A club record transfer fee of £8.5m was splashed on young Denmark striker Andreas Cornelius, surely an indication of City’s ambition.

One thing is for sure, when the Bluebirds leave the pitch after entertaining Chelsea on May 11 it must be hoped that it will only be three months before they are playing another top-flight game – rather than the half-a-century that has just passed.

Did you write that yourself?

What's it to you?

The 51-year wait is almost over, the Premier League so close you can almost touch it.


Statistics show history is on Cardiff City's side in bid for Premier League survival
6th Jul 2013

In 21 years of Premier League battle, just eight promoted champions have been relegated straight back down to the second tier. Steve Tucker finds out more



The 51-year wait is almost over, the Premier League so close you can almost touch it.

When Malky Mackay’s men troop out at West Ham on Saturday, August 17 (providing Sky don’t delay it for live televised coverage, of course) it will be the Bluebirds’ first taste of top-flight action since a demoralised team trudged off at Villa Park following a 2-2 draw on May 1, 1962.

Nobody dreamt at that point that City’s absence from the top table would last so long (18,736 days to be precise), although maybe the Cardiff players that day counted themselves fortunate. After all, they had been thrashed 8-3 at Everton just three days before.

Many, of course, will be thinking ‘Pah, this is just history’ – the Bluebirds are building towards a bright new future under the man many of you voted the club’s greatest-ever manager recently, and this is true.

But lessons can be learned from history and those who do not learn from them are doomed to fail.

What the fans of today will want to know now is whether the Bluebirds’ current elevation will be a lengthy stay or a mere sojourn?

Will it be but a fleeting season before City return to the wanabees and dreamers of the Championship?

Or is this the start of something special? Establishing a foothold in the top flight and building a glorious future so bright that one can hardly bear to gaze upon it.

Who knows? We could come to a conclusion by reasoned argument and examination, but this is an exercise in studying the stats.

So let’s delve into Premier League history and see how those promoted teams actually got on in their first campaign in the so-called promised land.

There have been 21 seasons of Premier League action to date and the Bluebirds will be the 46th team to play in the competition.

Perversely, history tells us that City would have been better off finishing second in the second tier.

Yes, I’m afraid it’s true. Seven runners-up have been relegated in the post-promotion season, while eight champions have bitten the dust.

But if we are going for accuracy here, and when it comes to stats we surely must, then it has to stressed that in the the1995-96 season there was no second place.

Only the champions went up automatically as the Premier League was trimmed to its current compliment of 20 teams.

The other club promoted that year, Bolton, went up via a play-off.





Spare a thought for poor, old Reading that year, who finished second, just a point behind champions Middlesbrough, and still found themselves missing out on promotion.

That may be the kind of luck hardened Bluebirds fans will reason is usually only reserved for their side.

But justice was served cold 12 months later with Bolton occupying 20th spot the following season and slipping straight back down.

In fact, it is play-off winners who really need to be looking over their shoulders on the back of promotion.

With less time to prepare for the demanding challenge ahead, 12 of them – more than half the play-off winners – have hurtled headlong back from whence they came.

Small wonder the bookies make the play-off winners annual favourites for the drop.

Of course, as with Cardiff, Hull and Crystal Palace this time around, the three promoted teams are immediately ensconced as the three favourites to go straight back down.

But that has actually only ever happened once, in the 1997-98 season when Bolton (18th), Barnsley (19th) and Palace (20th) were all relegated.

The better news – however slightly – is that all three new boys have defied the cynics on two occasions.

Fulham, Blackburn and Bolton (yes them again) all survived in the 2001-02 season, while QPR, Norwich and Swansea defied the script two campaigns ago.

But how far can a promoted team soar in the Premier League?

The most impressive, and one of the best remembered, came very early when Newcastle, having finished as champions, finished third on their Premier League debut.

This was the cavalier reign of ‘King’ Kevin Keegan on Tyneside with the Magpies coming perilously close to claiming the title itself in subsequent years.

Big names arrived on Tyneside – local hero Alan Shearer among them for a then-world record fee of £15m – but history also tells us you don’t have to go completely cash crazy to ensure a respectable and, most importantly, a safe finish following promotion.

Sunderland found themselves nestled very nicely in seventh place in 2000, a position very much down to the incredible goal-scoring exploits of a certain Kevin Phillips. I wonder whatever happened to him?

It also seems to help if you can really put the Championship to the sword on your way up too.

Reading amassed the most points ever in the Championship in 2006, with a mighty 106 to their name.

The Royals lost only twice all season and scored 99 goals in the process under Steve Coppell.

The momentum continued all the way to the Premier League where Reading managed a highly-creditable eighth place finish the following season.

So what of the Bluebirds then?

Well, when it comes to points City’s table-topping total of 87 last season is hardly going to frighten anyone.

Not only is it a long way off Reading’s record, it is the second lowest tally of champions since the second tier became the Championship in 2004-05, West Brom’s 81-point haul in 2007-08 the smallest return.

But when it comes to money – and goals – perhaps Mackay does have the necessary ammunition.

A club record transfer fee of £8.5m was splashed on young Denmark striker Andreas Cornelius, surely an indication of City’s ambition.

One thing is for sure, when the Bluebirds leave the pitch after entertaining Chelsea on May 11 it must be hoped that it will only be three months before they are playing another top-flight game – rather than the half-a-century that has just passed.

Did you write that yourself?

