City tour of Oz 1968

I started following the City in 1974, and was unaware of a 12 game (yes 12 game) pre season tour to Australia.

Now, I have a cousin who lives in Tasmania but spend the majority of his life in Perth WA. He is making his first venture outside of Australia for 57 years and we talked over dinner this evening of the City tour.

His roots are Welsh. Both Welsh parents and he lived here until he was 3 hears old before emigrating.

He recalled a City game against Western Australia which we won 6-1, and he casually mentioned that his father, being Welsh and from Cardiff invited two City players to his home following (maybe prior) to this game and they duly obliged.

Firstly does anyone remember this tour? It lasted from June through to August so no down time really. Secondly, 12 pre-season friendlies then a 24 hour flight home? Doesn't work like that nowadays does it.

Did anybody make that tour with the club to support The team?

Jimmy Scoular was manager at the time and I know that City had a player sent off during the game!

Such a shock to have this conversation with a non football supporting cousin from the other side of the world!

I can remember them going on a tour to Australia around that time. I am not 100% sure, but I think they played quite a few games out there, possibly into double figures and were unbeaten during that tour. Not sure what the standard of opposition would have been like though.

I recall I have seen the stats from this tour somewhere, and you've had me start my Saturday morning looking through my CCFC history book collection but I'm afraid to no avail. It might be worth getting in touch with Richard Shepherd through the club. I think he may still be the club historian. I've had a chat with him before and he seems a sound bloke. All the best with it anyway

Many thanks guys, I know they did indeed go unbeaten, and I seem to recall my cousin saying they won all 12 games.

How was the 68/69 season? Was this tour a valuable team bonding/fitness excercise? It would be great if I could get to know which players visited my Uncles place!

Many thanks guys, I know they did indeed go unbeaten, and I seem to recall my cousin saying they won all 12 games.

How was the 68/69 season? Was this tour a valuable team bonding/fitness excercise? It would be great if I could get to know which players visited my Uncles place!

I think that was my second season of following the club. I know players like Toshack, Clarke & Bird were scoring for us, and I think we did well in the league with these players. I know we were in Europe that season, but can't remember who we played or how far we got. I am guessing we won the Welsh cup as we had virtually no opposition around that time. I seem to remember the gates back then were similar to today when we do well at this level, and I think crowds of around 20k were the normal attendances around the late 60's. Probably the best times I experienced as a City supporter, and probably one of our best teams.

Cardiff City FC Tour of Oceania 1968

Cardiff City FC, a Welsh club, played twelve matches during its tour of New Zealand and Australia in 1968, winning ten and drawing two. At the time of the tour, Cardiff City FC were playing in the English League, Division 2.
Summary

DATE VENUE OPPOSITION RESULT
- Christchurch Canterbury XI 2-0 W
- Auckland Auckland XI 3-0 W
5- 6 Auckland New Zealand 3-0 W

9- 6 Melbourne Victoria XI 1-1 D
10- 6 Hobart Tasmania XI 5-1 W
15- 6 Newcastle Northern NSW XI 2-0 W
16- 6 Sydney New South Wales XI 1-1 D
19- 6 Melbourne Victoria XI 6-0 W
23- 6 Brisbane Queensland XI 7-2 W
26- 6 Sydney New South Wales XI 3-1 W
29- 6 Adelaide South Australia XI 3-2 W
7- 7 Perth Western Australia 6-1 W
Details

??/??/1968, Auckland
AUCKLAND XI 0
CARDIFF CITY FC 3
Auckland XI: Neville Siebert, Colin Latimour, Gary Lake, George Lamont, Willie de Graaf,
Tom McNab, Paul Rennell, David Taylor, Earle Thomas, Ray Mears, John Legg.
Cardiff City FC: n/a
Note: John Houghton was listed as a substitute for Auckland XI.
Auckland XI is a regional selection from New Zealand.

??/??/1968, Christchurch
CANTERBURY XI 0
CARDIFF CITY FC 2
Canterbury XI: Derek Phillips, Grahame Davis, Alex Hawthorn, Tony Gowans, Graham Griffiths,
Gwyn Evans, Barry Hammond, Terry Haydon, Alan Caine, Bryce Wilkinson, Vic Pollard.
Cardiff City FC: n/a
Note: Stewart Squire and Martyn Clements were listed as the Canterbury XI substitutes
for this match.
Canterbury XI is a regional selection from New Zealand.

