U18 Preview: Hull City vs. Cardiff City
Cardiff City’s U18 side travel to Hull this Saturday to face the Tigers in their opening game of the 2019/2020 campaign, with the Bluebirds looking to retain their U18 PDL South title – 11am kick-off.
Matthew Bloxham’s side come into the fixture following a largely fruitful pre-season, in which his side won four games, losing on just one occasion.
Know Your Opponent
The Tigers come into the campaign following a disappointing 2018/19 season, finishing eighth in the PDL North – having accumulated 29 points from 28 games, despite a late upturn in form towards the end of the season.
Terry Boyle and John Anderson’s side reached the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, eventually being knocked out against Wigan Athletic in a crushing 6-2 defeat at the KCOM Stadium.
Our opponents also finished eighth in the 2017/18 campaign but accumulated nine more points from an extra two matches – missing out on seventh place due to goal difference.
Backroom Staff
Hull City are currently managed by Terry Boyle and John Anderson, who took over from the duo of Richard Naylor and Richard O’Donnell.
John Anderson is a former defender who turned out 43 times for the Tigers in a 13-year playing career, having also played for Greenock Morton, Livingston and Bristol Rovers. The 46-year-old has previously managed Leeds United’s U18 side, before re-joining Hull City in 2016.
Jon Beale is Academy Manager at the club, and also assists Richard Naylor in managing the U23 side. He joined Hull in 2016, having previously spent time at Swansea City – holding a number of roles at the club during his stint in south Wales.
Club Connection
U18 coach Terry Boyle previously made 168 appearances for the Bluebirds between 1986-89, netting seven times. He also received two international caps for Wales in 1981, scoring on one occasion.
Boyle would retire in 2001, having represented a plethora of clubs over the course of a 20-year career. He has been at Hull City since 2014, and also acts as a coach educator for the UEFA A License.
Previous Meetings
The most recent meeting between the two sides came in the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday, December 5th, 2018. Cardiff City would fall to a disappointing 2-1 defeat at the KCOM Stadium, as Keenan Patten’s early goal was cancelled out by Lewis-Potter’s header, before a late strike from Rob Guilfoyle sealed the victory for the hosts.
The Bluebirds were victorious in the previous league meeting however, maintaining an excellent 100% start to the 2018/19 campaign at Cardiff International Sports Campus in a 3-1 victory over Hull City. Trystan Jones, Sion Spence and Daniel Griffiths all netted in the win.
