At the top of the “By subject” section on the right hand side of this page, there is a category called “Home page”. The single article under that heading was the first one I ever wrote on here and was meant to be an introduction to myself for readers and an outline of what they could expect from this new Cardiff City site.
That first piece ended with me saying that “they” (City)
“have been one of the few constants in that life, they drive me to despair at times and they make me a miserable bastard at times, but I don’t know where I’d be without them – I’m sure that over the coming months this blog will reflect the bewildering range of emotions Cardiff City arose in me! “
Apart from the spelling mistake (which I’ve only just noticed!), you’ll note that I talked about the “coming months”. I honestly didn’t have a clue how long the blog would last when I wrote that, but I was determined to give it the best possible chance to succeed and, as that first piece was dated 7 August 2009 and it is now a decade to the day since it appeared, I believe I can say that Mauve and Yellow Army (MAYA) has been a success of sorts.
How big a success is for others to judge. I’ve never had any idea how many people read MAYA, but I suspect the number isn’t as large as many other blogs written by supporters of a particular football club.
Possible reasons for this include the fact that probably only a small number of City fans are aware of its existence despite its relative longevity, a style of writing and presentation which I suspect does not appeal to younger supporters much (my plan was always to write the sort of detailed analysis pieces that I remember reading in my youth) and me rambling on for too long for a lot of people’s tastes!
My financial circumstances were always going to mean that my attendance at away matches was going to be little more than occasional, so one thing I was determined to do was try and compensate for this by providing coverage of Cardiff City games below first team level that was second to none.
By providing reports on something like three quarters of all home fixtures played by the Development team, plus it’s earlier equivalents, and the Academy side in the past decade, I don’t think I’m being arrogant when I say that I’ve succeeded in that objective. To be frank mind, the competition has been virtually non existent over the past ten years – I’m being genuine though when I say that this site has been providing some good stuff on the Under 23s and Academy team in the last year or so.
Another aspect where I feel MAYA scores over the competition is in the quality of its Feedback section. The numbers involved may not be great (all new contributors are welcome!), but the quality is consistently high with a cast of regulars who, obviously, put a lot of time, thought and effort into their contributions.
It’s my proud boast that, apart from when it has specifically been requested by the writer, I have not had to edit or delete a single response to one of my pieces on here since MAYA began. I claim little credit for this – that should go to a group of friends of this site who have proved that it is possible to carry on debates and conversations online in a civil and responsible manner.
It wasn’t always as it is now mind. In the early days, getting a reply to anything I wrote was something of a novelty and I must say that things only started to change when Dai Woosnam got involved. Dai is a gifted writer and a very good storyteller who I’ve always felt was more responsible than me for getting others to contribute.
The strange thing is, I disagree with Dai on so many matters, not least football, and yet he always had my admiration for the contributions he made to MAYA. Sadly, Dai chose not to post on MAYA any more about a year ago and I think I speak for others when I say he is much missed – you’re welcome back here any time you want to return Dai!
Last year MAYA faced its biggest crisis when I was presented with the once every three years bill from the web hosting company I use. As I explained at the time, my financial position was always going to be precarious until I reached state pension age in 2022 and, especially after having just moved house, I did not have the means to pay a bill which ran to several hundred pounds.
Without a loan from a group of sympathetic City supporters, MAYA would have ceased to exist and so in August last year I decided to ask for help from readers by proposing a patron scheme operated by Patreon whereby a minimum sum of $1 dollar a month would be paid with the short term aim of paying back that loan as quickly as possible.
Here’s what I posted about the patron scheme last year, but, to give a very quick summary, it was, essentially, a plea for help with, as mentioned earlier, the short term aim of repayment of the loan, a medium term goal of paying for blog running costs and a long term target of producing another book to follow on from “The Journey Back” which was published in 2013.
I must say the response was very good. I’m getting a monthly income from Patreon, but, as it turned out, a majority of patrons preferred to contribute in other ways. Hence, there is also a monthly income in Standing Orders taken out by a small number of readers, while I would say the majority of contributors opted to make one off payments.
