Cardiff City Stadium: Cardiff City 0-1 Stoke City

Cardiff City 0-1 Stoke City

A weekend in Cardiff is greatly recommended. This was a Stag weekend incorporating this vital Championship clash which neither side dare lose. The game was pretty poor, both sides were disappointing with tension dominating the 90 minutes. Out of the two teams, Stoke probably edged it as they had created the better opportunities in a game of few chances. The goal which decided the game was typical of the contest, scruffy and scrappy .With 5 minutes left of tedium a long throw by Tchamadeu fell kindly to Ben Wilmott whose shot seemed to deflect off two Cardiff defenders and crossed the line off the unfortunate Will Fish. A few minutes earlier the home side blew their chances of victory when sub Isaak Davies managed to shoot over the bar from 2 yards after a decent ball played into his path by Rubin Colwell which had the keeper beaten. This miss was therefore crucial in the game and consequences for Cardiff City’s future in the Championship. Stoke don’t look great but you think they may have enough to stay up. In the first half they did create some chances, Baker shooting over when well placed Tchamadeu heading weakly wide and Thompson’s left foot volley hitting the cross bar via a deflection. Cardiff City had a few efforts wide but lacked conviction in the final third. The game was only part of the weekend. We enjoyed corporate hospitality within the Cardiff City Stadium prior to the game where we enjoyed a 4 course meal various appearances from ex-Cardiff City players. We had an unfortunate break during the first half due to a medical emergency within the crowd, which for us meant returning to our table for additional drinks and a Welsh Cake!! More drinks at half time and at full time, yes, more drinks with cheese and biscuits finally leaving the ground at about 6pm. We had arrived at 12:30pm. Our journey from Leicestershire had been a good one but we were not returning that Saturday night. For us a short drive to a Travelodge at Cardiff Bay. A walk into the city centre for a night of drinking and visiting various clubs in the Welsh capital. The night time economy is quite astonishing and the city was heaving. On the Sunday following a late breakfast on Cardiff Bay and hangovers easing slowly we returned to the city centre and went on a stadium tour of the Principality Stadium, the home of Welsh rugby and a former venue for big football matches when Wembley was being rebuilt (e.g. Cup Finals as well as music events speedway and boxing). Following this we ventured for lunch and a drink before heading back to our cars for the return journey home. 8 Blokes 2 Cars, well done to the drivers, I think we all enjoyed the weekend, the weather was kind, the football not the best but an important fixture at this stage of the season and Cardiff as a city offers much to the visitor. A word on the Cardiff City Stadium. The club’s home since 2009 when they relocated from Ninian Park which stood across Sloper Road. This is now a housing development. The original centre circle is remembered with a plaque. The new stadium is now 16 years old, it already shows signs of wear externally, but is a decent 30,000 plus ground offering excellent views. Cynics would say too big a ground for the football team. An extra tier on the Sloper Road side has been added since our original visit but this remains empty and unused for club games but I assume as Wales play international football here they would open it up then.

Cardiff City 1-0 Preston North End

The Cardiff City Stadium, Home of Cardiff City. This was a trip Adrian and I were waiting for, our first ever visit to the Cardiff City Stadium. Our trip started in Tamworth Station catching the 9:00am train to Cardiff Central Station. We arrived in Wales at 11:25 and headed towards the Millennium Stadium and Cardiff Castle then this was followed by our pre-match meal in the City Centre. We walked to the Stadium which was about 1 ½ miles from the City Centre.

The Bluebirds former ground, Ninian Park was only half demolished so we had a look through gates before making our way through the gates toward the new stadium. Unfortunately, due to past trouble with away supporters, the away area is fenced off so it’s impossible to walk all the way around the stadium.

After taking pictures of the colourful exterior of the stadium we walked through the electronic turnstiles into a massive concourse area with TV screens and a number of bars and toilets (which are also spacious). After making our way to our seats we found that the view was obstructed by the near goal so we made our way midway up the stand. To our right were the away supporters in the top corner of their area with a video screen just above them. The Stadium only holds 27,000 people at the moment but we found that there was space between the back of the stand and the back of the stadium which would increase the stadium if needed.

Wikipedia says that “Cardiff City Stadium (Welsh: Stadiwm Dinas Caerdydd) is a 26,828 all-seated ground in the Leckwith area of the city, which is the home of Cardiff City Football Club who previously played at Ninian Park. Owned and operated by Cardiff City F.C., the stadium also hosts the home matches of the Cardiff Blues rugby union team until 2029. After the Millennium Stadium, it is the second largest stadium in Cardiff and in Wales. The stadium is part of the Leckwith development. A branded sponsor name will be assigned as and when the naming rights sell. The stadium was officially opened on 22 July 2009, with Cardiff City playing a friendly match against Celtic.”

The game saw Cardiff City win 1-0 against Preston North End. A fantastic long range strike saw Chris Burke claim the goal.

After the game, we walked back to the Station and get on the 17:45pm train towards Nottingham and got off at Tamworth at 20:05pm.

Overall our experience at the new Cardiff City Stadium was brilliant and is highly recommended. The stadium is very much built for the future and the future they are aiming for is clearly the Premier League.

Cardiff City Stadium

Thursday, 29 May 2025

Cardiff City 0-1 Stoke City

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