' Debate over the Rebrand is not going away '

' Debate over the Rebrand is not going away '

Wed 3rd Dec 2014

By Paul Evans

As someone who fell into what became known as the “reluctant red” category when Cardiff City’s rebranding was announced in May 2012, I never thought of myself as being one of those who would stop going to games in protest at the change to red.

However, I also figured that how you react when your team scores a goal is something that comes from deep within you and is an accurate gauge as to how strongly you feel about them.

Therefore, I decided that I’d go to the first game of the 2012/13 season and see how I reacted when a Cardiff team wearing red scored.

If I found that my reaction to a City goal had changed to the extent that I didn’t get excited, then I’d reassess my position and consider joining in with a boycott.




I was fairly certain how I’d feel, but, as I said before, when your team scores you get a spontaneous reaction.

As it turned out, I celebrated Mark Hudson’s late winner against Huddersfield just as much as I would have done if he had been wearing blue – I took this as proof that, although I certainly didn’t like the idea of us playing in red, City were still my team.


That’s how things remained for two seasons and the first three months of this campaign, but our last home match against Reading was a strange affair where I’m sure I wasn’t the only supporter left feeling very flat despite us getting the three points.

No doubt the fact we made such hard work of a game where we were 2-0 up at half-time and preparing for 45 minutes where our opponents had a man less than us had something to do with this, but it was what happened in the first half that really set me thinking.

When we went 1-0 up in the 20th minute, I stayed in my seat while clapping politely for a few seconds and my reaction was much the same when we doubled our lead just before half-time – I’ve read comments from other City fans about their muted celebration of our goals that night as well.

Now, if I had reacted like that for Hudson’s matchwinner back in August 2012, I would have been questioning whether I really wanted to keep on going to matches.

I’ll be there as usual on Saturday against Rotherham, but in the event of us scoring, how will I react?

I can’t say for certain, but my gut instinct is that Reading was a one-off for a few reasons and I’ll react in the same way as I did for each of our three second-half goals against Leeds in the home game before last.

It was good to hear supporters talking about a better atmosphere at Watford on Saturday as the work rate of a team that was so obviously putting in a lot of effort was very much appreciated.

But would the reaction have been the same if we had been playing in red? Similarly, would the reaction to our fifth consecutive home win have been that much more animated if we had been wearing blue against Reading?

I suppose the point is that with us being in the last year of a season ticket price freeze, many more nights like Reading where, for whatever reason, the lack of enthusiasm among the home crowd was palpable, will set a few alarm bells ringing at the club.

Two-and-a-half-years on, the rebrand is still having a corrosive influence on the relationship between club and supporters.

Far from fading, feelings are, if anything, running higher than they’ve ever done on the subject and it won’t be a surprise if fans find better things to do on a Saturday afternoon next season.

' Debate over the Rebrand is not going away '

Wed 3rd Dec 2014

By Paul Evans

As someone who fell into what became known as the “reluctant red” category when Cardiff City’s rebranding was announced in May 2012, I never thought of myself as being one of those who would stop going to games in protest at the change to red.

However, I also figured that how you react when your team scores a goal is something that comes from deep within you and is an accurate gauge as to how strongly you feel about them.

Therefore, I decided that I’d go to the first game of the 2012/13 season and see how I reacted when a Cardiff team wearing red scored.

Bored with this

If I found that my reaction to a City goal had changed to the extent that I didn’t get excited, then I’d reassess my position and consider joining in with a boycott.




I was fairly certain how I’d feel, but, as I said before, when your team scores you get a spontaneous reaction.

As it turned out, I celebrated Mark Hudson’s late winner against Huddersfield just as much as I would have done if he had been wearing blue – I took this as proof that, although I certainly didn’t like the idea of us playing in red, City were still my team.


That’s how things remained for two seasons and the first three months of this campaign, but our last home match against Reading was a strange affair where I’m sure I wasn’t the only supporter left feeling very flat despite us getting the three points.

No doubt the fact we made such hard work of a game where we were 2-0 up at half-time and preparing for 45 minutes where our opponents had a man less than us had something to do with this, but it was what happened in the first half that really set me thinking.

When we went 1-0 up in the 20th minute, I stayed in my seat while clapping politely for a few seconds and my reaction was much the same when we doubled our lead just before half-time – I’ve read comments from other City fans about their muted celebration of our goals that night as well.

Now, if I had reacted like that for Hudson’s matchwinner back in August 2012, I would have been questioning whether I really wanted to keep on going to matches.

I’ll be there as usual on Saturday against Rotherham, but in the event of us scoring, how will I react?

I can’t say for certain, but my gut instinct is that Reading was a one-off for a few reasons and I’ll react in the same way as I did for each of our three second-half goals against Leeds in the home game before last.

It was good to hear supporters talking about a better atmosphere at Watford on Saturday as the work rate of a team that was so obviously putting in a lot of effort was very much appreciated.

But would the reaction have been the same if we had been playing in red? Similarly, would the reaction to our fifth consecutive home win have been that much more animated if we had been wearing blue against Reading?

I suppose the point is that with us being in the last year of a season ticket price freeze, many more nights like Reading where, for whatever reason, the lack of enthusiasm among the home crowd was palpable, will set a few alarm bells ringing at the club.

Two-and-a-half-years on, the rebrand is still having a corrosive influence on the relationship between club and supporters.

Far from fading, feelings are, if anything, running higher than they’ve ever done on the subject and it won’t be a surprise if fans find better things to do on a Saturday afternoon next season.

What an excellent post.Mirrors my feelings exactly.I love my seat,back row in the corner between Canton and Ninian but won't renew next year if we're still in red.I will still go to every game but pay the extra on the day as I rightly or wrongly think that season ticket sales might make the owner think everything is ok with the rebrand.I will be delighted if I am unable to get into some games as the stadium is sold out so I can't lose.I will get to see the team that has been such a part of my life for decades or if not they must be really flying which will be great.I used to get such a buzz about going in the team shop and feeling so chuffed that I was part of something special but can't go in now.Something has been taken away from me and my not renewing will be my tiny way of protesting.Blooobirrrds

Not renewing but paying on day surely increases profits so defeats object of protest