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The Trust invited more than 40 young people from communities across Cardiff to attend the recent Peterborough game. They included members of the Somali Integration Society and other Islamic groups, many of whom might not have thought that going down the City was something for them.

Science teacher and Director of Action First Plus, Dr Abdi Ali, said, “Everyone really enjoyed their day at the ground and for first time visitors, especially the young Muslim girls, it was a very enjoyable Saturday.”

These visits to the Cardiff City Stadium are part of the Trust’s community work which aims to get as many local people involved in football. The only negative comment we heard all day was about bad language from some fans.

Trust chair Tim Hartley said, “We are keen to share our passion for the game with everyone in Cardiff and especially those living near the stadium. I think we managed to change a few perceptions of football on Saturday. Despite the disappointing result, all the young people had a great day out and we hope to see them supporting the Bluebirds again very soon.

“I’d also like to thank Cardiff City for generously providing match tickets for the young people and for their continued support for our community work. It really is appreciated.”

The Trust is to stage a very special event in February to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of Cardiff City’s promotion to the old Second Division.

Several Bluebirds legends from the 1982-83 promotion team have already indicated they will be delighted to attend and we will announce a full list of guests shortly.

The event, which will take place at the Cardiff City Stadium on Wednesday, February 13^th (7pm for 7.30pm), has been organised by the Trust’s membership group and it is expected to be very popular.

It will follow the same format as the Real Madrid and Leeds evenings, compered by BBC Wales football correspondent Rob Phillips, a great supporter of the Trust. There will also be a quiz and raffle on the evening.

For those younger fans among the stars of the 1982-83 team, which finished runners-up in Division Three were Dave Bennett, who went onto FA Cup glory with Coventry City, his brother Gary Bennett, who later starred for Sunderland, Phil Dwyer, Roger Gibbins and striker Jeff Hemmerman.

John Isaacson, the Trust’s board member with responsibility for membership, said: “Everyone who came along to the Real Madrid and Leeds evenings really enjoyed themselves and we’re certain there is going to be huge demand to hear from stars who played during the1982-83 promotion season. Fans are guaranteed a fantastic evening of football chat and we’re delighted that Rob Phillips has once again agreed to compere the evening.”

Tickets will be free to members of the Supporters’ Trust and are available to non-members for just £5.00. If you would like to reserve tickets contact members@ccfctrust.org. Tickets are reserved for Trust members and their guests until Friday, January 11^th when they will go on general sale.

Non-members who buy a ticket for the event will be able to join the Trust from just £7 on the evening.

We will announce details of when and where to collect tickets later

Trust and Somali footballers at friendly

The Trust team scored another victory as they took on a side from Cardiff’s Somali community at Talybont on Sunday. The game was evenly matched until Adam Hurley scored the winner for the Trust after some pretty approach work.

The Trust organises friendly games with teams from Cardiff and the Valleys to support charities and to promote friendship through football.

Ali Abdi, who managed the Somali team, said, “Our squad from the Somali community was mixed with youngsters and seniors, coming together after an invitation from the Supporters Trust. It was a great encounter for a Sunday afternoon which both sides really enjoyed. Having lost 2-1 we now look forward to playing against each other again in the New Year, to even the score of course!”

Trust team manager, Tim Hartley, said, “The conditions weren’t perfect for our normal free flowing style of football but the game was played in the right spirit. In fac.t we were enjoying ourselves so much that we moved over to the 7 a side pitch to carry on playing when our time on the big pitch was up. Thanks to Ali and all the lads for a great afternoon’s football.”

The Trust is keen to hear from any other teams who fancy a friendly against us. Just email help@ccfctrust.org.

Trust Chair Tim Hartley attended the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council seminar to discuss the Trust’s work with the local community and last year’s project with the Kenyan Bluebirds. Here’s his report.

Ali Abdi of Cardiff Youth Service,Tim Hartley, Ahmed Ahmed of Wales Somaliland Link, and Musa Yousuf ,Somali Youth Association

Football’s important to all of us, but can it actually change society? The coaches and youth workers from around who attended the recent ‘Games Without Frontiers’ seminar in Glasgow seem to think so. We had come together to discuss how we can use football as a tool to help promote understanding and peace and heard some amazing stories of the efforts people are making to mend some of society’s ills through football and fair play.

Michael and Jim from Belfast are getting young people to kick a ball at each other rather than hurl objects over the peace wall. “It does work,” said Michael, “you take the kids out of the poisoned environment of their community and into a bubble of peace and goodwill. The ‘craic’ is good and the football is a real leveller.”

Nadine Brelstaff has been working with Football 4 Peace in Israel with Arab and Israeli youths. She stops the game when there is an incident and asks the players to consider what they did and how they reacted. “We are using football lessons for everyday life,” she says. “Mind you, it was not all plain sailing over there. We were not allowed into the occupied territories. And our tournament final was disrupted by, er, a recent bombing.”

We as a Trust are also trying to break down barriers and challenge the myth that football is still part of a yob culture. For three seasons now we have been inviting local communities, religious groups and new migrants to the stadium to share our passion for the City. Feedback has been positive and everyone said they would love to come again. We also have a partnership with a group of Kenyan ‘Active Citizens’ and with the help of the club have travelled to Nairobi to help train them to use football to bring communities together. Cardiff was well represented at the seminar with four of the city’s Somali youth workers also attending.

One of the most inspirational speakers at the seminar was Andy McLaren. Andy was brought up in Glasgow, played for Reading and Dundee and got a cap for Scotland. He has had his own problems with drink and drugs but now runs community schemes in his home city.  He wants to show young people in the high rise flats that there are alternatives. And it does work. Over the last two years his work with Strathclyde police has helped lower complaints about drinking and anti social behaviour and reduced knife crime.

We also heard about research showing that messages on health and sex education are better retained when they are presented through sport rather than in a classroom. So there we are, not only is football really good fun, it is also a force for good. Fact!

Bryn Keenor, son of Bluebirds legend Fred Keenor, has sent a message to the people of Cardiff and Wales through Graham Keenor, Fred’s nephew.

Gray

I am not a man of great words, but only to say thank you to the people of Wales and their friends for the statue of Fred. Fred would have been so proud of them. I can only say to those that started the project is thanks, thank you.

Yours Bryn