{"id":65109,"date":"2022-03-22T14:38:31","date_gmt":"2022-03-22T14:38:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=65109"},"modified":"2022-06-06T16:39:53","modified_gmt":"2022-06-06T15:39:53","slug":"the-south-wales-derby-the-history-of-one-of-british-footballs-fiercest-rivalries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2022\/03\/22\/the-south-wales-derby-the-history-of-one-of-british-footballs-fiercest-rivalries\/","title":{"rendered":"The South Wales derby: The history of one of British football\u2019s fiercest rivalries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Cardiffian<\/em> takes a look back at what makes Cardiff v Swansea so special <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

ON September 7, 1912, Swansea City, then Swansea Town, played their first competitive game of football against Cardiff City in the Second Division of the Southern Football League.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The match ended 1-1 with Billy Ball opening the scoring for Swansea before Cardiff skipper Jack Burton equalised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, besides a few newspaper clippings, little is preserved of their historic first fixture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flash forward 110 years and the South Wales derby is known as one of the fiercest rivalries in British football.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So fierce in fact that it became the first fixture in Britain to ban away fans in 1993 after a massive brawl spilled out onto the pitch, leading to a 40-minute delay to the start of the match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ban was lifted in 1997, but ever since, away fans have been escorted in and out of the stadium by police.<\/p>\n\n\n

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