"Come on ye reds" says Leighton James

Leighton James in Cardiff FA Cup storm

Mar 14 2008 by Steve Tucker, Western Mail

WELSH soccer legend Leighton James has kicked up a potential storm by stating he wants Barnsley to beat Cardiff City in the FA Cup.
The TV pundit made his remarks in his column for a local newspaper.
Although James was writing for an audience of Swans’ fans, such comments from a high-profile football character are hardly likely to endear him to other soccer followers.
If the Bluebirds reach the FA Cup final, it would do wonders in terms of putting Welsh football on the world map.
James’ remarks also came just 24 hours after Uefa boss Michel Platini announced he wanted the European exile of our Big Three of Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham to end.
In his column for the South Wales Evening Post, James wrote that 99.9 per cent of Swans fans would be willing Barnsley to win the big semi-final next month.
James, left, argued that if Roberto Martinez’s side were in the last four, Cardiff supporters would want the Swans to lose.
“It’s a difficult one to choose,” wrote James. “On one hand, as a proud Welshman, you want the clubs from your country to go as far as they can.
“Imagine the uproar if a Welsh team won the FA Cup and took it out of England.
“On the other hand, as a Swansea person, you want Tykes boss Simon Davey – who is a Swansea person – to do well too.
“We always want to see our hometown products doing well, and I’m sure the people of Swansea will want him to reach the final.
“To see Cardiff in the final would be hard to take for Swansea fans.
“So, to be brutally honest, I think I’m behind Barnsley on this one.”