Cardiff City’s Invincibles reflect on win over Swansea City
It’s been a moment ten years in the making, but finally, Cardiff City got their hands on the Adran Premier after beating Swansea City.
After the game, we spoke to some of the stars involved.
Ffion Price
Adorning a Bluebirds bucket hat as she entered the press conference room, the delight coming from Ffion Price’s face was joyous to behold.
A City supporter through and through, she described the emotion of being able to win the league with the club so dear to her heart.
“Putting the shirt on of the club I support means so much to me. With the men’s team I go home and away, and for me to play for this club means that little bit more.
“I always want to put in a great performance, I’ve got that fire in my belly against Swansea, I know how much it means to be a part of a South Wales Derby, so it was important we got the three points.
“The club just means so much to me, my family, my friends. Up the Bluebirds!”
Playing in this game, Price was moved from her usual wing-back position to a centre-back spot, a role she thrived in, especially playing alongside some other experienced centre halves.
“I enjoy it, but I’m just grateful to be on the pitch and wherever I am, I want to make sure I put in a performance and help us get the three points.
“Hannah [Power] and Siobhan [Walsh] are my role models. They’ve been playing for a while now and I look up to them on and off the pitch.
“They guided me during the game, so it was nice and easy alongside them today.”
After their FAW Cup final against Briton Ferry next weekend, the Bluebirds’ next competitive fixture will be in the Champions League, a fixture that can’t come soon enough for Price.
“It’s a pinch me moment! I’m buzzing for the cup final, and we’ll be back in training and refocusing for that, because we know it will be a tough game.
“But to say Cardiff City are in the Champions League, words can’t describe it.”
Hannah Power
Power has been a mainstay of the Cardiff defence for over a decade now.
Along with Siobhan and Catherine Walsh, Danielle Broadhurst and Danielle Green, Power lifted the trophy at the Cardiff City Stadium in 2013.
Now, ten years on, the feelings are still pure and real for the members of that squad.
“We were all 18 or 19 when we last won it. I don’t think we realised back then just how much of a moment it was, because we were so young, the team hadn’t been together for that long.
“It was amazing then, but I feel like it means so much more this time. We’ve all been through so much more together.
“To have five of us who have experienced it and all the younger girls who are with us now, and it’s a feeling that’s going to stay with us forever.”
Lily Billingham played a starring role on Saturday, and Power knows just what the youngster is capable of.
“She’s phenomenal. The way she plays is amazing. In training she’s such a hard player to play against, and we know what she does.
“So, for other teams, even Swansea were commenting on how hard she is to play against, and it goes to show how good she is.
“Having her in front of you, knowing she’s got that attacking force but also knowing she can get back and win the ball back in those crucial moments is incredible.”
Iain Darbyshire
The man behind this historic season is manager Iain Darbyshire.
Darbyshire’s tactical nous has transformed this City team this season, and he knew just what this side was capable of this season.
“I genuinely wasn’t joking when I said that we could go the whole season unbeaten.
“You could see there was a lot building within the squad with a lot of players developing at the right time too, and that’s all come through this season.
“We’re proud of what we’ve done, we’ve won the title, and that’s the most important thing.”
A South Wales Derby of course comes with its own tests, and Darbyshire knew the dangers Swansea posed and was pleased his side overcame their first half jitters.
“Swansea aren’t a bad side and we’ve had some difficult games against them this year, and you know you have to be at your best if you want a positive result against them.
“First half was difficult, but we made a few changes in the second half and I thought we were really good.
“It’s important you get the win, especially in a South Wales Derby, we needed to win this for the fans.”
Darbyshire is now looking forward to testing his tactical wits against some of Europe’s best next season.
“You dream about being in it as a kid. I don’t care if it’s men’s or women’s, the Champions League is the Champions League.
“I’ve watched it on TV when I was growing up, and all the girls have too. Personally, I cannot wait for it, I can’t wait for the challenge.”
Katy Hosford
For a Swansea team that’s so accustomed to winning trophies, this season has been a different one.
Finishing a distant second in the league and being knocked out of both cup competitions early certainly isn’t part of the Swansea City mantra, something captain Hosford is fully aware of.
“At the start of the season we set our targets and we haven’t quite reached them this year. Losing it’s not something we’re used to and it’s something we need to sort out for next year.
“I can’t put my finger on exactly what’s been going on. We’ve been so successful over the years, and I guess at some point that has to stop.
“It’s not been our year this year, and hopefully our manager and coaches can put their finger on what’s happened, and then we will be raring to go next time.”
Hosford scored a sublime goal to put Swansea ahead, meaning she’s now scored at the Liberty Stadium and the Cardiff City Stadium this season.
While she admits that she loves the big occasions, Katy Hosford knows they don’t mean much if her side don’t win.
“I love playing football and I love playing in the stadiums, it’s something I thrive off.
“But inevitably, it’s not enough for us to get the three points, it wasn’t enough for us to get some silverware at the end of the season.
“Personally, it’s nice achievement, but in the end it’s not really that important when you come away with a loss.”
With a summer now not being spent in the Champions League, Hosford believes a summer break might be good for her team, as they prepare to come back fighting next season.
“We’ve had three consecutive summers in the Champions League, and we haven’t had that time off over the summer.
“Most of us will relish that opportunity to have the time off. Of course, we have to work hard when we get back in and to put things right.
“Hopefully we start pre-season well and get back to winning ways, and we will be ready to go.”
