' A Sad day, last ever league game '

You are wrong about the crowds.the last decade at ninian park we averaged 13000. So far the average at ccs is 20000 .so how do you work out we have lost support?.

The last season at Ninian Park the average was 18,000, our capacity was only 21,000.

13k average was about right. It only went up after fa cup run....last season at ninian was higher.too as it was our last one! Season tickets were 99 quid for one season if i recall? May have been 199.

I think the club has progressed since leaving ninian. Lets be honest we had to leave the old lady. First season in new stadium i enjoyed we were in block 117 stood up all game with banter with away fans.

Nothing but nothing will EVER compare to NInian Park, especially for me the Grange End. The pathetic final send off for the Old Girl was an absolute travesty.

Nothing but nothing will EVER compare to NInian Park, especially for me the Grange End. The pathetic final send off for the Old Girl was an absolute travesty.

Unfortunately not many people shared the passion in those days .we averaged 12000 between 1970/80 4910 between 1980/90 4670 between 1990/2000 .the last decade at ninian 13000.first decade at CCs average around 20000 . Biggest crowds since 1960s.

Unfortunately not many people shared the passion in those days .we averaged 12000 between 1970/80 4910 between 1980/90 4670 between 1990/2000 .the last decade at ninian 13000.first decade at CCs average around 20000 . Biggest crowds since 1960s.

I agree they never, but those that went including myself loved it

I was there with 1,400 odd at home v Bury, Lincoln and away at Gillingham with just 11 of us

It was a pathetic attempt from the club from top to bottom, am I right in thinking we were still set to make the play/offs other than for a disastrous end of season. Was that the same season as the Preston thrashing.

Yes we were I think the club had probably planned for a playoff semi final as the last game so had nothing planned, and then chucked something together last minute

Some great memories of the old ground.

The Bob Bank when it was all terracing.
The Grange End with old railway sleepers and no roof!
Being able to stand under the floodlights in the corner between the Bob Bank and the Grange End.
Being able to go straight from the back of the Bob Bank to Ninian Park Halt.

The bogs
The bars and burger huts.

The fencing around the pitch.
The slope on the pitch from the middle down each side.
The old club shop.
The Supporter's club portakabin.

Happy days.

It was a pathetic attempt from the club from top to bottom, am I right in thinking we were still set to make the play/offs other than for a disastrous end of season. Was that the same season as the Preston thrashing.

Yes we were I think the club had probably planned for a playoff semi final as the last game so had nothing planned, and then chucked something together last minute

correct
was there one single Cardiff fan that thought they were attending the LAST GAME AT NINIAN PARK that day ?
6 points ahead of Preston with 2 games each left to play..and we had superior GD.
had we lost 2 nil we would have ended up in the play offs..

As somebody who experienced the old ‘timber’ Grange End, I too bemoaned the demise of Ninian Park.

Yes, it was a sad day against Ipswich – made sadder by the failings of the team and the club. Apart from the fans nobody seemed to care. Certainly the team did not seem to care much when they all stood like statues and allowed Jon Stead to get to the rebound from the free kick and score a simple goal without challenge. That one goal could have got us into the playoffs but none of the team really seemed to bother. The same can be said of the Club and especially David Jones.

However, anybody that belives that the Club has not moved on since then is looking back with very rose tinted glasses. Just compare the first eight years at CCS with the last decade at Ninian. We now enjoy:-

• Bigger crowds
• Generally a better league position
• Eradication of the blight of hooliganism (even if some did not recognise it as a blight)
• Relative financial security (compared with the constant threat of administration or even liquidation)
• Better views
• Better stadium facilities generally – toilets, bars, catering, ticketing etc.
• Better safety (now no timber stands or seating)
• Better car parking facilities
• The list is endless

As regards atmosphere, well there was some great afternoons and evenings at Ninian Park but it wasn’t always like that. There was some pretty dire days on and off the field, when the failings of the Old Lady became even more apparent.

If we were still at Ninian Park then what would be the permitted seated capacity? I would say it would certainly not be enough to create the atmosphere that everybody talks about and certainly not enough to make the Club viable and sustainable.

I've stood in Ninian Park with 30k other people, and at least once with over 40k others. I don't think the atmosphere of those nights will ever be beaten, but sadly those days are gone and the ground could no longer hold those sort of crowds.
Personally, I preferred Ninian Park to the CCS, but accept that times change, and I suppose it was just well past it's sell by date. Best memories for me as a City fan mainly took place at Ninian Park, but who knows, there may be more to come.

You are wrong about the crowds.the last decade at ninian park we averaged 13000. So far the average at ccs is 20000 .so how do you work out we have lost support?.

The last season at Ninian Park the average was 18,000, our capacity was only 21,000.

