2003 Playoff Final v QPR

[Cardiff-Cal]

It was over 17 years ago now!

If I had told you that day, 17 years from now we won’t have come back down since, would you have believed me?

I feel with Sam’s money and ambition, a lot of us probably had eyes on the prem anyway, especially after two promotions in three years plus the Leeds win. Everything was going well for us, but even so, I think most of us would have been delighted to hear that 17 years later we would still be up here. And even though I think based on our size as a club we should be a second tier club minimum, I still think it’s a great achievement that we’ve managed to stay up for going on two decades. Let alone having two promotions to the top flight.

Sorry if you believe in jinxes, just feeling proud!

[Rjk]

I would have been amazed.

Being of an age that my entire life I'd only known Cardiff in the bottom 2 divisions it didn't seem real at the time.

I remember looking at the fixtures list when it was first released and seeing the likes of Forest, Derby, Bradford, Palace etc and thinking we could literally lose every game here.

For me it was more daunting at the time than either of the premier league promotions.

That said, if you'd asked me if we'd spend any time in the premier league over the next 17 years I'd have probably said yes also.

[A Quiet Monkfish]

I would have been amazed.

Being of an age that my entire life I'd only known Cardiff in the bottom 2 divisions it didn't seem real at the time.

I remember looking at the fixtures list when it was first released and seeing the likes of Forest, Derby, Bradford, Palace etc and thinking we could literally lose every game here.

For me it was more daunting at the time than either of the premier league promotions.

That said, if you'd asked me if we'd spend any time in the premier league over the next 17 years I'd have probably said yes also.

I remember the 4-1 win over Derby and thinking we just might hold our own in this league. The football was excellent too - pretty open and neat end to end stuff.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

It was over 17 years ago now!

If I had told you that day, 17 years from now we won’t have come back down since, would you have believed me?

I feel with Sam’s money and ambition, a lot of us probably had eyes on the prem anyway, especially after two promotions in three years plus the Leeds win. Everything was going well for us, but even so, I think most of us would have been delighted to hear that 17 years later we would still be up here. And even though I think based on our size as a club we should be a second tier club minimum, I still think it’s a great achievement that we’ve managed to stay up for going on two decades. Let alone having two promotions to the top flight.

Sorry if you believe in jinxes, just feeling proud!

We're one of 20 sides that, since 2003, haven't played at lower than Championship standard. While that's an obvious achievement, it should be mentioned that Leicester, Southampton and Norwich have all plunged into League 1 during this time, yet played more Premier League football than us in the last decade.

17 years ago, many of our fan base would only have really known the 18 consecutive seasons we spent in the bottom 2 divisions, so associate Cardiff City with that and anything of Championship standard and higher is an absolute bonus. However, prior to that relegation from the old second division in 1985, we had spent 7 seasons in the top flight, 29 in the second division and 3 in the third division since WW2. Each relegation to the third tier was followed by immediate promotion back up. A second successive relegation in 1986 must have been a huge shock.

At the end of this season we'll have spent as much time inside the top two divisions as we spent outside them consecutively. A great achievement? Probably. Unexpected back in 2003. Probably. That's not particularly relevant any more, though. Our fan base has grown in 2 decades, many of whom haven't seen us in the lower divisions. They've seen a side that hasn't finished lower than top half in the Championship since 2007, so we've been in the top 32 clubs in the country for 13 seasons. I'd now argue that's roughly where a club this size should be. When they don't, the argument I very occasionally hear of 'it's better than the dark years' is about as relevant as taking a quantum physics exercise book to a knitting class.

[Rjk]

We're one of 20 sides that, since 2003, haven't played at lower than Championship standard. While that's an obvious achievement, it should be mentioned that Leicester, Southampton and Norwich have all plunged into League 1 during this time, yet played more Premier League football than us in the last decade.

17 years ago, many of our fan base would only have really known the 18 consecutive seasons we spent in the bottom 2 divisions, so associate Cardiff City with that and anything of Championship standard and higher is an absolute bonus. However, prior to that relegation from the old second division in 1985, we had spent 7 seasons in the top flight, 29 in the second division and 3 in the third division since WW2. Each relegation to the third tier was followed by immediate promotion back up. A second successive relegation in 1986 must have been a huge shock.

At the end of this season we'll have spent as much time inside the top two divisions as we spent outside them consecutively. A great achievement? Probably. Unexpected back in 2003. Probably. That's not particularly relevant any more, though. Our fan base has grown in 2 decades, many of whom haven't seen us in the lower divisions. They've seen a side that hasn't finished lower than top half in the Championship since 2007, so we've been in the top 32 clubs in the country for 13 seasons. I'd now argue that's roughly where a club this size should be. When they don't, the argument I very occasionally hear of 'it's better than the dark years' is about as relevant as taking a quantum physics exercise book to a knitting class.

