UWIC INTER CARDIFF AFC |
INTER
Cardiff, as they were called initially, were formed in 1990 from Sully AFC who
had risen through the Barry and District League thence the South Wales Amateur
League. They took over the Cwrt-yr-Ala ground, shared previously with the disbanded
AFC Cardiff, thus acquiring the facilities required to compete in the top division
of the Welsh Football League.
The poor facilities at the club’s previous Burnham Avenue ground had prevented
Sully AFC from being promoted to the Welsh League National Division despite being
champions or runners-up several times in the 1980s.
Although the club finished in 12th spot in 1991/92 they were invited to become
founder members of the newly established League of Wales in August 1992. Good
sponsorship and a move to the superior facilities of the Cardiff Athletics Stadium
ensured a very successful first season.
After leading the table for months, they were eventually overhauled by inaugural
champions Cwmbran Town and suffered the disappointment of not being granted a
place in the UEFA Cup.
The withdrawal of the club’s sponsors led to Max James taking over the reins,
along with Cardiff City supremo Rick Wright, thus securing the use of Ninian Park
for their home fixtures.
In 1993/94 they again finished second and this time were admitted into the UEFA
Cup. The draw was unkind and in the Preliminary Round of the 1994/95 competition
they were overwhelmed 8-0 on aggregate by Polish outfit GKS Katowice.
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The following two seasons marked a period of reconstruction.
Inter Cardiff then moved to Merthyr Tydfil in a groundshare agreement and former
Everton and Scotland goalkeeper George Wood took over the manager's post.
During the 1996 close season the club earned a lucrative sponsorship deal with
international tele-communications company CableTel, which meant a change of name
for the club to Inter CableTel. They also returned to the Cardiff Athletics Stadium
and negotiated a “Football in the Community” agreement with the City
of Cardiff local authority. In 1996/97 Inter finished second to all-conquering
Barry Town and gained a massive reward in the form of a UEFA Cup tie against Glasgow
Celtic. They did themselves and the League justice against the Scottish club,
despite losing on aggregate. Indeed, the second leg at Celtic Park was watched
by a crowd of more than 40,000.
1997/98 saw Inter CableTel challenging for a top three finish, but they narrowly
missed out on a European place. Manager George Wood further strengthened his squad
ready for the new campaign, looking for a quick return to Europe only to see his
team slip into fourth spot at the end of that season behind Barry Town, Newtown
and Ebbw Vale. Undaunted, Inter were back to their best the following year yet
the strength of Barry Town meant that Inter became ‘bridesmaids’ once
again, finishing as runners-up in the league title chase for the fourth time in
seven seasons.
European disappointment followed at the start of what turned out to be a disastrous
1999/2000 season. A 2-0 defeat away to Slovenian side Gorica (both goals in the
last quarter hour) in the UEFA Cup left Inter much to do in the home leg. Nevertheless,
they battled manfully and when Carl Mainwaring netted with more than 30 minutes
remaining, Inter were in with a real chance of progressing.
However, it was not to be, although the 1-0 home victory could be savoured as
Gorica went on to become runners-up that season in the Slovenian national league.
For Inter CableTel, however, matters went sadly awry
and the loss of much of the playing staff as the campaign progressed, to be replaced
by the students of Welsh League side UWIC, saw Inter slide into the relegation
dogfight. Although they escaped, a meagre return of just three league victories
in 2000/01 (albeit one of them against champions Barry Town!) saw the re-named
UWIC Inter Cardiff lose League of Wales status.
In 2003/4, UWIC are maintaining a strong challenge for promotion from the Welsh
League. They have applied for membership of the Welsh Premier and, if successful,
are once again proposing a ground share at Merthyr. |
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Season |
Comp |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
Pos |
 |
1992/3 |
LoW |
38 |
26 |
5 |
7 |
79 |
36 |
83 |
2 |
 |
1993/4 |
LoW |
38 |
25 |
3 |
9 |
97 |
44 |
81 |
2 |
 |
1994/5 |
LoW |
38 |
14 |
11 |
13 |
58 |
43 |
53 |
10 |
 |
1995/6 |
LoW |
40 |
14 |
12 |
14 |
62 |
62 |
54 |
8 |
 |
1996/7 |
LoW |
40 |
26 |
6 |
8 |
80 |
31 |
84 |
2 |
 |
1997/8 |
LoW |
38 |
23 |
5 |
10 |
58 |
28 |
74 |
4 |
 |
1998/9 |
LoW |
32 |
19 |
6 |
7 |
61 |
26 |
63 |
2 |
 |
1999/0 |
LoW |
34 |
8 |
6 |
20 |
30 |
62 |
29 |
16 |
 |
2000/1 |
LoW |
34 |
3 |
4 |
27 |
26 |
104 |
13 |
18 |
 |
2001/2 |
WL1 |
36 |
23 |
7 |
6 |
81 |
45 |
76 |
3 |
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2002/3 |
WL1 |
34 |
23 |
7 |
4 |
67 |
33 |
76 |
3 |
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2003/4 |
WL1 |
34 |
21 |
6 |
7 |
72 |
33 |
69 |
4 |
 |
TOTAL |
|
436 |
226 |
79 |
132 |
771 |
547 |
755 |
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* One point deducted in 1999/2000 |
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LoW=League of Wales/WP |
WL1=Welsh League Division One |
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Biggest
Home Wins |
7-0 v Briton Ferry Athletic 10/01/97
6-0 v Caersws 01/11/98
6-1 v Caernarfon Town 10/11/96
6-1 v Aberystwyth Town 08/01/99 |
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Biggest
Away Wins |
10-1 at Llanelli 25/01/94
9-2 at Briton Ferry Athletic 05/02/94
5-0 at Rhayader Town 07/11/98 |
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Biggest
Home Defeats |
2-7 by Caersws 11/03/00
0-6 by Caersws 30/01/01
2-6 by Flexsys Cefn Druids 27/01/01 |
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Biggest
Away Defeats |
1-9 at Carmarthen Town 21/10/00
0-8 at Barry Town 16/12/00
1-6 at Caersws 19/08/00
0-5 at Aberystwyth Town 16/01/01 |
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Most
Goals in One Season |
27 by Paul Evans 1993/1994
25 by Chris Summers 1992/1993 |
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Most
Goals in One Match |
5 by Paul Evans v Llanelli 25/01/94 |
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Top
Scorers in Aggregate |
46 by Chris Summers (1992 – 1994)
45 by Paul Evans (1992 – 1999) |
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Most
Appearances |
120 (+7 Sub) by George Wood (1992 – 1998)
103 (+5 Sub) by Neil Davies (1996 – 2000)
106 by Russell Wigley (1992 – 1996) |
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Lyn Jones (1992 - Mar 1995)
George Wood (Mar 1995 – June 1999)
Phil Holme (June 1999 – Oct 1999
David & Paul Giles (Oct 1999 - Nov 99)
Paul Lewis (Nov 1999 – May 2000)
Dr Jon Magee (June 2000 – June 2003)
Ian Mitchell (June 2003 – to date) |
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