Ninian Park, Cardiff - old football grounds remembered (iii)

[jdrobbo]

Another old ground to get stuck into. Our third instalment takes us to Ninian Park, Cardiff; an atmospheric ground in the Welsh capital.

I was ‘fortunate’ enough to visit on a couple of occasions but my overriding memory of very intimidating ground was the walk ‘across the road’ from the away exit at full-time. It really was a ‘heads down, hold your hat’ moment.

Any memories that you’d like to share?

UTC

Ps. I was particularly fortunate to see Michael Chopra playing for the Bluebirds…he played for Newcastle, you know!

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[timshorts]

Have seen Cardiff play 10 times, but never seen them win.

My favourite trip was watching maidstone play in their last season. About 56 of us in the away end. Some Billy big bolucks in the programme shop predicted 5-0. Maidstone hadn't won away for eons. And he was right. Cardiff were lucky it was only 5.

With burnley, my best memory was a near end of season game when we were able to sunbathe on top of one of the dugout, having been given the little bit of terrace opposite the wankbank.

[timshorts]

...... And I don't remember it ever looking as clean, tidy and fit for purpose as those pictures suggest.

[Loyalclaret]

First visit April 2000, sure it was peeing down and we won 2-1. Was a decent atmosphere, even with Cardiff fans not in the bottom tier to our right.

Been a few times since, when they put a roof on terrace, then we shared the stand with a curtain stopping bits being thrown back-n-forth.

Rossi clarets had a good pub stop in Caerphilly.

My over-ridding memory is Claret Tony arguing with the Heddlu on the crossing whilst they got physical just with Burnley fans

[NL Claret]

1992 Mullen promotion season, scary day out that one for sure.


Cardiff were on a good run and it was their biggest crowd in years. I would have preferred a 0-0 such was the atmosphere, Cardiff were going in the away end rather than the long queue before the game and kicking off. When the first went in I thought oh sh1t but there was chance of an equaliser and when the 2nd went in , oh no! Their big terrace emptied (didn’t realise there was just a wall separating them from walking past the Burnley fans, thought they had a good arm) kept in for 45 minutes and then had to find the car on the massive field outside the ground, avoiding Cardiff lads.

We sat in the main stand so didn’t have to dodge the missiles after , got a good view of the Burnley coaches windows been put through and the baying mob outside.

Nicky Walker was excellent that day.

[jrgbfc]

Admittedly i never experienced it in the 80s or 90s, but i'd still rather visit NP than their current ground. Was half empty and like a morgue last time i went.

[ClaretTony]

First visit April 2000, sure it was peeing down and we won 2-1. Was a decent atmosphere, even with Cardiff fans not in the bottom tier to our right.

Been a few times since, when they put a roof on terrace, then we shared the stand with a curtain stopping bits being thrown back-n-forth.

Rossi clarets had a good pub stop in Caerphilly.

My over-ridding memory is Claret Tony arguing with the Heddlu on the crossing whilst they got physical just with Burnley fans

Drenched at that match in 2000 and then the roof with the curtain.

I remember the day with the Heddlu - didn’t help matters when he called me a ******* fat, English ****. They were seriously out of order that day.

[Walkerpool]

I remember being in a open top stand behind the goals and the big stand to the left started emptying with about 5 minutes remaining then getting rocks and **** thrown over at us then a steward call us English **** and spat in my brothers face.

[steve1264b]

This is exactly my memory, we were in the main stand as well, it was fruity!!

1992 Mullen promotion season, scary day out that one for sure.


Cardiff were on a good run and it was their biggest crowd in years. I would have preferred a 0-0 such was the atmosphere, Cardiff were going in the away end rather than the long queue before the game and kicking off. When the first went in I thought oh sh1t but there was chance of an equaliser and when the 2nd went in , oh no! Their big terrace emptied (didn’t realise there was just a wall separating them from walking past the Burnley fans, thought they had a good arm) kept in for 45 minutes and then had to find the car on the massive field outside the ground, avoiding Cardiff lads.