That's true but we haven't got to the end of this season yet so it is an unfair comparison. Also in the seasons prior to the last season at NP the average crowd was closer to 13/14,000.

Ninian Park was brilliant in it's hay day but by 2009 it was dated and dilapidated and the club simply had to move. I think we need to judge the merits of both stadiums on 'potential' which at NP was limited to just over 20,000 (which I only recall doing once vs. Birmingham in later years) against CCS (33,000). Also there is all the corporate income, pitch advertising, car parking and a decent club shop to help maximise income so on that front the club has definitely moved on.

As for the 'debt' I can't remember a time when this club wasn't in debt and owing money left right and centre. That said there is supposed to be a plan to eradicate the debt by 2021, so potentially again the club is moving on.

I loved NP but I am a pragmatic fan who realises we can't live on sentiment alone. CCS is providing us with a modern comfortable stadium fit for the 21st Century and we are lucky to have it.

Like many on here I’ve great memories of Ninian Park from going there for night games aged 10 in the sixties with my mates and no adults - right through all the ups and downs - getting thrown out of the Grange End aged 13, watching some great games but mostly not so great games.
Even happy, happy memories of watching the legend Bob Marley near the Canton Stand. Took both my lads there as youngsters and now they’re both avid fans.
The Ipswich game was shocking and I was disgusted.

Regardless of all the brilliant times it was time to move on and I’m glad we did.

Nothing but nothing will EVER compare to NInian Park, especially for me the Grange End. The pathetic final send off for the Old Girl was an absolute travesty.

The send off was criminal and a complete insult to a historic ground and loyal fans. I remember there was a 'suggestion box' in the ticket office where fans could drop their ideas for the final game.

Apparently it was emptied in the day AFTER the Ipswich game

Whatever the rights or wrongs of send off i for one was glad to see back of poor facilities and poor viewing from anywhere in the ground! All enjoyment lost having people peeing on shoes in porta cabin loos,

I agree with Pembroke Allan ,in the end it was a dump

I agree with Pembroke Allan ,in the end it was a dump

Thanks nice to have someone agree with me for once!

I agree with Pembroke Allan ,in the end it was a dump

Thanks nice to have someone agree with me for once!

That’s two people.
Must be a world record for you!

the suggestion box being opened the day AFTER the Ipswich game sums it all up..


nobody but nobody attended that day thinking...this is our last game here because Preston will win twice and we will lose twice { once by 3 goals }..
i assumed it was our last but one game..i think everyone did..or did we have a ground full of fans that had money on Preston at 33/1.?

I agree with Pembroke Allan ,in the end it was a dump

Thanks nice to have someone agree with me for once!

That’s two people.
Must be a world record for you!

Yes going to contact Guinness book of world records!

I'm in the photo standing up in the back Annis at the front a real disappointing day that was it got worse a week later when we lost Sheffield Wednesday and didn't make the play offs

I'm in the picture annis at the front I'm standing behind annis right of the picture

Sad day and poor send off! but personally glad left as ninian park was a dump no facilities porta loos, mobile catering booth, and poor viewing! And people think that was great ? Suppose people prefer we were still there with poor crowds and standing still as a club? Each to their own
We have moved on despite all the things that have gone on, i have no doubt we would not have achieved any of things we have if still there.

What we achieved since being at CCS was done in a colour completely alien to Cardiff city. That's not achievement, it's a f*cking embarrassment.

And yet during our promotion season, we were playing in red and had no crowds below 20,000 all season. Unlike this year, when yet again tonight we will have a crowd well below 20,000 while playing in blue. The colour we play in is irrelevant to crowd size or atmosphere.

100% this

Sad day and poor send off! but personally glad left as ninian park was a dump no facilities porta loos, mobile catering booth, and poor viewing! And people think that was great ? Suppose people prefer we were still there with poor crowds and standing still as a club? Each to their own
We have moved on despite all the things that have gone on, i have no doubt we would not have achieved any of things we have if still there.

Bang on again mate. You only have to look at those photos to think we were fked if we stayed. The world has moved on now yet there are a few clingons on here that would say "wish we were still there".

Bloody embarrasing. Ive also read threads around the "we are no better off now", but again total nonsense. Yes same league as it stands but the amateur way the club was run at Ninian we would have been non league now. Money is a different game these days in football and anybody that thinks were no better off now for me are ridiculous. We are competing and towards the top of the 2nd tier of English football - definately would not have been if we stayed in Ninian with the amateur business that goes alongside.

Sad day and poor send off! but personally glad left as ninian park was a dump no facilities porta loos, mobile catering booth, and poor viewing! And people think that was great ? Suppose people prefer we were still there with poor crowds and standing still as a club? Each to their own
We have moved on despite all the things that have gone on, i have no doubt we would not have achieved any of things we have if still there.

