Trust News

Brian Mertens, the Trust board member with responsibility for the new office at the Cardiff City Stadium is pictured right with fellow Trust member, Clive Prigg.

The Trust office opens from around 90 minutes before kick-off until 15 minutes before matches start.

At the office you can sign up for the Trust from just £12 a year, with children under-16 free, buy T-shirts, miniatures and pin badges in aid of the Fred Keenor Statue Appeal. And from the Crystal Palace game we’ll be selling old  programmes donated to the appeal. The Trust office is near Gate 5 (Canton and Ninian Stands).

The UK Government has published its response to the parliamentary inquiry into football governance.

We, as a Trust ,offered evidence to this inquiry which considered the way football is run, the financial accountability of clubs and the role of supporters’ trusts.

Trust Chair Tim Hartley said: “The report from the Select Committee and the government’s response aims to help the football authorities to address the many challenges facing the game. We at Cardiff know that supporters’ trusts can be part of the solution for many clubs.

“It is now for the government to ensure authorities do actually reform themselves.  If they do not, then we repeat our call for a Football Law to be passed to ensure the viability of individual clubs and to ensure football is protected for the benefits of the whole community rather than simply for private business interests.”

The government response said: “Football in this country is unrecognisable from the position of two decades ago – better teams, safer and more family-friendly stadia, and growing success against racism and discrimination. Yet it has also changed into a multi-billion pound business whilst the corporate governance structures still look like they belong to another era. … The welcome global popularity of the English game has posed challenges which the existing structures do not yet appear to be equipped to respond to effectively…  At the same time, supporters’ expectations are at an all-time high, both in terms of their club and national team success but also their links and involvement with the club.’

The full government response can be viewed here: https://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/Football_governance_15427_Cm_8207_2.pdf

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee report can be viewed here: https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/culture-media-and-sport-committee/news/football-governance-report/

Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust’s evidence can be viewed here: https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmselect/cmcumeds/writev/792/fg12.htm

Bluebirds fan Gareth Jones has organised a race night with all proceeds to the Fred Keenor Statue Appeal.

The event  kicks off at the Golden Lion in Penarth on Sunday, November 27^th, immediately following the screened Premier League game between Manchester City and Liverpool.

Gareth Jones, 34, who lives in Penarth, said:  “I’ve been a City fan for more than  20 years and a supporters’ trust member since it began.

“I decided to offer my help with an event after attending a supporters’ trust night in Canton earlier this year. Having seen the amount of work Trust members put into these, and other events, I felt obliged to offer my help.

“There’s a large contingent of City fans in Penarth and I thought we’d be able to combine a few of our favourite pastimes in one place for a good cause – beer, a flutter and Cardiff City.

“Keenor is synonymous with our history – not just as a football club but as a city. We’re the only club to have taken the cup out of England, and to raise the funds as fans for a statue is a very fitting tribute to Fred Keenor – a truly great Cardiffian.”

Apart from Gareth we’d also like to thank landlord Paul Harper and Jon Bassett, a great supporter of the Keenor appeal, who owns the Golden Lion as well as the Ninian Park pub and other local pubs.

Gareth has also created an event on Facebook and you can read all about it by clicking the link https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=201291679941046

David Craig, project manager of the appeal, said: “I’d like to offer my personal thanks to Gareth, Paul and Jon for putting this event on. It should be a great night following a day of Premiership football.

“We need more people like Gareth to organise events because we are only a small band of fundraisers. Please email fundraising@ccfctrust.org if you’re willing to help out.”

Gill Clark, wife of Bluebirds legend, Brian Clark, unveiled the new  sign dedicated to his memory in the road leading to the Capital Retail Park, next to Cardiff City Stadium.

Gill was joined by daughters Alison and Jacqui, family and friends, Councillor Neil McEvoy, Deputy Leader of Cardiff Council, Lisa Ford, Cabinet member for Highways, Canton councillors Ramesh Patel and Richard Cook and Brian’s former team-mate and friend, Gary Bell.

Councillor McEvoy, himself a Bluebirds fan, described Brian as a true City legend and Gill Clark thanked the council for naming the road after her late husband.

Gill Clark with Cardiff Council Deputy Leader Neil McEvoy. Also pictured is Canton Councillor Ramesh Patel and Councillor Lisa Ford, Cardiff Council Cabinet member for highways

A road near the Cardiff City Stadium will be officially named on Saturday after Brian Clark, whose legendary goal defeated Real Madrid 40 years ago this year.

Councillor Neil McEvoy, Deputy Leader of Cardiff Council, has confirmed that the road leading to the Capital Retail Park will be named Brian Clark Way after the City star, who died last year.

And the new street sign will be unveiled at 1pm before Cardiff City play Barnsley by Brian’s widow, Gill Clark.

The road leading directly into the stadium is also named after another former Bluebirds legend, Fred Keenor.

Councillor Neil McEvoy, a Bluebirds supporter, who asked for suggestions from fans for the road naming said: “By far and away the most popular was Brian Clark and following a meeting with supporters’ representatives that is the name I took forward.

“The road runs alongside the boundaries of the stadium so naming it after a former footballer is ideal.

“I’m delighted that Gill Clark will officially unveil the sign in honour of her husband, who is a legend among Bluebirds fans.”

Keith Morgan, a member of Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust board, who attended a meeting with Councillor McEvoy to discuss possible names for the road, said: “Naming the road after Brian Clark will be a very popular choice among City fans, given his iconic status after heading in the goal that beat Real Madrid 40 years ago this year.”

Keith Morgan was among the crowd at Ninian Park for the European Cup Winners’ Cup quarter final clash in 1971.

He added: “Brian, who was a hugely popular figure, maintained his links with the club as a match-day host until the time he became ill.”

Brian will forever remain a true Cardiff City icon following his two spells with the Bluebirds, most prolifically between 1967 and 1972. Brian made a total of 240 appearances in all competition for the club, scoring 91 goals.