Sports fans set for BIG weekend!

Mar 7 2008 by Gareth Rogers, South Wales Echo

EXCITED South Wales sports fans are gearing up for a grandstand weekend of crunch contests.

As tens of thousands of Wales rugby fans flock across the Irish Sea to watch Wales’ Triple Crown decider against Ireland, nearly 4,000 Bluebirds will be preparing to fly up to Teesside for Cardiff City’s FA Cup quarter-final at Middlesbrough.

Added to the mix is an army of eager boxing fans, who will be staying up into the small hours to support Enzo Maccarinelli in his world cruiserweight unification bout with David Haye.

Packed planes have been flying out of Cardiff International Airport since Wednesday – heading for destinations around Ireland.

Mark Harries, 36, of Porth, travelled to Shannon with 18 of his friends and is planning to travel to Dublin tomorrow for Wales’ first game at Croke Park.

He said: “It’s very exciting. We booked this 18 months ago not knowing that the game would be as important as this – but now it’s massive.

“I really think we can go on to win the Grand Slam and I hope we don’t blow it.”

Ian Thomas, 42, of Merthyr Tydfil, added: “We’re going over for five days. It’s going to be brilliant. Ireland is always the best trip.”

Sought-after tickets for Saturday’s game are selling on internet auction site eBay for up to £200 each and very few are going spare.

Fan Geraint Jones, 22, of Pontypridd, said: “The cheapest ticket I have been offered is £60, but we can’t all get them so we will probably watch it in the pub.”

The Welsh team flew to Ireland yesterday after checking in at the Millennium Stadium and boarding the plane by stealth after taking the bus straight to the aircraft – to avoid the attention of the fans and media. Meanwhile patriotic songbooks, containing words to classic songs like Calon Lan and Cwm Rhondda were handed out to fans at Cardiff Airport and ferry ports.

As soon as business is finished in Dublin tomorrow, the South Wales sporting focus will turn to football and Cardiff City, who play in an FA Cup quarter-final for the first time since 1927 – the year they actually won the cup.

Another good omen

for fans is that the team have previously performed FA Cup heroics at Middlesbrough, beating the North- East outfit 2-1 in a replay at the old Ayresome Park ground in 1994.

Supporters club travel officer Vince Alm, who has organised 14 coaches for the five-hour trip, said: “I am very optimistic. I was at the game in 1994 and I would love to see a repeat of that. The team played very well against Crystal Palace onTuesday, so I think we’re in good form.”

Confident fans have also set up a group on social networking site Facebook, discussing their thoughts on the game and travel arrangements, while FA Cup sponsors Eon have laid on a free bus to transport city fans to Teesside.

In between the two massive events, sports enthusiasts can enjoy a festival of live football, rugby, boxing, cricket, athletics and skiing to keep themselves entertained.

gareth.rogers@mediawales.co.uk