About Me
I was born in the Roath area of Cardiff in 1965. For many years my late father, Annis Snr, was renowned as one of the leading names in the nightclub business. He opened up his first club, Mayfields, back in 1958 and went on to own no less than forty four different clubs in various towns and cities across the country, as well as professional letter writer four more overseas. They included Titos (Cardiff), Cleopatras (Newport), Caesars (Bradford), the Queen of Hearts (Nelson), Fantasia at the Ship Hotel (Barry), the Double Diamond Club (Caerphilly), Caesars (now the Prince of Wales, Cardiff) and the famous Captain’s Bar in Palma de Mallorca.
My late mother, Dawn, was also a well-known figure in South Wales thanks to her tireless work for a greyhounds’ welfare charity she set up in 1998.
Football has played a massive part of my life ever since I first watched Cardiff City play Bolton in November 1973. I was a seven year-old schoolboy at the time and the team won that game 1-0 with a goal by Welsh international Gil Reece. I’ve been a Ninian Park season ticket holder ever since and I’ve supported the Bluebirds in away matches at almost every ground in the Football League, at numerous non-league venues and in a variety of other countries.
During my forty one years as a season ticket holder I’ve sponsored Cardiff’s players, their kits, their vehicles, their match balls and their programmes. I’ve become friendly with hundreds of other Cardiff City fans and a number of ex-players, directors and chairmen. I’ve also tried to buy a major shareholding in the club on two separate occasions.
During the Eighties and Nineties I gained a degree of notoriety thanks to my (alleged) involvement with Cardiff’s infamous hooligan gang the Soul Crew.
In 2012 Our Club had its identity stripped from us by our new owner Vincent Tan and we had our BLUE which we had worn for over 100 years changed to Red and our proud badge totally changed to an unrecognisable one.
I honestly thought of walking away from our once proud club, but instead I have continued to follow our team and fight for our True identity back and I will never stop till we are BLUE again and proud. False glory means nothing to me, pride and identity means more.
” We will Always be Blue in My heart ”
My Books
I have have now written 6 books and published one, The first was published in June 2008 by Head-Hunter Books. It’s entitled From Shattered Dreams to Wembley Way and tells the story of the Sam Hammam era at Ninian Park from prrofread my paper the perspective of some of the fans who were closest to the club’s former owner.
My second book, the Diary of the Real Soul Crew, was published in September 2008.
My third book DIARY OF THE REAL SOUL CREW 2 was released January 2009.
My fourth book “CARDIFF CITY FANS THROUGH THE YEARS” was released June 09.
My Fifth book “The Complete Chronicles of The Soul Crew ” was published and released 16th July 2010.
My Latest book titles “Annis My Story” was released on September 18th.
I am currently working on my Sixth book, which will tell my own personal story. It will tell the tale of how I grew up on the Ninian Park terraces during the Seventies and will include the best stories from my Soul Crew years in the Eighties and Nineties. Also all the managers/players I have met in the last 37 years.
In the Night Club industry, I will tell many tales of my 20 years in the industry and boy are there some tales to tell.In Show Business, the many Stars I have got to know, including Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Aswad, New Order, Big Country, Peter Stringfellow are just a few. It will also reveal details of my relationships with Cardiff City’s chairmen during the new millennium. This should be released in 2011.
I have started a publishing company, My first book was “The Rise and Fall of The Cardiff City Valley Rams”(Published and Released June 09).I am now currently working with an ex Premier player and also an ex Wales Legend.
My Latest book titles “Annis My Story” was released on September 18th.
To contact me please email: annisabraham@aol.com