“ CCFC A DAY NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN “

On This Day | 2008 FA Cup Semi-Final
History


Tuesday 7th April 2020


The day Cardiff City booked their place in their third FA Cup Final...

The 6th April 2008 was one of proudest days in City’s history, as local lad Joe Ledley’s goal dispatched Barnsley in the FA Cup Semi-Final.

Cardiff City – the only side to ever take the Cup out of England – would be back at Wembley for their first Final since 1927.






Wembley Way

It wasn't all plain sailing. The Bluebirds began their Cup campaign against non-league Chasetown, who became the lowest ranked side to reach the Third Round.

Kev McNaughton’s own goal had put the minnows ahead, but goals from Peter Whittingham, Aaron Ramsey (his first in the City shirt) and Paul Parry saw us progress.



Superkev more than made amends in the Fourth Round. His sublime volley and Steve Thompson’s penalty saw off the plucky Hereford United at Edgar Street.

A Fifth Round home tie with Wolves was the reward, with Whittingham and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink the stars of the show. Whitts gave City the lead, before Hasselbaink score the Goal of the Round, stepping over the ball and curling left-footed into the top corner.

The Cup run is one of many standout moments in Whitts’ illustrious career with the Bluebirds. He scored three and assisted two en route to the Final – the most by a Cardiff player in a single campaign.



His impact on the Quarter Final against top-flight Middlesbrough will always be remembered. Surrounded by defenders, he somehow manoeuvred the ball onto his right and bent it into the top corner, before delivering an inch-perfect free-kick for Roger Johnson to head home a second.

“Que sera, sera…”

The local lad

In the Semi-Final the Bluebirds faced fellow Championship side Barnsley, who had knocked out Liverpool and Chelsea on their way to Wembley.

The day before, Portsmouth, the only top-flight side left in the competition, had defeated West Bromwich Albion in the first Semi-Final.



82,752 were at Wembley to see City take on the Tykes, including some 35,000 Bluebirds.

And they were sent into waves of jubilant celebration inside ten minutes.

Image

Tony Capaldi’s long-throw had been a weapon throughout the campaign and, after Barnsley failed to clear their lines from one such delivery, the ball fell to Ledley on the edge of the area.

The Academy graduate produced one of the Club’s famous goals, hooking a perfectly executed volley into the back of the Barnsley net.

The City fans present on that day will tell you that the following 82 minutes were the longest of their lives...

Their hearts were in their mouths after the hour mark when Kayode Odejayi – the man who had knocked out Chelsea – went clean through. Thankfully, with all the time in the world to pick his spot, the forward slid the ball wide of Peter Enckelman’s post.

The full time whistle blew and the Bluebirds had done it – with six weeks of excitement, column inches and Cup Final songs to follow – they would be back at Wembley for the first time in 81 years.

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Every time we've been to Wembley I've come away extremely proud to be a City fan but it was only on that day that I came away from Wembley deliriously happy!

I remember driving through a snowstorm on the way to the game!

Every time we've been to Wembley I've come away extremely proud to be a City fan but it was only on that day that I came away from Wembley deliriously happy!

I remember driving through a snowstorm on the way to the game!

David, every time for except the BLACKPOOL game.

We never gave everything that day and BLACKPOOL deserved to beat us.

Every time we've been to Wembley I've come away extremely proud to be a City fan but it was only on that day that I came away from Wembley deliriously happy!

I remember driving through a snowstorm on the way to the game!

David, every time for except the BLACKPOOL game.

We never gave everything that day and BLACKPOOL deserved to beat us.

Fair point Annis.

Some players gave their all that day - Chops and Ledley had great games and Whitts was excellent too.

But when Bothroyd went off I think it was a massive blow especially as Dave Jones replaced him with Kelvin Etuhu and left Ross McCormack on the bench

I honestly think that if Bothroyd had stayed on we could have won that game and if we had got promoted with that squad I really think we could have stayed comfortably in the Premier League for a number of seasons.

Walking away from Wembley after that game was the most devastated I've ever felt after a defeat - even worse than some of the games over the years which confirmed our relegations.

Every time we've been to Wembley I've come away extremely proud to be a City fan but it was only on that day that I came away from Wembley deliriously happy!

I remember driving through a snowstorm on the way to the game!

David, every time for except the BLACKPOOL game.

We never gave everything that day and BLACKPOOL deserved to beat us.

Fair point Annis.

Some players gave their all that day - Chops and Ledley had great games and Whitts was excellent too.

But when Bothroyd went off I think it was a massive blow especially as Dave Jones replaced him with Kelvin Etuhu and left Ross McCormack on the bench

I honestly think that if Bothroyd had stayed on we could have won that game and if we had got promoted with that squad I really think we could have stayed comfortably in the Premier League for a number of seasons.

Walking away from Wembley after that game was the most devastated I've ever felt after a defeat - even worse than some of the games over the years which confirmed our relegations.

I remember that game all too well. Took me weeks to get over that properly which sounds a bit ridiculous with what’s going on in the world atm.

