Remember, the world is watching...
For as long as I can remember (I was born in 1986, so anything that went before that...well...I can't remember it) the South Wales derby has been an emotionally charged affair which has (sadly) more often than not ended up witnessing some kind of crowd trouble.
In the past, this was something of an aficionado's derby. With both clubs spending a lengthy period of time in the lower reaches of the league, the media spotlight rarely fell on matches between Swansea and Cardiff, and this allowed a certain degree of anonymity. Ok, there was always police involvement and some column inches, but given the size of the clubs relative to the clubs the mainstream media actually cared about it was always unlikely it would draw top billing - no matter what kind of chaos went on in the aftermath of the game itself. It wasn't a match that every football fan would look out for, but those with an interest in ferocious derbies would no doubt have it marked out as "one to watch".
We all know the stories. There were fights, which we won or they won (depending on who you ask) and a little part of me thinks "If there's a group on both sides who want to fight, let them meet somewhere and smash *&$% out of each other" but sadly that's not what happens any more. Violence seems less discriminate and I'm speaking from experience when I say I had to dodge stones, bottles and god knows what else after the last derby at Ninian - as did women and young children alongside me in the retreating throng. Very big of you, lads.
My only crime was to be a fan of the opposition, and despite the bubble trip and being held in the away end for what seemed like forever after the match, the police hadn't thought to stop masses of Cardiff fans congregating on the adjacent construction site for the new CCFC stadium, which was covered in stones, broken bottles and god knows what else. Top marks, Heddlu! In fairness, they did send mounted policemen careering into the offending group once it became evident what was happening, but it was only luck which allowed everyone to escape without injury.
This time around, however, it's different. The rise of both the South Wales' clubs has seen an unheralded level of media attention being lavished on both clubs, which is unsurprising given how disparate the approaches the two clubs took to reach the Premier League are. Couple with that arguably the most ferocious derby in the UK after the Old Firm, and you've got yourself a media spectacle.
The level of trouble we've seen in the past has been negated by the police's management of the "bubble trips", and in general they deserve credit - however Sky appear to have more bargaining power than South Wales Police as the match has been moved from it's usual lunchtime slot to 4PM, to allow for a bigger TV audience. Never mind it gives people more time to get hammered and riled up - think of the ratings! With a bigger audience than ever before, do we want to be known as a country of passionate fans who can create an unrivaled atmosphere, or a bunch of lunatics who can't help but lump ten bells out of each other?
If both sets of fans can refrain from violence this Sunday, this derby will be announced worldwide as one to watch. Derbies are about atmosphere, commitment, passion and so much more - they are NOT about kicking someone's head in because he (or she - very equal opportunities, me) happens to live in a city 40-odd miles away. This Sunday's match has the potential to make or break the South Wales derby as a global media event.
Let's make sure on Monday morning they're talking about the football, eh?