Brooking backs Bluebirds

Mar 19 2008 by Paul Abbandonato, Western Mail

TREVOR BROOKING, the last man to win the FA Cup for a team outside the top flight, is backing Cardiff City to follow in his footsteps this season.

Sir Trevor headed the winner for then-Second Division West Ham in their 1-0 Wembley win over Arsenal back in 1980.

Fully 28 years on, he reckons someone from Dave Jones’ Bluebirds class of 2008 can make their own little bit of history in this year’s cup final.

Cardiff meet Barnsley for a place in the final against either Portsmouth or West Brom.

And Brooking said, “I must admit I have been thrilled by the amount of shocks in this year’s FA Cup.

“This is a competition that has thrived on upsets down the years and it is great for the tournament for a club outside of the dominant teams of the day to get their hands on the trophy.

“Winning the cup in 1980 with a Second Division club was one of the highlights of my own career and I know it made a lot of neutrals very happy as well.

“It’s fantastic that history could repeat itself this year.”

Brooking believes Cardiff fans can contribute to a carnival atmosphere on the roads and railways as they head for the big day at Wembley.

“With the semi-finalists this year coming from outside London, FA Cup semi-final weekend is going to enjoy one of the biggest migrations of football fans this country has seen,” said Brooking.

“With the two semi-finals taking place at Wembley, we could have up to 180,000 supporters descending on the capital, many of whom will not have expected to be there this year.

“So it should be a real carnival atmosphere as they make their way to the stadium from throughout the country.”

Brooking has backed the plans of National Express, official travel partner to the FA Cup, to simplify the travel plans for supporters heading to Wembley through its dedicated services to the national stadium.

National Express coaches will leave Cardiff Bus Station at 9.45am and Cardiff Gate Motorway Services at 10am on Sunday, April 6, dropping supporters off right outside Wembley Stadium and returning after the game.

Full details can be obtained on www.nationalexpress.co.uk/coach.

City striker Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink is available for the Wembley semi-final after the FAW yesterday upheld the three-match ban imposed after he received a red card at Colchester.

Cardiff appealed against the suspension, but the FAW stood by the original decision, neither increasing nor decreasing the punishment. It means Hasselbaink, below, will miss the league games against Bristol City, Southampton and West Brom, but is available for Barnsley.