Cardiff Parks Football

[Bluebird23]

Amazing how many players took part in its heyday. Anyone who played in the 70s/80s will remember the absolute organised chaos of places like Pontcanna, Ely Racecourse, Rumney Rec, Roath Rec etc. Pontcanna and The Racecourse must have had nigh on 30 pitches each, 60 teams playing there every Saturday (not to mention Sundays when the Sunday leagues took off). Each team must have had a minimum of a 15 strong entourage, some much more, it must have been a nightmare for the residents of Fields Park Road and Colin Way knowing that perhaps a 1000 people would be making their way down their narrow street every Saturday from half one on and then making there way back a few hours later.
Was it The City’s climb up the leagues that contributed to the dramatic demise of parks football? Not sure how many play now but I can remember the Premier to Division 6 in the Cardiff & District and the Combination had the Senior Division down to Division 6, 14 divisions of about 12 teams each, 168 teams, mind boggling really. Funny how when professional football in the city was at one of its lowest ebbs, football itself was buzzing and more popular than ever. Imagine this Covid situation in those days, the lack of playing the game would have been the end of the world.
Will playing the game in those numbers at that level ever return? Very much doubt it, the demise of public houses and working men’s clubs is a contributing factor, many a team formed in those establishments, so glad I lived in that era.

Those were the days.

I used to play Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday league, and missed one game with injury in all those years.

A time when you could enjoy the physicality of a good 50/50 tackle, without someone rolling about like a big baby.

A time when the tackle from behind was all part of the game, and no matter how badly someone clattered you, you got straight back up and never let them know you were hurt.

Parks football was great stuff back in the day, but not for the faint hearted!

[Tuerto]

Those were the days.

I used to play Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday league, and missed one game with injury in all those years.

A time when you could enjoy the physicality of a good 50/50 tackle, without someone rolling about like a big baby.

A time when the tackle from behind was all part of the game, and no matter how badly someone clattered you, you got straight back up and never let them know you were hurt.

Parks football was great stuff back in the day, but not for the faint hearted!

Good fun but absolutely shit standard of play.

[Bluebird23]

Good fun but absolutely shit standard of play.

Maybe in the lower divisions, but there were many decent Welsh league players And ex-pros in those league’s (Including Phil Dwyer, Bobby Woodruff, John Parsons etc)

Of course, it would be shit to you, after all, didn’t you play against Juninho and he was so impressed with you he asked to swap shirts and could you check if you had any Brazilian heritage in your family tree, as you’d walk in to the Brazil side.

[Tuerto]

Maybe in the lower divisions, but there were many decent Welsh league players And ex-pros in those league’s (Including Phil Dwyer, Bobby Woodruff, John Parsons etc)

Of course, it would be shit to you, after all, didn’t you play against Juninho and he was so impressed with you he asked to swap shirts and could you check if you had any Brazilian heritage in your family tree, as you’d walk in to the Brazil side.

Let me tell you something. He was about 4ft 9 and 5 stone. I didn't get near him. The same would've happened if i had played against you, i bet you were shite.

[MOZZER2]

Those were the days.

I used to play Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday league, and missed one game with injury in all those years.

A time when you could enjoy the physicality of a good 50/50 tackle, without someone rolling about like a big baby.

A time when the tackle from behind was all part of the game, and no matter how badly someone clattered you, you got straight back up and never let them know you were hurt.

Parks football was great stuff back in the day, but not for the faint hearted!