What all of this has meant is that two of the three targets were reached with the loan paid off within a matter of weeks and running costs comfortably covered for the 2018/19 season.
Given this, I feel I can make this promise to readers today – MAYA will continue as long as I’m fit and able to keep on getting to games, there will never be a compulsory charge to be paid to read it and, apart from the Google Ads one in the top right hand corner of the page on some browsers, you’ll not see an advert on here.
However, I hope those of you who have made contributions over the last year will continue to do so and that some of you who have not contributed before now will choose to do so.
While there are no large web hosting bills to be paid this season and I’m hopeful that something will be in place to cover things when they are next due in 2021, other costs are still higher than they’ve ever been.
For example, while supporting City means just one or two trips to Cardiff per fortnight for most supporters, that increases to as many as four if you are also watching the reserves and youth team as well as the first team. Furthermore, what was a round trip of five or six miles when I was based in Cardiff is now one of over forty with me living in Tynewydd.
My computer packing up last month offered a reminder of, first, how vital it is to the production of MAYA and, second, that, although I would say it falls into the category of something I must have these days so I would have found a way to have got one, it would have been a real struggle to do so without the income from the patrons to the blog.
This brings me on to the long term goal of producing a book. I’ll start by saying that I think I owe an apology to patrons for maybe not producing as much on MAYA as I was aiming to this time last year, but I will offer the partial excuse that I have been, indirectly, working for the MAYA cause over the past few months.
March 2021 will see the fiftieth anniversary of Cardiff City’s 1-0 win over Real Madrid and my aim is to get a book commemorating that achievement, and the momentous 1970/71 season, published for Christmas 2020.
Unfortunately, the small amount of writing I’d done pre my computer tribulations has been lost forever, but I’ve been redoing that this week and the summer has seen plenty more trips to Cardiff for reference work at Cathays Library.
While I accept that this is a subject that may have a limited appeal in terms of the age of those who might want to read it, I feel there is a good book waiting to be written about what I think may be the most important season of my City following lifetime in terms of impact on both supporters and the club.
Without support from MAYA’s patrons, I would say the chances of the book ever being published would be close to zero and, to be frank, having experienced the costs of printing and publishing once before, it may be more than could reasonably be expected to come from such a generous bunch as MAYA readers have been proven to be over the past twelve months.
However, that previous experience of the industry with The Journey Back proved the accuracy of the adage “where there’s a will, there’s a way” and, whatever happens, my intention is to spend the coming season typing things up, so that the work will have been done to meet the schedule of having something out by the fiftieth anniversary of Brian Clark’s header from Nigel Rees’ cross!
There’s one other matter for patrons that I would like to mention. Around the turn of the year I said my intention was to have a £50 prize draw for you all this month to mark the start of the new season as a way of saying thank you for your support. The feedback I got at the time though was unanimously of the view that there was no need for me to do this – I still intend to go ahead, but is that still your view?
Regarding methods by which you can become a patron, you can do so via Patreon or, if you prefer, you can e-mail me at paul.evans8153@hotmail.com and I can let you have my address, bank details or PayPal contact for cheques, money transfers, standing orders etc.
A big, big thank you to all of you who have become patrons in the last year – this applies to the Owl Centre in particular who have been generous “sponsors” of MAYA since the turn of the year and I can only echo what I’ve said before about being proud to be associated with such a worthy cause.
I’ll end by recording my appreciation of any and everyone who has ever read MAYA in the past ten years – very occasionally, it feels like a job, but mostly it’s been a sheer pleasure producing it and I hope you have enjoyed reading it.
Well done Paul. We appreciate the effort you put into your reports. I cant wait for the Sunday or midweek days to digest your view on the game. it is something to look forward to. I do check the other message boards, but alas some of the comments feedback are not related to the game.
Perhaps people are not aware of your blog on the NEWS NOW WALES ON LINE.
Looking forward to your reports and the season ahead.
Best Regards
Geoff
Couple of points, Paul.
Still see no need for a Draw; and along with you I would love to have Mr. Woosnam back posting on here.
I’d like to take the opportunity to thank you for this very excellent blog, and the group who comment on it. Always very level-headed and thought-provoking.