What's it to you?

Just that it would be respectful to at least include a link to the site that is paying the journalist to write this stuff wouldn't you agree?

In fact it would be even more respectful just to provide the link rather than the full article.

Basic etiquette really.

The 51-year wait is almost over, the Premier League so close you can almost touch it.


Statistics show history is on Cardiff City's side in bid for Premier League survival
6th Jul 2013

In 21 years of Premier League battle, just eight promoted champions have been relegated straight back down to the second tier. Steve Tucker finds out more



The 51-year wait is almost over, the Premier League so close you can almost touch it.

When Malky Mackay’s men troop out at West Ham on Saturday, August 17 (providing Sky don’t delay it for live televised coverage, of course) it will be the Bluebirds’ first taste of top-flight action since a demoralised team trudged off at Villa Park following a 2-2 draw on May 1, 1962.

Nobody dreamt at that point that City’s absence from the top table would last so long (18,736 days to be precise), although maybe the Cardiff players that day counted themselves fortunate. After all, they had been thrashed 8-3 at Everton just three days before.

Many, of course, will be thinking ‘Pah, this is just history’ – the Bluebirds are building towards a bright new future under the man many of you voted the club’s greatest-ever manager recently, and this is true.

But lessons can be learned from history and those who do not learn from them are doomed to fail.

What the fans of today will want to know now is whether the Bluebirds’ current elevation will be a lengthy stay or a mere sojourn?

Will it be but a fleeting season before City return to the wanabees and dreamers of the Championship?

Or is this the start of something special? Establishing a foothold in the top flight and building a glorious future so bright that one can hardly bear to gaze upon it.

Who knows? We could come to a conclusion by reasoned argument and examination, but this is an exercise in studying the stats.

So let’s delve into Premier League history and see how those promoted teams actually got on in their first campaign in the so-called promised land.

There have been 21 seasons of Premier League action to date and the Bluebirds will be the 46th team to play in the competition.

Perversely, history tells us that City would have been better off finishing second in the second tier.

Yes, I’m afraid it’s true. Seven runners-up have been relegated in the post-promotion season, while eight champions have bitten the dust.

But if we are going for accuracy here, and when it comes to stats we surely must, then it has to stressed that in the the1995-96 season there was no second place.

Only the champions went up automatically as the Premier League was trimmed to its current compliment of 20 teams.

The other club promoted that year, Bolton, went up via a play-off.





Spare a thought for poor, old Reading that year, who finished second, just a point behind champions Middlesbrough, and still found themselves missing out on promotion.

That may be the kind of luck hardened Bluebirds fans will reason is usually only reserved for their side.

But justice was served cold 12 months later with Bolton occupying 20th spot the following season and slipping straight back down.

In fact, it is play-off winners who really need to be looking over their shoulders on the back of promotion.

With less time to prepare for the demanding challenge ahead, 12 of them – more than half the play-off winners – have hurtled headlong back from whence they came.

Small wonder the bookies make the play-off winners annual favourites for the drop.

Of course, as with Cardiff, Hull and Crystal Palace this time around, the three promoted teams are immediately ensconced as the three favourites to go straight back down.

But that has actually only ever happened once, in the 1997-98 season when Bolton (18th), Barnsley (19th) and Palace (20th) were all relegated.

The better news – however slightly – is that all three new boys have defied the cynics on two occasions.

Fulham, Blackburn and Bolton (yes them again) all survived in the 2001-02 season, while QPR, Norwich and Swansea defied the script two campaigns ago.

But how far can a promoted team soar in the Premier League?

The most impressive, and one of the best remembered, came very early when Newcastle, having finished as champions, finished third on their Premier League debut.

This was the cavalier reign of ‘King’ Kevin Keegan on Tyneside with the Magpies coming perilously close to claiming the title itself in subsequent years.

Big names arrived on Tyneside – local hero Alan Shearer among them for a then-world record fee of £15m – but history also tells us you don’t have to go completely cash crazy to ensure a respectable and, most importantly, a safe finish following promotion.

Sunderland found themselves nestled very nicely in seventh place in 2000, a position very much down to the incredible goal-scoring exploits of a certain Kevin Phillips. I wonder whatever happened to him?

It also seems to help if you can really put the Championship to the sword on your way up too.

Reading amassed the most points ever in the Championship in 2006, with a mighty 106 to their name.

The Royals lost only twice all season and scored 99 goals in the process under Steve Coppell.

The momentum continued all the way to the Premier League where Reading managed a highly-creditable eighth place finish the following season.

So what of the Bluebirds then?

Well, when it comes to points City’s table-topping total of 87 last season is hardly going to frighten anyone.

Not only is it a long way off Reading’s record, it is the second lowest tally of champions since the second tier became the Championship in 2004-05, West Brom’s 81-point haul in 2007-08 the smallest return.

But when it comes to money – and goals – perhaps Mackay does have the necessary ammunition.

A club record transfer fee of £8.5m was splashed on young Denmark striker Andreas Cornelius, surely an indication of City’s ambition.

One thing is for sure, when the Bluebirds leave the pitch after entertaining Chelsea on May 11 it must be hoped that it will only be three months before they are playing another top-flight game – rather than the half-a-century that has just passed.

Did you write that yourself?

Tadaaaaaaaaaaaa!

#Scrolling

Here you go, happy now?

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/foot ... ys-4875821

6 weekss