Steve Borley's amazing journey with CCFC

It's nigh on 50 years since Steve Borley used to look out of the back bedroom of the family home next to Ninian Park, and watch fans trying to scale fences to get into the ground for nothing.

On Saturday, he will watch from the directors’ box at Upton Park as his beloved Cardiff City face West Ham United in the first match of a return to the top flight that has been more than half a century coming.

Borley’s mind will likely wander back to the tougher times, or maybe the days when he ran on the pitch as an excited youngster after one Bluebirds match and pinched Bobby Woodruff’s discarded tie-ups up off the turf to take home as a keepsake.

Whatever, there will surely be a moment of reflection when Malky Mackay’s men run out, reflection at just how far the club he loves have come, and how critical it is that City now at least preserve the status they have worked so hard to establish.

Borley won’t care a jot that Cardiff have been installed as one of the favourites for relegation.

He believes Mackay’s side can surprise people – largely because of the qualities the manager himself brings to the set-up.



“Malky is the best Cardiff manager I have seen and I go back to the early 1970s,” said former Bluebirds chairman Borley.

“That’s a big statement to make because Jimmy Scoular, a fantastic manager, was in charge when I first went to Ninian Park.

“But the work Malky has done in two years since he came to the club has been immense.

“I love his enthusiasm, the inclusive way he works with directors, staff and his player, his attention to detail and great work ethic.

“He gets the job done no matter what it takes. He is obsessive about ensuring he does the best job possible for our club.

“I would go even further and say Cardiff City would not have been promoted without Malky in charge.”

It is Mackay’s building of a City squad that is rounded on and off the field that has impressed Borley the most.

He added: “The team he has brought together are a great bunch. They are like that for a reason – Malky has brought quality footballers to Cardiff who are also the right sort of characters.

“He has done away with the superstar culture.

“Malky’s philosophy is that players leave their egos at the door when they come in to work, they work as part of a team and squad.

“That’s how it’s been for two years and it works.

“Craig Bellamy is among those who have said Malky has done a fantastic job and that he has never been among a better group of professionals in terms of the way they conduct themselves and go about the job.

“There are no cliques in the group and that’s clear whenever I go to the training ground. I have watched players when they go into lunch and they sit at different tables each day with different people.

“That’s something Malky has brought to the club.”





JACK EVANS (Cwmparc - Cardiff City, six shillings, 1910)

The first professional signing by Bartley Wilson in 1910, outside left Evans hailed from North Wales but was playing for Cwmparc, near Aberdare where he worked as a printer. Evans received six shillings (30p) signing-on fee to cover his travelling expenses. He went on to make 186 appearances, scoring six goals

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JIMMY Gill (Sheffield Wednesday - Cardiff City, £750, 1920)

Spent five years at the club and was top scorer in his first season. Scored 82 goals in 184 appearances

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JIMMY BLAIR(Sheffield Wednesday - Cardiff City, £3,500, November 1920)

Played in the 1925 FA Cup final for the Bluebirds and spent six seasons as a defender at the club

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TREVOR FORD (Sunderland - Cardiff City, £29,500, December, 1953)

Spent three years at Cardiff before announcing his retirement. Holds the record for the quickest ever Cardiff City goal - scored after just 15 seconds against Charlton in October 1954

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IAN GIBSON (Coventry - Cardiff City, £35,000, 1970)

Made his Cardiff debut on the opening day of the 1970-71 season in a 1-0 win over Leicester City and went on to play alongside greats such as Brian Clark, John Toshack and Alan Warboys

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Alan Warboys (Sheffield Wednesday - Cardiff City, £42,000, December 1970)

Signed a s a replacement for John Toshack, Warboys scored on his debut and posted an impressive return of 27 goals in 60 matches during his two years at the Bluebirds

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GODFREY INGRAM (San Jose Earthquakes - Cardiff City, £200,000, September, 1982)

He joined Cardiff from San Jose Earthquakes for a suspicious-looking £2000,000 ahead of the 1982/3 season - a deal that was later proved to be nothing more than a glorified loan move when the Earthquakes bought him back for the same fee just nine weeks later ahead of the American season.

