If you’re of a certain vintage and are asked to quickly name a player that played for Cardiff City and Coventry City, you’re quite likely to say: Willie Boland.
Should you be a little younger, then it’ll probably be Aron Gunnarsson.
You’re unlikely to immediately think of Dimi Konstantopoulos.
Yet after reading this latest instalment of pre-match Bluebirds history, maybe the Greek stopper will flood more easily into memory in future. Dimi is one of six goalkeepers to have worn gloves for both the Bluebirds and Sky Blues, dating back (sort of) to 2001…
STEPHEN BYWATER
The eccentric Bywater actually had two spells with the Bluebirds, the first, a month-long loan stint in 2002 during which time he didn’t make a first team appearance. He returned in 2010, this time on loan from Derby County and made ten appearances, including both Play-Off semi-final legs against Reading. He was on the winning team just twice.
Bywater made 14 appearances for Coventry City during the 2005/06 campaign, before being recalled prematurely from his season-long loan by parent club West Ham United due to the Hammers’ injury issues.
KASPER SCHMEICHEL
Few would remember Kasper Schmeichel’s time at Cardiff City or Coventry City: unless you were a fan of either of the two clubs.
Having broken into senior football in 2006 with Manchester City, the son of legendary former Manchester United ‘keeper, Peter, carried the weight of his family name. He has emulated many of his father’s achievements during his 18-year career to date.
Kasper signed a long-term deal with Manchester City in 2002 that incorporated his education at schoolboy and Academy levels as well as professional terms. The Dane was loaned to League 2 Darlington in 2006 where he made his professional debut, thereafter, to Bury and then Falkirk.
He made his Citizens debut in August 2007 and played in the first seven of the club’s games during the 2007/08 season. At that point, Kasper signed a new long-term deal with his parent club before a somewhat surprising loan move to Cardiff City in the Championship. Joe Hart took the Manchester City gloves and held on to them.
At something of a career crossroads, Kasper made an impression with supporters during City’s penultimate season at Ninian Park. He played 14 games between October and January, winning six of them, drawing five and losing four times. Ross Turnbull’s loan spell had ended prematurely and disappointingly earlier in October and deputy, Michael Oakes, was seen by Dave Jones as a longer-term back-up option only.
And so, it seemed Kasper could be the goalkeeping answer for the 2007/08 campaign, only for the late Sven Göran Eriksson to throw something of a curveball. With issues in his own goalkeeping ranks, Kasper’s appeal to have his time in South Wales extended was denied by the Manchester City manager and he would be forced to return to Eastlands to play second fiddle to Hart.
But, frustratingly for the Bluebirds, who would turn to Peter Enckelman as their third first choice on-loan ‘keeper of the campaign, Kasper was soon let back out on loan. This time, he went to Coventry City, making nine appearances between mid-March and the end of their Championship season.
DIMITRIOS KONSTANTOPOULOS
Dave Jones had a nightmare with goalkeepers during the 2008/09 season: an instability that arguably cost City a place in the Play-Offs come the end of the campaign.
Peter Enckelman and Manchester United loanee, Tom Heaton, had both incurred long-term injuries, meaning Jones had to delve into the loan market in the latter half of the season with only young Erwin Sak as cover.
In came Dimi Konstantopoulos on loan from Coventry City who would make his debut a few days later at Wolverhampton Wanderers. We can all still see the still image of him dropping the ball over his own line and costing City a fine away win. Dimi made six starts in total before injury and the need came for Jones to draft in Stuart Taylor from Aston Villa.
SIMON MOORE
Signed as back-up to David Marshall for City’s 2013/14 Premier League campaign, Simon stayed with the Bluebirds until August 2016 when he joined then-League One side, Sheffield United.
A very professional and affable man, Simon made his City debut against Coventry City in a 2014 League Cup victory, played at Northampton Town’s Sixfields Stadium. He made his League debut in a 1-0 victory over Fulham in January 2015: often referred to conversationally as the ‘back to blue’ game.
Moore had a little run under Russell Slade during the tail-end of the 2014/15 season but would never oust Marshall from his number one spot. He made 25 appearances for City in total before leaving for the Blades, going on to join Coventry City in 2021. He made a total of 46 appearances for the Sky Blues, before leaving for Sunderland last summer.
BEN WILSON
Ben’s Bluebirds career followed a similar to trajectory to Moore’s, in as much as they were in the goalkeeping ranks with each other between 2014 and 2016 under the learning tree of David Marshall. Like Moore, Wilson had his opportunities and showed his potential.
Having previously been at Sunderland and Accrington Stanley, Ben made his City debut against AFC Wimbledon in a 2015/16 League Cup tie. He would go on to join the Dons on loan two months later, returning to City in the January and having to wait until August 2016 to make his League debut in a 1-0 defeat to Reading. After only two more senior appearances and finding opportunity scarce, Ben spent time away at Rochdale, Oldham Athletic and Telford United before signing permanently with Bradford City in 2018.
A year later, Wilson signed for Coventry City where he saw his burgeoning career blossom. Still on the books with the Sky Blues, he’s made 96 senior appearances to date and was named in the EFL Championship Team of the Season for 2022/23, earning the Golden Glove in the process.
RYAN ALLSOP
Ryan was City’s first choice ‘keeper for the 2022/23 season, making 44 appearances under Steve Morison, Mark Hudson and Sabri Lamouchi.
But in a flash, he was gone. Ahead of the ‘23/24 campaign, Rocky was off to Hull City with whom he made 37 appearances last season before a somewhat acrimonious departure to League One Birmingham City in the summer of 2024.