Ninian Park stood on Sloper Road in the Leckwith area of Cardiff, Wales, serving as the home of Cardiff City F.C. for 99 years from 1910 until 2009. Named after Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Ninian Crichton-Stuart, who provided the financial guarantee that made the ground possible, it opened on 1 September 1910 with a friendly match against Aston Villa watched by around 7,000 spectators. Club founder Bartley Wilson had secured the plot — formerly a municipal rubbish tip — from Cardiff Corporation and oversaw its transformation into a football ground fit for the newly formed club.
Over nearly a century, Ninian Park became one of the most storied grounds in British football. It hosted 84 Wales national team internationals between 1911 and 1989, and its all-time attendance record of 62,634 was set during a Wales versus England fixture on 17 October 1959. Cardiff City’s own club record at the ground — 57,893 — was set against Arsenal on 22 April 1953. After Cardiff City relocated to the adjacent Cardiff City Stadium in 2009, Ninian Park was demolished and its site redeveloped into a 142-home residential estate that retained the famous name.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Cardiff City F.C. (1910–2009); Wales national team (1911–1989)
- Location: Sloper Road, Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales
- Opened: 1 September 1910
- Closed: 25 April 2009
- Demolished: 2009
- Final Capacity: 21,508
- Peak Capacity: Around 46,000 (pre-safety-regulation era)
- Record Attendance: 62,634 — Wales vs England, 17 October 1959
- Wales Internationals Hosted: 84
Nine Decades of Football History
Ninian Park grew steadily after its 1910 opening, surviving a major setback in 1937 when fire destroyed the main grandstand. Rebuilt and expanded, it reached a peak terrace capacity of around 46,000 in its mid-century heyday before modernisation and post-Hillsborough safety regulations reduced that figure to 21,508 by the time it closed. Four distinct stands — the Grandstand, the Popular Bank (known affectionately as the ‘Bob Bank’), the Canton Stand, and the Grange End — each developed their own character and loyal followings over the decades.
The ground served not only as Cardiff City’s home but also as a fortress for the Wales national team for much of the twentieth century. Memorable victories included a 2-1 win over England in 1955 and a crucial 1-0 defeat of Hungary in 1958 that helped Wales qualify for that year’s World Cup. The stadium also witnessed tragedy: legendary Scottish manager Jock Stein collapsed at the ground in September 1985 following a tense World Cup qualifier between Wales and Scotland, and later died — a poignant moment etched permanently into Ninian Park’s history.
Closure, Demolition, and Legacy
Cardiff City played their final match at Ninian Park on 25 April 2009, losing 3-0 to Ipswich Town in front of an emotional crowd bidding farewell to nearly a century of memories. The club moved to the newly built Cardiff City Stadium, located on adjacent land off Leckwith Road, for the start of the 2009–10 season. Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale formally handed the old ground over to developer Redrow Homes on 10 September 2009, and demolition followed shortly afterwards.
Redrow Homes converted the site into 142 new homes, completing the development in 2010 while preserving the Ninian Park name for the estate. A central square was positioned to mark the approximate location of the old pitch’s centre circle, and the main road through the development was named Bartley Wilson Way in honour of the founder who first brought football to the site. The Cardiff City Stadium, which overlooks the former ground, keeps the area’s footballing identity alive for a new generation of supporters.
Explore more: Explore more historic stadiums.
Ninian Park FAQs
Who was Ninian Park named after?
The stadium was named after Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Ninian Crichton-Stuart, son of the 3rd Marquess of Bute, who stepped in as financial guarantor for the ground’s construction in 1909. In appreciation, club founder Bartley Wilson chose to honour him with the stadium’s name rather than using the originally planned name, Sloper Park.
What was the record attendance at Ninian Park?
The all-time record was 62,634 spectators, set on 17 October 1959 when the Wales national team hosted England in a Home Championship match. Cardiff City’s own club record at the ground was 57,893, achieved during a First Division fixture against Arsenal on 22 April 1953.
What stands on the site of Ninian Park today?
The site was purchased by Redrow Homes after demolition and redeveloped into a 142-house residential estate, completed in 2010 and still known as Ninian Park. A central square marks the approximate position of the old pitch’s centre circle, and the estate’s main road bears the name Bartley Wilson Way in tribute to the club’s founder.
Get More from Ninian Park
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Ninian Park, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: Steve Chapple / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.