From Terry Phillips
'Mac' Beames, a Bluebirds’ supporter for more than 70 years, has passed away at the age of 91.
I knew ‘Mac’ well, having first met his son Lee, also a passionate Cardiff City supporter, after moving from Gloucester to Cardiff during the mid 1990s.
He was born in Cardiff during the 1930s, christened Malcolm Beames, and began attending Bluebirds’ matches after the Second World War.
‘Mac’ was 11-years-old and was a Ninian Park regular when Cardiff won the Third Division South championship in 1946-47.
I came to South Wales after being appointed sports editor of the South Wales Echo - and the Beames family played a huge part in helping me settle.
‘Mac’ and his wife Valerie did everything they could to make me feel welcome in Cardiff and I was often invited to their home. They were always smiling, always laughing.
Over the years his favourite players were Robert Earnshaw, Nathan Blake, Doug Livermore, Andy Campbell and more.
‘Mac’ would tell anybody willing to listen that John Charles was the best ‘centre-forward/centre-half’ combo to play football.
Sons Nick and Lee started their Bluebirds’ adventures in the boys enclosure at young ages.
He worked for the Western Mail and Echo in the machine room and often worked nights.
‘Mac’ was a keen athlete, a thoroughly decent club runner who competed for Roath Harriers and Birchgrove Harriers.
He continued to run when those two clubs amalgamated and became Cardiff Athletic Club.
‘Mac’ cycled until he was 82-years-old and was a regular at St Joseph’s Social Club, Cardiff.
He was among a group of long-serving Bluebirds’ fans I would ring on behalf of the Echo when I sought out voices of experience to comment on big club issues.
I will never forget his sheer delight he felt when captain Mark Hudson’s Cardiff City team won the Championship title - and promotion to the Premier League.
He told me at the time: “City have only ever won three titles in their history – and this is the best."
Terry Phillips
29/01/2026
