The Daddy Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 Keep seeing old results from way back when of this team/club. I know nothing about them but would like to know more. What crowds did they get? Where did they play? Why and when did they fold? What kit did they play in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burnleywelsh Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiff_City_Blue_Dragons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number 16 Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 Started in 1981, the same season as Carlisle. Their launch was high profile due to some significant signings from union - Fenwick, David and Ringer. They played initially at Ninian Park and their colours were blue and yellow (I think). I travelled down with two schoolmates to watch Carlisle's game at Cardiff and was introduced to Brains SA. We arrived back home a day late. Happy days... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thirteenthman Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 Officially known as Cardiff City - Blue Dragons was just the nickname. . They lost 26-21 in front of 9247 at Ninian Park. As far as gates went, that was as good as it got. There followed 3 games of crowds over 3000, but after that the gates were anywhere between 500 and 1600. They did get 6484 for a Challenge Cup tie against Widnes. They finished 8th in the old Second Division. 2nd season crowds didn't get over 2000 (biggest crowd that year was 1800 against Fulham). Again they finished 8th. 3rd season saw gates fall even further. Only 3 matches got a gate over 1000 including a CC tie against Hull and they finished 11th. Then came the move to Bridgend which was a disaster. Crowds were terrible and in 84/85 they only won one match all year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumby Magic Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 Would eventually love a third team in Wales. Like poor jokes? Thejoketeller@mullymessiah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fevnut Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 Does any one have a picture of the Bridgend shirt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Daddy Posted November 30, 2019 Author Share Posted November 30, 2019 16 minutes ago, Mumby Magic said: Would eventually love a third team in Wales. Yes a Cardiff based team is needed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 1 hour ago, Mumby Magic said: Would eventually love a third team in Wales. North Wales might be the area to target, well if the RFL had any sort of strategy to grow the game or money to do it). Less of a Union stronghold and closer to the heartlands. Obviously Wrexham is the biggest town and they already have a team but there could potentially be one in the Bangor / Caenarvon area, with a link up with Bangor University - there should be more link ups with Universities imho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Halfpenny fan Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 2 hours ago, thirteenthman said: Officially known as Cardiff City - Blue Dragons was just the nickname. . They lost 26-21 in front of 9247 at Ninian Park. As far as gates went, that was as good as it got. There followed 3 games of crowds over 3000, but after that the gates were anywhere between 500 and 1600. They did get 6484 for a Challenge Cup tie against Widnes. They finished 8th in the old Second Division. I was at the cup game against Widnes. It was not a nice atmosphere. Just because you think everyone hates you doesn't mean they don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith989 Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 3 hours ago, thirteenthman said: Officially known as Cardiff City - Blue Dragons was just the nickname. . They lost 26-21 in front of 9247 at Ninian Park. As far as gates went, that was as good as it got. There followed 3 games of crowds over 3000, but after that the gates were anywhere between 500 and 1600. They did get 6484 for a Challenge Cup tie against Widnes. They finished 8th in the old Second Division. 2nd season crowds didn't get over 2000 (biggest crowd that year was 1800 against Fulham). Again they finished 8th. 3rd season saw gates fall even further. Only 3 matches got a gate over 1000 including a CC tie against Hull and they finished 11th. Then came the move to Bridgend which was a disaster. Crowds were terrible and in 84/85 they only won one match all year. What is it with the Welsh and their lack of support for rugby club sides in both codes? They only seem to be interested in supporting two football clubs that barely have a welsh player between them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 12 minutes ago, Keith989 said: What is it with the Welsh and their lack of support for rugby club sides in both codes? They only seem to be interested in supporting two football clubs that barely have a welsh player between them. Much like everywhere else Football is the most popular sport in Wales. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulwalker71 Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 There was also a South Wales club in the mid 90s, who played at least some of their games in Cardiff. Only lasted one season, and then folded Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 1 hour ago, Keith989 said: What is it with the Welsh and their lack of support for rugby club sides in both codes? They only seem to be interested in supporting two football clubs that barely have a welsh player between them. That statement applies to the English too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burnleywelsh Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 25 minutes ago, paulwalker71 said: There was also a South Wales club in the mid 90s, who played at least some of their games in Cardiff. Only lasted one season, and then folded South Wales RLFC finished sixth in the Second Division in 1996. Games were played at Talbot Athletic Ground Aberavon, one game was played at Morfa Stadium Swansea against Bramley RLFC and all the games for the second half of the season were at Cardiff Arms