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10. MARK HUDSON (Charlton - Cardiff, £1.075m, July 2009)

At the time some thought the fee was high for a man just relegated with Charlton but the centre-half has proved a bargain as he led the Bluebirds to the Premier League last season.

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9. ETIEN VELIKONJA (Maribor - Cardiff, £1.6m, July 2012)

It was a hefty price-tag for a striker who really failed to make the breakthrough last season. The Slovenian’s future at Cardiff is now unclear as the Bluebirds build for the top-flight.

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8. PETER THORNE (Stoke - Cardiff, £1.7m, September 2001)

A couple of months after Stoke teammate ‘Kav’, striker Thorne arrived for what was another club record. The marksman went on to prove a big addition with 51 goals in 143 appearances before he moved onto Norwich showing his impact.

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7. JORDON MUTCH (Birmingham - Cardiff, £2m, June 2012)

His capture proved a coup for Malky Mackay last summer as he built his squad. The young midfielder was to prove a big success particularly near the end of the Bluebirds' successful Championship campaign.

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6. KIM BO-KYUNG (Cerezo Osaka - Cardiff, £2m, July 2012)

The signing of the South Korean international surprised many, but some early outings showed the Bluebirds had a class act on their hands. Alongside Mutch in midfield, Kim came into his own in the latter stages of the Bluebirds' Championship-winning season.

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5. NICKY MAYNARD (West Ham - Cardiff, £2.5m, August 2012)

The Bluebirds just beat the closing of the transfer window to take the striker from the Hammers. It was Mackay’s big summer signing, but disaster struck as Maynard ruptured knee ligaments early in the campaign and went on to miss almost the whole of last season.

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4. MICHAEL CHOPRA (Sunderland - Cardiff, £4m, July 2009)

His 22 goals in his first season at Cardiff saw him move for £5m to Sunderland in the top-flight. But after two loan spells ‘Chops’ was back in the Welsh capital on a permanent deal again for a fee which shattered Cardiff’s transfer record at the time.

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3. ANDREAS CORNELIUS (FC Copenhagen - Cardiff, £7.6m, June 2013)

Come the Premier League, come the big money signings and the arrival of the young Danish striker has more than doubled the amount the Bluebirds had shelled out previously. Cornelius proved a hit in the Danish leagues and Mackay will be hoping he is ready to make the step up in Britain.

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2.STEVEN CAULKER (Spurs - Cardiff, £8m+, July 2013)

The biggest signing in history was confirmed on the final day of July as the Bluebirds landed Spurs star Steven Caulker. It represents a fantastic coup for the Premier League new boys

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1. GARY MEDEL (Sevilla - Cardiff, £9.5m, August 2013)

'El Pitbul' is now a Bluebird and looks set to become a club legend after joining from La Liga



Borley was born at a house overlooking a corner of the Bob Bank and the Grange End in St Donat’s Close only three houses away from Ninian Park.

It was inevitable then that he would grow up with the Bluebirds ingrained in his heart.

“I used to look out of the back bedroom window, seeing people trying to climb the boundary walls and get into a match without paying,” he recalled.

“When I was old enough to attend a match, at the age of 10, it was during October 1970 and Cardiff won 5-1 against Hull.

“It was John Toshack’s last appearance before joining Liverpool and he scored a hat-trick.

“I also remember running onto the pitch after the final whistle – and I picked up Bobby Woodruff’s tie-ups.”

Borley will have more on his mind than souvenir gathering at Upton Park this weekend.

An away win would be the ideal scenario, but however City fare, Borley is acutely aware that the Premier League is a marathon rather than a sprint.