bluebird23 was there really a wednesday league ? can't recall that

[splott parker]

bluebird23 was there really a wednesday league ? can't recall that

The Wednesday League was originally nicknamed the shopkeepers league due to Cardiff’s tradition of half day closing on a Wednesday. Very often if I was rained off I nip down to Pontcanna with my boots on a Wednesday afternoon, you’d always get a game for a team that was short. Emlyn Morris was mentioned earlier in the thread, Emlyn reached a quite high position in Welsh FA administration, he was a lovely fella who was also involved with Rover (Pengam), the Cardiff & District club, Peter Andrews, who’s also been mentioned managed Rover for a season or two.
As for the standard of football being poor, I beg to differ, during the twenty odd years that I played I came across some excellent players, players who stuck to local football for various reasons. Neil Lord was a lynchpin at Bridgend St, an excellent player who took no prisoners. Most District Premier Division sides had one or two players who were a class above. Kenny Gerrard at Wiggins Teape held them together for years, the Jeremy brothers at Grange Quins, Stephen Gill at Trelai, Eugene Cumberbatch at Doyle Albion and many others. Combination sides also had their fair share of decent players, parks football in those days in the top divisions wasn’t poor and to perform to any standard on the nightmare pitches that players encountered took no little skill.

[Tuerto]

The Wednesday League was originally nicknamed the shopkeepers league due to Cardiff’s tradition of half day closing on a Wednesday. Very often if I was rained off I nip down to Pontcanna with my boots on a Wednesday afternoon, you’d always get a game for a team that was short. Emlyn Morris was mentioned earlier in the thread, Emlyn reached a quite high position in Welsh FA administration, he was a lovely fella who was also involved with Rover (Pengam), the Cardiff & District club, Peter Andrews, who’s also been mentioned managed Rover for a season or two.
As for the standard of football being poor, I beg to differ, during the twenty odd years that I played I came across some excellent players, players who stuck to local football for various reasons. Neil Lord was a lynchpin at Bridgend St, an excellent player who took no prisoners. Most District Premier Division sides had one or two players who were a class above. Kenny Gerrard at Wiggins Teape held them together for years, the Jeremy brothers at Grange Quins, Stephen Gill at Trelai, Eugene Cumberbatch at Doyle Albion and many others. Combination sides also had their fair share of decent players, parks football in those days in the top divisions wasn’t poor and to perform to any standard on the nightmare pitches that players encountered took no little skill.

There were decent individuals who could've played at a higher level, hut you can't say that the standard of play was good, it wasn't. I played a few games in the district Premier league or whatever it was called, and the senior league. It wasn't good in my opinion, just very physical at times.

[splott parker]

There were decent individuals who could've played at a higher level, hut you can't say that the standard of play was good, it wasn't. I played a few games in the district Premier league or whatever it was called, and the senior league. It wasn't good in my opinion, just very physical at times.

Opinions on standards can vary greatly, football has so many levels. Do we think the City at present play in a good standard of football? Some fans of Premier League clubs would say we’re shit, while, say, if one of us nipped up to watch the County play we may come back with the ‘shit’ verdict on their match. I wonder if old pros have the same opinion as you after retirement? Graham Kavanagh, say, having a chat with someone like David Unsworth who tells him that there were a few decent individuals at his club but the standard of the club’s play but wasn’t good. Then Unsworth having a chat with Paul Merson who tells him the same thing. The pecking order in football can no doubt be very condescending on times I’d imagine.

[Bluebird23]

bluebird23 was there really a wednesday league ? can't recall that

Yes, around a dozen teams from Operation Sport, Post Office, Idem Papers, Bass Brewery, City Centre Cars, Cossacks, Nomads.

Run by Emlyn Morris from Llanrumney.

We played a London representative team home and away two years.

Won 1-0 up there, beat them 5-1 here down the Riviera in Llanrumney.

Our goal keeper Wayne Russell went on to play for Burnley.

[insider]

Yes, around a dozen teams from Operation Sport, Post Office, Idem Papers, Bass Brewery, City Centre Cars, Cossacks, Nomads.

Run by Emlyn Morris from Llanrumney.

We played a London representative team home and away two years.

Won 1-0 up there, beat them 5-1 here down the Riviera in Llanrumney.

Our goal keeper Wayne Russell went on to play for Burnley.

I was in Cardiff Boys with Wayne Russell.
I played for Grange Albion as a kid and then Ely Rangers South Wales amateur league as an Adult.
Also played Sunday football M an W developments league.