Park. The first home game played at Aberavon on 31st March 1996 saw an attendance of 1,876, when the club played Hull Kingston Rovers. Unfortunately for South Wales they lost 70-8. Crowds fluctuated depending upon where the club played, and the last home game of the season saw a crowd of only 400 witness the club defeating York RLFC 20-16 at Cardiff Arms Park. Due to the reasonable success of the club and their geographical location the club had high hopes that it would be awarded a Super League franchise. A case was put forward and although it was accepted by the RFL, it was rejected by the existing Super League clubs. As funding for 1997 was based on only being in Super League. the decision was made to disband the club before the start of the 1997 season. That Super League place went to Gateshead I believe. Clive Griffiths was involved with the club and word was that had South Wales been admitted to Super League, many of the Welsh RL players at the time would have returned home to play RL instead of switching back to RU. A great opportunity missed in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUBRATS Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 4 hours ago, thirteenthman said: Officially known as Cardiff City - Blue Dragons was just the nickname. . They lost 26-21 in front of 9247 at Ninian Park. As far as gates went, that was as good as it got. There followed 3 games of crowds over 3000, but after that the gates were anywhere between 500 and 1600. They did get 6484 for a Challenge Cup tie against Widnes. They finished 8th in the old Second Division. 2nd season crowds didn't get over 2000 (biggest crowd that year was 1800 against Fulham). Again they finished 8th. 3rd season saw gates fall even further. Only 3 matches got a gate over 1000 including a CC tie against Hull and they finished 11th. Then came the move to Bridgend which was a disaster. Crowds were terrible and in 84/85 they only won one match all year. And then years later somebody else thought it was a good idea to start a team up in Bridgend again , the result ? , The same , nobodies interested in Bridgend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burnleywelsh Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 Just now, GUBRATS said: And then years later somebody else thought it was a good idea to start a team up in Bridgend again , the result ? , The same , nobodies interested in Bridgend Agreed, it’s not the best location. But, I think one of the reasons they set up there was the owner was involved with Celtic Warriors Union side. And when they were cut by the WRU, it was to fill the void (I know it’s different seasons) and stick two fingers up to the WRU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gooleboy Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 1 hour ago, Eddie said: North Wales might be the area to target, well if the RFL had any sort of strategy to grow the game or money to do it). Less of a Union stronghold and closer to the heartlands. Obviously Wrexham is the biggest town and they already have a team but there could potentially be one in the Bangor / Caenarvon area, with a link up with Bangor University - there should be more link ups with Universities imho. Haven't we already tried it with Celtic Crusaders? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 1 hour ago, Gooleboy said: Haven't we already tried it with Celtic Crusaders? That’s just one club, I’m sure more could be done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigan Riversider Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 Remember Cardiff City RLFC in 1982-83 season. Also 1994-1995 when national RL team was on crest of a wave. Hoped Crusaders would have been successful. As someone posted:is huge inand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thirteenthman Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 3 hours ago, burnleywelsh said: Agreed, it’s not the best location. But, I think one of the reasons they set up there was the owner was involved with Celtic Warriors Union side. And when they were cut by the WRU, it was to fill the void (I know it’s different seasons) and stick two fingers up to the WRU. Yeah, there was nothing strategic about the coming of Super League to Bridgend. It was like a lot of RL development, being basically down to the whims of individuals (in this case, Leighton Samuels). Even before the club was taken over and moved to Wrexham there were plans to move to Newport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burnleywelsh Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 51 minutes ago, Wigan Riversider said: Also 1994-1995 when national RL team was on crest of a wave. Could well have been a success in Wales off the back of that World Cup. If South Wales had got the nod for Super League instead of Gateshead. I wonder what the Super League clubs saw in Gateshead that they didn’t see in Wales?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 6 minutes ago, burnleywelsh said: Could well have been a success in Wales off the back of that World Cup. If South Wales had got the nod for Super League instead of Gateshead. I wonder what the Super League clubs saw in Gateshead that they didn’t see in Wales?? Gateshead didn't enter until 1999. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burnleywelsh Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 11 minutes ago, Damien said: Gateshead didn't enter until 1999. I think the process started earlier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigan Riversider Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 Gateshead went bust after 1 season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pen-Y-Bont Crusader Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 4 hours ago, GUBRATS said: And then years later somebody else thought it was a good idea to start a team up in Bridgend again , the result ? , The same , nobodies interested in Bridgend The Coychurch Road ground that was there last home ground is now a social housing development. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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