" When Pompey Fans Came to Cardiff & Cardiff went to Pompey

Pompey fans in the Grange 1983/84

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Pompey in Block A Grandstsnd Ninian Park 1984


Pompey were in block A at the back. Cardiff were in the enclosure, Cardiff jumped up from the enclosure and also came up from underneath block A.

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Pompey in Block A Grandstsnd Ninian Park 1984

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Football Culture was so much different then how things have changed 3 decades on

Football Culture was so much different then how things have changed 3 decades on

Changed beyond Mallo, we all grow up/ move on but the casual scene is their for life


When Cardiff went to Pompey in 1983

City fans had great time at Pompey -

City fans were on a big open terrace behind a goal and at the same end was a huge clock.

“There were around 4,000 City fans and one of them decided to climb on the clock,” said long-term fan Viv Grandfield, who was at the match.

“Then others joined in and, if my memory serves me well, there were parts taken down.

Another fan recalled: “A few Cardiff fans decided to dismantle the clock.

“There was a little hand and a big hand taken off – I remember one guy hanging off the big hand at one stage.”

It was the time when Cardiff City Blue Dragons rugby lLeague side were sharing Ninian Park, but they were struggling with attendances around 600.

Len Ashurst was Bluebirds manager for 1982-83 and he appointed Jimmy Goodfellow trainer-coach.

In 2010 in Portsmouth it was still happening


Pompey and Cardiff fans convicted over brawl in Portsmouth street

20 August 2011




By Gareth Bethell



FOUR men have been convicted of taking part in a mass brawl between Pompey and Cardiff City fans.


They have been warned they may go to prison after violence erupted when a group of Cardiff fans got lost after the game at Fratton Park on August 28, last year.


It brings the total number of people convicted in relation to the mass punch-up to six, as two had already admitted their part.

The Cardiff fans had approached another group, dressed in blue, near the Good Companion pub, who they thought were fellow fans of the Welsh club but turned out to be Pompey supporters.

A row broke out and the Cardiff fans ran off down Eastern Road with the Pompey supporters chasing after them.

As punches were being thrown a coach-load of Cardiff fans drove past and some on board made the driver pull over so that they could join in the brawl.

Stunned members of the public watched on as a group of 30 men fought in the street at around tea time.

Football intelligence officer PC Paul Foley condemned the violence.

‘The large-scale disorder would have been seen by lots of members of the public, including families,’ he said.

‘This sort of thing is not commonplace on our streets and people who saw it would undoubtedly have been scared and intimidated.

‘The outcome of this case is a reminder that football related violence and disorder is taken very seriously by Hampshire police.’

Pompey fans Colin Gibbs, a 48-year-old taxi driver, his son Lewis Gibbs, 19, and Matthew Balmer, 36, were all found guilty of taking part in the trouble, along with Cardiff supporter Peter Morgan, 45, after a two-week trial at Portsmouth Crown Court.

Judge Ian Pearson adjourned the case for sentencing next month and warned them they could go to jail.

‘I am granting you bail but you must not assume just because you’re getting bail that a non-custodial sentence will be granted,’ he said.

‘All options are to be considered and that includes custody.’

Cardiff’s 2-0 victory at Fratton Park saw them go to the top of the Championship while Pompey were bottom, with just one point from four games.

The game was the first time the sides had met since Portsmouth beat Cardiff in the 2008 FA Cup final.

Despite the trouble, Hampshire police say they will not be bringing in extra officers for Cardiff’s visit to Portsmouth next Saturday.

Men cleared of more serious charges

THE four men were convicted after a two-week trial at Portsmouth Crown Court.

A fifth, Thomas Parker, was cleared of all the charges.

The group smiled and patted each other on the back after being found not guilty of violent disorder, the most serious charge they were facing.

Pompey fan Colin Gibbs, 48, of Jervis Road, Stamshaw, Portsmouth, was convicted of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour but he was cleared of the more serious offences of violent disorder and affray.

His son Lewis Gibbs, 19, of the same address, was convicted of affray and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour. He was cleared of violent disorder.

Matthew Balmer, 36, of Strode Road, Stamshaw, was found guilty of affray.

He was cleared of violent disorder.

Cardiff fan Peter Morgan, 45, of Primrose Street, Mid Glamorgan, was convicted of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour.

He was also cleared of violent disorder and affray.

Parker, 21, of Church Road, Emsworth, was cleared of violent disorder, affray and a public order offence.