Compared to some I am a newcomer to MAYA but I am very pleased that I discovered it a couple of years back.
I’m ashamed to say I’ve never got round to reading your first book but I am looking forward to reading the new one.
Thank you again, Paul.
Your descriptive, grammatically correct style of writing with no concessions to sensationalism is perfect Paul and means I don’t have to look anywhere else for analysis post match. Long may the blog continue.
As for Dai, he was always entertaining and, now we have two what he would call, centre forwards playing at the back for us, he must be tearing his hair out!
Hi Paul,
Please keep up your excellent work. I too am relatively late to the party – made my debut only last season – but fully appreciate your thoughtful analysis and consideration for other points of view. You are also my go to guy for great analysis of any match and associated matters. Fact is, however, I invariably agree with your thoughts and always appreciate the responses of others too. We do seem a very reasonable band of brothers!
Sorry about your computer issues and hope now resolved. An essential tool of your trade. Also look forward to reading your epic masterpiece in due course.
Keep up the good work.
Cheers and thanks
Congratulations on MAYA reaching its 10th anniversary. We may be a small band of followers but we are an extremely privileged group of football supporters to have such passion, insight and fair-mindedness provided to us by Paul in his blog. It truly enriches the whole experience of following Cardiff City. I always feel a match is never really over until I’ve read Paul’s take on it along with the excellent comments from the rest of you. Long may it continue.
It’s a pleasure, Paul, to read a blog with a very high degree of literary style of writing with coherent thinking having gone into its production..
Too often message boards are characterised with one line shrieks or put-downs which add nothing to debate. I’m also saddened when even chatting to fellow fans about City the poor grasp of tactical knowledge brought to the discussion.
This forum is not one of those.
It’s a respite from this storm, an oasis where calm and considered exchanges take place and contributors are not castigated for holding a different view. This comes from the top down.
We all live busy lives, but a thought. On a Saturday game near to that 50th Anniversary it might be a thought to pop out for a meal together after the match to celebrate that victory and this blog.
Long may MaYA continue.
On another topic, if I may be permitted here to note a book I have just finished reading by the English cricket captain, Mike Brearley called, ‘The Art of Captaincy.’ It is another excellently written, thought provoking book which I commend to readers.
Congratulations indeed to 10 years of MAYA. I do not post much as I do not get to see many games but MAYA is a “must” for me because of the fact I live abroad and Pauls reports are eagerly digested along with breakfast on Sunday.
Like Clive Harry mentioned above…no sensationalism.
The comments area is always worth reading. If I remember rightly there was once a comment from a Swansea fan on here which was also quite sensible and balanced but, alas, there was one Wolves fan who mistook the blog for a pub fight and started hurling nonsensical insults around but Paul calmy brought him back down to earth.
I also miss Dai’s comments though. Thoroughly entertaining and always a joy to read.
Looking forward to the next 10 years.
Thanks for some very kind replies.
Geoff, I had a column on the Wales Online site for about a season and a half early in this decade, so the site would have been given some publicity then. To be brutal, we’re nearly all of a similar age on here and I can only assume younger generations prefer their football blog writing to be pretty different to what is on offer here – the work I do for the Trust has told me they have the same problem with nearly all of the younger members being children who have been enrolled by their parents, as far as I can tell there are not too many members in the 20 to 40 age range at all.
Colin, a personal thank you for your support over the year which I feel deserves a free copy of The Journey Back. We still have a few copies left in the Trust Office and if you call in before a game, I can let you have one – in fact, while stocks in the office lasts, that offer extends to any patron who hasn’t read the book because, with it being six years since publication soon, I don’t see that we are going to sell many more now.
Clive, I started writing about the Feedback section and it just struck me how important Dai was in establishing it – Flint and Morrison, a front pair to strike fear in Championship defences!
Huw, thanks for your support and contributions on here in the last year or two – an unexpected bonus of MAYA has been that it has enabled me to get into contact again with people I came across a long time ago.
Richard, it’s been a pleasure working with you on The Journey Back, communicating with you on here and on the messageboard and putting the Cardiff City world to rights outside the Trust Office before matches – best of luck with those last two and I’ll be able to clarify things with the Ebbw Vale team in about a fortnight’s time.
