WRU Chief: Thanks for the memories

The game comes six years and one month after the Millennium Stadium first opened its doors to football fans from across the Severn Bridge. Robbie Fowler had the honour of scoring the first goal at the stadium in a final when he spearheaded Liverpool to victory over Birmingham City in the then Worthington Cup final.

That was on February 25th 2001 and since then the Football League and Football Association have brought 45 major showpiece events to the Welsh capital. The final event will see two new visitors, Doncaster Rovers and Bristol Rovers, taking the total number of teams who have featured in major finals in Cardiff to 49.

“When the Football League and Football Association approached the Millennium Stadium to see if it was available to host their showpiece events while Wembley was being rebuilt the venue was still in its infancy,” said WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis.

“The first of the major finals we hosted was the Football League’s then Worthington Cup Final (now Carling Cup) between Liverpool and Birmingham. It is therefore fitting that the last event should be the 32nd staged by our great friends from the Football League.

“There can be little doubt that by hosting these matches the Millennium Stadium has grown in stature as a venue. What is also not in doubt is the enormous value these events have brought to Cardiff as the Welsh capital, and Wales as a whole.

“The Cardiff Business School estimated that the PR and marketing value of staging these cup finals in Wales was worth around £100m. Other, rather harder facts, prove that the Welsh economy has benefited by more than that amount through the Millennium Stadium providing a home for these games since 2001.

“The stadium staff have grown in stature since that first event was staged in 2001 and no sporting event in the world is now beyond us at the Millennium Stadium. Our unique position at the heart of a vibrant and attractive European capital city has been a major attraction for the millions of visiting fans and I’m sure many of them will revisit Wales as a result of their experience in Cardiff.

“I’m certain the ‘Millennium Years’ will live long in the memory of the players, managers and fans who visited our stadium and it has been a great pleasure to have been involved with some of world football’s greatest club events.

“In thanking both the Football League and the Football Association for their business, I would also like to wish Wembley the best of luck when the events return there. I believe the Millennium Stadium proved itself to be a worthy custodian of these great football treasures and set a new benchmark for them in terms of customer care.

“Now the challenge is to find new events to take over from the football matches we have so enjoyed as a stadium and a nation over the past six years. Already we are making great strides with boxing, rugby league and more concerts and I’m certain the rich legacy of hosting the Football League and Football Association’s major matches will make the Millennium Stadium an even more attractive venue.”

With a gate of 56,000, the gross attendance at the 46 matches has gone through the 2.6m barrier. The Football League matches have attracted 1.65m fans.

English Football’s Millennium Years

2001
25th February: Worthington Cup Final – 73,434
Liverpool 1 – 1 Birmingham City
(Liverpool won 5-4 on pens)

22nd April: LDV Vans Trophy Final – 25,654
Port Vale 2 – 0 Brentford

12th May: FA Cup Final – 73,434
Liverpool 2 – 1 Arsenal

26th May: Division Three Play-Off Final – 23,600
Blackpool 4 – 2 Leyton Orient

27th May – Division Two Play-Off Final – 50,496
Reading 2 – 3 Walsall (aet)

28th May: Division One Play-Off Final – 54,328
Bolton Wanderers 3 – 0 Preston

13th August: Charity Shield – 70,227
Liverpool 2 – 1 Manchester Utd

2002
24th February: Worthington Cup Final – 72,500
Blackburn Rovers 2 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur

24th March: LDV Vans Trophy Final – 20,287
Blackpool 4 – 1 Cambridge Utd

4th May: FA Cup Final – 73,963
Arsenal 2 – 0 Chelsea

6th May: Division Three Play-Off Final – 24,368
Cheltenham Town 3 – 1 Rushden

11th May: Division Two Play-Off Final – 42,523
Stoke City 2 – 0 Brentford

12th May: Division One Play-Off Final – 71,597
Birmingham City 1 – 1 Norwich City
(Birmingham City won 4-2 on pens)

