Pitch of sand - NP in the early 1970s

[Bobby Dandruff]

I remember when the NP pitch was 80% sand in the early 1970s but just put it down to the general poor pitch care at that time (see Derby’s Baseball Ground…..)

But someone posted on here recently that all of the sand (and there was a lot!) was needed as a result of some mistake or mishap. What was the story behind it, or did I misunderstand?

[Wales-Bales]

Is your avatar a photo of Bobby Woodruff that was taken at Ninian Park in the early 70's? If so I can't see any sand :biggrin:

[the other bob wilson]

I remember when the NP pitch was 80% sand in the early 1970s but just put it down to the general poor pitch care at that time (see Derby’s Baseball Ground…..)

But someone posted on here recently that all of the sand (and there was a lot!) was needed as a result of some mistake or mishap. What was the story behind it, or did I misunderstand?

It was me who posted it. I’ve just had a look on Google to see if I could find anything to back up my memory that City’s awful pitch of 71/72 was at least partly caused by an expensive pitch “improvement” which went wrong, but I couldn’t come up with anything.

Doing the research for my book on the 70/71 season, I was reminded that the Ninian Park pitch was in poor shape for some of the games played in mid winter. However, it was much worse the following year and local media, looking for a reason for City’s dramatic decline from the previous season, put forward the awful pitch as a major factor.

My memory is of a story in the summer of 1971 about what was expensive and extensive improvements to the pitch - City were perceived as having the Toshack money burning a hole in their pocket and only spent about £30,000 on signing Alan Foggon and Ken Jones in the close season, so this was something they could say the club were paying for.

However, as soon as City started playing home games in wet conditions, the pitch began to cut up horribly and I remember a game in early December against Sunderland when the pitch was worse than it was at Rotherham. From that point onwards, sand was used for most games to make the pitch playable. Ninian Park pitches were never great in the early and mid seventies, but the 71/72 one attracted much more comment than the other ones did.

[bobh]

I recall thode early 70s games, midwinter and towards the end of season the pitch was like Barry beach - apart from a few yards of green in the corners.
I can't recall the opponents, but in one game the pitch was soo muddy that when one of the keepers went to bounce the ball before kicking it upfield the ball just stuck on the ground with no bounce at all.

[Des Parrot]

I played two county cup finals on Edgar St, 78 & 79. Supposed to be the season ending show case. It was horrendous on both occasions, no grass, just mud, sand and puddles, worse than most Sunday League pitches. Those were the days :-)

[Bobby Dandruff]

It was me who posted it. I’ve just had a look on Google to see if I could find anything to back up my memory that City’s awful pitch of 71/72 was at least partly caused by an expensive pitch “improvement” which went wrong, but I couldn’t come up with anything.

Doing the research for my book on the 70/71 season, I was reminded that the Ninian Park pitch was in poor shape for some of the games played in mid winter. However, it was much worse the following year and local media, looking for a reason for City’s dramatic decline from the previous season, put forward the awful pitch as a major factor.

My memory is of a story in the summer of 1971 about what was expensive and extensive improvements to the pitch - City were perceived as having the Toshack money burning a hole in their pocket and only spent about £30,000 on signing Alan Foggon and Ken Jones in the close season, so this was something they could say the club were paying for.

However, as soon as City started playing home games in wet conditions, the pitch began to cut up horribly and I remember a game in early December against Sunderland when the pitch was worse than it was at Rotherham. From that point onwards, sand was used for most games to make the pitch playable. Ninian Park pitches were never great in the early and mid seventies, but the 71/72 one attracted much more comment than the other ones did.

Thanks Bob.

I saw some footage recently and was amazed at how little grass there was. I remember opposing fans (I can’t remember the team) singing ‘I do like to be beside the seaside’ :-/

[Steve the Tea]

It was me who posted it. I’ve just had a look on Google to see if I could find anything to back up my memory that City’s awful pitch of 71/72 was at least partly caused by an expensive pitch “improvement” which went wrong, but I couldn’t come up with anything.

Doing the research for my book on the 70/71 season, I was reminded that the Ninian Park pitch was in poor shape for some of the games played in mid winter. However, it was much worse the following year and local media, looking for a reason for City’s dramatic decline from the previous season, put forward the awful pitch as a major factor.

My memory is of a story in the summer of 1971 about what was expensive and extensive improvements to the pitch - City were perceived as having the Toshack money burning a hole in their pocket and only spent about £30,000 on signing Alan Foggon and Ken Jones in the close season, so this was something they could say the club were paying for.