He accepts that the Bluebirds could do worse than follow the example of bitter rivals Swansea, but stressed that while the Liberty Stadium boys have made remarkable progress in the last three years, they are not alone.

“They have raised the bar, done a fantastic job and almost come from nowhere,” said Borley of the Swans.

“But they are not alone in that journey.

“I remember one league table 15 years or more ago which had Doncaster, Cardiff, Swansea, Hull and Brighton in the bottom five.

“Now three of those are in the Premier League this season, two in the Championship and all five have new stadiums.

“And those stadiums have been the key driver for those clubs in their success.

“Fair play, Swansea overtook us and they are in a position where we aspire to be.

“They had a fantastic season, winning the League Cup, going one better than us in the previous season, are in the Europa Cup and are assembling a squad which looks extremely impressive.

“But Malky, too, is bringing in players to enhance Cardiff’s squad and we are also aiming to make good progress.”

Borley admits to being concerned when Mackay was linked with a move to Everton during the summer.

The move never transpired however, and while Mackay’s longevity at City will surely depend on the success, or otherwise, of his team, Borley hopes his tenure turns into an era rather than being just a spell.

“Our most important signing since promotion was making sure we kept him,” said Borley.

“Malky Mackay is a huge part of the story we are creating, a major figure in our journey. This is very much still a work in progress and Malky is the main leading the project.

“No matter what happens this season we have to stick with Malky. He is a big part of everything we are doing.

“Maybe the big thing we all have to learn is to lose because last season, on our way to the Championship title, we didn't know how to lose.

“Every game, win, lose or draw, we battled to end. That spirit will carry us through again this season.”

Borley wants Cardiff supporters to adopt a realistic outlook in the coming campaign, to be mindful that the step up in class will mean that there will be times City will have to weather a setback or two.

“The competition this season in the Premier League is significantly better, of course, and it’s going to be tough, but we must all be patient,” he stressed.

“It’s crucial we all stick together, fans, directors, staff, players and everybody who loves our club.

“When Stoke, Swansea and more went into the Premier home form was crucial and fans can help in that.

“We all have to be patient. Our manager and his players can establish us at Premier League level and we must all help.”

Lovely article...

Steve Borley says: “It’s crucial we all stick together, fans, directors, staff, players and everybody who loves our club."

Yeah right, by mocking supporters who don't agree with changing colours & crest, destroying the identity of our football club?
By supporting a man, whose actions cause a huge divide amongst our supporters?
By supporting an unnecessary rebrand that drove people out? People who're Cardiff City to the core, people who would give almost all for their beloved club?!?!

I once had a lot of respect for you, Mr. Borley...

Steve Borley says: “It’s crucial we all stick together, fans, directors, staff, players and everybody who loves our club."

Yeah right, by mocking supporters who don't agree with changing colours & crest, destroying the identity of our football club?
By supporting a man, whose actions cause a huge divide amongst our supporters?
By supporting an unnecessary rebrand that drove people out? People who're Cardiff City to the core, people who would give almost all for their beloved club?!?!

I once had a lot of respect for you, Mr. Borley...

give it a rest.

Another great subject ruined. Shame

A real journey for Steve that seen many bad times, I was down the stadium last week and he was there with the builders, sleeves rolled up, helping out with extra seating around the stadium.

Another great subject ruined. Shame

A real journey for Steve that seen many bad times, I was down the stadium last week and he was there with the builders, sleeves rolled up, helping out with extra seating around the stadium.

How is it ruined? Are City fans still allowed an opinion on the club hierachy corky?

Steve Borley says: “It’s crucial we all stick together, fans, directors, staff, players and everybody who loves our club."

Yeah right, by mocking supporters who don't agree with changing colours & crest, destroying the identity of our football club?
By supporting a man, whose actions cause a huge divide amongst our supporters?
By supporting an unnecessary rebrand that drove people out? People who're Cardiff City to the core, people who would give almost all for their beloved club?!?!

