Secretary of State for Wales constituencies dwindled almost to zero, the office fell into disrepute. Nicholas Edwards, MP for Pembrokeshire, held the post for eight years. On his departure, the government ceased to look within Wales for the Secretary of State, and the post was increasingly used as a way of getting junior high-fliers into the Cabinet. John Redwood in particular caused embarrassment when he publicly demonstrated his inability to sing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau", the Welsh national anthem, at a conference. The introduction of the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Government, after the devolution referendum of 1997, was the beginning of a
2010 Football League Championship play-off Final played before play-off finals, would not be played before the match owing to concerns it could upset Cardiff's fans. This decision would later become Football League policy in subsequent matches at Wembley between Welsh and English clubs. This was due to the 2008 FA Cup Final between Portsmouth and Cardiff where both "God Save the Queen" and the Welsh anthem "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" were played and both sets of supporters booed the opposing anthems. Blackpool president Valērijs Belokoņs had promised the club's players a £5 million reward fund at the start of the 2009–10 season if they achieved promotion