... Cardiff sports fans.

What a weekend of contrasts!

On Saturday, my partner, my 21 month old son and I spent nearly 5 hours in the Millennium Stadium at Judgement Day.  The 4 Welsh regions in a double header, East v West.  Despite being Blues locals, Scarlets would be my team (as a Pembrokeshire boy) - so loyalties were split.  The fans around us were from all 4 regions, but it didn't matter a jot!  Everyone cheered when the teams came on, everyone cheered as a player showed skill and everyone clapped when any points were scored.
There was banter and I would be lying if I said I didn't hear any swearing, but from the old guys downing the beers, to the little Blues supporter behind us with his Ospreys dad, there was no ill feeling.
We felt safe and our toddler felt safe.  He thoroughly enjoyed his day, playing peepo with the fans and dancing to the music!

On Bank holiday Monday, my father-in-law, brother-in-law and I went to watch Cardiff City v Blackburn Rovers.  (I feel as if I could stop this letter now and everyone would understand!)
Before I continue, I am fully aware that some football fans are decent people, but the ones that surrounded us (and a dad and young daughter nearby) were nothing but thugs.  The applause as the teams ran on to the pitch was accompanied by the Rovers fans starting to sing.  City fans responded by chanting, "Shut up you c**ts."  This was the first example of many which left me feeling physically sick.  The constant stream of unsporting abuse made me angry and ashamed in equal measure.
When the visiting goalie was hurt and a Cardiff City player kicked the ball out so that he could be seen to by a trainer, the song, 'Leave him there to die' rang out!  Every single tackle resulting in anyone falling over was greeted by one of two responses.  If it was a City player on the floor, then the ref was a w**ker and didn't know what he was doing and the Rovers player was a c**t.  If it was a Rovers player on the floor, he had dived and was a c**t.

There was banter, some of it quite funny and clever.  "You're just a bus stop in Bury" is not a bad chant to Blackburn fans.  It's a wind up! A laugh!
On the other hand, "You're full of shit, shit, shit and more shit." is never going to compete for greatest lyrics!

The second half saw a more aggressive stance from the crowd, as chants of, "Chop his f**king legs off" and "Kick his face in" became common.  Other childish traits, such as refusing to sit down became an issue!  In the all seater stadium, I understand the club can be fined if the crowd stand.  When stewards came to tell people to sit down, as soon as their backs were turned, a shout of, "Stand up if you hate Swansea" rang out.  Everyone stood up - those who didn't want to were forced to because they couldn't see the game!

When the announcer congratulated the crowd on the fact that Cardiff city had recently been voted 'Family Club of the year', my irony needle nearly blew the top of my head off!  This was shortly before I witnessed stewards nearly having to restrain someone in the Family Stand (located next to the away fans) from taunting away fans as they left 5 minutes early.

I will probably get no choice about whether my child prefers football or rugby, but I know which one I hope he follows!