I'd say there is still a bit of a legacy from the almost 2 decades in the bottom 2 divisions. Many years of potential fans turned to big fashionable clubs, some of their children followed in their parent's footsteps.
Over since 2003 we've spent more seasons in the Premier league than Derby for example, we are in a bigger city, with probably a bigger "catchment area" yet they usually seem to have bigger attendances than us.

We aren't doing that badly in terms of crowds for a championship club by any means, but I just think if we hadn't spent those years playing in front of a few thousand people we could potentially be a really big club by championship standards.

[NYCBlue]

We're one of 20 sides that, since 2003, haven't played at lower than Championship standard. While that's an obvious achievement, it should be mentioned that Leicester, Southampton and Norwich have all plunged into League 1 during this time, yet played more Premier League football than us in the last decade.

17 years ago, many of our fan base would only have really known the 18 consecutive seasons we spent in the bottom 2 divisions, so associate Cardiff City with that and anything of Championship standard and higher is an absolute bonus. However, prior to that relegation from the old second division in 1985, we had spent 7 seasons in the top flight, 29 in the second division and 3 in the third division since WW2. Each relegation to the third tier was followed by immediate promotion back up. A second successive relegation in 1986 must have been a huge shock.

At the end of this season we'll have spent as much time inside the top two divisions as we spent outside them consecutively. A great achievement? Probably. Unexpected back in 2003. Probably. That's not particularly relevant any more, though. Our fan base has grown in 2 decades, many of whom haven't seen us in the lower divisions. They've seen a side that hasn't finished lower than top half in the Championship since 2007, so we've been in the top 32 clubs in the country for 13 seasons. I'd now argue that's roughly where a club this size should be. When they don't, the argument I very occasionally hear of 'it's better than the dark years' is about as relevant as taking a quantum physics exercise book to a knitting class.

That relegation became pretty apparent pretty quickly. We won 4-1 away on the first game of the season and it was all downhill from there. The team was absolutely shit. Pitiful. I wasn't around in the mid 90s, but it couldn't have been any worse. Crowds of about 2500 scattered around the vast Bob-Bank. Sometimes less than a coachful of away fans in the Grange End. Alan Durban. What a useless tosser.

[A Quiet Monkfish]

We're one of 20 sides that, since 2003, haven't played at lower than Championship standard. While that's an obvious achievement, it should be mentioned that Leicester, Southampton and Norwich have all plunged into League 1 during this time, yet played more Premier League football than us in the last decade.

17 years ago, many of our fan base would only have really known the 18 consecutive seasons we spent in the bottom 2 divisions, so associate Cardiff City with that and anything of Championship standard and higher is an absolute bonus. However, prior to that relegation from the old second division in 1985, we had spent 7 seasons in the top flight, 29 in the second division and 3 in the third division since WW2. Each relegation to the third tier was followed by immediate promotion back up. A second successive relegation in 1986 must have been a huge shock.

At the end of this season we'll have spent as much time inside the top two divisions as we spent outside them consecutively. A great achievement? Probably. Unexpected back in 2003. Probably. That's not particularly relevant any more, though. Our fan base has grown in 2 decades, many of whom haven't seen us in the lower divisions. They've seen a side that hasn't finished lower than top half in the Championship since 2007, so we've been in the top 32 clubs in the country for 13 seasons. I'd now argue that's roughly where a club this size should be. When they don't, the argument I very occasionally hear of 'it's better than the dark years' is about as relevant as taking a quantum physics exercise book to a knitting class.

When my Dad started taking me to games in 1962/3 we had spent more years in the top flight than in any other division !

[Cardiff-Cal]

Eric the Half a Bee smashes it out of the park as usual. This message-boards GOAT.

[Pedro de la Rosa]

We've now been out longer than we were in the bottom 2 divisions I believe? Or is that once we've completed this season?

[goats]

I remember looking at who we were playing after promotion and thinking wow I’ve never seen us play this lot....West Ham, Derby, Sunderland.....look what’s happened to the latter....despite not choosing the best managers, we’ve managed to do ok.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

I'd say there is still a bit of a legacy from the almost 2 decades in the bottom 2 divisions. Many years of potential fans turned to big fashionable clubs, some of their children followed in their parent's footsteps.
Over since 2003 we've spent more seasons in the Premier league than Derby for example, we are in a bigger city, with probably a bigger "catchment area" yet they usually seem to have bigger attendances than us.

We aren't doing that badly in terms of crowds for a championship club by any means, but I just think if we hadn't spent those years playing in front of a few thousand people we could potentially be a really big club by championship standards.

Following 17 years out of the top two divisions you would have thought Ninian park would have been rocking for the first home game against Bradford

The crowd was 16421 , way short of a sell out

We have a big catchment area but apart from the big games the local population doesn't support its football club like they do in say Derby

People can put forward as many theories as they want but this is a fact

[the other bob wilson]

I've said on here before that during most of the nineties, I didn't believe I'd see City play again in the second tier in my lifetime. Clearly, that comment looks pretty ridiculous now. Most impressive during the past seventeen years for me is that there's only one season (04/05) where we've been in serious relegation trouble after Christmas, but, on the other hand, I'm in agreement with Eric really and think that, given the sort of club we've become in the past twenty years, we should have spent more time in the Premier League than we have done - the "plucky little Cardiff" state of mind has a lot to answer for!

