How Clark wrote his name into Cardiff folklore

thE 35 clubs to have qualified for European competition from English football, listed in last week’s Verdict, did not include those who campaigned as winners of the Welsh Cup before rules changes in the mid 1990s, prompting correspondence on Cardiff City’s glorious run to the brink of the European Cup-winners’ Cup final in 1968. in the semis, Cardiff led hamburg 3-2 on aggregate in the second leg, until the Germans equalised in the 81st minute and hit a late winner, with the great uwe Seeler scoring on a night when more than 43,000 packed into Ninian Park. three years later in the quarter-finals of the same competiton, the Bluebirds — then playing in the old division two — beat real Madrid 1-0 in front of close to 50,000 in the Welsh capital. Brian Clark (right) headed the goal.

Clark, who passed away in 2010 at the age of 67, will live on forever in Cardiff folklore, even though they lost the tie after losing the second leg 2-0.