[UNDERHILL1927]

Yes, around a dozen teams from Operation Sport, Post Office, Idem Papers, Bass Brewery, City Centre Cars, Cossacks, Nomads.

Run by Emlyn Morris from Llanrumney.

We played a London representative team home and away two years.

Won 1-0 up there, beat them 5-1 here down the Riviera in Llanrumney.

Our goal keeper Wayne Russell went on to play for Burnley.

Played in the Wednesday league when I was younger (about 17) played for the National Rail team as my uncle worked for them. Loved it.

[MOZZER2]

o i see looks like work based teams

you must have played on wednesday afternoons . was it difficult to get referees then ?

[Bluebird23]

Yes, around a dozen teams from Operation Sport, Post Office, Idem Papers, Bass Brewery, City Centre Cars, Cossacks, Nomads.

Run by Emlyn Morris from Llanrumney.

We played a London representative team home and away two years.

Won 1-0 up there, beat them 5-1 here down the Riviera in Llanrumney.

Our goal keeper Wayne Russell went on to play for Burnley.

o i see looks like work based teams

you must have played on wednesday afternoons . was it difficult to get referees then ?

I don’t recall it being an issue.

One of the best park referees was Pete r ‘to me’ Andrews.

He ref’d midweek and then Welsh league.

[Bluebird23]

Yes, around a dozen teams from Operation Sport, Post Office, Idem Papers, Bass Brewery, City Centre Cars, Cossacks, Nomads.

Run by Emlyn Morris from Llanrumney.

We played a London representative team home and away two years.

Won 1-0 up there, beat them 5-1 here down the Riviera in Llanrumney.

Our goal keeper Wayne Russell went on to play for Burnley.

Let me tell you something. He was about 4ft 9 and 5 stone. I didn't get near him. The same would've happened if i had played against you, i bet you were shite.

Unlike yourself, I don’t need to be bragging on here about how amazing I was.

I’d be happy to let those who played with and against me, judge me.

I’m more than confident, it would be very positive.

[Tuerto]

Unlike yourself, I don’t need to be bragging on here about how amazing I was.

I’d be happy to let those who played with and against me, judge me.

I’m more than confident, it would be very positive.

I've never bragged about anything on here, i've got nothing to brag about. The question was 'Who was the best player you have ever played against' And i answered, that's all, i even said that i didn't get close to him, no bragging, that's something even you could have achieved.

I was with the club many years back, and i've only ever posted anecdotes that didn't show me or the club in a very good light. I got involved in a thread about young players and how they were treated during my time, i hope it was informal. I've told some stories about how amateur it all was, including myself, never once have i said that i was good enough, i wasn't. But seeing as this is a CCFC forum, i'm a City Fan (way before got with the club) i thought that it may be of some interest to those who were about at that time, that's all.

I'm pretty sure that people on hear don't want to see petty shit flying about, and you seem to want to have a bit of a pop at me or accuse me of acting in a way that's completely untrue. If you like, come and see me, anytime you like, we can have a chat about football or whatever. You can have my details over PM.

[Bluebird23]

I've never bragged about anything on here, i've got nothing to brag about. The question was 'Who was the best player you have ever played against' And i answered, that's all, i even said that i didn't get close to him, no bragging, that's something even you could have achieved.

I was with the club many years back, and i've only ever posted anecdotes that didn't show me or the club in a very good light. I got involved in a thread about young players and how they were treated during my time, i hope it was informal. I've told some stories about how amateur it all was, including myself, never once have i said that i was good enough, i wasn't. But seeing as this is a CCFC forum, i'm a City Fan (way before got with the club) i thought that it may be of some interest to those who were about at that time, that's all.

I'm pretty sure that people on hear don't want to see petty shit flying about, and you seem to want to have a bit of a pop at me or accuse me of acting in a way that's completely untrue. If you like, come and see me, anytime you like, we can have a chat about football or whatever. You can have my details over PM.

Tough guy as well now, are you. Yawn!

