Cardiff City are one of only three Welsh clubs to currently play in the English Football League (Swansea City and Wrexham are the other two; Newport County had played in the 4th Level, from 1920-’87, but were relegated to non-League status in 1988).
Cardiff are the only non-English club to win one of the 3 major English football trophies. This occurred when they won the 1927 FA Cup, over Arsenal, 1-0. The Cardiff City teams of the 1920’s were some of the best in England. In fact, they narrowly missed out on the 1924 National Title, as they were tied with Huddersfield Town for first place, but lost out on goal average. The next year (1925), they finished runners up in the FA Cup, losing 0-1 to Sheffield United. Two years later they finally claimed a trophy, with the 1927 FA Cup. **{See this article, on the 1927 FA Cup.} **{See this Youtube highlights reel.} **{See this Youtube tribute.}
Cardiff City has spent just 15 seasons in the top flight, 8 of those in the 1920’s. Their last spell in the first division was 2 seasons in the early 1960’s. They were relegated to the second division in 1962. Since then they have have been relegated 7 times, and promoted 7 times, between the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Levels. Their low point was in 1998, when they finished 21st in the 4th Level (then called League 3), only two places from being relegated out of the League.
Under manager Dave Jones this season, Cardiff are threatening to break into the League Championship playoff places. They sit in 8th place, after having won 6, drawn 2, and lost 2, in their last 10 games. The club features two old Premier League stars, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (with 5 league goals) , and Robbie Fowler (4 league goals). Two Welsh-born midfielders are powering the Bluebirds: Paul Parry (6 league goals) and promising 21-year old Joe Ledley (5 league goals).
Thanks to Historical Football Kits website (historicalkits[dot]co[dot]uk): the 6 older kits on the right hand side of the chart are courtesy of Historical Football Kits, and reproduced by permission. Thanks to Colours of Football website (colours-of-football[dot]com); (trimac[dot]com); (thefa[dot]com); (viewimages[dot]com); (therightresort[dot]com); (worldstadiums[dot]com). And special thanks to (http://www.freewebs.com/tims92/panoramics.htm) for the great panoramic photo of Ninian Park.
Don’t forget Aberdare Athletic and Merthyr who also played in the Football League in it’s early years!
Response to comment.: Thanks. Yes, you are right…Merthyr Tydfil FC were in the Conference (the fifth level of English football), from 1989 to 1995. Six decades earlier, Aberdare Athletic FC were in the League (at what is now the 3rd level), from 1921 to 1927. The two towns are just 4 miles apart, situated about 25 miles northwest of Cardiff.
Comment by blogdroed — January 29, 2008 @ 10:21 am
Very Nice! Thanks!
Comment by Victor — February 18, 2008 @ 6:33 am
Great Map… Keep up the good work.
Comment by Asterisk Konsulenter — October 17, 2008 @ 10:38 am
Carl Dickinson put the boot into us at the weekend. Absolutely gutted. Traveled down from Ayrshire for this as one as my mate’s got corporate tickets through his work. Hate to say it but it was a cracking goal. Wee Burky had a great game. Although we travelled down and got beat we still had a ball. Traveled back to Wales in a supporters bus (sang all the way), had a party with the fans which was great and then stayed at the Village Hotel
http://www.village-hotels.co.uk/Hotels/Cardiff/
Hopefully be down for a home game after Christmas.
Comment by Gavelect — November 23, 2009 @ 7:08 am
Another great map, thank-you.
Commenter’s site: http://www.premierfootballsouvenirs.co.uk/
Comment by footballgifts — May 19, 2010 @ 12:15 am
Response to Comment #5: Thanks, footballgifts.
Comment by admin — May 19, 2010 @ 3:27 pm