SPORTING GESTURE FROM A BLUEBIRD TO A BLUE...

HISTORY: A SPORTING GESTURE FROM A BLUEBIRD TO A BLUE...

by Richard Shepherd

One of our match-day hospitality hosts is former Cardiff City full-back GARY BELL, who fondly remembers a particular home game in which he played against Saturday’s opponents Birmingham City. It was on September 5th 1970 in a Second Division match at Ninian Park. We were 2-0 winners through two first-half goals from John Toshack, and that game saw the half-time introduction, as substitute, of Birmingham’s 16 year-old forward Trevor Francis, who went on to become the first £1 million transfer between British clubs when he joined Nottingham Forest in 1979. Francis came on against us to replace Johnny Vincent who would later move to the Welsh Capital from Middlesbrough in October 1972.


Gary Bell recalls that game against Birmingham because he marked the teenage Francis: ”Being from the West Midlands I always took a close interest in the happenings of the big clubs in that area – West Bromwich, Aston Villa, Birmingham, Wolves – and my Dad would regularly send me the local Saturday evening football paper, the Birmingham Sports Argus. I knew about Trevor Francis because he was getting impressive reports playing for Birmingham’s reserves. So when he came on against me, I had a brief word with him telling not to be nervous, and just to play his natural game.”


It was something that the future England International has never forgotten, and he recalled it in an interview for Birmingham City’s match-day programme when we played them at St. Andrews last December, saying: ”In fact Gary Bell talked me through the second half with words of encouragement, and it left a big impression on me”.


5th September 1970 | FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 2-0 BIRMINGHAM CITY (Toshack 2) - Att. 22,081

Our line-up: Frank Parsons, Dave Carver, Gary Bell, Mel Sutton, Don Murray, Brian Harris, Ian Gibson, Brian Clark, Bobby Woodruff, John Toshack, Peter King

Sub not used: Ronnie Bird

A great story.

I've been watching the City since 1970 and I'm sure I've not seen many better full backs during that time than Gary Bell.

Would be a strong contender for my all time (since I've been supporting) Cardiff City team.

I've been watching the City since 1970 and I'm sure I've not seen many better full backs during that time than Gary Bell.

Would be a strong contender for my all time (since I've been supporting) Cardiff City team.

I agree

This was around the time I started attending and I remember this particular team. Toshack was the rising star but most of the others were already City legends to me (with Ronnie Bird being the original 'Super Sub' way before the likes of Liverpool's David Fairclough)

Maybe because I was so young and it was all new, but these were great times indeed

I've been watching the City since 1970 and I'm sure I've not seen many better full backs during that time than Gary Bell.

Would be a strong contender for my all time (since I've been supporting) Cardiff City team.

I agree

This was around the time I started attending and I remember this particular team. Toshack was the rising star but most of the others were already City legends to me (with Ronnie Bird being the original 'Super Sub' way before the likes of Liverpool's David Fairclough)

Maybe because I was so young and it was all new, but these were great times indeed

And my all time favourite City player - Ian Gibson.

How we could do with a player like him in our midfield nowadays!

I've been watching the City since 1970 and I'm sure I've not seen many better full backs during that time than Gary Bell.

Would be a strong contender for my all time (since I've been supporting) Cardiff City team.

I agree

This was around the time I started attending and I remember this particular team. Toshack was the rising star but most of the others were already City legends to me (with Ronnie Bird being the original 'Super Sub' way before the likes of Liverpool's David Fairclough)

Maybe because I was so young and it was all new, but these were great times indeed

And my all time favourite City player - Ian Gibson.

How we could do with a player like him in our midfield nowadays!

Class player!

we played some great football back in those days and I would agree that Gary Bell is the best left back I've seen play for City

That was my favourite time supporting the Bluebirds and the team is i first loved

I was at this match and remember Francis playing- Gary Bell was one of my faves too, along with Don Murray, Peter King, John Toshack, Ian Gibson, Ronnie Bird, Brisn Clark et al...