Swansea vs Cardiff: Is this Football's Fiercest Derby?

The South Wales derby between Swansea and Cardiff is notorious not just for it’s fiercely competitive fans - it’s also Britain’s only ‘bubble match’.
This means away fans have to travel on official, police-escorted supporter’s coaches to and from the game - a policy designed to stop rival fans from fighting each other.
But is it time to put the ‘bubble system’ to bed? The i’s Daniel Storey travelled from Cardiff to Swansea to find out.
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#swanseacity #cardiff #cardiffcity #swansea #derby #football
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[@silviodante3950]

"Wr are more loyal"- says a Swansea fan living in Cardiff. Typical jack

[@wills4794]

Oh well, 3-0 to us last Saturday!

[@Joker-yw9hl]

For me, the South Wales Derby is one of Britain's great derbies.

[@albiehill5035]

as a English man I’m a Bristol City fan and I was dating Cardiff woman I to the Cardiff City vs Swansea city game fantastic atmosphere and singing. It’s a shame they ate each other it ended 3-2 to Swansea city I like the Welsh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿..👍🏻

[@vinceramone6080]

"We ate each there"? What did Swansea fans taste like? Chicken ? haha

[@STEVEJRAD]

I cant read and i cant write but that don't really matter cos i,m a Bristol City fan and i can drive a tractor !

[@leightongoss6147]

It really started long before the 90s. I am 71 years old and I recall as a schoolboy being excited to go away to a Welsh side for the first time as my few away matches had been to English clubs. It was a Welsh cup match I seem to recall. No segregation in those says and the 'Grangetown End' came piling round the terraces to attack us. This was in the late 60s. I had never known hooliganism until that time. Our coaches were bricked after the game and this was regular occurrence until crowd control became a feature. There are idiots on both sides no doubt but don't pin this on Swansea fans starting it in 93. Thankfully things have improved but I suspect it is manly due to 'the bubble'.

[@MatthewCurtis-zp1fd]

Without the bubble in place there will be trouble no doubt , and like 1 guy said neither club are exactly in any position to fork out for more cops , as much of a pain it is i can't see it going away anytime soon

[@927ismynumber]

The bubble is a waste of time. It’s not December 1993 anymore. The lads are now dads…

[@WelshBoySean]

Football aside I love the derby either watching it via the tv or at the stadium I don’t do the nonsense fighting etc it is just football but when your at the game it different gravy got to love the chants to

[@keithnicholls5793]

I remember as a student in Cardiff going to see a Welsh Cup Final between Cardiff and Swansea with Wynn Jenkins from Ammanford. Ended up in the wrong end of the old Ninian Park. Very uncomfortable 90minutes -“ for God’s sake Wynn - stop cheering”

[@OwainGlyndwr1927]

This is my 51st season supporting the city. Only been arrested once, new years day 1980 at the vetch. We went in with the jacks and it all kicked off. To me its only a Derby by name. And that goes for all clubs. Now its all health and safty on the pitch. In the 70s 80s and 90s both sets of players would get stuck into each other on the pitch. Loads of bookings and sending offs. Nowadays players cant get stuck in and Players are helping the other teams player up off the floor. Sky sports has spoiled football. Players in the Premier league are paid far to much money.

[@louisebidgood2591]

All perfectly correct and true.

[@bullerd82]

First bloke Nobsy 😂 brilliant bloke we got nicked up in Leeds many moons ago he had me in stitches whilst trying to get back to Swansea over night

[@JBTEvans]

Since January's 2020 derby at Cardiff, it has not been a strict bubble match as it was before. I have been able to travel independently from Newport to Cardiff as a Swansea fan four times now. I have to buy the match ticket and bus package like everybody else, before emailing the club to ask to make my own way. Swansea fans in Cardiff can also do the same but it is on a first come first served basis, so if further down the loyalty scheme selling priority, if the independent travel quoter is fully subscribed, they will then have to go to Swansea to get the coach up. I did travel from Newport to Swansea to catch the bus in both 2010 and 2013 when it was a full bubble. I can't comment on Cardiff's travel arrangements, but Swansea do have more fans living away from the area so is a better deal for our fans. If there was no bubble it would be chaos. Not as if away fans would be welcome in the pubs either, so I don't see the point in dropping it. No doubt those looking for trouble would also travel without a ticket. Somebody would get killed.

