Aaron Ramsey’s boyhood Cardiff team-mates – where are they now?

DAVID FORDE

The Galway goalkeeper was making what would be his penultimate appearance for Cardiff having been signed from Derry in the January. After loan spells at Luton and Bournemouth, he moved to Millwall the following summer where he spent nine years, made more than 300 appearances and broke into the Republic of Ireland set up.

Retired in 2019 after a spell at Cambridge, going on to set up a coaching and development company, serving as Head of Psychology at Crystal Palace and a similar role in the Irish set up, and recently revealing self-discovery trips to the Himalayas and Bolivian Shamans.

KEVIN Mc NAUGHTON

A cult hero at Cardiff, right-back McNaughton was in his first season in south Wales after moving from Aberdeen but stayed until 2015 making more than 250 appearances for the Bluebirds, including in the Premier League.

Moved to Wigan in 2015 before spells back in Scotland with Inverness and Forfar. He has spoken publicly about his battle with mental health after retirement in 2018 and is now manager at Scottish sixth-tier side Dundee North End, combing with a role as player liaison in Dundee’s academy,

DARREN PURSE

Centre-back and club captain, Purse had two further campaigns at Cardiff before leaving for Sheffield Wednesday before time at Millwall, Plymouth, Port Vale and Finnish side IFK Mariehamn. Continued playing non-league until the age of 41 in 2018. Spent time coaching in Oxford’s youth set up before returning to the Bluebirds after being appointed Cardiff’s Under-23 manager in December 2022.

ROGER JOHNSON

The centre-back was another in his first season after a successful £275,000 move from Wycombe. Played Premier League football and won the League Cup with Birmingham after a £5m move in 2009 before top-flight captaincy during a difficult time at Wolves. Spent time in the Indian Super League either side of a spell at Charlton before joining Bromley aged 34, going on to spend time at the non-league club as a coach. Lost a high court damages claim for clinical negligence against a knee specialist over an alleged “surgical error” in April 2022. Managed National League side Brackley Town last season before leaving in April.

DARCY BLAKE

Just one year older than Ramsey, had joined Cardiff as a 10-year-old and made his senior bow the previous April. An adaptable defender, was part of the same exciting generation of Welsh talent but struggled to get a real run at Cardiff before leaving for Crystal Palace at the end of his contract in 2012.

Having broken into the Wales squad under Gary Speed, Blake was part of the Eagles side that gained promotion to the Premier League in 2012 but – after a short stint at Newport the following season – turned his back on football after leaving Palace in 2014. Was last known to be playing for a local rugby club in Tredegar.

PAUL PARRY

The man Ramsey replaced in the final moments. The 12-cap Wales international – a winger with a fear of flying – played a key role in Cardiff’s run to the 2008 FA Cup final before leaving for Preston at the end of the following season. Converted into a full-back, he then dropped down to Shrewsbury before retiring aged 33. Set up a youth academy and a property business while was last season serving as an assistant manager at hometown club Chepstow Town in the Welsh third tier.