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Cardiff City away at Pompey 1983


City fans had great time at Pompey

CARDIFF City set out to dismantle Portsmouth promotion hopes during 1983, but only succeeded in taking away parts of their big clock at Fratton Park’s Milton End.




CARDIFF City set out to dismantle Portsmouth promotion hopes during 1983, but only succeeded in taking away parts of their big clock at Fratton Park’s Milton End.

So don’t be surprised on FA Cup final day to hear Bluebirds’ fans chant: “Pompey, Pompey, what’s the time?”

The Bluebirds did earn promotion from Division Three that season, finishing runners-up to champions Portsmouth.

It was on March 12, 1983 that Cardiff went to Portsmouth for a crucial promotion battle and fought out a goalless draw.

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.

With little or no money available, Ashurst released a number of players, including Steve Grapes and Peter Kitchen, while Phil Dwyer was made available on a free transfer.

Ashurst searched for free transfers and brought in Jeff Hemmerman from Portsmouth, David Tong from Shrewsbury, Cambridge’s Roger Gibbins, Newport’s Paul Bodin and goalkeeper Martin Thomas.

He also brought in triallist Billy Woof, who headed the winner against Wigan and then, three days later, the former Middlesbrough striker left the club after a row with Ashurst.

City then signed Godfrey Ingram, who was billed as the club’s record signing – incoming and outgoing – at £350,000 from San Jose Earthquakes.

But nine weeks after arriving, Ingram returned to San Jose with no transfer fee seemingly ever paid.

Cardiff went top of Division Three when Gary Bennett’s lone goal defeated Bradford at Ninian Park during October, while it was Hemmerman who fired Cardiff’s winner in the 1-0 victory against Portsmouth at Ninian Park.

Ashurst moved to strengthen his attacking options by signing veteran marksman Bob Hatton, 36, on a free from Sheffield United and Cardiff maintained their promotion challenge.

Victory over Orient at Ninian Park on May 7 ensured promotion with 11,480 in the ground.

But attendances were disappointing and the average attendance was 7,681 over the season, demonstrating the people of Cardiff were not happy with Third Division football.

The Bluebirds finished second to Portsmouth with Gibbins the only ever-present. Hemmerman, Tong, Dave Bennett, Linden Jones, John Lewis and Jimmy Mullen appeared regularly.

Dwyer, who had been put on the transfer list, stayed to play a full part in the success.

For Mullen it was the third time he had captained a team promoted to the Second Division – a unique achievement.

Hemmerman was top scorer with 22. Dave Green hit 12 with Gibbins and Hatton nine each.

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Cardiff City away at Pompey 1983

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I was at that game Annis and at the end we were kept in for the home fans to disperse, but loads of Pompey went round the back of our stand and were lobbing bricks over the wall at us. It was then that the city fans ripped the advertising boards that the clock was in and chucked them down at the Pompey fans, and then the clock got wrecked. Some years ago on holiday, I got talking to some Pompey fans and of course I asked them what the time was, they had a laugh and told me that they found every bit of the clock except the big hand, which they reckon was about 10 feet long. I wonder what happened to it lol?

I was at that game Annis and at the end we were kept in for the home fans to disperse, but loads of Pompey went round the back of our stand and were lobbing bricks over the wall at us. It was then that the city fans ripped the advertising boards that the clock was in and chucked them down at the Pompey fans, and then the clock got wrecked. Some years ago on holiday, I got talking to some Pompey fans and of course I asked them what the time was, they had a laugh and told me that they found every bit of the clock except the big hand, which they reckon was about 10 feet long. I wonder what happened to it lol?

I remember it well too. Top trip that.

I was at that game Annis and at the end we were kept in for the home fans to disperse, but loads of Pompey went round the back of our stand and were lobbing bricks over the wall at us. It was then that the city fans ripped the advertising boards that the clock was in and chucked them down at the Pompey fans, and then the clock got wrecked. Some years ago on holiday, I got talking to some Pompey fans and of course I asked them what the time was, they had a laugh and told me that they found every bit of the clock except the big hand, which they reckon was about 10 feet long. I wonder what happened to it lol?

Dill, and I was, what a day and boy we took an unbelievable amount of lads and Pompey to this day have nothing but praise for the amount we took. It would of been carnage if it had not been for the police.

Could only get home grandstand tickets - recall the game for a wonder save by our keeper and objects flying in the air all afternoon between the City end and Pompey fans.

A great season watching the City get promoted.