[@davedoogan6650]

it unfairly targets football fans , challenge it in the courts

[@williampne]

Burnley v Blackburn have been doing the bubble thing for yrs. And preston v Blackpool and vise versa have specialised routes for each teams coaches just for this game.

[@JBTEvans]

Burnley Blackburn is no longer a bubble, but probably has restrictions in place as they are so close.

[@TheBlackPrince447]

Yep, us at Leeds we had bubble trips to Cardiff and Millwall for years.

[@williampne]

@@TheBlackPrince447 rubbish

[@TheBlackPrince447]

@@williampne Whats rubbish?

[@williampne]

@@TheBlackPrince447 Leeds having bubble trips to Cardiff n Millwall, do you know what a bubble trip is ? And tell me exactly when Leeds had bubble trips to Millwall and Cardiff

[@jamesbates5227]

Birmingham v Villa is crazy, real hatred especially from the Birmingham fans towards Villa

[@Atticus75]

Good piece Daniel.

[@rockinblue]

I used to work in Cardiff and drank Brains Beer which is brewed there, a few years later when in Swansea i asked for a pint of it and almost got thrown out! 😮

[@bluebirdlegend]

I was at that game in 93 and it was not allegedly at all. They ripped out wooden seats and started throwing the seats at families. The kids and their families had to be moved out of the whole section below the Swansea lot. There was a pitch invasion but no actual fighting on the pitch that I witnessed. There were fights between the fans in the upper grandstand but I think the Swans fans were content in just throwing seats and not getting involved with the main Cardiff club contingent.

[@Paddy30517]

It’s well known that the SC frequented that stand, the reason Swansea’s element occupied that corner of the north Bank was it’s closest to the away section, same at the new ground. That grandstand was full of Cardiff’s lads… always was, go back to the panorama vids during the Leeds and Bristol City games, the journo with the hidden camera was in that grandstand with them all… Cardiff like to pretend it was kids and women who were in there, which is rubbish. Same as the swim away, they seem to get younger every time Cardiff recall the story… 🙄

[@jrhartley4819]

The Jacks would have been torn apart back then. The family section was probably a big enough challenge for them.

[@bluebirdlegend]

@@Paddy30517 Absolute rubbish The Leeds game was a decade later (The family stand relocated to the Canton End). During the early 90's the family stand was housed along the bottom of the redeveloped Grandstand. I WAS at the game and saw EVERYTHING first hand. The families had to be moved out. I cannot remember exactly but that Block A section wasn't occupied by lads until later in the 90's.

[@Paddy30517]

@@bluebirdlegend and your memory is of 3 decades ago… watch the footage, there are Cardiff lads trying to break police lines as well as Swansea fans doing the same in the top tier. It’s like the swim away, they’re probably 1 year old baby girls by now they get younger every time you hear Cardiff talking about it… have a look at some of the people covered in glass and bottles of piss at the Leeds game, few get interviewed after it, women, children and ordinary fans… Cardiff would have you believe they were all 6ft 6 and 20 stone… I’ve got a mate who’s a Millwall fan, his version of events in 99 is remarkably different as well… he wasn’t hiding in changing rooms or running for his life, worst he got was hit by things being thrown over the wall before the Grange end had a roof… Cardiff do tell a cracking tale I’ll give them that…

[@bluebirdlegend]

@@Paddy30517 The Cardiff fans who were trying to get at The Swans fans were the ones who invaded from the Bob Bank and the Canton stand. (And I remember booing them -with countless others to get off the pitch)

[@stevenjones3167]

Chester vs Wrexham used to be the same, when both in same league

[@paulburnett1344]

Pompey Southampton has been a bubble game for years.

[@davidgothard3055]

Derby's Derby is Forest and when they meet there's always something crazy kickin off .. either on the pitch or off. lol . .. Swansea v Cardiff , it's how it is for a reason . A genuine rivalry.

