ROBBIE: TOP FLIGHT NEEDS CITY
Former Bluebirds striker keeps "fingers crossed" for extended top-flight stay
earlier this week, having linked up with the Club once more during the BPL Live event that took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, this past weekend.Cardiff City Player spoke exclusively to Robbie Fowler
The event featured representatives of each of the Barclays Premier League’s 20 member clubs, with South African fans enjoying the opportunity of learning more about their heroes in a unique and interactive ‘live’ environment.
Robbie spent the 2007/08 season at Ninian Park, having established himself as one of England’s greatest strikers during an iconic spell at Liverpool between 1992 and 2001. He moved on to Leeds United and Manchester City in the early part of the last decade, prior to returning to Anfield for the 2006/07 season and then on to Cardiff City the following year. The England international ended his playing days on UK shores with Blackburn Rovers, before seeing out his professional career in Australia and Thailand.
Commenting on the BPL live event, Robbie told us: “You come to these countries not really knowing what to expect. There is a lot of media attention though, plenty of events and a lot of things planned for the supporters - it’s brilliant.
“I think the fact that Cardiff City and everybody else involved has come here is fantastic. It spreads the word that there are more than just the big hitters in the Premier League. It’s great that Barclays have brought the trophy over too for supporters to see it in person.”
A marquee signing for the Bluebirds in the summer of 2007, Robbie went on to score six goals in 16 senior appearances as he linked up with the likes of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Trevor Sinclair – the likes of whom City fans hadn’t witnessed as their own since the 1960s heyday.
And looking back at that stage of his career, Robbie reflected warmly on his time in the Welsh capital, saying: “I spent a year at Cardiff and I loved it.
“People often ask me about regrets and mistakes in football and leaving Cardiff is probably my biggest mistake. I left because Blackburn was closer to home, but with hindsight I probably wouldn’t have done it.
“I was really made up that Cardiff got to the Premier League last summer. The fans there are brilliant, the staff at the club were unbelievable and I never had any complaints about anything during my time at Cardiff City.
“I hope Cardiff stay in the Premier League - the Premier League needs Cardiff City. You think of all the big games, you have Everton v Liverpool, Manchester United v Man City etc. The Premier League needs games like Cardiff v Swansea - it is a massive fixture.
“The fans are brilliant and they deserve it. I hope things work out and I’m certainly keeping my fingers crossed for the club.”
, Robbie spoke highly of the work and effort that Cardiff City’s Community & Education Foundation undertake, remarking: I was only there a year, but the bits I saw were very impressive.
(find out more, here) this coming Saturday Foundation Day 2014And as the Club gears up for
"I didn’t necessarily see that with other clubs; Cardiff were at the forefront of most things, in schools and going around communities.
“I think [the community work] is massively important. The guys involved put the same effort in now they are in the Premier League as they did when I was there seven years ago. They are incredibly pro-active and that’s a credit to them.
“Some clubs tend to forge their local communities when they hit the big time, but I don’t think that will ever happen at Cardiff City. It is a tremendous club with a tremendous support base and what they are doing in getting out to the people and promoting Cardiff is perfect.”
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