Since the collapse of both the old Excalibur league and the folding of Swansea Uni. back in '96, the state of Korfball in Wales has not been good. Three consecutive bottom four BUSA positions and a collection of wooden spoons from the counties was all Cardiff had to offer.

However, the surprise BUSA victory in 2001 has proved a catalyst for change in the Welsh Capital. With Cardiff's reputation of holding a high percentage of graduates in the local area, is was only a matter of time before enough were left around to launch Cardiff City KC.

As has oft been mentioned, setting up new clubs in any sport is not easy, and it took CCKC two attempts to get a foothold anywhere in the city. Whilst the fabulous facilities and wide open spaces of Llys-Talybont (venue for 2 BUSA finals and one EUCK) would have been perfect, the cost was far from it, and the club had to swallow the first failed attempt and wait some months before deciding on Howells School, a local posh school for the rich and famous.

However, having a venue was only half the war, getting some players would (and still does) proves a battle. Another little issue was having anyone to actually play in any meaningful competition.

The latter was solved by the resurrection of the local league, first called the South West and Wales league, and now restored to it's former title, the Excalibur league. Having a league to play in also re-aroused the interests of another sleeping club, Bristol City. With the two clubs having players that remembered each other from their Uni days, and neither wanting to admit defeat to their university neighbours, some much needed competition was created.

This just left the issue of players. All the old campaigns were tried, boys and girls, bored of your sport?, try something new? Etc.. It would be word of mouth though that would be the clubs saviour, with the committed first members dragging their friends along.

With a desparate first season over, Cardiff completed the league with a big fat zero, and a rather sore goals against column. Still, some trips into the sunny weather over the bridge would end up being a crucial turning point. The Oxfordshire tour was fantastic for the club, with numerous players getting multiple games over the course of the day and not being stuck in a sports hall. The exposure would certainly make a huge difference to the morale of the club. Some good performances at Nomads, and some sobering ones at Nottingham, would lead up to the Counties.

Previously, the Counties have been based around a group of Uni students having fun and drinking in the sun. Last year however, Cardiff was based around the City club, and actually had a proper coach. Brian Carswell (formerly Nomads) was kind enough to actually try to teach the club some proper Korfball, which not only dragged us of the bottom for the first time since 1998, but gave a lot of the players their first taste of "real" Korfball.

Since the start of the new season, CCKC have been bolstered by the arrival of some quality girls from the Uni who have made a huge difference to the squad, and with some serious training and increased numbers to play against, CCKC can celebrate its first birthday with a good league position and a positive outlook.

With Exeter and Bristol Horfield up and running, and second teams at almost all the clubs as well, the SW and Wales may finally be getting back on its feet, and with some sensible joined up thinking, may, in future years strengthen into a strong Korfball region.