[@wrexhamdragons]

Yes there's no doubt the rivalry is bitter and intense. Not show boating but Wrexham v Chester was a bubble trip in the National League. Cardiff v Swansea is intense, but it doesn't have a patch on Millwall v West Ham, Celtic Rangers etc. If the police can't control the South Wales derby 40 miles apart then there's something seriously wrong. A simple cae of bussing them in and out. Loads of posturing etc but hey! Big deal!

[@JamesCarmichael]

Sad to say, but without the bubble I do think there would be trouble. Someone said in the video neither side can really afford to have the violence monetarily or reputationally and I think he was spot on. It sucks, but I do understand why. It has spilled out into local communities in the past because the celebrations or lamentations go on into the night. I've been out many times in Swansea and Cardiff and frankly they're as bad as each other even without the football.

[@PinarelloVelo]

Fiercest rivalry that never gets played is found in Bristol. Should those clubs meet again….Christ

[@Red-Revolution708]

I’m a Welshman but I follow all Welsh sport, I always see how Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Wrexham get off . Although my heart is at Liverpool, I have supported them for over 45 years and Anfield is great.

[@i_know_youre_right_but]

Why don’t you just support your local team 🙄

[@louisebidgood2591]

Another glory hunting Hillsborough fc ‘ fan ‘.

[@meonly6471]

Exactly plastic scouser 😂😂😂

[@Steaks652]

@@Red-Revolution708 , my old man took me to Ninian in 67 , he said support your local club through thick and thin, not some club 200 or so miles away, you will suffer bad times and get stick off the less loyal. My best times though being the Eddie May days, travelling all the grounds up north etc, that Scunthorpe promotion party takes some beating with Cardiff taking over the whole ground. Rip Eddie May 🙏

[@robinmcarthur3287]

These travel arrangements also apply to the East Lancashire Derby! Do your homework Danny!

[@angelicupstart1977]

Do yours, it’s nothing like it.

[@robinmcarthur3287]

@@angelicupstart1977 Don't talk crap. 12 miles separate these two teams and it's been going since 1883!

[@DominicHole]

​@angelicupstart1977 it's as bad as Cardiff Swansea if not worse

[@NyaCroft]

One of ‘’englands’ greatest rivalries apparently

[@BradleyGiles-mf7ew]

Did you not listen to what he said?

[@BradleyGiles-mf7ew]

Involving 2 Welsh teams who play in the English league even thought they’re not English

[@giomenin]

The bubble system (combi in NL) is for all high risk games in Holland since the mid 80s and lots of interesting matches are without awayfans nowadays. Crazy government overhere..

[@Davidonezero]

right donut at start and didn’t let up.

[@benefiet]

In Belgium most of the teams have all away games are with the "bubble" bussystem.

[@jayderocker9668]

Hopefully Wrexham will join the party🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@BladeRunner0029]

Party of what???? Means nothing my Welsh friends.

[@RebelCity_]

Newport v Cardiff would be more fierce than Wrexham v Cardiff.

[@alynwillams4297]

Wrexham too far up north to care about the south walians.

[@jayderocker9668]

Hopefully Wrexham will get promoted again so we can see our Welsh derbies again 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@liamhover3029]

Football’s fiercest rivalry? I’m a Swans fan and it is up there but surely the Old Firm is the UK’s fiercest? Then there’s some mad derbies in Brazil and Argentina!

[@jacobsalter8653]

Yh but cartels run half of them

[@richardmurray2068]

There isn’t even a debate that Celtic-Rangers is the fiercest derby in the UK

[@kingoftruth6930]

Twin town was a good film

[@RD-ox3ce]

I was working in Italy with 40 Cardiff lads and one Swansea Jack. I was sharing a room with the Swansea Jack and he says to me I’ve got a film on my laptop you should watch, it was Twin Town. What an absolute classic black comedy that film is 👍👌

[@griswolds6182]

Fun fact: The toothbrush was invented in Swansea. Anywhere else, they would have called it a teethbrush!