[Vindec]

I recall our days in the lower leagues well. In some respects I enjoyed football more then than now. There was more goalmouth action, defensive mistakes and muddy pitches compounding the errors made. Now our football is relatively unpleasant to watch and in the last few years our tactic has been to hoof the ball to the opposition which is not ideal viewing.

I'm probably looking at this through rose tinted spectacles but, although I make huge effort and expense to continue watching the club, I know that I don't enjoy it as much as I did.

[Hilts]

Yeah anyone thinking the football was better in the lower leagues than now is either looking at it with rose tinted glasses , lying or needs locking up.

It was generally utter shit.

[Vindec]

Yeah anyone thinking the football was better in the lower leagues than now is either looking at it with rose tinted glasses , lying or needs locking up.

It was generally utter shit.

Who said it was better? I said it was more enjoyable for the reasons stated although I did refer to rose tinted specs.

[goats]

Who said it was better? I said it was more enjoyable for the reasons stated although I did refer to rose tinted specs.

I enjoyed it more, partic when Sam took over and then we got promoted to the championship etc. It was just so good to be out of the lower leagues and playing proper clubs instead of Colchester, Shrewsbury and Rochdale

[Hilts]

Who said it was better? I said it was more enjoyable for the reasons stated although I did refer to rose tinted specs.

Replace more enjoyable with better and I stick with what I said. The football mainly was complete shit to watch.

If you enjoyed Andy Kerr , Andy Saville , Cameron Toshack and the likes then fair enough.

[Vindec]

Replace more enjoyable with better and I stick with what I said. The football mainly was complete shit to watch.

If you enjoyed Andy Kerr , Andy Saville , Cameron Toshack and the likes then fair enough.

You have substituted what I said with what you think I said. Outrageous! Of course we have better players now. When did I say we didn't?

[Hilts]

You have substituted what I said with what you think I said. Outrageous! Of course we have better players now. When did I say we didn't?

Of course we have better players. Never suggested you thought otherwise.

You just enjoyed it when we really were crap.

[light up the darkness]

Yeah anyone thinking the football was better in the lower leagues than now is either looking at it with rose tinted glasses , lying or needs locking up.

It was generally utter shit.

Was it the football or the craic that attracted us down there

[Hilts]

Was it the football or the craic that attracted us down there

The craic , we were younger.

Not the football. Mostly it was complete shit.

Those attending behond that final dont realise football wise how lucky theyve been.

Before that we played Crewe and us winning would have been an upset.

[2b2bdoo]

Yeah anyone thinking the football was better in the lower leagues than now is either looking at it with rose tinted glasses , lying or needs locking up.

It was generally utter shit.

True, mixed but it seemed real and a different time.

Harris doesn't seem to connect, talks out of a book of how to manage interviews for chavs.

[Hometown Unicorn!]

What a day that was too. Was the summer before I headed off to Uni. My Dad, Uncle and I were in the Poet's Corner (Neville) before the game, remember feeling pretty drunk going into the Millennium (trying to keep up on the beers with the old heads). Don't remember much of the game, but we were stood/sat behind the goal and do vividly remember Campbell lobbing the ball over the keeper and hitting the back of the net, pandemonium then!

Forest away at the start of the season felt like we had arrived at the big time again and we won.

Who would win? The team that started that 2003/04 season in their prime or the current one. Think Kav and co would pip it for me.

[Rjk]

What a day that was too. Was the summer before I headed off to Uni. My Dad, Uncle and I were in the Poet's Corner (Neville) before the game, remember feeling pretty drunk going into the Millennium (trying to keep up on the beers with the old heads). Don't remember much of the game, but we were stood/sat behind the goal and do vividly remember Campbell lobbing the ball over the keeper and hitting the back of the net, pandemonium then!

Forest away at the start of the season felt like we had arrived at the big time again and we won.

Who would win? The team that started that 2003/04 season in their prime or the current one. Think Kav and co would pip it for me.

didn't we finish in 13th that season?

[Eric the Half a Bee]

didn't we finish in 13th that season?

Ultimately. Toward the end of November we were a point off the playoffs but a disastrous run of 5 defeats in 8 left us with a lot to do. We were still in the hunt for a playoff spot with 7 games to go but 1 point in the next 3 games finished off the challenge.

That side managed the 5th highest goal tally since promotion back in 2003. We were also the fifth highest scorers in the division that season. Jones's sides in 2010 and 11 were the top two, followed by Malky's champions, then Warnock's runners-up. In fact, Warnock's team scored 1 more goal than Lennie's promoted side.