We sat in the main stand so didn’t have to dodge the missiles after , got a good view of the Burnley coaches windows been put through and the baying mob outside.

Nicky Walker was excellent that day.

[jdrobbo]

Drenched at that match in 2000 and then the roof with the curtain.

I remember the day with the Heddlu - didn’t help matters when he called me a ******* fat, English ****. They were seriously out of order that day.

Was this during one of those infamous ‘road crossings’ - right through the onrushing home fans?

[ClaretTony]

Was this during one of those infamous ‘road crossings’ - right through the onrushing home fans?

It was. The Heddlu were a disgrace that day.

So they build a new stadium on the opposite side of the road and the whole experience is different.

[bfcjg]

Never liked going there, uou just knew what was coming after the match and towards the end when the missiles came flying in. Dump.

[Jamesy]

I went in the early seventies after we had been relegated. It was certainly intimidating then. Having said this it was a rough time watching football in the 70’s and aggro featured regularly at many football grounds and town and city centres.

[Jimmymaccer]

Not sure of the year we went but certainly around the 2000…………after the match, as people have said, ran the gauntlet across the road to the coaches……after a few punches thrown and shouts made to the police to sort it out, “just f’off home you English …..” came the reply……then once on the coach being told to get children sat on the middle seats away from the windows because bricks will fly……..again when challenged as to why the didn’t just sort out the brick throwers it was basically that’s just how it is…..

Wasn’t the only place tho back in the day…….

[Cajun]

Yes it was an atmospheric old ground. First trip there was second to last away game of 76-77 season, won 1-0 but can't remember scorer. Was sat well back behind a goal, and got into a row with Cardiff fans who were laughing at and abusing one of our players who needed lengthy treatment for an injury. Two weeks later it was a trip down to London for the final game of the season away at Millwall, also my first visit there - a fine pair of away games to finish off the season....

[TheOriginalLongsider]

I’ve been there a lot. I never liked the place, their fans or stewards. Experienced visitors would take a brolly to shelter from the bricks coming over the back. I think the last time we played there was the very first game after they removed the partitioning separating home and away fans. The stewards weren’t allowing Burnley fans to walk along the main gangway so people had to squeeze past each other on the terrace with hot drinks etc.

One steward once wanted proof I was from Burnley before he would let me in!

[Claret86]

I went in our 2009 promotion seasons. Ross Mccormack ripped us to bits and we got beat 3-1.
It was a proper old school ground. Me and my mates all had england shirts on and we were getting dogs abuse walking to the ground.
Loved the experience but I can imagine it being a nasty place to go to back in the day

[ClaretTony]

I’ve been there a lot. I never liked the place, their fans or stewards. Experienced visitors would take a brolly to shelter from the bricks coming over the back. I think the last time we played there was the very first game after they removed the partitioning separating home and away fans. The stewards weren’t allowing Burnley fans to walk along the main gangway so people had to squeeze past each other on the terrace with hot drinks etc.

One steward once wanted proof I was from Burnley before he would let me in!

And now at the new stadium you won’t find better stewards anywhere.

[clarets1978]

And now at the new stadium you won’t find better stewards anywhere.

Hmm im not sure about that. The head steward there needed some choice words to see the correct point of view regarding an incident with a passenger on my coach. Unfortunately half the game was missed waiting for common sense to prevail.

[dvalley69]

Drove down for our win there in the promotion season under Stan when it chucked it down. Wish there had been a roof! Can't remember any aggro or feeling nervous pre/post-match.

[jdrobbo]

Highlights here:

(Kurt Nogan: such a natural talent)


https://youtu.be/5uBR_gmxYHU?si=rb9vBq1bBSIfyp9q

[timshorts]

It was a proper old school ground. Me and my mates all had england shirts on and we were getting dogs abuse walking to the ground.

Well what do you expect? If you were wearing burnley shirts, fair enough. I never had any **** wearing a Burnley shirt going to games there, and that included travelling on a valley train there and back, but wearing an England shirt is, basically, asking for it.

