Cardiff Draconians - Orange Llama Stadium

Cardiff Draconians FC

Orange Llama Stadium

Lydstep Park

Llanidloes Road

Gabalfa

Cardiff

CF14 2ST

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Ground Number: 1509

Friday 26th December 2025

Cardiff Draconians 2-0 Llantwit Major

Cymru South

CARDIFF DRACONIANS - A BRIEF HISTORY

The club was established in 1963, receiving special permission to use the Draconians name first used by a Welsh representative side. In their first season in the Cardiff Combination League, they finished as Second Division champions. The club changed its name to Gabalfa Draconians at about the time that the Llanidloes Road ground was first used for home games (1984–85 season), before reverting to their original name in 2000 when they entered the South Wales Amateur League. They were Division 2 runners-up behind Ynysddu Welfare in 2001. A 5th-place finish in Division 1 was a great start, but by 2007, they had been relegated following seasons of struggle. Two years were spent back in Division 2 before they won the league. Lessons were not learned, though, and another relegation followed in 2015.  They bounced back as runners-up to Ynyshir Albions and then won the Division 1 title the following season. In 2020, Draconians were South Wales Premier League runners-up to Pencoed Athletic. Following a season's break due to the pandemic, Cardiff Draconians were admitted to the newly-established Ardal South East in 2021. Four seasons were spent here before they were champions last season. winning promotion to the Cymru South.

Local cup honours include the Cardiff Combination League Second Division Cup in 1973, the Cardiff Combination League Combination Cup in 1966 and 1975, and the WJ Owen Cup in 2017 & 2019. The club is based in Gabalfa, a district and community in the north of Cardiff. It is characterised by a four-lane flyover road at the Gabalfa Interchange, where the A48 road meets the A470 road (North Road), which leads from Cardiff to northern Wales, and the A469 road (Caerphilly Road). The name is derived from the Welsh Ceubalfa, literally translated as 'place of the boat'. It was formerly the site of a ferry crossing across the River Taff, upon which a school is now built. The area was first heavily developed in the 1880s, with most of the characteristic terraced housing originating from the next 30 years of construction. The area around St. Joseph's Church near Companies House is known as 'the Colonies' due to many streets named after former British colonies, including Australia Road and Newfoundland Road.

MY VISIT

After nearly a week without a game and having a family day on Saturday, I was always going to be on the hunt for a game or two on Boxing Day. There were 25 options in all, most of them a huge distance away. It boiled down to two options - either a Gloucestershire League local derby between Ruarden Hill Rangers and Broadwell Amateurs or a double in Wales. Sadly, choices would be limited for the latter - the only doable double was if I took a revisit to Newport County. Not that I objected to that. They had an interesting history that I wanted to delve into, having last visited in 2013. It also restricted me to a choice of one game for the early kickoff - Cardiff Corinthians. I did briefly offer some games in the North East, but understandably, he didn't fancy a very early start. It wasn't something that appealed to me either, so I stuck with the favourite being the Welsh double.

From my game at South Leeds, I had hoped to fill up with petrol at Morrisons. However, a combination of the referee dawdling and the petrol station closing early meant I was snookered. I was at the Morrisons by 21:53 to find the petrol station shut up despite a 10 PM scheduled closure. The knickle-dragging Luddites didn't have to pay at the pump, which has been commonplace since the 90s, having seen  Sheila Grant do it on Brookside at ASDA around that time. In fact, it was first introduced to Europe in 1982. I had no choice but to head to Colin, as I was arriving at Emley at 10:20. I had spotted the first M1 closure, and that allowed us to stop at a Shell garage. I filled up, but at 4p a litre more than Morrisons. It was then a decent journey home until an M1 closure at Milton Keynes, which added 15 minutes to the journey. An endless run of roundabouts gave way to country roads on the way to Aylesbury and Tring. Finally, I dropped Colin off at 1.35 and got home myself at 1.50. I had a couple of cans of cider and a shot of rum to help me chill. I was in a productive mood and got my blog up and caught up. I also sent a parcel, a Chromebook that I'd purchased in April 2024 for £57. After having 20 months of good use out of it, I sold it for £71. That would have to wait until morning. I'd been awake for 24 hours, and suddenly, around 4 am, I was knackered and went to bed.

