Keenor Statue: 10 Years On From Unveiling

admin November 8, 2022

This Thursday a significant milestone will be reached with the 10^th anniversary of the unveiling of the iconic Fred Keenor Statue at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The campaign by the Trust to raise more than £85,000 was the result of widespread community support for a series of fundraising events.

We received major donations from Cardiff City Football Club, the Football Association of Wales, Cardiff City Council, the Welsh Government and our very own, Craig Bellamy.

There was support from local businesses but we could not have gotten over the line without the thousands of individual donations ranging from young fans handing over their pocket money or match-day sweet money to gifts of £500.

The appeal was launched because the Trust didn’t believe the unique achievement of Fred and the 1927 team had been properly recognised in Cardiff. Here was a working class hero who overcame great adversity to lead his home town club to a famous victory and captain his country to success. It is one of Wales’ greatest sporting triumphs.

And the brilliant tribute to Fred Keenor was created by Vale of Glamorgan-based sculptor Roger Andrews, who worked closely with the Trust throughout the process.

Trust vice-chair David Craig, who was the appeal’s project manager, said: “We’re very proud as a Trust to have helped deliver this brilliant statue. Since its installation the statue has become a great beacon and meeting point for fans over the decade – in good times with promotion to Premiership and bad, the Emiliano Sala tragedy. It has brought fans together and opposition supporters have told us how impressed they were with the statue

“The statue is an example of what can be achieved when the Trust, the club, the fans and the wider community work together – something that has been repeated by the fantastic support given to our collections for local foodbanks.”

Thanks to everyone that supported our appeal and made it happen.