CARDIFF FAN FINDS UNOPENED LETTER SENT 41 YEARS AGO BY CLUB'

CARDIFF FAN FINDS UNOPENED LETTER SENT 41 YEARS AGO BY CLUB'S FORMER MANAGER



BY ALEX ROBERTS

Tuesday 26th January 2021



The fan had complained to the club about recent results

A Cardiff City fan has unearthed a letter sent to his family by the club's former manager - 41 years after it was first sent.

Posting on Twitter, Bluebirds fan Greg Edwards revealed the letter was sent in response to his late father. His dad had written to the club in 1980 as a 19-year-old, deeply dissatisfied with the club's run of form.


The year is 1980 and, age 19, dad wrote to the Cardiff City manager of the time, Richie Morgan, questioning the efforts of the team.

41 years later to the day , after losing dad..we’ve just found the letter & the 4 page response from Mr Morgan.


After a 2-0 defeat to fourth-tier local rivals Newport County in the Welsh Cup, Edwards' father wrote to the Cardiff manager at the time, Richie Morgan.

The letter began: "I am writing this as a result of Cardiff City's abysmal performance against Newport County last night.

"In all my years of watching Cardiff City, I have never before seen such a pathetic display from a side 'supposed' to be 'the best in Wales'.


"It is no wonder that the crowds are slowly going away from Ninian Park, when City are totally out-played, out-challenged and out-thought by a Fourth Division side."

The letter went on to make comparisons with the plight of Swansea City. Cardiff's arch rivals were also in the-then Second Division (now the Championship) and were on the rise through the divisions under the tutelage of former Cardiff man John Toshack.

"I think it is about time that Cardiff City thought of the vast amount of loyal supporters ... who are being dragged away to see Swansea City.

"Swansea City talk about the First Division (now Premier League) and Cardiff have far better facilities and potential, support wise, than any team in Wales."

No one could have blamed the Cardiff manager Richie Morgan if he cast the letter aside.

But he didn't do that. He replied. Edwards' family have only just discovered the response, however.




Ritchie Morgan's reply is honest and considerate of the fan's complaints.

"I fully agree with your comments regarding the disgraceful display against Newport," he said.


"It was without doubt the worst Cardiff City display I have had to witness since we took over.

"I appreciate more than most the fans' frustrations, year after year you turn up in your thousands."


The frustration expressed by the fan in this letter is not too dissimilar to the situation at Cardiff currently. After finishing last season strongly, resulting in a play-off semi final defeat to Fulham, the Bluebirds were expected to mount a serious challenge for promotion this season.

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This is really interesting, Annis. Times have barely changed over the last 40 years! History does repeat itself every now and then - sentiments that applied in 1980 about City remain today in 2021.

Fair play to Richie Morgan for taking the time to hand writethe reply to the fan's letter ( doubt it would happen today )

Nice letter with a proper badge

Nice letter with a proper badge

Richie took his sacking bad.
Len Ashurst took over. Has Richie been back since.

No Ritchie hasn’t, he’s a family member and was absolutely infuriated when given the chop. Without looking it up I. Any be sure but I believe we were 9th ish when he was sacked and not having a disastrous season.

Saw him recently at a family friends funeral and he still didn’t want to talk about the City.....

Think we finished 9th in 78 which was an achievement then.. made for a good summer. Used to see him over Seawall Road now and then, think he was a Director in a chemicals company. Glad I never asked him..

No Ritchie hasn’t, he’s a family member and was absolutely infuriated when given the chop. Without looking it up I. Any be sure but I believe we were 9th ish when he was sacked and not having a disastrous season.

Saw him recently at a family friends funeral and he still didn’t want to talk about the City.....

It was the highest finish we had achieved for some years and a fantastic late season run after Richie took over; yet the club (disastrously as it turned out) decided not to give him the job full time

A great stalwart of the club, he was here a long time as Captain and Club Captain, although the number of appearances for time spent was quite low

I met Richie when he lived in Llantwit Fardre (may still do?) and he helped coach our school football team a little. He was a really nice guy and we all looked up to him as a man

Shame he doesn't attend but it just goes to show its n9t just modern owners/chairmen that don't see the wood for the trees

“One itchy organ there’s only itchy organ”

Ritchie was without doubt one of my favourite City managers.

That team he managed in 1979 was quality as evidenced timelessly on the Big Match Revisited winning 2-1 at Sunderland

And before that beating Brighton and Wrexham at NP and Sheff U 4-0 etc

Yes we should have had Toshack but the Board were happy with play it safe dull Andrews but Ritchie was cast aside.

Nice Touch RM

Think we finished 9th in 78 which was an achievement then.. made for a good summer. Used to see him over Seawall Road now and then, think he was a Director in a chemicals company. Glad I never asked him..

couldnt wait for the start of the following season 79/80 , really thought we would be going up but never got close to bothering the top end... then he got sacked quite early in 1980/81 season after a run similar to the one we are currently on with Graeme Williams taking over ended up staying in div 2 on goal difference...

That is the best badge by far, the only one I can 100% feel at home with, just the Bluebird .

CTID

That is the best badge by far, the only one I can 100% feel at home with, just the Bluebird .

CTID

same here... never understood all the messing about with it { and not just since Tan arrived either }