Steve, if MAYA really does fulfil all of those criteria you list, then I’m a happy and proud man because that’s the sort of thing I hoped for ten years ago. That’s a great idea about a Real Madrid fiftieth anniversary meal and I hope it’s not something that will be forgotten about with the passing of the months. Finally, any book with Mike Brearley as its author is quality, but the Art of Captaincy is the best of his that I’ve read.
Adrian, it’s always great to hear from you as our “Overseas correspondent”, I was always very grateful to your father for his contributions which I’ve always felt helped went a long way to establishing MAYA and, of course, a thank you for that portrait which occupies a prominent place in my new home! We don’t get too many comments from opposing supporters on here, but, when we do, they are, almost always, interesting and written with a spirit of friendliness – there have, in fact, been only two replies which fall into the “mindless banter” category and, oddly, they both came from Wolves fans, so maybe it’s a good thing we made sure we aren’t playing them this season!
Paul – here I add my heartfelt congratulations.
MAYA has become an gentle enrichment to my life, especially out here in the Far East (Anglia).
The Brothers too – enrichers all (sorry, Steve – my tactical nous is almost nil, but I hope I bring the odd smile to MAYAn faces).
I, too, miss Dai…though I’ve just exchanged e-mail memories of 1-1 v. Leyton Orient, January ’58, and an opposition centre-forward called Tom Johnston
Speaking of Brothers – to coin a phrase from earlier in my life…”time to attract more women?” But how?
Also, just been reminiscing with a Rhiwbina pal who was at the Real match (Brian Clark was my all-time City favourite).
I’ve had one or two supporter-claims-to-fame, but, I guess my own high-point remains 1-0 v. Villa, April 1960, Graham Moore.
With all good wishes to one and all.
Paul – Congratulations and Happy Anniversary. As others have stated, I so look forward to your post match reviews and the comments of your devoted followers. All other reports pale into insignificance compared with the MAYA articles and I now regard these as my essential 48 hour “fix” following the final whistle.
It is now noon on Transfer Deadline Day and I am desperate to learn just who will still be with us at 5.00 p.m., but more importantly, who will be arriving. Team selection for Saturday will be interesting.
Hello Paul.
As a ‘younger’ supporter, (I’ll never let you forget those 4 years) I do sometimes wish your posts were a little less wordy but no-one has been listening to you go on at length about the city longer than me so I think I’m entitled to grumble a bit. Despite that I read your blog every week and not just out of family loyalty, it’s been my source of information about the club I support because of you for most of my exile. Thanks also for all the times you looked after me at Ninian park, either as a kid, or an impoverished student when you would far rather have been able to concentrate on the football. Also for arranging my more recent visits. Looking forward to the next time!
Sean
Morning everyone, Lindsay, I see my brother has put in an appearance on here overnight and I seem to remember my sister has contributed once or twice in the past ten years, so, I disagree completely with your question about how to attract more women on here. It seems to me that we’ve got the balance right – says he hoping that she doesn’t get to read this!
BJA, I’d say that word “underwhelming” could sum up our transfer window, but I daresay there are a few fans of Neil Warnock managed teams down the years who have said that only to be celebrating promotion a few months later. If Vassell can get over his injuries to look the same player he did when we lost at Birmingham in 2017, then I think we will have got him on the cheap, while I see Pep Guardiola had some complimentary things to say about Pack after Man City’s League Cup Semi Final with the wurzels. Some Bristol fans are saying that he’s over the hill at twenty eight, but, if he isn’t, then I think he’s what we needed given that type of players that we’re limited to signing under this manager. That brings me on to the downside of the window – we didn’t have too many of what I would call “proper footballers” and it seems to me that we’ve lost our best footballer in defence and another one who could have played in the number ten role while, it seems, not bringing in like for like replacements.
Sean, good to hear from you and thanks for those kind words. I look forward to you coming along to a match this season, just don’t expect the “beautiful game”!
Paul – given your lovely sister is probably worth about ten of me, I feel sure the balance will have been more than levelled out!