[@JonnyPyscho]

I wish someone would’ve given the old fella peeping through the gate to catch some of the game a ticket.

[@JBTEvans]

it was sold out! He had chance to buy, they were on general sale. He probably left early.

[@JonnyPyscho]

Calm Down! Calm Down! I’m not that interested really.

[@stevenjones4295]

2:05 nothing alleged about it at all, the videos were on the Welsh news, Swansea fans ripped seats out and threw them into the family stand.

[@rosaryboy4271]

cant be that bad if its on a saturday 3pm ko

[@jrich6322]

Do you know what a bubble match is? It doesn’t matter what time the game is a bubble prevents anything from happening

[@andrewauld5044]

Not the only bubble game,Chester v Wrexham

[@AnnesleyPlaceDub70]

At 4:07 is that Tom Jones? 😂

[@denzil4273]

watford luton is a bubble bus fixture too. last season watford had to travel on buses

[@babetopaz]

Oh Dear, I remember the real violence at Ninian Park back in the 70's and beyond, not just Jacks but all visiting clubs, Neanderthal pitted against Cro-Magnon man, as bad as each other back then and probably still so, never understood soccer violence and never will.

[@anthonyhayden8731]

It's not so bad nowadays. Too many police and prison sentences for anyone to want have a go. Back in the 70s and 80s was the best time for taking ends. I was at a Welsh cup match about 74 or 75 at Swansea's Vetch field. Most Cardiff fans got the 125t intercity train there. Took their end and matched back to the station with a police escort after the game. The Jack's waited for the train to pull out of Swansea then bricked the train.😂 They never had the balls to turn up at Ninian Park!

[@TheMurph1981]

cardiff fan here. its not britains only bubble trip and the derby is pretty tame these days.

[@jonnyrees5219]

Until the day they relax it. Fucking carnage. Everyone is waiting for it.

[@BarkingLondon]

Millwall v West Ham has to be the most dangerous & violent. Swans v Cardiff is up there, WBA v Wolves, Brum v Villa there are a few lively ones.

[@chrisr5499]

Feral I say and why can't you enjoy the sport and leave the fighting against the real dangers happining around our country.

[@louisebidgood2591]

@@chrisr5499. I agree that young men could be putting their energies into far more worthy problems, yet this type of behaviour has been a ‘ thing ‘ since prehistory. Groups/tribes of young men will always seek combat with each other over cities, towns, colours, colour, religion etc. it happens worldwide daily. I’d like us all to come together and finally deal with a certain demographic that have a real fondness for our children. Britons HOLD, the time of our phoenix moment is almost at hand.

[@johnandrews8590]

Utterly ridiculous to treat people this way.

[@petersmith4202]

Liverpool fan here yes they don't like each other we know that but when they play each other I want Swansea to win

[@hutchd8687]

The bloke around 2:35 to 2:40 must've been on a sponsored one word deadline.

[@kingoftruth6930]

I'm pne and it's toxic against Blackpool but not sure which derby is worse for trouble these modern times 🤔 why don't they just let them fight on a field away from the ground 🤔

[@jonnyrees5219]

Honestly, this been since late 90s. This wont relax soon coz everyone is waiting for that day. Itll be bedlam honestly.

[@BenStone_]

Blackburn v Burnley is also a bubble match. Utc

[@coops1964]

Who put the ball in the bstards net, Andi Andi Weimann.

[@DominicHole]

Incorrect. Burnley Blackburn are bussed in too. Im a burnley fan btw and it's been happening with us for years now

[@Broski2322]

Burst the bubble

[@JoeTapper-uk9jc]

BLUEBIRDS! 💙🕊️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@marktrevor7674]

3:51 Guy looked into a mirror

[@andrewlewis9723]

Are all those Swansea fans you interviewed related

[@daniellewis3270]

Now there’s a question Andrew, why do you ask?

