Final dream has to be playing in Premier League

May 16 2008 by Ian Carbis, South Wales Echo

ONE Cardiff City-supporting member of the Boot Room has been counting down to Wembley in sleeps.

Like a schoolgirl waiting for the summer holidays, she says she can’t use days because they’re too long.

And now there are no sleeps to go because our excited girl won’t sleep tonight.

But as much as she’s looking forward to visiting North London for the second time in two months, there’s still one question bugging her.

Would I rather be at the FA Cup final or the play-offs final?

Let’s not forget that the Bluebirds reaching Wembley at all is a fine achievement.

And to do it in the game’s oldest competition is even more amazing.

After being weaned on the event in the 70s and 80s, it’s hard to imagine Cardiff would ever be one of the sides being filmed leaving the team hotel, chatting to Tony Gubba on the coach and walking onto the pitch in their new suits while their cup final song plays over the tannoy.

Tomorrow it’s happening, and there’ll be a worldwide audience of around half a billion watching – a far cry from the 1,611 against Wigan in 1996.

It’s going to be great. Win or lose. But, as momentous as the occasion is, it is only one match.

(Okay, let’s be positive and say it could be more, thanks to Uefa Cup involvement – Milan in the first round, anyone?)

But Hull City and Bristol City play for the prize of a Premier League place at the end of the month.

After finishing third and fourth in the Coca-Cola Championship they have battled through to the May 24 final, rumoured to be worth £60m to the winners.

It’s not just the money, although that’s nice. The victors will be welcoming Manchester United, Arsenal and the other big names to their home ground next season.

There’s certainly a sense of ‘it should have been us’ for Bluebirds fans, especially after promises of play-off earlier in the season.

A 12th place finish, following hot on the heels of an 11th and a 13th really isn’t good enough.

But there have been legitimate excuses this campaign in the Langston court case and injuries at the wrong time, particularly to Robbie Fowler.

There can be no excuses next season.

The run to the FA Cup final has given the Bluebirds a financial shot in the arm and encouraged a whole new wave of City fans – have you ever seen so many replica shirts around town?

So, the message to Dave Jones and his boys is, go out, win the cup and use the game as the start of an adventure, not the end.

Then, our Boot Room fan will be able to sleep soundly, dreaming of Chelsea and Liverpool coming to the new stadium.