05/06/1968, Auckland, Newmarket Park
NEW ZEALAND 0
CARDIFF CITY FC 3
New Zealand: Neville Siebert, Colin Latimour, Gary Lake, Terry Haydon, Tom McNab [c],
David Wallace, Alex Milne, Brian Turner (Malcolm Ferguson), Paddy Breslin,
Ray Mears (Bill de Graaf), John Legg.
Cardiff City FC: n/a
Referee: R W Cullen.
Note: New Zealand was coached by Juan Schwanner.


For the details of the matches played in Australia, see:
http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/MiscGames ... Index.html

Cardiff City FC Tour of Oceania 1968

Cardiff City FC, a Welsh club, played twelve matches during its tour of New Zealand and Australia in 1968, winning ten and drawing two. At the time of the tour, Cardiff City FC were playing in the English League, Division 2.
Summary

DATE VENUE OPPOSITION RESULT
- Christchurch Canterbury XI 2-0 W
- Auckland Auckland XI 3-0 W
5- 6 Auckland New Zealand 3-0 W

9- 6 Melbourne Victoria XI 1-1 D
10- 6 Hobart Tasmania XI 5-1 W
15- 6 Newcastle Northern NSW XI 2-0 W
16- 6 Sydney New South Wales XI 1-1 D
19- 6 Melbourne Victoria XI 6-0 W
23- 6 Brisbane Queensland XI 7-2 W
26- 6 Sydney New South Wales XI 3-1 W
29- 6 Adelaide South Australia XI 3-2 W
7- 7 Perth Western Australia 6-1 W
Details

??/??/1968, Auckland
AUCKLAND XI 0
CARDIFF CITY FC 3
Auckland XI: Neville Siebert, Colin Latimour, Gary Lake, George Lamont, Willie de Graaf,
Tom McNab, Paul Rennell, David Taylor, Earle Thomas, Ray Mears, John Legg.
Cardiff City FC: n/a
Note: John Houghton was listed as a substitute for Auckland XI.
Auckland XI is a regional selection from New Zealand.

??/??/1968, Christchurch
CANTERBURY XI 0
CARDIFF CITY FC 2
Canterbury XI: Derek Phillips, Grahame Davis, Alex Hawthorn, Tony Gowans, Graham Griffiths,
Gwyn Evans, Barry Hammond, Terry Haydon, Alan Caine, Bryce Wilkinson, Vic Pollard.
Cardiff City FC: n/a
Note: Stewart Squire and Martyn Clements were listed as the Canterbury XI substitutes
for this match.
Canterbury XI is a regional selection from New Zealand.

05/06/1968, Auckland, Newmarket Park
NEW ZEALAND 0
CARDIFF CITY FC 3
New Zealand: Neville Siebert, Colin Latimour, Gary Lake, Terry Haydon, Tom McNab [c],
David Wallace, Alex Milne, Brian Turner (Malcolm Ferguson), Paddy Breslin,
Ray Mears (Bill de Graaf), John Legg.
Cardiff City FC: n/a
Referee: R W Cullen.
Note: New Zealand was coached by Juan Schwanner.


For the details of the matches played in Australia, see:
http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/MiscGames ... Index.html

Looking at the link above, as far as I can see in one of the drawn games in Australia, Cardiff were fielding virtually a full strength team.

This is all really interesting stuff! Thanks to you guys for finding out what you have.

With details at least of the squad that went I'm going to see if I can get more info on who stayed with ( visited) my uncle and cousin while in Perth.

Blimey, we must have been the Man Utd of the time with tours like that. In fact, I wonder who's bright idea was it to go and whether Mr Scoular was very pleased!

This is all really interesting stuff! Thanks to you guys for finding out what you have.

With details at least of the squad that went I'm going to see if I can get more info on who stayed with ( visited) my uncle and cousin while in Perth.

Blimey, we must have been the Man Utd of the time with tours like that. In fact, I wonder who's bright idea was it to go and whether Mr Scoular was very pleased!

It would answer why City had such a bad start to the season and probably cost us promotion as despite this ridiculous pre season tour we still finished the season in fifth position,club must have been well paid for the Deweys to have agreed to the tour