Judge Ian Pearson told him: ‘My advice Mr Parker in future is walk away. Walk away at some speed. Do not follow a friend because it will lead to trouble.’

Two other men had already admitted their roles in the trouble after police launched an investigation code-named Operation Artefact.

Pompey fans Danny Ashburner, 20, of Lime Avenue, Chichester, and Jarred Partridge, 18, of Japonica Way, Havant, previously pleaded guilty to a public order offence.

The eight men will be sentenced together, when the prosecution will also apply for football banning orders.

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A Pompey fan says how he remembers Cardiff coming to Pompey in 1983

I remember the day well, they ripped the clock off advert board at the Milton end. So the south an north terrace started throwing coins at them. At full time bricks and other bits of masonry came into the Milton end from Pompey fans that were in alverstoke Rd. Then in the police's great wisdom they let of about 4k of taffs, which resulted in one of the best/worst riots I've ever seen around fratton park, even an unmarked police van with a dog in it got over-turned, it was lawless for quite a few hours..


You even get the "Pompey, Pompey, What's the time" stuff in the pubs and clubs of Cardiff if you let yourself be known as PFC.

Don't mind Cardiff. Easy train trip, cheap hotels and a top night out.

Remember 83 like yesterday we got to the station only to find we couldn't get on the train there was 12 of us ended up going up in 3 taxis funny as hell going up the m4 with city of Cardiff on the top of the taxis passing loads of coaches at least we got home before them.

Remember the clock like it was yesterday, also got a good left hook that day and a plant pot in the chops.

Remember Pompey coming to Ninian Park, they were a right bunch of nutters.

Me and my mate tagged along with the guys who attempted to get up tge stairs of A block. We were sent packing and I had a clip on the eye for my troubles. My mate had a bit more of a thumping.
I still remember the return game. Does anyone remember as the clock was being dismantled, a couple of hundred Pompey charged back into the ground across the terrace to our right. Think the local bobbies managed to hold them off.

I was one of those in A block of the Grandstand. Pompey (as is customary with away fans) were in the ground early, we arrived in the Grandstand after them. I can honestly say that nothing more than a bit of verbal and squaring up took place before the police moved in sharply and escorted Portsmouth to the away end.

I was also there in '83 at Fratton Park. We went on the 125 and our train arrived shortly after another service train, rammed full with City. By the time they had got two train loads of us out of the station, a third train, a soccer special arrived. Portsmouth had a small greeting party waiting for us, however, when they saw our sheer numbers they soon melted away.
I remember thousands of us walking around aimlessly in an area with lots of flats before eventually being escorted to the ground hours before kick off. We managed to open a gate and were walking on the pitch without any supervision whatsoever!

I think the squaring up and verbals came after the police / stewards arrived. My mate still has nightmares about it lol. It wasn't a full blown riot or anything but I can 100 percent say that punches and kicks were aimed.

I got nicked the first time we played them at home in the 80's[ 1982 I think?], we were fighting with them before the game on Sloper Rd. Everyone ran off when the OB appeared, got in the ground and thought we'd got away with it. Two coppers came on the Bob Bank and nicked me and my mate, 'how did you know it was us' said my mate with his dyed half blue and half white hair!

Football Culture was so much different then how things have changed 3 decades on

Changed beyond Mallo, we all grow up/ move on but the casual scene is their for life


When Cardiff went to Pompey in 1983

City fans had great time at Pompey -

City fans were on a big open terrace behind a goal and at the same end was a huge clock.

“There were around 4,000 City fans and one of them decided to climb on the clock,” said long-term fan Viv Grandfield, who was at the match.

“Then others joined in and, if my memory serves me well, there were parts taken down.

Another fan recalled: “A few Cardiff fans decided to dismantle the clock.

“There was a little hand and a big hand taken off – I remember one guy hanging off the big hand at one stage.”

It was the time when Cardiff City Blue Dragons rugby lLeague side were sharing Ninian Park, but they were struggling with attendances around 600.

Len Ashurst was Bluebirds manager for 1982-83 and he appointed Jimmy Goodfellow trainer-coach.

Although it was an old third division game it was top of the table clash and I seem to remember it was on "Match of the day" -the good old days when the BBC covered more than just the big boys so there should be some archive coverage somewhere.

Football Culture was so much different then how things have changed 3 decades on

Changed beyond Mallo, we all grow up/ move on but the casual scene is their for life


When Cardiff went to Pompey in 1983

City fans had great time at Pompey -

City fans were on a big open terrace behind a goal and at the same end was a huge clock.