Don’t tell me, you once sparred with Lennox Lewis and he couldn’t believe you hadn’t turned pro, as he had no doubt you’d have unified all the belts!

[Tuerto]

Tough guy as well now, are you. Yawn!

Don’t tell me, you once sparred with Lennox Lewis and he couldn’t believe you hadn’t turned pro, as he had no doubt you’d have unified all the belts!

I'm no tough guy, just don't portray me as something that i'm not. I'm all for a laugh and a joke, but don't ridicule behind your keyboard, it's weak. As for Boxing, i trained as a kid, then met this gypsy lad in the ring who absolutely battered me, he was younger than me as well. It wasn't Tyson Fury though or even Lennox Lewis, i'm more super Welterweight.

[delmbox]

Tough guy as well now, are you. Yawn!

Don’t tell me, you once sparred with Lennox Lewis and he couldn’t believe you hadn’t turned pro, as he had no doubt you’d have unified all the belts!

You really come across as a bitter person in a lot of threads

[Cyncoed Slumdog]

The Wednesday League was originally nicknamed the shopkeepers league due to Cardiff’s tradition of half day closing on a Wednesday. Very often if I was rained off I nip down to Pontcanna with my boots on a Wednesday afternoon, you’d always get a game for a team that was short. Emlyn Morris was mentioned earlier in the thread, Emlyn reached a quite high position in Welsh FA administration, he was a lovely fella who was also involved with Rover (Pengam), the Cardiff & District club, Peter Andrews, who’s also been mentioned managed Rover for a season or two.
As for the standard of football being poor, I beg to differ, during the twenty odd years that I played I came across some excellent players, players who stuck to local football for various reasons. Neil Lord was a lynchpin at Bridgend St, an excellent player who took no prisoners. Most District Premier Division sides had one or two players who were a class above. Kenny Gerrard at Wiggins Teape held them together for years, the Jeremy brothers at Grange Quins, Stephen Gill at Trelai, Eugene Cumberbatch at Doyle Albion and many others. Combination sides also had their fair share of decent players, parks football in those days in the top divisions wasn’t poor and to perform to any standard on the nightmare pitches that players encountered took no little skill.

I remember my father telling me about the Wednesday League and it sounded quite popular back in the day. As you rightly say, it was half day closing in Cardiff but a lot of shift workers as well as shop workers played. I've got a collection of medals he won playing for the Cardiff Transport team and a side called Roath Wednesday.

[Tuerto]

I remember my father telling me about the Wednesday League and it sounded quite popular back in the day. As you rightly say, it was half day closing in Cardiff but a lot of shift workers as well as shop workers played. I've got a collection of medals he won playing for the Cardiff Transport team and a side called Roath Wednesday.

Correct, Memory Lane Cakes had a team in the wednesday league.

[splott parker]

Correct, Memory Lane Cakes had a team in the wednesday league.

Memory Lane would have been a good title for this thread.

[Tuerto]

Memory Lane would have been a good title for this thread.

My mate used to play for a team called Roath Villa, he dragged me along once. I was more shocked at the drinking back at The Royal Oak. Game finished and there until closing. No way would blokes get away with that today

[BLUETIT]

Correct, Memory Lane Cakes had a team in the wednesday league.

Memory Lane would have been a good title for this thread.

I can remember playing a few games in midweek for GKN, at their club/pitches on Sloper Road. Memories hazy, not sure if they were league games or friendly’s (not very friendly, I might add)

[Vindec]

I can remember playing a few games in midweek for GKN, at their club/pitches on Sloper Road. Memories hazy, not sure if they were league games or friendly’s (not very friendly, I might add)

Good pithe(s) that were quite level and well drained unlike many of those on offer on parks. Cardiff City used to train there. I recall, during a training break, speaking to Richie Morgan when he was manager with the team (and Morgan) sitting on the grass smoking.

[MOZZER2]

which club did you used to box with tuerto ? i used to box down the ymca off newport road . used to enjoy the training side of it rather than the bouts