However, as soon as City started playing home games in wet conditions, the pitch began to cut up horribly and I remember a game in early December against Sunderland when the pitch was worse than it was at Rotherham. From that point onwards, sand was used for most games to make the pitch playable. Ninian Park pitches were never great in the early and mid seventies, but the 71/72 one attracted much more comment than the other ones did.

I seem to remember the Club either put down top soil for bowling greens or a short rooted grass for bowling greens and the one parted company from the other easily as soon as the weather became wet. On reflection it might have been the former.

StT.
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[the other bob wilson]

A picture from the infamous Watford game in April 71, the pitch was worse twelve months later

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1133778957/cardiff-city-football-club-season-1971?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_e-art_and_collectibles-other&utm_custom1=_k_Cj0KCQjwxMmhBhDJARIsANFGOStiED18L5Y 188ToAKGT2FhNavG3bjeLgioNER7F8ja2KwbGwc7cpCsaAv5cE ALw_wcB_k_&utm_content=go_326235168_20236597368_88507312608_p la-116591723129_c__1133778957engb_568767812&utm_custom2=326235168&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxMmhBhDJARIsANFGOStiED18L5Y188ToAKGT 2FhNavG3bjeLgioNER7F8ja2KwbGwc7cpCsaAv5cEALw_wcB

[Bobby Dandruff]

A picture from the infamous Watford game in April 71, the pitch was worse twelve months later

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1133778957/cardiff-city-football-club-season-1971?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_e-art_and_collectibles-other&utm_custom1=_k_Cj0KCQjwxMmhBhDJARIsANFGOStiED18L5Y 188ToAKGT2FhNavG3bjeLgioNER7F8ja2KwbGwc7cpCsaAv5cE ALw_wcB_k_&utm_content=go_326235168_20236597368_88507312608_p la-116591723129_c__1133778957engb_568767812&utm_custom2=326235168&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxMmhBhDJARIsANFGOStiED18L5Y188ToAKGT 2FhNavG3bjeLgioNER7F8ja2KwbGwc7cpCsaAv5cEALw_wcB

Alan Warboys and Big Fat Ron?

[the other bob wilson]

Alan Warboys and Big Fat Ron?

Warboys and future Norwich and Everton manager Mike Walker - it’s not Ron Atkinson, he played for Oxford, I think it might be Keith Eddy.

[Mr Soul '68]

I remember when the NP pitch was 80% sand in the early 1970s but just put it down to the general poor pitch care at that time (see Derby’s Baseball Ground…..)

But someone posted on here recently that all of the sand (and there was a lot!) was needed as a result of some mistake or mishap. What was the story behind it, or did I misunderstand?

City v Leeds Utd 1972 and a game that I was at. From the brief clip, look how bad the state of the Ninian Park pitch was.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDHdzHEXD3A

[Bobby Dandruff]

City v Leeds Utd 1972 and a game that I was at. From the brief clip, look how bad the state of the Ninian Park pitch was.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDHdzHEXD3A

It does distract the viewer from the ‘defending’ for the second goal :-o

[A Quiet Monkfish]

On the way to the 1927 FA Cup Final City drew Darlington at home, a match they should be expected to win comfortably. It ended 0-0, and reports say the pitch was so bad that it was impossible to play football. Seems it had been a poor pitch for years !

[Mr Soul '68]

It does distract the viewer from the ‘defending’ for the second goal :-o

Yes, extremely poor defending for that Giles second goal

[celever]

I had been to a few mid-season games with my grandfather from maybe 1965 (ish). The first opening day game I went to was Plymouth Argyle in 1967. A sunny day and the pitch looked fantastic. Lush green grass. I sat on the wall on the bob bank. It didn't take long to turn into Barry Island beach. Madrid game was sand. The Hamburg game was just as bad. I can't remember much about their third goal. I was in the boy's place at the front of the Grange End and it was scored at the Canton end. I think mud had a bit to do with it

[Rontomuk]

is this the photo you meant it is on page 4 click that

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/gallery/23-pictures-cardiffs-ninian-park-24424743?utm_source=linkCopy&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

[the other bob wilson]

is this the photo you meant it is on page 4 click that

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/gallery/23-pictures-cardiffs-ninian-park-24424743?utm_source=linkCopy&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

Thanks for posting that, it perfectly captures the diamond of mud, later to become sand, that was there that season from about October.