FANS are being invited by Cardiff City Supporters Trust to have their say on their favourite design for a statue in honour of the Bluebirds’ FA Cup winning skipper Fred Keenor.
Supporters will be able to vote on the designs of James Done (below left) ,Michael Field (centre) and Roger Andrews (right) through forms in the South Wales Echo and here on the Trust website. Voting will close on Saturday, December 12th.
Click each image to see a bigger version. Please vote using the poll at the bottom of the 2nd column of this webpage.
The three sculptors were asked to produce a maquette of their tribute to the 1927 FA Cup winning captain and Welsh international.
Fred’s nephew Graham Keenor, who is a member of the Trust, said: “We’re very pleased with the work submitted by the three sculptors and now we want football fans to vote for their preferred design.
Images taken by Media Wales
“As far as I am concerned the key aspect of the statue must be that people looking at it will instantly recognise it as a tribute to Fred.”
Mike Inker, a member of the Trust’s Fred Keenor Memorial Committee, who originally launched an online petition in support of a tribute, said that the trust was giving fans the chance to vote online because of the many thousands of Bluebirds living across the world as well as in the UK.
“We are sure that the end product will be something every Cardiff City, and indeed Wales fan, can be proud of. The Trust is giving fans the chance to vote online because there are many Bluebirds in the UK and across the world.”
“Fred Keenor and the 1927 team haven’t had the recognition their efforts justify and we’re determined to put that right. There remains a lot of work to do, including raising the necessary funds, but with City fans and the people of Cardiff and Wales behind us, we are very confident of raising the funds required,” added Mike.
Roger, who hails from Llantwit Major, was commissioned to produce the statue of Sir Tasker Watkins, which now stands outside the Millennium Stadium.
Cardiff-based James created the tributes to comedian Tommy Cooper in Caerphilly and the full-size bronze statue of Merthyr Tydfil’s boxing legend, Johnny Owen.
Michael, who also lives in Cardiff, produced the statue of footballer Ivor Allchurch, which stands outside the Liberty Stadium in Swansea.
The Trust plans to launch a public appeal for funding in the new year and will approach Cardiff council, the Welsh Assembly Government and local businesses for financial support, along with football fans. City chairman Peter Ridsdale has given his total support to the campaign.
The location for the statue has yet to be finalised but the most likely site remains at the Cardiff City Stadium, where land is available.
The Trust has received permission from the Football Association to use the image of the FA Cup as part of the statue.
Trust board member David Craig is acting as project manager for the work.
Fans who choose their favourite design through the Echo should send the form to CCST, PO Box 4254, Cardiff, CF14 8FD, by the December 12th closing date.
Entries (RSS)
I vote for Keenor 3
I vote for Keenor 1, providing that the Cup is sorted out, it doesn’t look right. But I like it because it portrays the cat, the unofficial mascot for the Cup run, who’s name I forget.
I vote Keenor 3. Much better detail on the Keenor Three FA cup, and the CCFC badge. Shows the level of detail and care that the sculptor would bring to the task. Would like to see better images. Keenor One cup is a bit of a mess.
I love the detail and story with Keenor1 but hte FA Cup looks a bit naff so will be voting for Keenor3. Although all look great.
I’ve gone for No2, fair play they are all good.
Without doubt … Keenor 3!
Having seen a couple of photographs of Fred Keenor, keenor 3 is a far better likeness than either of the other two and if the Tasker Watkins statue is anything to go by the detail would be superb.
I voted for Keenor 3 because Fred appears to be timelessly acknowledging Cardiff City supporters everywhere. If he were to have the black cat at his left foot (as in Keenor 1), this would generate intrigue amongst many of those who gazed upon it. All three statues are excellent, but I think Keenor 3 has the edge.
Keenor three for me
Without a doubt Keenor 3
I think the second design is my choice. The face of Fred Keenor is a better likeness than the others and the the FA Cup is held aloft as it was on that great day in 1927.
tbh, i’m not sure I especially like any of them. I don’t like the FA Cup being on there. It’s as though we’re saying ‘Here’s our one moment that was good we’ll never beat it, so here’s too it’
When really we should be celebrating a Cardiff born boy who played and captained Cardiff for 19 years. A tribute to the man, not the FA Cup 1927 Win.
For me the best statue of the type is Everton’s Dixie Dean:
( http://www.maths.lancs.ac.uk/~penn/papers/roger/FootballStadia/9%20STATUE%20OF%20DIXIE%20DEAN%20GOODISON%20PARK,%20EVERTON.jpg )
Especially the epitaph at the bottom.
All 3 are very good but I think Keenor 2 just shades it.
Its a very close call but No2 “scores” the top marks
I vote for Number 1. The other two are good but picking up on a cat they adopted is a really nice touch. Number 2 is too cartoonish while Number 3 has a bizarre pose.
Keenor 3 defo
We vote for number 2
we vote for No3
far better than 1&2
No 3 shows more character of the great man