I naturally awoke at 9.56, four minutes before my alarm. I was far faster than I would be for work, up, washed, breakfasted and out in 40 minutes. I had to drop my old laptop off at the parcel shop, a 20-minute diversion. From there, it was nearly four miles to High Wycombe, where I purposely went through the high street to see what the market had on offer. Delightfully, the Romanian food stall that I've only seen once before when I was full, was in situ. For that reason, my first pint was in the adjacent Wetherspoons, saving myself a few quid in the process. Then, a huge Romanian mixed grill with chips for £12 was fan, delicious and filling. I needed a visit to the bog after that, before my usual pub, The Rose and Crown. There, a pint of Stan's Big Apple, then a can of K Cider on the walk to the ground, where I had a half of Saxby in the absence of Mulled Cider. From there, into the ground where Wycombe did their best to dampen my spirits with statuesque defending for Bolton's goal. But by halftime, we led 2-1, a combination of skill and good fortune. It was a free hit for my football costs, the food and drink covered by the benefits to my mental wellbeing ahead of a gruelling period at work. Sunday was better than expected as I got to go home early, just as the store was getting super busy.

The build-up to Christmas inevitably brought enquiries every five seconds and kids playing with toys and colouring books in the middle of the floor. Generally, the first two days were tolerable, though. I started to look ahead weather-wise, and sadly, it looked pretty grim with regard to the temperature. The last two days were pretty much the same, but I was glad when I could go home at 11 am on Christmas Eve. I find the whole Christmas period tedious, and both Christmas Eve & Christmas Day dragged. I made my decision to risk Wales on Christmas Morning, having looked at Accuweather, the weather was similar to what it had been the previous night. I was hopeful that it would go ahead, having done a 'pitch inspection' in my garden and finding the grass not frozen. It was a nice Christmas Day with the old girl, a few nice presents, including 20 litres of cracking Ross Cider and a nice groundhopping book. The first cider was cracked open at 10 am whilst poor fellow groundhopper was at work for the greedy WH Smith at Stansted Airport. At least he got triple pay for his efforts. The Christmas Dinner was superb, especially the pigs in blankets, one of the few good things about Christmas. The rest of the day, as well as the previous part, was spent in drink. The BBC offered a dreadful Christmas schedule, ITV winning the day with Bullseye, Coronation Street and the 1% Club. Earlier in the day, U & Watch provided easy-going dog rescue programmes, but it was a far cry from the 1990s when we got an Only Fools & Horses Special every year, along with lots of other Christmas treats.

My body clock was still adjusted to work hours, so I was asleep soon after 9 and up just before 4. I spent my time watching YouTube and napping for a few hours. I left just before 8.30, and with the roads quiet, it was a great run down. Thanks to a good parking spot, I was in Cardiff at the Ivor Davies Wetherspoons at 10.50. I had my usual Breakfast Muffin deal with Cranberry Juice and also picked up some Wetherspoons Top Trumps. This was named after the actor, songwriter and composer known as Ivor Novello. He was born Ivor Davies in 1893, at 95 Cowbridge Road East, where a plaque bears the inscription: This boy became a Ruritanian King, who gave his people dreams and songs to sing. From there, it was a ten-minute drive to the ground where I paid £6 to get in. It compared favourably to the £24 Newport were asking for my later game, the prices having increased by £2 on matchday, a dirty, sly trick considering it was wholly online. I decided to hold off until I got to the ground. I sat in the chilly stand and got on with my blog.

Cardiff Draconians were 7th in the table and had won seven, drawn two and lost five of their games so far. They were on mixed form, having lost 2-1 at Newport City in their last game. Llantwit Major had won four, drawn seven and lost four. Unbeaten in 7, their last game was a 2-2 draw at Trethomas Bluebirds. The two sides both had attacks without threatening each other. On 17 minutes, Sam Cawley headed home from an excellent corner to give Draconians the lead. The hosts went on to have much the better of the first half in a competitive game. The same could be said of the second half, and Draconians doubled their lead on 54 minutes, goalscorer Cawley providing the assist from the corner for an Oscar Raisbeck header. The attendance was announced as a decent 220, with a decent amount from Llantwit Major. 

THE GROUND

THE ORANGE LLAMA STADIUM is a smart, functional and tidy venue which, unusually, does not have floodlights. The cover is all along one side, one proper and two metal seated units provide around 200 seats. These are at least in club colours and have the club badge on them. The Cafe has a few tables and chairs outside and offers basic hot food such as hot dogs and pies at great prices, as well as drinks. I didn't see any sign of a bar. Parking is mainly on the road outside for fans, but it appears well linked by buses.