UPDATED 1951 hrs Sunday 9 March
Those teenage Seventies days of power cuts, cold winters and Welsh rugby glory suddenly feel like yesterday. Wales today beat Ireland in Dublin to keep our Grand Slam dreams alive. Roll back the years to 1976 and 1978, when Wales beat France to ensure Grand Slams. Today's Wales team now faces France to achieve their second clean sweep in four years.
Can Cardiff City keep Welsh hopes alive in the FA Cup in tomorrow's quarter final against Middlesbrough? This is the first time City have reached the sixth round since they won the cup in 1927 - famously becoming the only team from outside England to win the competition. Back in 1977 I was convinced we were going to emulate the success of 1927 - 50 years on. We went 1-0 up against Everton, but lost 2-1 after Duncan McKenzie seized on Albert Lamour's back-pass.
If Cardiff do win tomorrow (a very big if), they'll have the incentive of knowing that the competition is wide open with just one Premier League side, Portsmouth, left in the cup. After years of domination by the big four top flight clubs, the FA Cup has regained its romance. The scenes tonight as Barnsley fans and players celebrated their triumph over Chelsea have cheered fans across the country. Forget the idea the world's oldest cup competition no longer matters: Chelsea manager Avram Grant's ugly expression at the death confirmed that the defeat hurt deeply. Russian gold was not enough to save London's glamour club.
Back in 1977, I was heart-broken when Everton beat Cardiff. I was lucky to see a cup run of extraordinary drama. First, City knocked out Spurs after Peter Sayers' amazing 35 yard score. Next up, Welsh rivals Wrexham. Cardiff were cruising to a 2-0 victory. Then Wrexham scored twice - only for John Buchanan to snatch an extraordinary winner that left Ninian Park - and Match of the Day viewers - speechless. I still remember the Match of the Day shot of a teenage ginger-haired City fan going wild as we scored.
I saw those games in style, in the Ninian Park directors' box, thanks to my father Bob Skinner. Dad had a complimentary season ticket in the box, and was also one of the hosts at the civic lunches that preceded the games. I earned my place: I researched facts and figures for the speech of the chairman of South Glamorgan county council, who presided over the occasions. I took my lunch with the chairman's chauffeur, who told me the tragic tale of Hughie Ferguson, the scorer of Cardiff's FA Cup winning goal in 1927. Ferguson killed himself just three years after that triumph. A sobering reminder that sport is not everything.
PS: that 1977 Everton programme includes a National Coal Board advert aimed at recruiting new miners under the banner "modern mining is more than just muscle!" "£20,000 a throw for a modern mining machine is quite common..." The death knell for an industry, as it turned out.
UPDATE
As the world now knows, Cardiff City are in their first FA Cup semi final since they won the tournament in far-off 1927. (How long ago? Here are some clues. The first public demonstration of television was a month away and the Queen was about to enjoy her first birthday.)
City's victory against Middlesbrough was no fluke. The Bluebirds bossed the game so convincingly that Boro had just two real chances. I've rarely seen a team make such effective use of set pieces - almost every Cardiff corner and free kick caused Middlesbrough anxious moments.
All Wales now thinks destiny is on our side this season. But one word of caution: West Brom were in imperious form against Bristol Rovers tonight. The Baggies came from behind to draw against Cardiff earlier this year, and would fancy their chances against Cardiff. So I'd like to draw Barnsley. It would be good to claim success where Liverpool and Chelsea failed!
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