Martyrs line up Bluebirds and Swans for pre-season

May 1 2008 by David Williams, Merthyr Express

THE FA Cup and League One trophy could be heading to Penydarren Park after Merthyr confirmed they will take on Cardiff City and Swansea City in pre-season friendlies.

Merthyr have announced the two potential money-spinning matches against Roberto Martinez’s Championship-bound Swansea City and Dave Jones’ Cardiff – who take on Portsmouth at Wembley on May 17 – for July and possibly August respectively, with a date for the Bluebirds match not yet confirmed.

The games against Garry Shephard’s side are set to take place alongside another warm-up game in Merthyr against FAW Premier Cup winners Newport County.

Club director Owen Money has also revealed he has written to three more top English clubs with Welsh links – Mark Hughes’s Blackburn Rovers, Tony Pulis’s Stoke City, who could be in the Premier League after this weekend’s fixtures, and Coventry City, who are managed by Chris Coleman.

Merthyr will face the Swans on Tuesday, July 22 at 7.30pm, Newport on Saturday, July 26 at 3pm and Port Talbot Town away on Saturday, August 9.

“It’s fantastic news for the club,” said Money.

“We’ve had Cardiff come down for a few years and they are great.

“One year we had about 4,500 at the ground and even Newport will bring 500 or so.

“Welsh football, obviously apart from Wrexham, is on a real high at the moment and if Cardiff win the Cup, which I think they will, they will bring it with them for the match.”

Money told the Express he is still waiting to hear from the three other big clubs, Blackburn, Stoke and Coventry, which, if they come off, will give the Merthyr side an even bigger financial boost for the new campaign in August.

“These matches will help Garry Shephard no end,” added Money.

“He is looking to strengthen the squad for next season and hopefully with the fans that will come from Newport, Cardiff and Swansea, he will have more money to do that.”

Club secretary Anthony Hughes added: “It’s a huge boost for the club.

“It gives us a really high profile start to the season and if Cardiff win the Cup it could mean we get a sell-out.”

Money, who will be presenting his BBC Wales Radio show from Wembley on the day of the FA Cup final, has predicting a 2-0 win for the Bluebirds.

“I think Cardiff will do what they did against Middlesbrough and win 2-0,” he said.

“Its been a great season for them and Swansea who are also very close to my heart next to Merthyr.”

Merthyr Under-18s beat Gosport Borough 1-0 after extra time to go through to the BGB Youth Cup final against either Bromsgrove or Corby. It’s on Monday in Cirencester, kick-off 3pm.