[@andrewlewis9723]

@@daniellewis3270 reminds me of the hills have eyes

[@daniellewis3270]

@@andrewlewis9723 Andrew, really? You are showing a level of maturity rarely seen on the terraces these days. I’ll bet your parents are proud. 🤔

[@InspectorSmeg]

@@daniellewis3270I bet your parents are cousins

[@andrewlewis9723]

@@InspectorSmeg brother and sister

[@BaggieT]

Albion v Wolves, 11.30AM Kick Off on a Sunday... and still trouble

[@paulw6183]

Bubble games aren't unique to this fixture

[@pauldevois8009]

Lots comments saying there be no trouble I can tell u now the first game in swansea or cardiff that the bubble is lifted there will be mayhem The game was lasted played with free travel early 90s bot teams lower league and shit crowds,nowadays its much bigger crowds,first off all away fans total banned then it the bubble came in It's morr then football it's politics the lot Never will the 2 sets of fans will get on they hate us and we hate the.

[@joshyyom]

The SWD is the only UK domestic match to have ever banned away fans.

[@justbhoy8314]

I suggest you watch the Celtic v Rangers game today then. No Huns will be in attendance

[@paolo7688]

Not true. Newcastle fans were banned from Sunderland in the 90's.

[@joshyyom]

@@justbhoy8314 They aren't banned, Rangers rejected Celtics ticket proposal

[@justbhoy8314]

@@joshyyom okay, but that hasn't been the case in seasons before. The Huns didn't like us celebrating at their stadium so they effectively banned us. So in return we had to do the same thing. Still not away fans at the games, not matter how it's dressed up

[@londonlion5179]

Nonsense. Luton Town Banned all away fans for four whole seasons after the cup game against Millwall in 1985

[@michaelkirby7793]

Chester v Wrexham also a bubble match!

[@jonnyprice2618]

Sunderland newcastle

[@RedReaper17630]

Luton v watford is a bubble fixture mate, been to home and away

[@paulbrodie6085]

Ignorant reporter away fans are also banned at the old firm

[@jamjam2833]

In Wales it might be

[@DavidE-dl2tr]

People get carried away, I was at the 93 game as a silly stupid youngster, it wasn't that bad, Reading was worse.

[@Billboswaggings]

There would 100% be trouble 😂

[@stevetom3505]

You fucking melt England's fiercest derbies.... walesssssss

[@DHall-xz7ke]

EFL

[@stevetom3505]

@@DHall-xz7ke kid

[@agt155]

@@DHall-xz7ke EFL is a recent invention.

[@angelicupstart1977]

And these bluebirds want to be able to mix at derbys next year. They will get battered.

[@MartinP-b9e]

3 nil😂😂😂😂😂

[@ChsM-jk4oy]

Haha i used to cut one of them lads hair 😅😂

[@thetwitterlectual9528]

It’s fierce, but not more so than Old Firm or Villa v Birmingham.

[@billywhizz5021]

Cardiff v Bristol City was a bubble for years. Bristol City fans had the bottle to boycott it one year, it’s not a bubble anymore. If you want this bubble stopped, then stand up, grow a pair, and boycott it. Otherwise you have yourselves to blame. Mind you, Cardiff fans have history of being walked over, it took them about a year to finally stand up to having their club colours changed from blue to RED 🤣

[@TomNook.]

I live in Swansea and work in Cardiff, honestly don't get the rivalry.

[@MartinP-b9e]

Get a better job and you might be afford to live in Cardiff👍

[@grahamebrown7473]

lived in Caerphilly for 5 yrs,this is no comparison to Rangers Celtic

[@danieloliver4558]

I thought Burnley Blackburn was a bubble fixture?

[@robertwalker1742]

SUNDERLAND newcastle is biggest derby.

[@SteveTheReve]

I respect the content but Celtic Rangers by a country mile. More than a rivalry derived from location. There have been multiple killings over the years due to an individual wearing either colour. I remember a boy getting his throat slashed for wearing a Celtic top. Plus the atmosphere is second to none.

