Ffordd Fred Keenor will be the name of the road leading to the new Cardiff City Stadium , which is an aural challenge even for those of us who practice bilingualism. Try and say Ffordd Fred Keenor with a mouthful of cream crackers. Not convinced myself. But this isn’t a new thing, this tribute by street name. Cardiff is already a City chock full of local football heroes.
This all started in 1927, when City Road was built in memoriam to the FA Cup Final team. Hardy Place in Cathays was also a tribute to a prominent member of that famous side.
Ashcroft Crescent in Fairwater was named in 1983 after the Cardiff City manager who earned promotion from the old 3rd Division. Wearing an ill-fitting woollen suit, he attended a small ceremony where his eyebrows were ceremonally trimmed with the giant scissors usually reserved for the red ribbons on such occasions. Ashcroft is just one of the managers to be honoured throughout the City – we also have (Alan) Cork Drive in St Mellons and May Street in Cathays.
Perhaps the most surprising tribute is Barnard Avenue, just off Cowbridge Road. This tree-lined beauty was renamed after City’s blonde-mained midfield genius Leigh Barnard, on the occasion of his winning goal at the Vetch Field on Boxing Day 1989. Nearby is Caldicot Road, named after Stacey Caldicot of course. Sullivan Close in Llanrumney refers to Wayne Sullivan, but then you knew that. Vaughan Avenue was so-named when Nigel Vaughan finished the 1985-86 season as top scorer.
In the mid nineties, before word had reached Malayasia and Lebanon about the riches to be found at Leckwith, the club’s saviour was a man with giant spectacles. His name was Jim Cadman, and part of his investment deal was that a small corner of Tremorfa would ever be associated with his largesse. Thus we named Cadman Close, because we were close to going out of the league under his tenure. (I’m here all week).
Cardiff has named streets after international footballers too. We have Cae Yorath, Melville Avenue and Berry Road. From the 1992/93 Champions, we have the aforementioned May Street, but also Dale Avenue in Birchgrove. Fanny Street in Cathays was a tribute to Damon Searle.
My favourite of all is the traffic island named after our Irish international goalkeeper from the seventies, a Mancunian famous for being lobbed by Kevin Keegan on his international debut at Wembley. Despite his embarrassment that night, the City Fathers were so proud of his achievement that they named a roundabout after him. That’s why we now have Ely Roundabout.