“There were around 4,000 City fans and one of them decided to climb on the clock,” said long-term fan Viv Grandfield, who was at the match.

“Then others joined in and, if my memory serves me well, there were parts taken down.

Another fan recalled: “A few Cardiff fans decided to dismantle the clock.

“There was a little hand and a big hand taken off – I remember one guy hanging off the big hand at one stage.”

It was the time when Cardiff City Blue Dragons rugby lLeague side were sharing Ninian Park, but they were struggling with attendances around 600.

Len Ashurst was Bluebirds manager for 1982-83 and he appointed Jimmy Goodfellow trainer-coach.

Although it was an old third division game it was top of the table clash and I seem to remember it was on "Match of the day" -the good old days when the BBC covered more than just the big boys so there should be some archive coverage somewhere.

Yes it was and a crowd of about 24,000 at Pompey incl 4,000 of us for a division 4 match

Went on the special , remember guys dressed up like something out of clockwork orange ? Obviously the clock being dismantled , the walk back to the station with Pompey trying to get at us from the side streets and Eric Steele pulled off a "Gordon Banks" style save late on in the second half

Any pics when Pompey took the Grange End and stayed on it circa 1974?

Went in 73 maybe 74, sixteen, with the Barry boys,Veggie, Des, Donald, into their end, surrounded by big dockers. Jesus ain't sure how we survived. I got a feeling we went to Millwall a month earlier, that was a walk in the park compared to Pompey. Much respect. Walked all over them at Ninian when they got in there early one season. Soon got rid of them out of the Grange.
Great times but things have moved on.

Am I right in thinking that they were the only ones to ever take the Grange end?
Aston Vila arrived early once and got in there, didn't last long though when more city fans turned up and ousted them.

I remember a lone pompey fan offering out city fans walking to the ground from the train station,he didn't have any takers,eventually the law beat him up.

I remember this when Pompey in Block A Grandstand Ninian Park 1984 if I can remember ninian park was playing the song dexi midnight runners Come on Eileen I think of it every time the song is on now lol as it was during that song being played it kicked off clearly someone didn't like the song lol

I remember coming from Wembley after our FA cup final and all the pompy supporters coming towards the coaches and walking out of Wembley applauding us for staying for the cup being giving out a sight I never thought I would see then spending an evening in London with Pompy supporters having a great night all laughing at ourselves in the past and the clock lol

I was there when Pompey 'took the end' rubbish . They were in there for a while but as soon the regulars arrived it was normal service. I was also there when Villa got in early but Barry Boys arrived and we tried to oust them . We were then joined by an Ely crew , I recall a lad in a crombie with glasses, shit he was useful , wish I could remember his name. Anyway it got sorted.
You got to remember this was our end and where was the cops gonna put 6000 possibly more City faithful except in their own end. I Remember 44,000 for that Leeds cup game...now that was violent.

There were also about 6 Pompey in the Canton Stand the season before (82/83)..... that season we had a little mob in there.

Can see the guys boat now, there were a few scuffles, this lad says 'We're Pompey, we dont run from no-one', cue small guy from the Valleys took two strides down the steps and whack - knocked him flying..

One of those punches when you think 'Oooohh, rather him than me'. He didnt know what hit him.

Fair play tho'..always had a soft spot for Pompey town and PFC.

Pompey took the Grange very early when gates opened and stayed all game with police line between bob bank cafe and there was to and fro battles but they did stay on it all game. Only team to do it in my days.

Always loved our games against Pompey both home and away. Home in block A of the grandstand stand out, as does outside Ninian Park pub. Also away to Pompey when the clock came down is another stand out time against the 6:57

Pompey took the Grange very early when gates opened and stayed all game with police line between bob bank cafe and there was to and fro battles but they did stay on it all game. Only team to do it in my days.

I remember that once we came through the turnstiles in the Grangend the police were lined up and not allowing us anywhere near the terrace. They made us walk underneath the stand and onto the Bob Bank. I always thought that the fence was there between the Grange end and the bob bank but thinking about it that was put up for the Man Utd game which was probably later.

I Remember 44,000 for that Leeds cup game...now that was violent.

About an hour before kick off 2 Leeds fans got onto the pitch. Soon they were joined by 2 Cardiff with a long scarf between them. They wrapped the scarf around one of the Leeds fan and flung him into the other fan. A fight broke out between the 4 and it was comedy gold watching the police breaking it up.