X-Nico

41 unusual facts about Cardiff


Alan Mahon

He was an unused substitute when Blackburn won the 2002 Worthington Cup, beating Tottenham 2–1 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on 24 February 2002.

Ammanford Cricket Club

However the club had a successful Welsh Cup run losing narrowly to Sully in the final played at the SWALEC Stadium in Cardiff.

Atlantic Wharf

It also includes a number of refurbished dock warehouses, modern hotels, the Red Dragon Centre and Cardiff Council's County Hall.

Birchgrove, Cardiff

It centres on a crossroads dominated by the Birchgrove Inn which also lies between Heath and Whitchurch.

Bute Park

Bute Park is the principal park of the city of Cardiff, capital of Wales.

Caerau Hillfort

Caerau Hillfort (ST13377498) is a large triangular multivallate Iron Age hillfort occupying the western tip of an extensive ridge-top plateau in the western suburbs of Caerau and Ely, Cardiff, Wales.

St Mary’s church probably dates to the 13th century, and is set within an oval churchyard.

Cardiff Blitz

Western Cardiff was the worst hit area, particularly Canton and Riverside, where 116 people were killed, an estimated 50 of which were killed in one street in Riverside, De Burgh Street.

The 10 hour air-raid had started at 18:37 and Grangetown was the first area to be hit by 100 German aircraft.

Cardiff, New York

It was the site of the William C. "Stub" Newell farm where the "Cardiff Giant", a famous hoax, was "discovered" on October 16, 1869.

Cardiff, New Zealand

Cardiff was one of the constituent dairy co-operatives (the others being Eltham, Stratford, and Normanby) who combined to form the Taranaki Co-operative Dairy Co.

Carry You

During a performance in Cardiff on 15 December 2012, Union J announced that they had signed a recording contract with Sony Music.

Charles Horace Watkins

Watkins was born in 1884 to Samuel and Lydia (Dutton) Watkins of Cardiff.

Cowbridge Road East

It is the principal road which passes through the busy district of Canton and connects Cowbridge Road West in the western districts to central Cardiff.

Cyril Gwynn

He was, in his day, a Gower celebrity, while remaining entirely unknown outside the area – a state of affairs to be regarded as quite proper, for any notion of Swansea or Cardiff ‘recognition’ would have struck Cyril as meaningless.

Doriva

On 29 February 2004 Doriva started as Middlesbrough won their first major trophy, the 2004 Football League Cup Final, with a 2-1 win over Bolton Wanderers in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Emmanuel Iheanacho

He attended the University of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom where he obtained a Master of Science degree in International Transport, and also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in General Management from the University of Bradford.

Ingvald Haugen

Haugen started his career barely 14 years old as fisherman (1908 – 1914) and seaman until he was recruited as full-time Union Officer in 1919, first at the NSU Haugesund branch before being transferred to the NSU Cardiff branch office in United Kingdom the year after.

IQE

The company was founded in 1988 in Cardiff, Wales, where there are two manufacturing facilities and the group's headquarters.

IQE Silicon was established in a new facility adjacent to the group's headquarters and European manufacturing base in Cardiff, Wales, UK.

Jabez Gough Enclosure

The Jabez Gough Enclosure (also known as the Jabez Gough Loudspeaker, or Gough Loudspeaker) was invented in 1960 by Jabez Gough, a radio engineer, living in Cardiff, South Wales.

Norman Matthews

In 1940, he became vicar of St Saviour's, Roath, Cardiff (combining this with the post of chaplain to HM Prison Cardiff from 1940 to 1945) and in 1953 became rector of St. Fagans.

He was curate of St Dyfrig, Cardiff from 1927 to 1935 before becoming the first Warden of St Teilo's Hall of Residence at the University College of South Wales, Cardiff, also serving as Llandaff Diocesan Missioner from 1936 to 1940.

Operation Shield

The trial of the portable equipment was undertaken by BTP in the London area and has been used in towns and cities such as Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, Preston, Blackpool, Leeds and Edinburgh.

Pixie O'Harris

Rhona Olive Harris was the daughter of George Frederick Harris, chairman of the Royal Art Society Cardiff, Wales, and Rosetta Elizabeth Harris (née Lucas).

Poolie Pride

The idea was born after 'Pools' appeared in the Football League One play-off final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff; the idea was thought of on a Hartlepool fan forum and the project took off from there.

Rudi Glöckner

He attracted considerable criticism for his part in the games between ADO Den Haag and West Ham United in the 1976 European Cup Winners Cup and Wales and Yugoslavia at Ninian Park, Cardiff in which the Welsh were eliminated in the quarter-final; Glockner had to be escorted from the field of play.

