We’re delighted to announce that just a few pounds short of £600 was raised for the statue appeal at the Leeds United anniversary evening at the Cardiff City Stadium last night.
Thanks so much to everyone who contributed – either through the raffle or buying some of the Fred Keenor memorabilia. You are so generous.
We’ll be holding a raffle in aid of the Keenor Appeal at next Tuesday’s 10th anniversary celebration of the FA Cup win over Leeds United.
The prizes are:
A signed Cardiff City shirt from the 2010-11 season
A Fred Keenor Statue Appeal T-shirt signed by 2011-12 players
A framed picture of Scott Young signed by the man himself, along with a terrace ticket from the Leeds game and a ticket from the 2003 Division 2 Play Off Final, also within the frame. We’ll also be asking Graham Kavanagh, Andy Legg and Robert Earnshaw to add their signatures to the back of the picture.
A limited edition Fred Keenor miniature statue, which is numbered.
We ask those attending to show their usual generosity for the statue appeal, which has reached £46,000 with £15,000 due to come from Cardiff council.
Tickets will be £3 for a strip and £5 for two strips.
The Fred Keenor Statue Committee is appealing to all Bluebirds’ travel groups to add a £1 per person surcharge to coach fares to the Carling Cup Final for the appeal fund.
Independent operators Dave Sugarman and Carl Curtis have pledged to follow the Cardiff City Supporters’ Club (CCSC) which announced the initiative after the Bluebirds reached the Wembley Final.
The appeal committee would also like all supporters – whether they are travelling by car, train or minibus – to make a donation of £1 each.
Vince Alm of CCSC said: “It’s an honour to be able to get involved in this very worthy cause. The appeal is something that every true Cardiff City fan will support.”
Independent coach operator Dave Sugarman, who regularly runs buses to away games from the north Cardiff area, said: “This is a terrific initiative from the Supporters’ Club and it should raise a lot of money for the Fred Keenor appeal.
“I’m taking two buses to Wembley and everyone who is travelling with me will be paying an extra pound towards the statue, so, hopefully, the rest of the coach organisers will follow suit.”
Carl Curtis, who helps to run www.cardiffcityforum.co.uk and organises coach travel for its members, said: “I am organising four coaches to Wembley, having already started collecting for the Fred Keenor Statue Fund on previous trips and will continue to do so for each away trip until the end of the season. Hopefully, we can reach the target for the fund and have the statue erected outside the Cardiff City Stadium in the not too distant future.”
David Craig, the appeal fund’s project manager, said: “We would like to thank CCSC for this fantastic initiative and Dave Sugarman and Carl Curtis for pledging their support.
“This statue is for every Cardiff City fan and I hope other independent coach operators will follow suit. Also, we’d be delighted if those fans that travel by mini-bus, car or train will also make a £1 donation each so we can get to our target of £85,000 quickly.” Cardiff fans will have 31,000 tickets for the Carling Cup Final.
The appeal to raise a statue to Cardiff City legend Fred Keenor has reached a landmark total of £45,000.That means the appeal committee will now be able to apply for £15,000 promised by Cardiff council once invoices for the work carried out by artist Roger Andrews have been received and paid. That leaves £25,000 still to be raised.
Details of how to make donations through the bank can be obtained by e-mailing fundraising@ccfctrust.org
Donations can also be made at the Trust office (near Gate 5) on match days while cheques can also be sent c/o CCST to PO Box 4254, Cardiff, CF14 8FD. Please add the words “Fred Keenor Appeal” on the top of the envelope.
We have received the following appeal from fans at Kettering Town Football Club.
The appeal to raise a statue to Cardiff City legend Fred Keenor has reached a landmark total – £45,000.
That means the appeal committee will now be able to apply for £15,000 promised by Cardiff council once invoices for the work carried out by artist Roger Andrews have been received.
Roger, who is from Llantwit Major, has started work on the statue from a workshop in Llantwit Major – but even with the council donation we will still need to raise another £25,000.
David Craig, the appeal fund’s project manager and a Trust board member, said: “Thanks to the fantastic support of Bluebirds fans we have reached an initial target of £45,000.This allows us to apply for funding from Cardiff council once we receive and pay the invoices for the work carried out by Roger.
“But there can be no let up in the funding because even with the council’s £15,000 donation, we still need to raise a substantial sum to make the dream a reality.
“We know the quality of work that Roger produces – you only have to look at the Sir Tasker Watkins statue outside the Millennium Stadium. Fans have dug deep in these difficult times but we still need everyone to pull together to make this a reality.”
The appeal was launched less than two years ago in April 2010.
Mr Craig said that a number of fundraisers were planned during 2012 and the Cardiff City Supporters’ Club was also planning to hold events in aid of the appeal.
“We have had some substantial individual donations of up to £500 while children have handed over their pocket money which is fantastic.
“There’s also been great support from local businesses and from Cardiff City Football Club.
“It would be fantastic if we could hit that £85,000 total this year, enabling the statue to be erected in a very prominent position outside the Cardiff City Stadium. This is a project for all City fans – please help us reach our target.”
A raffle will be held in aid of the appeal at the celebration at the Cardiff City Stadium next month to mark the 10th anniversary of the FA Cup triumph over Leeds United.
Donations to the appeal fund can be made through the Co-operative Bank:
Account name: – Fred Keenor Statue Fund or FKSF
Account no 65392368
Sort Code 08-92-99
Donations can also be made at the Trust office (near Gate 5) on match days while cheques can also be sent c/o CCST to PO Box 4254, Cardiff, CF14 8FD. Please add the words “Fred Keenor Appeal” on the top of the envelope.