Bluebirds Drama Before and After 2003 Play-Off Final

Neil Warnock’s Bluebirds go for gold when they play Reading at home on Sunday. dai-sport journalist Terry Phillips has been reporting on Cardiff City for a quarter of a century. Here is the final of his reflection on the club’s promotion seasons.

Cardiff City faced problems before and after their 2003 League One play-off final against Queens Park Rangers at the Millennium Stadium.

The Bluebirds had to switch changing rooms a couple of hours before kick-off – and then forgot the play-off trophy when they headed off to celebrate their victory!

The man at the heart of everything that day was kit manager Ian Lanning, who now works for Milton Keynes FC.

“The team were staying at Vale of Glamorgan Resort and I arrived around 3pm on the day before the final,” said Lanning.

Danny Gabbidon and former Wales international Neville Southall pictured at the Cancer Research Wales event at Cardiff City Stadium.

“Wolves were also staying at the Vale. Dave Jones was manager, Nathan Blake played for Wolves and they arrived back at the hotel after their play-off win.

“We made an early start on game day and Sam Hammam came to the Millennium Stadium with us to have a look at the stadium and pitch,

“Stadium stewards had decked out our changing room with Cardiff City and Welsh flags. It looked fantastic, but then, just as we were putting the kit out, somebody came in and said we were in the wrong room.

“All the flags had to come down and we quickly switched to what was the away dressing room.”

Former Cardiff City player Andy Legg pictured before a Cancer Research Wales event,

Andy Campbell’s extra time winner earned Cardiff a 1-0 win against Queens Park Rangers and the celebrations began.

“The lads went off to meet family and friends, while we tidied up the changing room,” said Lanning, speaking at a Cancer Research Wales evening. “They were at the Marriott Hotel, while the team coach driver, Bob, and cleared the kit away.

“When we made our final check I spotted the trophy. I wasn’t sure what to do with it, but we took it with us.

“A television crew were still outside and asked for an interview, but I said no because Sam Hammam might have taken exception to that.

“I locked the trophy in the booth room at Ninian Park and it stayed there until the following Tuesday.”