Shootin' Goon

Shootin' Goon released their debut album Splottside Rocksteady in 2000, with the title inspired by the Splott area of the band's hometown of Cardiff.

Slow Decay

Gwen has made a dinner date with Rhys, but Jack advises her to keep her mobile on, as Toshiko is tracking an alien energy signature somewhere in Cardiff and the team may be called into action at any moment.

Sophia Gardens

Sophia Gardens is a large public park in Riverside, Cardiff, Wales, on the bank of the River Taff.

Sound Space Studios

Sound Space Studios is a recording studio and rehearsal facility located in Cardiff, Wales.

Temple of Peace

Temple of Peace, Cardiff, a non-religious civic building in the civic centre of Cardiff, Wales

Tenby Davies

F. C. Davies died at his home of 9 Preswylfa Street in Canton, Cardiff, Glamorgan, aged only 48.

Thompson's Park

Thompson's Park is located near the A4119 road in the Canton area of west Cardiff, close to the larger Victoria Park and Llandaff Fields.

Cardiff Bus services 33(A)/(B) and 62(A) stop at the north end of the park, and the 62 to the south.

Thornhill Cemetery

Thornhill Cemetery is a major cemetery and crematorium located in the Thornhill, a northern suburb of Cardiff, south Wales.

Town and Country Broadcasting

Bridge FM, Nation Radio and NME Radio originate from the company's main headquarters in Cardiff, while Radio Pembrokeshire, Radio Carmarthenshire, Radio Ceredigion, Nation Hits! and Scarlet FM are broadcast from Narberth.

Welsh National

The race was first run in 1895, and it originally took place at Ely Racecourse in Cardiff.

Welsh Singers Competition

The Welsh Singers Competition is a biennial singing competition that is held in Cardiff, Wales.

Ya'akov Hodorov

The most memorable match of his career was in 1958 FIFA World Cup qualification against Wales at Cardiff, in which he suffered a broken nose in a collision with Welsh striker John Charles, but continued to play and made dozens of acrobatic saves.

Youth Fight for Jobs

YFJ also marched from Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff starting 4 August 2011 to highlight that Merthyr Tydfil had the fourth highest level of youth unemployment in Britain.


1774 in Wales

An Act of Parliament establishes the Improvement Commissioners, responsible for paving, cleaning streets and providing oil lamp lighting in Cardiff.

1923–24 Cardiff City F.C. season

In a goalless draw for most of the game, Cardiff were awarded a penalty and leading scorer Len Davies stepped up to take it, but missed and the game resulted in a goalless draw meaning Cardiff wouldn't win the title and would instead finish as runners-up.

Alexander Bland

Alexander "Alec" Frederick Bland (24 November 1866 – 18 October 1947) was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff.

Cardiff Bus

While horse buses (and later horse trams) had run in the city since 1845, Cardiff Bus can trace its history back to May 1902, when Cardiff Council took over and electrified a tram line between Roath and the city centre.

Cardiff Harbour Authority

It took over responsibility from Cardiff Bay Development Corporation for the management of Cardiff Bay which includes the bay, Cardiff Bay Barrage, the outer harbour and the River Taff and Ely.

Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra

In July 2000 Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra was invited to perform in the Welsh Proms in Cardiff, and has performed in each subsequent Welsh Proms season with guest resenters such as Brian Blessed, Sarah Jane Honeywell, Aled Jones and Dave Benson Phillips.

Cardiff University Students' Union

Head of Student Media is editor and publisher of Gair rhydd (Cardiff Universities student newspaper), the executive editor of Quench Magazine and executive manager/controller of Xpress Radio and CUTV.

City Stadium

Cardiff City Stadium, in Cardiff, Wales - the home of Cardiff City F.C.

Clas Ohlson

There are now 12 stores in England and Wales, including Manchester, Leeds, Watford, Kingston upon Thames, Reading, Liverpool, Merry Hill, Cardiff, Doncaster, Norwich and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Danielle Ward

An experienced bass player she has released three albums with Cardiff indie band The Loves.

England riots

1991 England riots, mainly in Oxford, Cardiff, Dudley, Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne; riots in Birmingham around the same time

Ernest Bennett

Sir Ernest Nathaniel Bennett (1865–1947), British politician; Member of Parliament for Woodstock, 1906–10, and Cardiff Central, 1929–45

Frank Burrows

He was then on the coaching staff at West Ham United, working under manager Harry Redknapp before returning to Cardiff City as manager in February 1998, succeeding Kenny Hibbitt in the manager's position.

Fred Stansfield

His recovery meant he missed several months and on his return found his place in the Cardiff side taken by Stan Montgomery, who manager Cyril Spiers had signed from Southend United, and he left to join Newport County.

