Unreliable History
The football club started out of the cricket club in the city and indeed played their home games at Sophia Gardens (now home to Glamorgan Cricket club) for some time. While scores were fairly low, a few balls ended up in the river, because they were known as Riverside from 1899 until 1902 for their proximity to the nearby waters of the River Taff. In 1902, they added Albion to the end of their name and by then had also strutted their stuff at Old Park, Fir Gardens and finally ended up at Ninian Park by 1920, when they turned professional. The site was formerly a rubbish dump and for the first few years players were injured by glass and other debris rising up through the turf. However, the biggest shock came when a bed-stead protruded out of one of the goal-mouths on a particularly muddy day. The original name for the ground was to be Sloper Park, but luckily for the Blues, Lord Ninian (who kicked off their first game at the new ground and scored the winner against Aston Villa late on) gave his name as well as his money to the venture to develop the pride of Wales, with 10 Scotsmen and one native Welshman to take the field in the shirts of the new club. The club joined the League in 1920 and in 1924, they came second in Division One, failing to land the championship by 0.024 of a goal. Len Davies was their frail, but successful forward at the time and he missed a penalty in that season, which could have secured the championship for the Welsh side. The next season, the Bluebirds got to the FA Cup semi-final, but two years later reached Wembley for the Final itself. On the way Davies hit a 40 yard shot against Chelsea in the FA Cup and the referee had to ask a policeman behind the goal if it had gone in – everyone was so amazed the slight striker could hit the ball so far !! In the Final they met Arsenal and started what was to be a long-running series of giant-killings for the London side. One goal, which squirmed off the keeper’s new shiny jersey, settled the match and took the cup out of England for the only time.
In 1929, Cardiff conceded a then record low of 59 goals, but still got relegated and by 1934 they had plummeted to the bottom of the Third Division (South), having to be re-elected to stay in the League. The ground suffered a tragedy in 1937, when thieves broke in and tried to blow up the safe, but only succeeded in setting the stand alight. Their recovery took some time – winning 30 out of 42 games in 1947 to take the Third Division (South) title and they did return to the top flight in the 1950’s, before heading back down to the lower rungs of the League ladder. During the Fifties, they were drawn away to Leeds United in 1955, ’56 and ’57 in the FA Cup and they won each game 2-1 in front of a crowd that was the same size for each tie !! More recently, they have been trawling the lower end of the League, but in 1993 won the Division 3 championship and gaining promotion to Div. 2 again last season. In European competition, for which they have qualified through winning the Welsh Cup on many occasions, they have had some notable successes – in 1970 beating Real Madrid in the home leg of a Cup-Winners Cup tie and even managing to overcome FC Blau-Weiss of East Germany, the city that Cardiff is twinned with !! For a long time their most famous headlines have been for crowd trouble and financial struggles, but now it looks like the club are on firm ground (which is more than could be said for their original pitch) and hope to move forward into the 21st Century with ambition. This has received a knock-back as they were relegated from Division 2 at the end of the 1999-2000 season, being passed on their way down by their main rivals Swansea City. Under the bizarre leadership of Chairman Sam Hammam, the Bluebirds have soared up the league and into Div. 2 for the 2001-2002 season, having gained automatic promotion, passing their main rivals Swansea City who were on the way down. Having got planning permission for a new stadium, it looks like it is good times ahead for the Bluebirds if they can get out of the Championship (as it is now known) with a