In our new feature series, FPA Focus, we’ll be catching up with a Bluebird of yesteryear to reflect on their time at Cardiff City.
The first edition entails a local success story, with childhood City fan David Giles looking back on the honour of representing the Club he still adores to this day.
Giles featured for City at First Team level between 1974 and 1978, before having a second spell from 1985 to 1987, amassing a total of over 100 league appearances.
“To be a local lad, it’s every Cardiff boy’s dream to join the Bluebirds,” he began. “It was a dream come true for me.
“I remember going down and watching the team play as a fan in the late 60s with Gary Bell, Don Murray, Brian Clark, John Toshack, it was so exciting going there to watch every week, especially given that Ninian Park was such a fortress.
“To join them as a 15-year-old boy, an apprentice, that was so exciting and it helped shaped me as a person.”
The midfielder’s first two appearances for City’s First Team came in away fixtures, meaning he had to wait for his first Ninian bow. But when it came, the feeling was special.
Giles continued: “The first time I walked out at Ninian Park as a Cardiff City player, I’ll never forget that.
“I made my debut away at Nottingham Forest when I was 18 years of age. We drew 0-0 there, which was a great result for us. The following week, I played at Old Trafford against Manchester United and there were 48,000 fans there. I couldn’t have started off with many bigger away games than those two.
“I started off at home against Blackpool. I didn’t have a car at the time, so I walked to the ground with the supporters. We got to the Grange End, and they tapped me on the back and wished me good luck.
“I went into the changing room, and they went into the stands. Running out onto the field and they announce your name, when the fans gave me a big cheer, it made me feel honoured.”
During both spells at the Club, Giles featured as part of a talented City side, which featured some huge names in our history.
“It was absolutely fantastic to be in that group,” he added. “In my opinion, we had two of Cardiff City’s best ever strikers in Adrian Alston and Tony Evans, they were a brilliant combination. I also played with players like Don Murray and Phil Dwyer, it was fantastic.
“Something that made me very proud as a local boy was that we had five Cardiff boys in the team. We had myself, Phil Dwyer, Peter Sayer, Brian Attley and Gilbert Reece.
“Three of us were from Grangetown, so for us to be representing the Club was a great achievement.”
Giles’ best memory of representing the Bluebirds came in the FA Cup in the 1976/77 campaign, when a late goal caused Ninian Park to bounce.
The midfielder added: “We had an FA Cup run in 1977 and we beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 and there was a big crowd for that.
“The next game then, we played Wrexham at home. They had a great side with the likes of Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones and Billy Ashcroft. We went 2-0 up, I scored the first and Peter Sayer got the second.
“Second half, Wrexham turned it around and Ashcroft equalised with a few minutes left. I thought there was going to be a replay.
“We kicked off, Steve Grapes went down the touchline towards the Grange End and crossed it. John Buchanan came in and scored.
“I’ve played in front of big crowds and loud noises, but honestly, I’ve never heard a crowd go mental like that. The noise generated from the fans, they were just so excited and that is a special memory that I have.”
Giles remains a popular figure at the Club and regularly attends matches at Cardiff City Stadium, with the Club still holding a special place.
“It’s very important to me,” he said. “I’m a local boy and Cardiff City is my club. I started my career and finished my career as a Bluebird. To come along to the stadium now, see a lot of people and having a chat with them, brilliant to be able to do that.”
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