Trust News

Tim Hartley, chairman of the Trust made the following statement following the tragic death of Bluebirds fan Mikey Dye before the England v Wales game at Wembley on Tuesday night.

Tim, who was at the England-Wales match, said: “Fans are absolutely stunned. Mikey’s death is a tragedy for football and, more importantly, for his family and friends, and all Bluebirds fans are thinking of them. Mikey was well known for supporting Cardiff City and Wales at home and abroad. No one should ever fail to come home from a football match.”

We’ve also received the following email offering sincere condolences from the Swans’ Trust:

Hi Tim

I just wanted to drop you a short note to pass on the condolences of Swans Trust on behalf of all our members for the tragic and senseless loss of Mikey Day at the England v Wales game yesterday evening.

It is a sad world when someone goes to a football match to support his country and is denied the opportunity to come home in such a tragic way.

The thoughts of Swans fans everywhere are without a doubt this morning with the friends and family of Mikey and this is extended to the whole Cardiff City family who will feel sadness at the events.

Kind Regards

Phil

Phil Sumbler

Chairman, Swansea City Supporters’ Trust

Stacey Hancock from the Cardiff City Stadium club store models the new Fred Keenor T-shirt.

The iconic image of Fred Keenor is being sold to boost the statue appeal.

The front of the T-shirt has a photograph of proud Fred holding his baby son Bryn in the FA Cup after Cardiff City had beaten Arsenal 1-0 in the 1927 final, the only time the tournament has been taken out of England.

The back of the T-shirt has the words Support the Fred Keenor Statue Appeal along with an image of the proposed statue. It costs £15 each and all profits go to the appeal.

They are being sold at the club shop and will also be on sale at the Doncaster game at the new Trust office (near Gate 5).

Appeal project manager David Craig, who is also a board member of Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust, said: “We wanted to use an iconic image for the front of the T-shirt and what better one than that of Fred and Bryn. And for the back we felt it important to include an image of what the proposed statue will look like.

“We hope that City fans will continue to show their support for the appeal by buying the T-shirt, which is of excellent quality. All profits from the sales will go towards the appeal.”

The appeal is also continuing to sell miniature statues of Fred Keenor at £40 and pin badges at £3 each in aid of the appeal.

More than £51,000 has been raised or pledged towards the cost of the statue which will be £85,000.

Llantwit Major artist Roger Andrews will create the tribute to Fred Keenor and the 1927 team. He also created the statue of Sir Tasker Watkins outside the Millennium Stadium.

Valley Commandoes presented with their trophy by Martin Bale

A football tournament at Maritime Park in Pontypridd yesterday raised at least £580 for the Keenor statue appeal.

Special thanks to Snowy at the Rose and Crown in Pontypridd for his great support and food provided for the players He did a great job.

Thanks also to the players who turned up at the Maritime Park all-weather pitch and the sponsorship from JM Creative of Cardiff. Also congratulations to the Valley Commandoes, the winning team.

The Valley Commandoes and Trust teams

Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust hosts a ‘Safe Standing’ roadshow at the Ninian Park pub in Cardiff on Tuesday, September 20th, (5.30pm).

Safe standing areas are commonplace in football grounds on mainland Europe but are banned in the top leagues in the UK .Bringing back an element of standing could improve the atmosphere and actually bring more revenue to clubs like Cardiff City.

German clubs, for instance, use a number of different configurations, enabling quick switching of designated standing areas into seated sections. Come and see for yourself!

Jon Darch from the Football Supporters’ Federation will talk us through the benefits and will show us the kind of seats which would enable safe standing at grounds.

Trust Chairman Tim Hartley said: “A lot of us remember standing packed like sardines in the old Grange End and the deafening noise that reverberated around Ninian Park. They were great times, but the game has moved on and we now have all-seater stadiums.

“Some say we have lost the magic that went with standing shoulder to shoulder in the ground. Safety must, of course, be our first consideration, but there are clubs on mainland Europe which have succeeded in keeping the noise and camaraderie of the traditional terrace while maintaining a safe environment.

“The Supporters’ Trust does not have any view on so called ‘safe standing’ but we want Cardiff fans to judge for themselves. That’s why we are glad to be able to welcome Jon Darch from the Football Supporters’ Federation to Cardiff to show us the kind of ‘standing’ seats they have in Germany and Holland.  We welcome all City fans to come and see the seating and decide for themselves.”

You can visit the Safe Standing website at https://www.safestandingroadshow.co.uk

More details are available about the  tournament on the Astroturf at Maritime Park, Pontypridd, in aid of the Fred Keenor Statue Appeal.  The teams include a team from the Valleys and Trust teams from Cardiff, Merthyr and Newport. Each match lasts 20 minutes each half with a 10 minute turnaround.

Order of play:

10am: CCST v Valleys

10.50am: Newport v Merthyr

11.40am: Valleys v Newport

12.30pm: Merthyr v CCST

1.20pm: Valleys v Merthyr

2.10pm: CCST v Newport

3pm: FINAL

Subs are £5 per player with all the proceeds going to the statue appeal. There is a shield and individual trophies for the 15 winning players.

There will be a buffet and ‘The Underdogs’ will play from 6 p.m. at the Rose and Crown, Graig, Pontypridd. A raffle including signed shirts will also take place.

Please feel free to invite friends and family to any part of this event. It should be a good day.