[@robertwilliams9234]

Why fight over twenty two overpaid men diving and pretending they are hurt time to grow up I think

[@jamesbradley7227]

Never showed up with Port Talbot

[@GroßerBöserWolf]

Celtic and Rangers has no away fans at all so the first statement is wrong right away 😂

[@TankTankSupporterGLASGOW]

Celtic V Rangers fs far more crazy ppl have and get killed after these matches 💚🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@matthewjones6193]

Cardiff be down the beach again if it weren’t a bubble 😂😂 soul crew fucking biggest myth going

[@AlGorithm-n6q]

Electricity in Swansea? I guess you must have a solar panel on your caravan.

[@terrystephens8603]

@@matthewjones6193 bet you wasn't born when that happened and I don't hear you talking about the next encounter at Cardiff.

[@andrewlewis9723]

@@matthewjones6193 complete sausage

[@christianknight4709]

Swim away is swansea towns biggest accomplishment. The funny thing most of the Swansea fans who sing the song weren’t even supporting the club back then, they only came along when they spent some time in the premier league. The only thing nice about Swansea is the sand, the rest of it, and the people is one big gypsy junkyard.

[@jrhartley4819]

Why were you on the beach while your city centre was being taken over?

[@WelshBoi44]

Bloke on 5mins is spot on. Club before Country. SCFC

[@JBTEvans]

he didn't say that though, he just said that the two sets of fans sit amongst each other at Wales games.

[@maxccfc1927]

It’s mostly cardiff and Wrexham at wales games these days, odd Newport and find some jacks in the family stand

[@JBTEvans]

@@maxccfc1927 well I am a Swansea season ticket holder and sit in the ninian and always have done since 2010

[@MartinP-b9e]

​@@JBTEvans3 nil😂😂😂😂😂

[@alanrichard6982]

Safc vmags tasty

[@Mintzz1690]

Greatest derby in the UK Maybe even the world is Rangers Vs Celtic.

[@simonhaslam9041]

nothing on celtic v rangers

[@tazernuts5930]

RANGERS VS CELTIC ...AND THATS FACTS !

[@lewysraven]

There’d be loads of trouble, they don’t follow wales

[@KarlWolfe-n3h]

Newport vs Cardiff is pretty fierce. The jacks are tramps .

[@himms71]

Newport always turned up at Cardiff. I rate County b4 the Jacks

[@garyfaulkner1480]

Fierce derby

[@kikoexteberria8668]

Hate no other team , city or people more than Jacks ... absolute rats to a man

[@DavidRichardson-r5j]

That's bollocks Sunderland v newcastle did the same thing with the tickets and buses

[@andrewmurphy7083]

Portsmouth v Southampton is the same

[@eddiestevenson-kaatsch6306]

Come on ' i ' , get some more content on your site. This football stuff isn't either new or unusual, just adrenalin/testosterone fuelled male blow-off. Yes bad, but frankly pathetic in the great scheme of things. Certainly not worth infecting my screen for days, when so much more important news is going on all around the UK and the world in general.

[@steveforster3420]

Swans fans are way more passionate

[@budgetcollectables2810]

Personally I don't give a rats ass about football or rugby.. this is heresy to many other Welsh people 🤣 Shooting, fishing, archery now those are sports I like

[@JohnWalsh-s3f]

Chester v wrexham is bad. Bubble match as well.?

[@liammedium4791]

Rangers Celtic for atmosphere doesn’t get beat.

[@eburgess5655]

Garbage without away fans.old firms gone

[@mathewbayley1770]

It's nowhere near as fierce as it used to be!

[@Bushwacker-mb6hw]

Not even close Wales biggest derby yes

[@Bob50001]

West ham v Millwall

[@Bob50001]

@@richardevans7035 you are joking

[@TankTankSupporterGLASGOW]

Celtic v Rangers fs worse

[@hudson7354]

Aston Villa fans think the Birmingham city game is a bubble game! It’s not but the cnuts still demand to be bussed in two miles and locked in for an hour afterwards

[@neiljohnson-h9w]

Talking crap mate....Burnley Blackburn same have to catch coaches outside.

[@sharonjones7142]

Done it with chester wrexham bubble is a fuckin joke

[@KarlWolfe-n3h]

Oxford vs Swindon….

[@willmunro9390]

Ever heard of fucking the old firm