Every time we've been to Wembley I've come away extremely proud to be a City fan but it was only on that day that I came away from Wembley deliriously happy!

I remember driving through a snowstorm on the way to the game!

David, every time for except the BLACKPOOL game.

We never gave everything that day and BLACKPOOL deserved to beat us.

Fair point Annis.

Some players gave their all that day - Chops and Ledley had great games and Whitts was excellent too.

But when Bothroyd went off I think it was a massive blow especially as Dave Jones replaced him with Kelvin Etuhu and left Ross McCormack on the bench

I honestly think that if Bothroyd had stayed on we could have won that game and if we had got promoted with that squad I really think we could have stayed comfortably in the Premier League for a number of seasons.

Walking away from Wembley after that game was the most devastated I've ever felt after a defeat - even worse than some of the games over the years which confirmed our relegations.

I remember that game all too well. Took me weeks to get over that properly which sounds a bit ridiculous with what’s going on in the world atm.

Amazing isn't it?

Exactly one month ago on 7th March I went in a coach with 50 odd others to Barnsley to be part of a crowd of thousands watching a football game.

Almost seems like a different lifetime.

Every time we've been to Wembley I've come away extremely proud to be a City fan but it was only on that day that I came away from Wembley deliriously happy!

I remember driving through a snowstorm on the way to the game!

David, every time for except the BLACKPOOL game.

We never gave everything that day and BLACKPOOL deserved to beat us.

Fair point Annis.

Some players gave their all that day - Chops and Ledley had great games and Whitts was excellent too.

But when Bothroyd went off I think it was a massive blow especially as Dave Jones replaced him with Kelvin Etuhu and left Ross McCormack on the bench

I honestly think that if Bothroyd had stayed on we could have won that game and if we had got promoted with that squad I really think we could have stayed comfortably in the Premier League for a number of seasons.

Walking away from Wembley after that game was the most devastated I've ever felt after a defeat - even worse than some of the games over the years which confirmed our relegations.

David,

I felt DJ was to laid back and from the first minute City never looked up for it.

Losing Jay was massive though .

I was fuming for days after this game .

Every time we've been to Wembley I've come away extremely proud to be a City fan but it was only on that day that I came away from Wembley deliriously happy!

I remember driving through a snowstorm on the way to the game!

David, every time for except the BLACKPOOL game.

We never gave everything that day and BLACKPOOL deserved to beat us.

Fair point Annis.

Some players gave their all that day - Chops and Ledley had great games and Whitts was excellent too.

But when Bothroyd went off I think it was a massive blow especially as Dave Jones replaced him with Kelvin Etuhu and left Ross McCormack on the bench

I honestly think that if Bothroyd had stayed on we could have won that game and if we had got promoted with that squad I really think we could have stayed comfortably in the Premier League for a number of seasons.

Walking away from Wembley after that game was the most devastated I've ever felt after a defeat - even worse than some of the games over the years which confirmed our relegations.

I remember that game all too well. Took me weeks to get over that properly which sounds a bit ridiculous with what’s going on in the world atm.

Amazing isn't it?

Exactly one month ago on 7th March I went in a coach with 50 odd others to Barnsley to be part of a crowd of thousands watching a football game.

Almost seems like a different lifetime.

I also remember after our first Wembley appearance since 1927 taking 40,000 to Wembley , less than one week later I went with only 120 fans away to Ipswich Town, midweek game.

My biggest disappointment was the FA cup final against Portsmouth they were there for the taking but alas it didn't happen.

Blackpool was the lowest I've ever felt. Lower than missing ou to Russia Romania and Scotland. Apart from losing Bothroyd our initial pairing of centre backs seemed terrified of sticking a foot in. I seem to recall it got much better when Gerrard came on. As for pompey far too defensive and had we started with Rambo....? Barnsley though pure joy to win at the home of Engerlish football

Rambo from 1st minute given a different result

Four Wembley visits in the space of a couple of years, only one win but apart from the Blackpool game, very proud of the team. Barnsley was brilliant, Portsmouth was a keeper error and one of those things. But frightening the shit out of Liverpool was amazing. It all left us with some fantastic memories and you'd hope we have more in the future, who knows.

Four Wembley visits in the space of a couple of years, only one win but apart from the Blackpool game, very proud of the team. Barnsley was brilliant, Portsmouth was a keeper error and one of those things. But frightening the shit out of Liverpool was amazing. It all left us with some fantastic memories and you'd hope we have more in the future, who knows.

I remember being in a pub for the Liverpool game and as the hordes of scousers we’re walking past the City fans started singing. “Shall we show you where to go?”
Hard to think of but brilliant at the time. Tbf the Liverpool fans loved it too.

I remember planting a kiss on Jeff the copper 's forehead while existing the upper tier after the Barnsley game. He was retired from the old bill and stewarding then...god rest his soul.

Yeah, sooo disappointed is an understatement after that game. Probably one of the best play off finals though.