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| Fans watch Cardiff's Cup final | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Tens of thousands of Cardiff City supporters are watching the FA Cup final with Portsmouth. | |
| Around 25,000 City fans are at Wembley for the match against Portsmouth, their club's biggest game for 81 years. | |
| Up to 7,000 City supporters are also watching the game on a big screen erected in Cardiff Bay. | |
| The Bluebirds have not played in an FA Cup final since they lifted the trophy in 1927 with a 1-0 win over Arsenal and took the cup home to Wales. | |
| Katherine Jenkins sang the Welsh national anthem before the game, which is expected to attract a global television audience of 400m people. | |
| Fans have travelled to the game by air, rail and road, with Cardiff City Supporters' Club alone taking 60 coaches up the M4 to London. | |
| More than 50 Cardiff fans from Bluebirds Down Under, a group of City fans in Australia, have flown over for the final. | |
| Vince Alm, Cardiff City Supporters' Club spokesperson, said it was a huge day for the city of Cardiff, not just the football team. | Vince Alm, Cardiff City Supporters' Club spokesperson, said it was a huge day for the city of Cardiff, not just the football team. |
| "It's huge, not only for Cardiff City but the people of Cardiff and Wales," he said. | "It's huge, not only for Cardiff City but the people of Cardiff and Wales," he said. |
| "It raises the profile of the football club and the whole city." | "It raises the profile of the football club and the whole city." |
| What's the atmosphere like in Cardiff? class="" href="/1/hi/wales/7406344.stm">Fans prediction for final scores class="" href="/1/hi/wales/7406367.stm">Stiltwalkers join fans at Big Screen | |
| Those supporters not lucky enough to get tickets for Wembley are able to watch the the game on a big screen at Roald Dahl Plass in Cardiff Bay. | |
| Admission to the event was free and the screen has shown all the pre-match build-up. | |
| The official Bluebirds shop in the centre of city has been packed for the past three weeks with supporters almost buying the store out of stock. | The official Bluebirds shop in the centre of city has been packed for the past three weeks with supporters almost buying the store out of stock. |
| The shop is run and stocked by City's kit makers Joma who say sales of all their merchandise have risen by up to 40% since the team reached the final. | The shop is run and stocked by City's kit makers Joma who say sales of all their merchandise have risen by up to 40% since the team reached the final. |
| It's best wishes from me and, I'm sure, everyone in Wales to Cardiff City First Minister Rhodri Morgan | It's best wishes from me and, I'm sure, everyone in Wales to Cardiff City First Minister Rhodri Morgan |
| Joma has almost sold out of the 5000 limited edition Cup final shirts it had made for the final and expects to sell the last ones before the game kicks off. | Joma has almost sold out of the 5000 limited edition Cup final shirts it had made for the final and expects to sell the last ones before the game kicks off. |
| National sales manager Mark Godley said: "We're not sold out yet but we're getting fairly close to it. | National sales manager Mark Godley said: "We're not sold out yet but we're getting fairly close to it. |
| "If Cardiff win the final then I think we will be back onto the shirt makers at one minute past five o'clock in order to get some more in." | "If Cardiff win the final then I think we will be back onto the shirt makers at one minute past five o'clock in order to get some more in." |
| Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Cllr Gill Bird, said: "This is a huge occasion for the city, and if fans weren't lucky enough to get their hands on tickets for Wembley, then surely this is the next best thing. | |
| "I'm sure the atmosphere will be electric with everyone getting behind Cardiff City to lift the cup." | "I'm sure the atmosphere will be electric with everyone getting behind Cardiff City to lift the cup." |
| And there have been many good luck messages to the team from the great and the good. | And there have been many good luck messages to the team from the great and the good. |
| Great Game | Great Game |
| First Minister Rhodri Morgan said: "It's best wishes from me and, I'm sure, everyone in Wales to Cardiff City as they prepare to take on Portsmouth in the FA Cup final. | First Minister Rhodri Morgan said: "It's best wishes from me and, I'm sure, everyone in Wales to Cardiff City as they prepare to take on Portsmouth in the FA Cup final. |
| "I'm confident they can really represent the very best in Welsh football and Welsh sport by taking on and beating Portsmouth on Saturday. | "I'm confident they can really represent the very best in Welsh football and Welsh sport by taking on and beating Portsmouth on Saturday. |
| "Good luck to the boys." | "Good luck to the boys." |
| Even Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a Raith Rovers fan, has wished Cardiff City and Portsmouth, all the best for the final. | Even Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a Raith Rovers fan, has wished Cardiff City and Portsmouth, all the best for the final. |
| Mr Brown said he thought it was going to be a great game and he was looking forward to watching it. | Mr Brown said he thought it was going to be a great game and he was looking forward to watching it. |
| Cardiff City players will parade through the Welsh capital in an open-top bus on Sunday if they win the cup. | Cardiff City players will parade through the Welsh capital in an open-top bus on Sunday if they win the cup. |
| Even if they lose, an event will be held for fans to see the team. | Even if they lose, an event will be held for fans to see the team. |