Remember, on average, sides in the top 4 divisions play a Welsh team twice in a season. Cardiff have to put up with that **** every game except when they play Swansea, and they dislike them even more. It wouldn't be so bad if some of the abuse was original, but, basically, there's a group of dick heads at most clubs that can't go 10 minutes without mentioning sheepshagging. Etc.

I travelled up to an away game at stoke on the same train as a load of Cardiff fans one weekend. After we got stuck in Gloucestershire somewhere, they worked out correctly that I wasn't going to get to stoke until part way through the second half, so they invited me to watch their lot play Birmingham away - basically, where the train was going. I went along with them and had a pretty good time, even though they knew I was burnley.

[dougcollins]

I remember pulling up near the ground and asking some Plod Cymru as to where was good to park.

'England' came the reply.

We drove home from the game with some unexpected aircon.

We did win 2-0 though.

[HeatonMoorClaret]

Went in the 1972/73 promotion season got there via Central Motors 'B' coach. Those days it was always pay on the day ....we decided to go in the seating stand behind the goals ...we were sat on long forms. Good decision to go in the stand it looked a bit dodgy on the terraces after Casper scored early on, and us getting 1 -0 win.
It was head down back to the coach ..... coach was bricked ......horrible place.

[ClaretsPadiham]

Remember the black curtain to separate home and away fans.

Also remember Dirty Sanchez playing red arse at half time one time at Cardiff ?

[IanMcL]

1992 Mullen promotion season, scary day out that one for sure.


Cardiff were on a good run and it was their biggest crowd in years. I would have preferred a 0-0 such was the atmosphere, Cardiff were going in the away end rather than the long queue before the game and kicking off. When the first went in I thought oh sh1t but there was chance of an equaliser and when the 2nd went in , oh no! Their big terrace emptied (didn’t realise there was just a wall separating them from walking past the Burnley fans, thought they had a good arm) kept in for 45 minutes and then had to find the car on the massive field outside the ground, avoiding Cardiff lads.

We sat in the main stand so didn’t have to dodge the missiles after , got a good view of the Burnley coaches windows been put through and the baying mob outside.

Nicky Walker was excellent that day.

Yes! Police thought we were charging them, when we ran down the terrace. Just avoiding rocks lobbed over the wall!

Glass everywhere, outside. I had parked in a close near the ground (different season) and when I got backI was deliberately hemmed in. About 6 inches back and front. After many, many back and forth, I escaped!

[Culmclaret]

Remember the black curtain to separate home and away fans.

Also remember Dirty Sanchez playing red arse at half time one time at Cardiff ?

Yes unfortunately. But Jensen was the biggest a… on display that day!

[Claret86]

Well what do you expect? If you were wearing burnley shirts, fair enough. I never had any **** wearing a Burnley shirt going to games there, and that included travelling on a valley train there and back, but wearing an England shirt is, basically, asking for it.

Remember, on average, sides in the top 4 divisions play a Welsh team twice in a season. Cardiff have to put up with that **** every game except when they play Swansea, and they dislike them even more. It wouldn't be so bad if some of the abuse was original, but, basically, there's a group of dick heads at most clubs that can't go 10 minutes without mentioning sheepshagging. Etc.

I travelled up to an away game at stoke on the same train as a load of Cardiff fans one weekend. After we got stuck in Gloucestershire somewhere, they worked out correctly that I wasn't going to get to stoke until part way through the second half, so they invited me to watch their lot play Birmingham away - basically, where the train was going. I went along with them and had a pretty good time, even though they knew I was burnley.

I enjoyed the banter. Going to Cymru for a football match was a novelty and I enjoyed the warm welcome. I wasn't complaining about it.
I'd take that over plastic ground full of prawn sandwich eaters any day

[dougcollins]

I enjoyed the banter. Going to Cymru for a football match was a novelty and I enjoyed the warm welcome. I wasn't complaining about it.
I'd take that over plastic ground full of prawn sandwich eaters any day

Agreed.