I once had a lot of respect for you, Mr. Borley...

give it a rest.

not until our club has its rightful colours and crest back

Mods please sort it out

This is the problem I have Dylan, id love to delete these comments from Hofmeister but frankly its not worth the backlash I will face if I do from about 10% of regular board users/contributers who will cry to Annis about the gestapo like moderating on the board.

Another great subject ruined. Shame

A real journey for Steve that seen many bad times, I was down the stadium last week and he was there with the builders, sleeves rolled up, helping out with extra seating around the stadium.

nobody denies that Corky. But it seems nobody is allowed to say anything against anyone who's ever done something good for the club. Same goes for Tan, he did things that were brilliant, no doubt. But because of that he's like a "Holy Cow" now, and don't anybody ever dare to disagree with him on the rebrand...

If Borley makes stupid comments, like the oe I cited, he should expect a reaction, in my case a comment.

This is the problem I have Dylan, id love to delete these comments from Hofmeister but frankly its not worth the backlash I will face if I do from about 10% of regular board users/contributers who will cry to Annis about the gestapo like moderating on the board.

What i dislike about Borley, is that he seems to play on the false notion of being 'one of us' . The moment he became a business investor in the club, his relationship with CCFC as a fan became somewhat conflicted and 'business like', His comments about BU showed just how distant he is. Standard Fans put fortunes into CCFC and expect nothing back but a respect for history and a notion of community and club.

Last edited by Real_Blue_Really on Wed Aug 14, 2013 1:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Another great subject ruined. Shame

A real journey for Steve that seen many bad times, I was down the stadium last week and he was there with the builders, sleeves rolled up, helping out with extra seating around the stadium.

How is it ruined? Are City fans still allowed an opinion on the club hierachy corky?

I will tell you why its ruined...it is because this topic was not about the rebrand.

Gavin, don't delete the opinion, simply move it to another thread that is about the re brand.

What i dislike about Borley, is that he seems to play on the false notion of being 'one of us' . The moment he became a business investor in the club, his relationship with CCFC as a fan became somewhat conflicted and 'business like', His comments about BU showed just how distant he is. Fans put fortunes into CCFC and expect nothing back but a respect for history and a notion of community and club

You don't know Steve or anything about him.

What i dislike about Borley, is that he seems to play on the false notion of being 'one of us' . The moment he became a business investor in the club, his relationship with CCFC as a fan became somewhat conflicted and 'business like', His comments about BU showed just how distant he is. Fans put fortunes into CCFC and expect nothing back but a respect for history and a notion of community and club

You don't know Steve or anything about him.

Tell me what i have said that is inaccurate? his relationship is not like ours, we expect nothing back, he has invested in CCFC with a view to make money no?

Why don,t you f off Roathy,we all know who you are.

Another great subject ruined. Shame

A real journey for Steve that seen many bad times, I was down the stadium last week and he was there with the builders, sleeves rolled up, helping out with extra seating around the stadium.

How is it ruined? Are City fans still allowed an opinion on the club hierachy corky?

I will tell you why its ruined...it is because this topic was not about the rebrand.

Gavin, don't delete the opinion, simply move it to another thread that is about the re brand.

It's about Borley's reaction to the rebrand, leave the comments here. The day fans are censored from speaking truth to power is the day this board becomes a lesser place.

Why don,t you f off Roathy,we all know who you are.

Ok i'll leave the thread.

Not Roathy mind.

I hope Steve makes a fortune from CCFC. Not many of us used our kids future inheritance to pay bills to keep this club afloat when most of you ungrateful ***** werent about.

Steve is more CCFC than most of you put together.

The same people ruin another thread under the guise of freedom of speech.

Why don,t you f off Roathy,we all know who you are.

Ok i'll leave the thread.

Not Roathy mind.

maybe he thinks I'm Roathy...

Why don,t you f off Roathy,we all know who you are.

