Swansea vs Cardiff - The South Wales derby is more than just a tale of two cities

Swansea vs Cardiff

Swansea City and Cardiff City play the first South Wales derby in Premier League history this weekend as Cardiff host Swansea at the Cardiff City Stadium. This is the first South Wales derby to be played in England’s top division. The last derby was in 2011 while both teams were in the Championship. Cardiff left Swansea victorious thanks to a solitary goal from Craig Bellamy. Both sides have fought back from the depths of despair in recent years to earn a place in England’s top tier and now face off in a spectacle celebrating the success of Welsh football.

Swansea City were, just 12 years ago, playing football in England’s old third division. Today, they are managed by one of the biggest names in football over the past 25 years, are playing European football and have solidified themselves as a regular Premier League club. Who’d have thought that when they were sold for £1 in 2001 after relegation to Division Three?

Cardiff have suffered a similar fate to their biggest rivals, having played in Division Three in 1999. They advanced up the divisions, eventually settling down in the old Division One where they hit a crisis. After collecting a debt of around £40 million, the club were almost forced into administration in 2008 with £24m of loan repayments still to be repaid.

However, a judge at a High Court in London ruled the loan of £24m was not to be repaid immediately so City survived by the skin of their teeth. While Peter Ridsdale was chairman, the club faced a fifth winding up order over a £1.6m tax bill with the club in serious debt. The end of year accounts revealed the club were actually in £66 million debt which raised questions over the club’s future.

They were taken over, though, by a Malaysian businessman called Datuk Chan Tien Ghee (TG for short). Shortly after, an influx of players arrived, including Craig Bellamy from Liverpool, but it didn’t guarantee the club promotion to the top flight of English football. After reaching – and failing to win – the play-offs in three consecutive seasons, Cardiff finally made it to the cherished land after a rebranding of the club.

Now playing in red instead of blue, Cardiff will host the 106th South Wales derby on Sunday afternoon looking to keep up their descent with a win against the Swans.

There has been crowd trouble in recent years suggesting the rivalry is at a tipping point, ready to boil over at any minute. The last few clashes between the clubs were fueled by the side’s challenges for promotion to the top flight. In the last contest, boyhood fan Craig Bellamy smashed in the winner five minutes from time. That win put Cardiff in a stronger position to qualify through the play-offs, but in the same season, it was Swansea who gained promotion.

Swansea have pushed their failure and dark days languishing in the lower divisions behind them as they strive forward for more success and to add to the Capital One Cup they won last season, beating Bradford City 5-0 at Wembley. The win was their first League Cup triumph in their history and sent them packing their bags for trips around Europe.

On their first journey, Laudrup orchestrated a stunning 3-0 away win against Valencia in the Mestalla which has propelled them to the brink of qualification to the knockout stages of the Europa League. A stunning rise in just 12 years.

The Swans are 9th in the Premier League table after 9 games, two points ahead of their nearest rivals, so they’ll be desperate not to lose their second derby in a row.

For Cardiff, it has been an historic season, too, who compete in their first top flight campaign since 1962. Their home win over Manchester City was their first ever Premier League victory.

The Bluebirds have a better record in the South Wales derby that will take a long time to beat. They have beaten Swansea 43 times and drawn 27 times. Swansea have just the 35 wins to their name. In the league, however, it is Swansea who hold the advantage with 20 wins to Cardiff’s 18.

This weekend’s derby will be just as hotly contested as the one that cost Swansea thousands of pounds worth of repairs on the stadium after beating Cardiff in 2009. If you thought the Merseyside, Manchester and north London derbies were fierce, wait until you see this one.