good push for promotion in 2006-07. The only black cloud on the horizon is the arrival of Peter Ridsdale who has taken over from Hammam and his duties might include him wanting to “live the dream” as he did at Leeds United. He didn’t get the chance, as Hammam sold out to Vincent Tan, who sold out the club’s history by making them wear red shirts and changing the club badge. It wasn’t the only thing he changed, as he took the club into the Premier League under Malky Mackay’s management and then spent a lot of money on the new club, the new ground and the new team to try to make them a fixture in the top flight. Tan appeared to become an increasingly erratic figure in his pronouncements and ended sacking Mackay for spending his money on the summer, before brining in former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who had no Premier League experience, before spending more of Tan’s money in the January sales of the 2014 winter transfer window. FAMOUS PLAYERS : – John Toshack, Bob Stand, Fred Keenor, Phil Dwyer, Barry Swift, Don Clark. FAMOUS FANS : – Super Furry Animals (Band), Mike Young (creator of SuperTed), Neil Kinnock (Euro MP), David Sullivan (Chairman – Birmingham City) |
Club Records
|
|
Formed | 1899 |
|
|
Turned Professional | 1910 |
|
|
Became a Limited Company | 1910 |
|
|
Former names | Riverside = 1899-1902 Riverside Albion = 1902-1906 |
|
|
Previous grounds | Riverside, Sophia Gardens Old Park Fir Gardens until 1910 Ninian Park = 1910-2009 |
|
|
Nickname | “The BLUEBIRDS” |
|
|
Club Colours | HOME : ![]() ![]() THIRD : |
|
|
Record Football League Win | 9-2 v Thames Division 3 South 06.02.1932 |
|
|
Record Premier League Win | 4-2 v Fulham (Home) 20.10.2018 3-1 v Fulham (Home) 08.03.2014 |
|
|
Record Football League Defeat | 2-11 v Sheffield United Division 1 01.01.1926 |
|
|
Record Premier League Defeat | 0-5 v Manchester City (Home) 22.09.2018 |
|
|
Record Cup Win | 8-0 v Enfield FAC R1 28.11.1931 |
|
|
Record Fee Paid | £15 million to Nantes (France) for Emiliano SALA (January 2019) |
|
|
Record Fee Received | £10 million from Internazionale (Italy) for Gary MEDEL (August 2014) |
|
|
Record Appearances | 531 – Phil Dwyer (1972-1985) |
|
|
Record Football League Appearances | 471 – Phil Dwyer (1972-1985) |
|
|
Record Premier League Appearances | 51 – Aron GUNNARSSON (2013-2018) |
|
|
Record goal-scorer in a season | 35 – Robert EARNSHAW (Division 2) 2002-2003 |
|
|
Record goal-scorer in a Premier League season | 7 – Jordon MUTCH (2013-2014) |
|
|
Record League goal-scorer | 128 – Len DAVIES (1920-1931) |
|
|
Record Premier League goal-scorer | 7 – Jordon MUTCH (2013-2014) |
|
|
Record all-time goal-scorer | 181 – Len DAVIES (1920-1931) |
|
|
Most goals in a match | 5 – Hugh FERGUSON v Burnley Division 1 01.09.1928 5 – Walter ROBBINS v Thames Division 3 (South) 06.02.1932 5 – William HENDERSON v Northampton Town Division 3 (South) 22.04.1933 |
|
|
Record Attendance (Ninian Park) | 57,893 v Arsenal Division 1 22.04.1953 |
|
|
Record Attendance (Cardiff Stadium) | 33,339 v Manchester City FA Cup Fourth Round 28.01.2018 |
|
|
Record total of goals in a League season | 93 – Division 3 (S) 1946-1947 |
|
|
Record total of goals in a Premier League season | 40 – 2013-2014 |
|
|
Record League points total | 3 points for a win : 90 – Championship 2017-20182 points for a win : 66 – Division 3 (South) 1946-1947 |
|
|
Record Premier League points total | 34 – 2018-2019 |
|
|
Most Capped player while at club | Alf SHERWOOD – 39 (Wales) |
|
|
Youngest player | Aaron RAMSEY – 16 years and 123 days v Hull City (Home) (Championship) 28.04.2007 |
|
|
Oldest player | George LATHAM – 41 years and 1 day v Blackburn Rovers (Away) (Division 1) 02.01.1922 |
|
Stadium details
Address : Cardiff Stadium, Leckwith Road, Cardiff CF11 8AZ
Telephone : 033 3311 1927
Ticket Office : 033 3311 1920
Capacity : 26,828
Away Allocation : 1,800
Pitch size : 101m x 69m (110 yards x 75 yards)
Official website : http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk
Directions
Good directions and details of transport to the Cardiff City stadium can be found on the Cardiff City website.
