TIM’S ON TOUR...
TIM Hartley has been around the world watching football – but his heart will always be at Cardiff City.
In his new book, Kicking off in
North Korea, the Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust chairman takes us on a tour of around 20 countries watching football from 2001 to this year.
It’s also a family story as he travels around watching matches with his son, Chester, who was seven back in 2001 and is now 22.
The 56-year-old said:“The most bizarre game I went to was in North Korea. It was a bank holiday and it appeared the crowd had been told to go there. They didn’t cheer – it was such a controlled atmosphere.
Passion
“The most passionate was the Belgrade derby.The passion in Eastern Europe is something else. They were my stand-out moments.
“We have watched football in some very strange places and have met fascinating people who open a window on several different worlds.
‘But I’ve found there’s no need to travel to the ends of the world to get some great travelling experiences. We have had brilliant weekends watching Welsh football games in Bala, Prestatyn and Cefn Mawr near Wrexham.”
And, when push comes to shove, Hartley, who has worked for the BBC for 17 years and for the British Council and the United Nations Development Programme in Central Asia and Africa, just loves a day watching his beloved Cardiff City.
While his son follows the fortunes of Clapton and Partizan Belgrade, Hartley said: “My club is Cardiff City through and through. I think the club has stabilised and it seems to understand now that it needs to engage with the fans.
“We need to rebuild the team and I’m not sure (former boss) Russell Slade was the right man.”
As well as supporting the Bluebirds, Hartley loves to follow the national team, too, and is eagerly looking forward to the Euros in France next month.
“I’m going to see the three Wales group games and hopefully carry on for the knockout stages,” he said.
Hartley also has the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon next January on his travel itinerary. In the meantime, he hopes football fans will enjoy his book.
“I hope it will appeal to all kinds of football supporters, from the armchair supporter to the fanatic who will understand the obsessional culture within the sport,” he added. Kicking off in North Korea: Football and Friendship in Foreign Lands (£9.99,Y Lolfa) is available now on Amazon Off-beat stories from around the leagues