Ok i'll leave the thread.

Not Roathy mind.

maybe he thinks I'm Roathy...

We all know what you are.

I know who he is and its not roathy.

Why don,t you f off Roathy,we all know who you are.

Ok i'll leave the thread.

Not Roathy mind.

maybe he thinks I'm Roathy...

We all know what you are.

why don't you enlighten us all then?

I hope Steve makes a fortune from CCFC. Not many of us used our kids future inheritance to pay bills to keep this club afloat when most of you ungrateful ***** werent about.

Steve is more CCFC than most of you put together.

The same people ruin another thread under the guise of freedom of speech.

Not many of us gave our lives to preserve Free speech but our relatives did you ungrateful sod.

Off the top of my head, Dave Sugarman is 10x more CCFC than Steve.

Steve Borley says: “It’s crucial we all stick together, fans, directors, staff, players and everybody who loves our club."

Yeah right, by mocking supporters who don't agree with changing colours & crest, destroying the identity of our football club?
By supporting a man, whose actions cause a huge divide amongst our supporters?
By supporting an unnecessary rebrand that drove people out? People who're Cardiff City to the core, people who would give almost all for their beloved club?!?!

I once had a lot of respect for you, Mr. Borley...

I've read and re-read this post and I don't particularly want to fall out with the poster but this is a complete crock of shit.The only huge divide as you put it is on this forum which represents a storm in a teacup.

Why don,t you f off Roathy,we all know who you are.

Ok i'll leave the thread.

Not Roathy mind.

maybe he thinks I'm Roathy...

We all know what you are.

why don't you enlighten us all then?

I will not say what I think you are as I do not wish to be banned from this forum.

I hope Steve makes a fortune from CCFC. Not many of us used our kids future inheritance to pay bills to keep this club afloat when most of you ungrateful ***** werent about.

Steve is more CCFC than most of you put together.

The same people ruin another thread under the guise of freedom of speech.

Not many of us gave our lives to preserve Free speech but our relatives did you ungrateful sod.

Off the top of my head, Dave Sugarman is 10x more CCFC than Steve.

Why do you use this account, is it to troll. why not post this under your real account.

I hope Steve makes a fortune from CCFC. Not many of us used our kids future inheritance to pay bills to keep this club afloat when most of you ungrateful ***** werent about.

Steve is more CCFC than most of you put together.

The same people ruin another thread under the guise of freedom of speech.

Not many of us gave our lives to preserve Free speech but our relatives did you ungrateful sod.

Off the top of my head, Dave Sugarman is 10x more CCFC than Steve.

Why do you use this account, is it to troll. why not post this under your real account.

This is my real account, you're derailing the thread with standard MB fayre now.

Steve Borley says: “It’s crucial we all stick together, fans, directors, staff, players and everybody who loves our club."

Yeah right, by mocking supporters who don't agree with changing colours & crest, destroying the identity of our football club?
By supporting a man, whose actions cause a huge divide amongst our supporters?
By supporting an unnecessary rebrand that drove people out? People who're Cardiff City to the core, people who would give almost all for their beloved club?!?!

I once had a lot of respect for you, Mr. Borley...

I've read and re-read this post and I don't particularly want to fall out with the poster but this is a complete crock of shit.The only huge divide as you put it is on this forum which represents a storm in a teacup.

unf. not mate. I'd say over 70% of my Cardiff friends are completely against the rebrand. And that's realy life friends, not on here or on Facebook...

If you think my post my post in a crock of shit, fairplay its your opinion. You're entitled to have yours, just as I have mine.

Why don,t you f off Roathy,we all know who you are.

Ok i'll leave the thread.

Not Roathy mind.

maybe he thinks I'm Roathy...

We all know what you are.

why don't you enlighten us all then?

I will not say what I think you are as I do not wish to be banned from this forum.

Gestapo, eh?
Well, just get over it and move on... dunno where I heard that before?