The Cardiff fan who went viral - and became manager

It is one of the abiding images of the late Sol Bamba's time at Cardiff City - the charismatic captain with his arms aloft, mobbed by fans after jumping into the away end at Southampton to celebrate his goal in a Premier League win.

Among the scrum of supporters at St Mary's seven years ago was an 18-year-old student called Noah Bushby, the first to get hold of Bamba with a huge bear hug.

Amid the chaos, Bushby broke his glasses. When he posted on social media about the incident after the match, it went viral, prompting responses from Bamba himself and Cardiff chief executive Ken Choo, who offered to pay for a new pair.

Now, Bushby is preparing to lead the Bluebirds in a cup final. The teenage season ticket holder who became manager of his boyhood club.

He took charge of Cardiff's women's team earlier this month, succeeding Iain Darbyshire having previously served as his assistant coach.

There will be no chance to ease himself in gently, though. Bushby's first game is Sunday's Welsh Cup final against arch rivals Swansea City.

"It's been an interesting first couple of weeks! It's really exciting," he tells BBC Sport Wales with a huge grin.

"The players have responded so well to me taking over. They're training at a level that I could only dream of, the standards and intensity.

"They've stepped and they're really, really up for this final. It's been an exciting couple of weeks and hopefully an exciting weekend too."

First games do not get much bigger than a cup final and a local derby rolled into one, but it's impossible not to ask Bushby about his brush with fame and Bamba.

"It happened just before I started with the club. It was February at Southampton and then I joined the club in August," he recalls.

"I think that moment shows how passionate I am about the club, how much I care about the club and Sol was just a great man, such a lovely man.

"He was a great supporter of the women's team as well. He regularly spoke to us and came down to a couple of our games.

"I'm privileged to have had that moment with him."

Not many supporters get the opportunity to coach the club they support but, thanks to a chance meeting with Darbyshire, Bushby made that leap.

He first joined Cardiff to take charge of their under-16 side before stepping up to the under-19s, with whom he enjoyed league and cup success.

Bushby was part of Darbyshire's staff as the Bluebirds won three successive Adran Premier titles and four Welsh Cups.

Then when Darbyshire left to take a job in Canada, Bushby stepped up.

"It's been an exciting journey, and it's been one where I've been fortunate enough to manage at this club, so I know what that takes," he says.

"Whichever age group I've coached, every year you're given your tracksuit and I'm like, 'Wow, I support this club'. It's something I'll never take for granted."

Darbyshire's record as manager and head of women's and girls' football makes him a tough act to follow – and Bushby knows it.

"I've spoken to him over the last couple of weeks since he's moved on and, yeah, it's just hoping that we can continue that record that he's always been so proud of and makes everyone aware of," he jokes.

"It's not just the first team but across all the age groups, it makes me really proud.

"And I want to make sure that I do the best for this programme and continue the good work that's already in place."