Cardiff City fans travel 30,000 miles for Premier League promotion decider
TWO Bluebirds fans are set to make astonishing round-trips of a combined 30,000 miles – to see their beloved Cardiff City’s promotionchasing thriller tomorrow.
City fantatic Shaun Lawthom, who lives in Canada, has booked flights from Vancouver in an epic journey that will take 15 hours each-way.
He only made the decision when he watched City score their second goal last Saturday, sealing a 2-0 win to set up this weekend’s mouthwatering clash with Reading.
A win in tomorrow’s match, which kicks off at 12.30pm at Cardiff City Stadium, will send Cardiff roaring into the Premier League.
If Neil Warnock’s side don’t win, they could still go up if automatic promotion rivals Fulham slip up in their match away at Birmingham. Otherwise, a place in the Championship play-offs beckons.
The prospect of tomorrow’s crunch encounter has also drawn a City superfan all the way from Australia.
Ian Pedler, 41, is flying all the way from the Gold Coast.
The journey of 10,405 miles each way will take about 30 hours, via Cairns, Hong Kong and London.
Ian said: “There are a lot of Cardiff City fans in Australia.
“I started watching Cardiff City in the late ‘80s being strongly influenced by family.
“We were pretty dire then and often in danger of the club not existing at all.
“It’s been a couple of years since I’ve got to a game live so I’m really looking forward to the Reading match.”
Ian usually catches games by watching them online with plenty of very early mornings, and late nights involved.
He added: “On behalf of all Bluebirds down under we would like to wish Cardiff City and Neil Warnock all the best.
“We’ve really enjoyed this season and been reinvigorated with the energy, effort and on field success. “Let’s have one last push!” Meanwhile Shaun, who’s heading over from Vancouver, has equally not let the distance dull his passion for his boyhood club.
The Ystrad Rhondda native moved to Canada – where he works as a recruitment consultant – in 2016.
And nothing was going to stop him from missing such a massive game in the club’s history.
The 27-year-old said: “I had no intention of coming back, but when (Sean) Morrison scored that second goal on Saturday, I was ecstatic and then speaking to my mates, I just had to book the flight then and there.”