David Craig's statue speech in full

In case you couldn't hear it on the day:

 
Welcome to everyone.
 
A particular welcome to all the members of the Keenor family and to the teachers parents and children of Stacey and Ton-yr-Ywen Primary schools.
 
It gives the members of the Fred Keenor Statue Group great pleasure to see everyone gathered here today to witness the unveiling of this Statue of Fred Keenor.  It has been a long journey – a 5 year journey in fact.
 
I will only give you a few details of that journey but full details are available in the wonderful commemorative brochure that has been produced for this occasion.
 
It was 5 years ago – almost to the day - that Mike Inker of the FKSGroup decided that something had to be done to properly commemorate the achievements of Fred Keenor and the team of 1927.  It was decided that a Statue would best serve that purpose.  
 
Over the next 2 years Mike and others organised an online petition of 5000 signatures then support was sought and developed and a sculptor - Roger Andrews - was chosen to create the Statue
 
The Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust took up the challenge of raising the
£85 000 needed and it was on April 23 2010 on this very spot that we formally launched the Appeal to raise the funds required to enable us to commission and then erect the Statue.
 
I can’t let this moment pass without recording my thanks for the wonderful support and generosity that have sustained our Appeal since April 2010      
 
Thanks to the Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust who made the first major donation to the Appeal
 
The City and County of Cardiff
 
Cardiff City Football Club for staging Stadium events in support of the Appeal and allowing us to sell goods from the Superstore and to hold bucket collections on match days and a special mention here for Wayne Nash Stadium Manager who has been supportive, enthusiastic and accommodating throughout and has been my link with the Club.  Thank you Wayne.
 
The Welsh Government
 
The Football Association of Wales
 
To Craig Bellamy as Patron of the Appeal and for his generous donation  
*Craig can’t be here today but he is represented by his dad Doug and his son Ellis ----welcome to them……..
 
To the many local businesses who have supported us and for their generous donations
 
To Cardiff City Supporters Club
 
To the South Wales Echo which gave us the publicity which was crucial to our success
 
And last but not least – to the wonderful fans of Cardiff City FC for helping to sustain us in our efforts not just by their generosity in donating a large percentage of that total but also by their good nature and unwavering encouragement for what we were trying to do.
 
Thanks of course to Roger Andrews for his creativity,  skill and total application to the cause. By his own admission this was never just a task for him……….the more he got to know Fred the more it became an honour. It has been a pleasure to work with Roger and to watch this Statue develop with him.
 
Special thanks to Dave Sugarman who with the help of Phil Nifield, Richard Shepherd and Lyndon Rhodes has taken the lead in producing a splendid limited edition commemorative booklet.  If you have not yet bought one they are on sale for £3 at the Trust Office/the Club Shop/ the Supporters’ Club Office and at other points around the Stadium and will be on sale in the weeks ahead.
 
Inside the commemorative brochure you will find a leaflet explaining the work of the Trust and a membership form.  Please take time to read this and consider signing up.  The more members the Trust has the stronger its voice.
 
Finally thanks to my colleagues in the Fred Keenor Statue Group - Phil Nifield Graham Keenor Mike Inker Tim Hartley Tracey Marsh and Dave Sugarman and my colleagues on the Board of the Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust for their unwavering support.
 
If I have left anyone out apologies but I have tried to say thank you by telephone/letter/e.mail and face to face to everyone who has helped……………..
 
 
This is truly a people’s statue and it is for the people to enjoy.
 
Thank you all.
 

Mike

You should be very proud of what you've achieved. I couldn't make it last Saturday but I will definitely spend some time at the site this Saturday.

Once again, we'll done to you and all concerned.

Cheers Ruislip! Amazing what a drunken idea and 5 years of positivity and work can achieve

Buzzing that everyone seems to think it looks the part!