Oriental bid to lift hotel jinx

St David's hotel - called in expert to banish soccer team hoodoo

A luxury hotel is conjuring up oriental philosophy to banish a losing jinx on top football teams.

Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea have all been hit by the curse of the five-star hotel while staying there before big matches.

The St David's hotel, in Cardiff Bay, has called in the same feng shui expert who may have lifted the losing dressing room curse at the Millennium Stadium, albeit not at the first attempt.

The losing streak of six straight defeats is plaguing the plush hotel - and both Manchester United and Arsenal are blacking it for this weekend's Community Shield match at the Millennium Stadium.

General manager Debbie Taylor said: "We can't escape the fact we've yet to host a winner. All the teams love staying here but always lose the matches.

"But we know that footballers are almost always a little superstitious - so we thought we'd try to turn their luck around."

Paul Darby, a doctor in the Chinese art, blessed the hotel in a ceremony on Friday.

What is feng shui? It means 'wind and water' Used for thousands of year in China Determines most appropriate locations for a harmonious life Locations can be site of house or layout of room

It's the second time that Dr Darby has woven his feng shui magic for big soccer matches - he was brought in when one changing room at the Millennium Stadium was cursed.

His first attempt failed when the dressing room used by Cambridge United failed to respond to his blessing and the side went down 4-1 to Blackpool in the 2002 LDV Vans Trophy final.

However the dozen-teams-in-a-row jinx was eventually broken at the 74,000-capacity stadium after Dr Darby's feng shui ceremony.

The hotel ceremony included the scattering of incense and sea-salt, lighting candles and Buddhist chanting.

The 132-room St David's hotel, owned by tycoon Sir Rocco Forte, is one of the best in Wales.

But soccer teams prefer to stay ten miles away at the Vale of Glamorgan hotel which is on an incredible 13-match winning streak.

Both Manchester United and Arsenal have stayed there and won - but lost while staying at the St David's.

Dr Paul Derby performing a feng shui ceremony at the jinxed dressing room

Other teams that lost include Southampton in this year's FA Cup, Chelsea in last year's cup and Tottenham in the Worthington Cup.

The other surprise losers were international soccer giants Italy, memorably beaten by Wales.

Dr Darby, 53, travelled from his home in Nottingham to Cardiff to carry out his feng shui skills at the hotel.

He said: "There is really strong western and south-western energy, which is good for tourism.

"The problem is the footballer's energy seems to be a bit sapped."

He explained because the hotel was surrounded by water on three sides, it could drain energy needed for physical exertion.

He recommended putting "earth" energy in the rooms where the footballers were staying.

"I have suggested putting yellow - cushions, mats, curtains - and terracotta into the room."

Vale of Glamorgan hotel spokesman Paul Beddoe said competition to stay there was intense.

He said: "We have an excellent record for the major tournaments - all the teams who have won the FA Cup or Worthington Cup in Cardiff have stayed with us.

"Before the FA Cup final, Arsenal and Southampton tossed a coin to see who would stay here."