George Avery Young

His first major club was Cardiff, and while serving with the 'Blues' he was selected to represent Wales in the country's opening game of the 1886 Home Nations Championship, against England.

George McCoy

George McCoy has appeared on television several times, including three episodes of The Big Questions on 20th January 2008 in Leeds, 24th May 2009 in Bristol and 1st April 2012 in Bury as well as the Welsh Panorama programme 'Week In - Week Out' which focussed on adult services in Cardiff.

Graham Ibbeson

He has created bronze sculptures in towns and cities across Britain including Leeds, Cardiff, Dover, Barnsley, Doncaster, Northampton, Chesterfield, Middlesbrough, Perth, Otley and Rugby.

Gwaelod

Gwaelod-y-Garth (Welsh for Foot of the Garth), village in the parish of Pentyrch, Cardiff in Wales

Highway Star – A Journey in Rock

The first official screening of the film took place on March 2, 2007 at the launch of Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries, an initiative by ATRiuM and University of Glamorgan.

Huw Richards

Neath were a rising force in Welsh rugby in the 1980s, finishing as runners up in the 1984 Welsh Cup final against Cardiff.

Islwyn Borough Transport

Prior to its sale in 2010, Islwyn operated 18 local bus routes centred on Caerphilly and Blackwood, taking in Cardiff and Bargoed.

James Pyke Thompson

In 1924 the land surrounding the family house in Canton, Cardiff was also presented to the city; it was renamed Thompson's Park.

Jem Poster

Poster's poetry and prose have attracted widespread critical acclaim and he has won both the Cardiff Academi International Poetry Competition and the Peterloo Open Poetry Competition.

John B. Haberlen

Haberlen has participated as a jury member and auditor in major choral festivals worldwide, including the St. Petersburg Choral Festival, the World Choir in Cardiff, Wales; Marktoberdorf, Germany; Riva del Garda, Italy; Budapest, Hungary; Denmark and Sydney, Australia.

John Esplen

He then became a partner in his father's firm and helped to establish branches in London, Cardiff, Buenos Aires, New York City and Montevideo.

Joseph Stone, Baron Stone

Joe Stone was a General Practitioner, originally from Llanelli in Wales, who after qualifying in Cardiff worked as a GP in and around Hendon.

Kevin Figes

Quartet gigs in Abergavenny, Cardiff, London (606), Sherbourne, Stratford-upon-Avon, Swindon, Bristol (Be-Bop and The Old Duke) and Glastonbury Festival including a live radio 3 broadcast.

Malcolm McColm

Born in Cardiff, Wales, he migrated to Australia as a child and was educated at Scotch College, Warwick, Queensland.

Matt Barbet

Growing up in North Wales, Matt Barbet attended the Alun School in Mold, Flintshire and later studied at Cardiff University before returning to the Cardiff School of Journalism.

Nicholas Edwards, Baron Crickhowell

During the 1990s Lord Crickhowell became a leading figure in the campaign for a permanent home for the Welsh National Opera in Cardiff.

North Halifax Grammar School

The School entered the 23rd national Bar Mock Trial competition, won their regional heat, and go through to the final in Cardiff.

Rice Powell

Powell now led his forces to seize Swansea, then Neath before advancing into the Vale of Glamorgan with Royalists rising in support en route, with Cardiff as their aim.

Ronnie Boon

He joined the blues during the 1928/29 season, and by 1930 he was selected to represent Wales in a Five Nations Championship match against Scotland in an all-Cardiff three-quarter line alongside Davies, Jones and Turnbull.

The Hard Interchange

It offers bus and coach transport, and the neighbouring Portsmouth Harbour Station provides trains to London, Cardiff and Brighton.

Totally Jodie Marsh

Totally Jodie Marsh: Who'll Take Her Up the Aisle? was a British reality television show, which saw glamour model Jodie Marsh audition a potential husband in London, Edinburgh, Sheffield, Birmingham, Cardiff and Bournemouth.

Walter Wilson

Walter Bartley Wilson (1870–1954), artist and football manager at Cardiff City

Welsh Comedy Festival

The inaugural festival opened at Gio's and moved to locations such as The Point at Cardiff Bay, The Social (Cardiff) and the Cardiff University Student's Union and included a visit to Swansea's famous Grand Theatre during the festivities organised by local stand up comic and promoter Jeff Baker of Cracker Ass Comedy fame.

Wolfson Centre for Magnetics

In 2000 Queen Elizabeth II visited Cardiff University and also saw some activity of the WCM.

Your Missus Is a Nutter

In a further controversial incident in 2005, GLC were invited by the Football Association of Wales to perform before the World Cup Qualifying match against England at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.