Cardiff fan David McCarthy replied ... saying NU-Mad were wrong to label them "notorious". So we answered back:
Thank you for your e-mail David,
Cardiff City have a reputation that is like something from the dark ages. They are notorious throughout the leagues.
Apart from our derby with Sunderland, why is it the only time we see trouble outside of St James' Park is when the likes of Swansea, Cardiff and the Old Firm come to play?
It goes beyond football ... it's a sense of nationalism ... like invading dickheads standing up for their country.
It's not just your trip to SJP, I'm a reporter and I have seen Cardiff fans cause trouble at many small grounds over the years: Swindon, Gillingham, Luton, Shrewsbury, etc.
They still live in the 1970's!
Football fans have moved on ... but obviously the news hasn't reached Wales yet.
Yours in football,
Kev
And David's reply:
Thank you for taking the time to read and reply to my initial comment. Much appreciated.
I was commenting on the article as I was linked to it on the Cardiff City messageboard on BBC 606.
I am very glad to have been alerted to the article as yes, there's still football hooligans that seem to cling on to Cardiff City Football Club however, many situations involving Cardiff are blown well out of proportion.
Last season in the South Wales derby, there was a HUGE fuss made of a coin throwing incident involving one or two idiots. This year at Old Trafford, during the Carling Cup Semi-Final second leg between Manchester United and Manchester City, Bellamy was pelted with bottles and other such missiles! That could have seriously injured him. The press barely made a murmur about this.
There have been many, many other incidents of coin throwing and other such obscene acts, that got no air time whatsoever!
It makes my blood boil the way for instance, Sky Sports News reported the coin throwing incident in the absolutely pulsating South Wales derby at Ninian Park.
The quality of the match and the spine-chilling atmosphere was pretty much void after ONE fool spoilt it. Such reportage I feel is unfair to the genuine Cardiff City fans, and the blame is being based too much on the clubs "with a history".
This year, Cardiff City fans have been labelled racist. A point that is completely laughable. It appears the English media try to proclaim Wales has an inferiority complex... When the amount of times myself and many others have had to put up with flak because of my nationality is just stupid in a time when racial harmony is meant to be top of the agenda.
My reply may have moved away from the main subject in hand yes, but there's a lot of winding up coming from both sides. I think your article was out of order in the way it tarred many good Cardiff City fans with the same brush as the idiots who go out to cause trouble.
What must be realised, is that the fans that had the major reputation in the '70s, are still the main culprits today, however, the amount of incidents have certainly decreased within the last decade. I really do not think it is fair to level such widespread criticism at a club when although it may now be a bit of a cliché, but the idiots who do behave so poorly are not the "real" fans. The real fans are the ones that go and follow their team come rain or shine. Can shake hands and go to the pub with an opposition fan straight after the match...
I do believe a major factor in such serious club rivalries, is quite heavily linked with the fans being segregated. It just incites more trouble. However, I think for many clubs now, it'd be almost unthinkable to mix fans together again.
I do appologise for some foul language in my first comment I sent you, I certainly did not expect a reply! (of which I am very greatful for)
You appear as much a fan of Newcastle United as I am for Cardiff City, and of which, I understand we will both have very strong, and maybe very different stances.
However, whilst it may sell newspapers, get website hits etc. etc. I do not think the level of criticism you gave the Cardiff fans was justified. Why didn't you comment on the several thousand other vociferous Cardiff fans that were gracious in defeat and were still chanting when 3-0 down in 15 minutes? That would go against the motive of your article maybe? It seemed a very biased article to many Cardiff fans who saw it...
Of course, I do not expect an appology as such, but maybe a degree of acknowledgment...
Would like to hear/read your thoughts
Cheers,
Dave