1927–28 Cardiff City F.C. season

The 1927–28 season was the 27th season of competitive football played by Cardiff City F.C. and the team's seventh consecutive season in the First Division of the Football League. The team were reigning holders of the FA Cup starting the campaign, having won the previous year's final. As a result, there were few significant changes in the playing squad from the previous season, with the club choosing to invest funds in their home ground Ninian Park.

Cardiff City
1927–28 season
ChairmanWatkins J. Williams
ManagerFred Stewart
Division One6th
FA CupFifth round
Welsh CupWinners
FA Charity ShieldWinners
Top goalscorerLeague:
Hughie Ferguson (18)
All:
Hughie Ferguson (25)

Background

Cardiff City were competing in the First Division of the Football League for the seventh consecutive season.[1] The previous season, Cardiff had become the first team from outside England to win the FA Cup by defeating Arsenal 1–0 in the 1927 FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.[2] However, in the league, they had endured a downturn in form and finished the campaign in 16th place.[3]

Despite a drop in attendance figures during the 1926–27 season due to the economic situation in the South Wales area, part of the 1926 United Kingdom general strike,[4][5] the club's finances were significantly boosted by the successful cup run. The gate receipts for the final had generated the club more than £23,000 in revenue,[6] while unusual forms of income such as £40 from Columbia Records for the rights to sell recordings of the singing at the final further boosted the club. The board decided to invest the money in the club's home ground Ninian Park hiring local engineering firm Connies & Meaden to begin construction of a roof above the Grange End Stand.[7][8] The club also undertook a tour of Wales during the summer to display the FA Cup around the country.[9]

The decision to invest in Ninian Park ultimately left manager Fred Stewart with little money to spend on his team. The club's programme however noted that the playing staff had never before "been so well placed for players as at present" and that the decision was made due to "the satisfaction of the directors with the men at their disposal."[7] The signings that Stewart was able to add were inexpensive players from amateur leagues including Joe Hillier, who had been on the books of South Wales rivals Swansea Town, and John Ridgeway, an amateur from the Sheffield area.[10] At boardroom level, Walter Parker decided to step down from his role as chairman and was replaced by Watkins J. Williams.[11] Club captain Fred Keenor received offers from several English sides having led his side to FA Cup victory, but chose to remain with Cardiff.[9]

Football League First Division

Cardiff began the season with a home fixture against Bolton Wanderers at Ninian Park which attracted a crowd of more than 24,000. Goals from George McLachlan and Len Davies secured a winning start to the campaign with a 2–1 victory.[12]

References

Specific

  1. "Cardiff City". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  2. "Cup friends reunited". BBC Sport. 4 January 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  3. Shepherd 2002, p. 28
  4. Leighton 2010, p. 102
  5. Lloyd 1999, p. 83
  6. Saunders 2013, p. 61
  7. Leighton 2010, p. 125
  8. Shepherd, Richard (2007). The Cardiff City Miscellany. Durrington: Pitch Books. p. 73. ISBN 978-1905411047.
  9. Leighton 2010, p. 126
  10. Lloyd 1999, p. 108
  11. Saunders 2013, p. 71
  12. Shepherd 2002, p. 29

Bibliography

  • Hayes, Dean (2006), The Who's Who of Cardiff City, Breedon Books, ISBN 978-1-85983-462-6CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Leighton, James (2010), Fred Keenor – The Man Who Never Gave Up, Derby: Derby Books Publishing Company, ISBN 978-1-85983-828-0CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Lloyd, Grahame (1999), C'mon City! A Hundred Years of the Bluebirds, Seren Books, ISBN 1854112716CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Saunders, Christian (2013), From the Ashes – The Real Story of Cardiff City Football Club, Llygad Gwalch Cyf, ISBN 9781845242138CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Shepherd, Richard (2002). The Definitive: Cardiff City F.C. Nottingham: SoccerData Publications. ISBN 1-899468-17-X.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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