Bang on again mate. You only have to look at those photos to think we were fked if we stayed. The world has moved on now yet there are a few clingons on here that would say "wish we were still there".

Bloody embarrasing. Ive also read threads around the "we are no better off now", but again total nonsense. Yes same league as it stands but the amateur way the club was run at Ninian we would have been non league now. Money is a different game these days in football and anybody that thinks were no better off now for me are ridiculous. We are competing and towards the top of the 2nd tier of English football - definately would not have been if we stayed in Ninian with the amateur business that goes alongside.

Ryan, people like you had hardly been to Ninian Park and are far to young to even remember it properly, So you don't know what Ninian Park meant to Fans like us.

A Sad day, last ever league game at Ninian Park, We lost 3 nil to Ipswich T. May 09.

It was as though Dave Jones and the Cardiff City team did not care about our loyal fans.

That day should of been special.

Section A Grandstand Ninian Park

Good thread this with some good contributions.

I do agree with Dogfound though, about 8 of us left with 10 minutes to go, fully expected to be back for a Play Off game.

That Sheffield Wednesday game on the last day is one of the most gutted iv ever been in a Football Stadium.

Good thread this with some good contributions.

I do agree with Dogfound though, about 8 of us left with 10 minutes to go, fully expected to be back for a Play Off game.

That Sheffield Wednesday game on the last day is one of the most gutted iv ever been in a Football Stadium.

same here, drove home in silence

after our penultimate home game the table stood as below... looking at that I have no idea why anyone would be thinking Ipswich was the final game ????????

POS.......................P...........PTS..........GD
4TH.CARDIFF............42...........73............22
5TH.READING...........42............70............29
6TH.BURNLEY..........43............69............ 7
7TH.PRESTON..........43............65.............4.

HOW THE F.DO YOU FINISH 7TH ?
even us losing 2-1 and preston winning 1-0 on the final day would have us in the play offs let alone a point or burnley or preston not winning..

An illicit pint in the Bluebirds club. My memories of it being sunny more often than not when in realty it couldn't have been. That in part I think was down to our fantastic scorching year of 76 when many of my great memories were formed.

Good thread this with some good contributions.

I do agree with Dogfound though, about 8 of us left with 10 minutes to go, fully expected to be back for a Play Off game.

That Sheffield Wednesday game on the last day is one of the most gutted iv ever been in a Football Stadium.

same here, drove home in silence

after our penultimate home game the table stood as below... looking at that I have no idea why anyone would be thinking Ipswich was the final game ????????

POS.......................P...........PTS..........GD
4TH.CARDIFF............42...........73............22
5TH.READING...........42............70............29
6TH.BURNLEY..........43............69............ 7
7TH.PRESTON..........43............65.............4.

HOW THE F.DO YOU FINISH 7TH ?
even us losing 2-1 and preston winning 1-0 on the final day would have us in the play offs let alone a point or burnley or preston not winning..

Crazy mate, I remember it like it was yesterday, had stayed up till the early hours the night before as Joe Calzaghe was fighting Bernard Hopkins then had a few hours kip before getting the coach.

Jones and the Team let us down that day, the support had been fantastic and was starting to get agitated and ill never forget Roger Johnson turning to the fans with a look as if to say what's you're problem.

I wanted Jones to go there and then. Was devastated to miss the play offs and then the realisation that we wouldn't play at Ninian Park again.

Good thread this with some good contributions.

I do agree with Dogfound though, about 8 of us left with 10 minutes to go, fully expected to be back for a Play Off game.

That Sheffield Wednesday game on the last day is one of the most gutted iv ever been in a Football Stadium.

same here, drove home in silence

after our penultimate home game the table stood as below... looking at that I have no idea why anyone would be thinking Ipswich was the final game ????????

POS.......................P...........PTS..........GD
4TH.CARDIFF............42...........73............22
5TH.READING...........42............70............29
6TH.BURNLEY..........43............69............ 7
7TH.PRESTON..........43............65.............4.

HOW THE F.DO YOU FINISH 7TH ?
even us losing 2-1 and preston winning 1-0 on the final day would have us in the play offs let alone a point or burnley or preston not winning..

Crazy mate, I remember it like it was yesterday, had stayed up till the early hours the night before as Joe Calzaghe was fighting Bernard Hopkins then had a few hours kip before getting the coach.

Jones and the Team let us down that day, the support had been fantastic and was starting to get agitated and ill never forget Roger Johnson turning to the fans with a look as if to say what's you're problem.

I wanted Jones to go there and then. Was devastated to miss the play offs and then the realisation that we wouldn't play at Ninian Park again.

I had been to Charlton , the players looked nackered tbh but mustered 2 late goals from somewhere to get the point, job done , or so I thought. 6 points clear of preston with 2 games to go and a better GD.
I honestly thought we were home and dry