Honours
|
|
Division One Runner-up (Top tier) | 1923-1924 |
|
|
Championship Champions (Second tier) | 2012-2013 |
|
|
Championship Runners-up (Second tier) | 2017-2018 |
|
|
Division Two Runners-up (Second tier) | 1920-1921, 1951-1952, 1959-1960 |
|
|
Division Three (South) Champions (Third tier) | 1946-1947 |
|
|
Division Three Runners-up (Third tier) | 1975-1976, 1982-1983 |
|
|
Division Three Champions (Fourth tier) | 1992-1993 |
|
|
Division Three Runners-up (Fourth tier) | 2000-2001 |
|
|
Division Four Runners-up (Fourth tier) | 1987-1988 |
|
|
FA Cup Winners | 1927 |
|
|
FA Cup Finalists | 1925, 2008 |
|
|
League Cup Finalists | 2012 |
|
|
Welsh Cup Winners | 1912, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1927, 1928, 1930, 1956, 1959, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1988, 1992, 1993 |
|
|
FA Charity Shield Winners | 1927 |
|
Managers
|
|
Davy McDOUGALL | 1910-1911 |
|
|
Fred STEWART | 1911-1933 |
|
|
Bartley WILSON | 1933-1934 |
|
|
B WATTS-JONES | 1934-1937 |
|
|
Bill JENNINGS | 1937-1939 |
|
|
Cyril SPIERS | 1939-1946 |
|
|
Billy McCANDLESS | 1946-1948 |
|
|
Cyril SPIERS | 1948-1954 |
|
|
Trevor MORRIS | 1954-1958 |
|
|
Bill JONES | 1958-1962 |
|
|
George SWINDIN | 1962-1964 |
|
|
Jimmy SCOULAR | 1964-1973 |
|
|
Frank O’FARRELL | 1973-1974 |
|
|
Jimmy ANDREWS | 1974-1978 |
|
|
Richie MORGAN | 1978-1982 |
|
|
Len ASHURST | 1982-1984 |
|
|
Jimmy GOODFELLOW | 1984 |
|
|
Alan DURBAN | 1984-1986 |
|
|
Frank BURROWS | 1986-1989 |
|
|
Len ASHURST | 1989-1991 |
|
|
Eddie MAY | 1991-1994 |
|
|
Terry YORATH | 1994- March 1995 |
|
|
Eddie MAY | 1995 |
|
|
Kenny HIBBITT | 1995 |
|
|
Phil NEAL | 1996 |
|
|
Russell OSMAN | 1996 |
|
|
Kenny HIBBITT | 1996-1998 |
|
|
Frank BURROWS | 1998-2000 |
|
|
Billy AYRE | 2000 – August 2000 |
|
|
Bobby GOULD | August 2000 – July 2001 |
|
|
Alan CORK | July 2001 – February 2002 |
|
|
Lennie LAWRENCE | February 2002 – May 2005 |
|
|
Dave JONES | May 2005 – 2011 |
|
|
Malky MACKAY | 2011-2013 |
|
|
David KERSLAKE (Caretaker) | 2013-2014 |
|
|
Ole Gunnar SOLSKJAER | 2014 |
|
|
Scott YOUNG/Daniel GABBIDON (Caretakers) | 2014 |
|
|
Russell SLADE | 2014-2016 |
|
|
Paul TROLLOPE | 2016 |
|
|
Neil WARNOCK | 2016-2019 |
|
|
Neil HARRIS | 2019-2021 |
|
|
Mick McCARTHY | 2021- |
|
League Record
The Football League structure has historically been as follows …
1888-1892 | 1892-1920 | 1920-1921 | 1921-1958 | 1958-1992 | 1992-2004 | 2004 to date | |
First tier | Football League | Division One | Division One | Division One | Division One | Premiership | Premier League |
Second tier | Division Two | Division Two | Division Two | Division Two | Division One | Championship | |
Third tier | Division Three | Division Three (North) and (South) |
Division Three | Division Two | League One | ||
Fourth tier | Division Four | Division Three | League Two | ||||
|
|
Elected to Division Two (Second tier) | 1920 |
|
|
Division Two (Second tier) | 1920-1921 |
|
|
Division One (Top tier) | 1921-1929 |
|
|
Division Two (Second tier) | 1929-1931 |
|
|
Division Three (South) (Third tier) | 1931-1947 |
|
|
Division Two (Second tier) | 1947-1952 |
|
|
Division One (Top tier) | 1952-1957 |
|
|
Division Two (Second tier) | 1957-1960 |
|
|
Division One (Top tier) | 1960-1962 |
|
|
Division Two (Second tier) | 1962-1975 |
|
|
Division Three (Third tier) | 1975-1976 |
|
|
Division Two (Second tier) | 1976-1982 |
|
|
Division Three (Third tier) | 1982-1983 |
|
|
Division Two (Second tier) | 1983-1985 |
|
|
Division Three (Third tier) | 1985-1986 |
|
|
Division Four (Fourth tier) | 1986-1988 |
|
|
Division Three (Third tier) | 1988-1990 |
|
|
Division Four (Fourth tier) | 1990-1992 |
|
|
Division Three (Fourth tier) | 1992-1993 |
|
|
Division Two (Third tier) | 1993-1995 |
|
|
Division Three (Fourth tier) | 1995-1999 |
|
|
Division Two (Third tier) | 1999-2000 |
|
|
Division Three (Fourth tier) | 2000-2001 |
|
|
Division Two (Third tier) | 2001-2003 |
|
|
Division One (Second tier) | 2003-2004 |
|
|
The Championship (Second tier) | 2004-2013 |
|
|
Premier League (Top tier) | 2013-2014 |
|
|
The Championship (Second tier) | 2014-2018 |
|
|
Premier League (Top tier) | 2018-2019 |
|
|
The Championship (Second tier) | 2019- |
|