11th August: Community Shield – 67,337
Arsenal 1 – 0 Liverpool

2003
2nd March: Worthington Cup Final – 74,340
Liverpool 2 – 0 Manchester Utd

6th April: LDV Vans Trophy Final – 50,913
Bristol City 2 – 0 Carlisle United

17th May: FA Cup Final – 73,726
Arsenal 1 – 0 Southampton

24th May; Division Three Play-Off Final – 32,148
Bournemouth 5 – 2 Lincoln City

25th May: Division Two Play-Off Final – 66,096
Cardiff City 1 – 0 Queens Park Rangers (aet)

26th May: Division One Play-Off Final – 69,473
Wolves 3 – 0 Sheffield Utd

10th August: Community Shield – 59,293
Manchester Utd 1 – 1 Arsenal
(Manchester Utd won on pens)

2004
29th February: Carling Cup Final – 72,634
Middlesbrough 2 – 1 Bolton Wanderers

21st March: LDV Vans Trophy Final – 34,031
Blackpool 2 – 0 Southend Utd

22nd May: FA Cup Final – 71,350
Manchester Utd 3 – 0 Millwall

29th May: Division One Play-Off Final – 72,523
Crystal Palace 1 – 0 West Ham United

30th May: Division Two Play-Off Final – 65,167
Bristol City 0 – 1 Brighton

31st May: Division Three Play-Off Final – 37,298
Huddersfield Town 0 – 0 Mansfield Town
(Huddersfield Town won 4-1 on pens)

8th August: Community Shield – 63,317
Arsenal 3 – 1 Manchester Utd

2005
27th February: Carling Cup Final – 71,622
Chelsea 3 – 2 Liverpool (aet)

10th April: LDV Vans Trophy Final – 36,216
Wrexham 2 – 0 Southend (aet)

16th April: FA Cup Semi-Final – 52,077
Arsenal 3 – 0 Blackburn Rovers

17th April: FA Cup Semi-Final – 69,280
Manchester Utd 4 – 1 Newcastle Utd

21st May: FA Cup Final – 71,876
Arsenal 0 – 0 Manchester Utd
(Arsenal won 5-4 on pens)

28th May: League Two Play-Off Final – 19,653
Southend 2 – 0 Lincoln City (aet)

29th May: League One Play-Off Final – 59,808
Sheffield Wednesday 4 – 2 Hartlepool (aet)

30th May: Championship Play-Off Final – 70,275
West Ham United 1 – 0 Preston

7th August: Community Shield – 58,014
Arsenal 1 – 2 Chelsea

2006
26th February: Carling Cup Final – 66,866
Manchester Utd 4 – 0 Wigan Athletic

2nd April: Football League Trophy Final – 42,028
Swansea City 2 – 1 Carlisle Utd

13th May: FA Cup Final – 74,000
Liverpool 3 – 3 West Ham United (aet)
(Liverpool won 3-1 on pens)

21st May: Championship Play-Off Final – 64,736
Watford 3 – 0 Leeds Utd

28th May: League One Play-Off Final – 55,419
Barnsley 2 – 2 Swansea City
(Barnsley won 4-3 on pens)

29th May: League Two Play-Off Final – 29,196
Cheltenham Town 1 – 0 Grimsby Town

13th August: Community Shield – 56,275
Liverpool 2 – 1 Chelsea

2007
25th February: Carling Cup Final – 70,073
Chelsea 2 – 1 Arsenal

Total Number of Matches = 45
Total Goals = 129
Gross Attendance = 2,553,471
Average = 56,744

Football Association matches 
(FA Cup Final, FA Cup semi-finals,Community Shield)

Number Played = 14
Goals Scored = 39
Gross Attendance = 934,169
Average = 66,726

Football League matches
(Football League Trophy, Pay-Off Finals, Carling Cup)

Number Played = 31
Goals Scored = 90
Gross Attendance = 1,619,302
Average = 52,236