Bluebirds Reunited

Aled Blake is a Pontypridd-born journalist, writer and lifelong Cardiff City fanatic who's been following the Bluebirds since his father took him to Ninian Park to watch them lose, in the old Fourth Division, to Southend in 1986. He worked at the club briefly as media officer during the Sam Hammam era before going on to become a reporter and then news editor as well as weekly columnist at the Western Mail, South Wales Echo and WalesOnline for 17 years. Bluebirds Reunited is his first book. Aled lives in Cardiff with his wife and son.

• Foreword by Danny GabbidonAcknowledgementsIntroduction1. A Siege Mentality2. We'll Always Be Blue3. Europe and All That4. Red Adair5. A Quiet Summer?6. Hot Streak7. The Blip8. Money Talks9. New Year Blues10. Our Time11. Forward CardiffAfterword

`Cardiff City has always been something of a soap opera for us long-suffering fans, but even the most creative scriptwriters would have struggled to conjure up the implausible storylines we've seen unfold in recent times. Aled Blake perfectly captures the astonishing tale of the fight for the heart of the football club and the unlikely messiah who delivered a dream and united a city.' David Owens, City fan and journalist with WalesOnline; `Aled Blake examines in detail how the manager transformed [Cardiff's] fortunes with a modest budget, when it felt like many people had given up on City's dream.' Danny Gabbidon, from the Foreword