On This Day – 29th March
It was on this day in 2000 that Wales played their first match at the new Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
The Milennium Stadium was built on the old site of the Cardiff Arms Park, the former national stadium. Cardiff Arms Park couldn’t be redeveloped any further and with other national stadiums having higher capacities, Wales decided that a completely new stadium would be required.
The new stadium was ready to host the 1999 Rugby World Cup and seven of the 41 matches were played in the stadium. A year later, the football team made their debut in their new surroundings.
The debut match at the Millennium Stadium was against Finland. Jari Litmanen gave the Fins the lead after 21 minutes before Nathan Blake became the first Welshman to score at the stadium. Sadly, for Blake it was an own goal!
Ryan Giggs scored after an hour but the Welsh were unable to find an equaliser.
In 2016, the stadium was renamed and is now known as the Principality Stadium.
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