The Family of Ninian Park

The gate of Ninian Park looking onto the new stadium.

I woke up all excited. That Saturday morning buzz. It brought back the feelings of my childhood. I've been to my fair share of football matches since my first one when I was seven but this game was going to be slightly different...

Cardiff City vs. Derby County, Ninian Park Saturday 10 January 2009

It was supposed to be the tenth from last league game that Cardiff City would ever play at Ninian Park, the ground they've called home since 1910. It would be my first.

A family thing

I was about to become the fourth generation of Hedleys to watch a game from the terraces of Ninian Park. The Hedley family’s involvement in Cardiff City begun with my Great Grandfather, Richard, who went along with his brother-in-law in the early 1900s. My Grandfather, John, first went with them aged eight in 1929, two years after the Bluebirds 1-0 victory against Arsenal in the FA Cup final. In 1967, my Uncle Philip first went with my Great Grandfather, who was in his eighties at the time.

So, that cold afternoon of January 10th 2009 at just after twelve, I got a sinking feeling inside. I'd heard the news that the game was off because the pitch had frozen.

Ninian Park means more to the people of Cardiff than just football. As my family history shows, the football culture of Ninian Park has been passed down from generation to generation. When the whistle blows for the final time against Ipswich Town on 25^th April this year it will not only bring an end to football at the ground, but it will also be the final curtain on a place where many families and friends have united over a common interest.

I spoke to Julian Thomas, a Cardiff City fan whose first visit to Ninian Park was when he was seven. He, like my uncle, went with his grandfather when he was a child. It is truly a family thing; he now takes his two children along to the games and hopes that in the new stadium they will continue the family tradition.

Will the spark be lost?

Will it be the same for future families? Will the new stadium still have a sense of family about it? Ninian Park is a ground rich in character; it's an old structure, the crowds are close to the pitch and standing room is still available which adds to its charm. Will moving across the road to the Leckwith Stadium mean losing the atmosphere?

This fear of losing the atmosphere seems to be at the forefront of most fans' minds up and down the UK. Some Tottenham Hotspurs fans, for example, have led a petition aiming to ensure that the atmosphere at their current stadium, White Hart Lane, will not be lost when they move to their new ground.

I asked Cardiff fans if they feel the atmosphere will disappear as a result of the move. They are confident this will not happen, particularly the younger generations. Older fans, however, do worry about the initial change. The general feeling is that the move is necessary for the club and it won’t be long until the Bluebirds settle into their new home.

Fond Memories

One thing that won't be lost is the memories of Ninian Park amongst Cardiff City and Welsh football fans. I asked a Cardiff City fans forum about their memories. Everyone has their own favourite moment and memories special to them. There are other internet forums on Facebook and Bebo where fans talk about their memories of the ground.

The memories don't just come from the fans. I spoke to Gary Bell, former Cardiff City player who had over 200 appearances for the club during the 1960s and 1970s. He told me he'll always remember how fantastic the atmosphere of a Ninian Park crowd is, especially on European nights. He said that initially the famous "intimidating atmosphere" at Ninian Park that the visiting team faces will be lost with the move but he outlined that the future is still bright for the club.

With at least ten league games to go, there remains time for a few more memories to be sketched. The visit from Arsenal in the FA Cup 4^th round on 25^th January is fast approaching, plus Cardiff is pushing for promotion to the Premier League, so the Bluebirds have a chance to send Ninian Park off in style.

This small ground means a lot to too many people and the memories will live on.