Cardiff look to reward loyal fans

Loyal Cardiff fans will be praying to get hold of tickets for Wembley on 17 May

Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale says the club will try ensure all their loyal fans receive FA Cup final tickets for the 17 May tie with Portsmouth.

The FA is due to announce allocations next week with up to 25,000 set to be offered to each club.

This is 10,000 less than the club were given for the semi-final but Ridsdale said true fans need not worry about getting hold of tickets.

"We will try and reward the people who have been loyal to us," he said.

"The one thing I do know in football is that there isn't such thing as a fair ticketing policy.

"But we'll sit down, we'll plan and we'll try and be as fair as possible.

"To be frank, we average 13,000 at Ninian Park week in week out so there can't be too many people who can fairly say they ought to have a ticket if we can't get one to them."

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A spectacular goal by midfielder Joe Ledley sealed a 1-0 win over Barnsley on Sunday and booked Cardiff's place in the final.

It is the first time the Bluebirds have managed to make it back to Wembley for a final after becoming the only Welsh side to lift the cup back in 1927 beating Arsenal 1-0.

But Ridsdale said he is hoping the club's cup success in reaching the final again will help pack out their home ground for the remainder of the season and their push for a play-off spot.

He also hinted that those who do turn out for their Championship run-in could even put themselves in with a chance of getting hold of an FA Cup final ticket.

"I'm just hoping for our next two home games that we've got the fans to come and say well done to the players," he said.

"We've got Blackpool at home and Barnsley at home, I'd like to see Ninian Park full.

"I'd like to see people buy season tickets and I'm sure those with season tickets will get a cup final ticket."