1956–57 Cardiff City F.C. season

Cardiff City
1956–57 season
Manager	Trevor Morris
Football League First Division	21st
FA Cup	4th round
Welsh Cup	6th round
Top goalscorer	League: Gerry Hitchens (21); All: Gerry Hitchens (25)
Highest home attendance	38,333 v Leeds United, 6 October 1956
Lowest home attendance	11,302 v Arsenal, 15 December 1956
Average home league attendance	20,528
	Home colours
	Home colours
	← 1955–56 1957–58 →

The 1956–57 season was Cardiff City F.C.'s 30th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the first tier of English football, finishing twenty-first, suffering relegation to Division Two.

Players

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
--	GK	WAL	Ken Jones
--	GK	WAL	Ron Howells
--	GK	WAL	Graham Vearncombe
--	DF	WAL	Colin Baker
--	DF	WAL	Ron Davies
--	DF	WAL	John Frowen
--	DF	SCO	Alick Gray
--	DF	SCO	Danny Malloy
--	DF	ENG	Charles Rutter
--	DF	WAL	Ron Stitfall
--	DF	WAL	Derrick Sullivan
--	MF	WAL	Alan Harrington
--	MF	WAL	Brian Jenkins
--	MF	SCO	George McGuckin


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
--	MF	SCO	John McSeveney
--	MF	ENG	Cliff Nugent
--	MF	SCO	Bob Scott
--	MF	WAL	Ken Tucker
--	MF	ENG	Brian Walsh
--	FW	ENG	Cecil Dixon
--	FW	WAL	Trevor Ford
--	FW	WAL	Don Godwin
--	FW	ENG	Gerry Hitchens
--	FW	ENG	Bernard Jones
--	FW	ENG	Harry Kirtley
--	FW	WAL	Neil O'Halloran
--	FW	WAL	Brayley Reynolds
--	FW	ENG	Ron Stockin

League standings

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Qualification or relegation
18	Manchester City	42	13	9	20	78	88	0.886	35
19	Portsmouth	42	10	13	19	62	92	0.674	33
20	Sunderland	42	12	8	22	67	88	0.761	32
21	Cardiff City (R)	42	10	9	23	53	88	0.602	29	Relegation to the Second Division
22	Charlton Athletic (R)	42	9	4	29	62	120	0.517	22	Relegation to the Second Division

Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(R) Relegated

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42
Ground	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	H
Result	D	W	D	L	L	W	D	L	L	L	D	W	L	L	D	W	W	L	W	L	L	L	L	L	W	W	L	W	L	D	L	L	L	L	D	W	D	D	L	L	L	L
Position			6	11	15	12	12	13	16	17	16	16	17	20	19	16	15	17	15	17	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	21	20	19	19	20	20	21	21	21

Source: Competitive matches
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Fixtures and results

First Division

18 August 1956 (1956-08-18) 1	Arsenal	0–0	Cardiff City	London
15:00				Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 51,069 Referee: Hugh Gerrard (Preston)

22 August 1956 (1956-08-22) 2	Cardiff City	5–2	Newcastle United	Cardiff
18:30	John McSeveney Trevor Ford Trevor Ford Cliff Nugent Cliff Nugent		Reg Davies Reg Davies	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 35,833 Referee: Ken Dagnall (Bolton)

25 August 1956 (1956-08-25) 3	Cardiff City	3–3	Burnley	Cardiff
15:00	John McSeveney 2' Gerry Hitchens 7' Trevor Ford 20'		11', 80' Peter McKay 73' Jimmy McIlroy	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 30,769 Referee: Ken Aston (Ilford, Essex)

29 August 1956 (1956-08-29) 4	Newcastle United	1–0	Cardiff City	Newcastle
18:15	Vic Keeble 90'			Stadium: St James's Park Attendance: 34,859 Referee: Arthur Edward Ellis (Halifax)

1 September 1956 (1956-09-01) 5	Preston North End	6–0	Cardiff City	Preston
15:00	Tom Finney Tom Finney Tommy Thompson Tommy Thompson Jimmy Baxter Danny Malloy (o.g.)			Stadium: Deepdale Attendance: 22,102

5 September 1956 (1956-09-05) 6	Cardiff City	2–1	Sheffield Wednesday	Cardiff
18:15	Gerry Hitchens John McSeveney		Roy Shiner	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 12,983 Referee: J Mitchell (Trescott)

8 September 1956 (1956-09-08) 7	Cardiff City	1–1	Chelsea	Cardiff
15:15	Ken Armstrong 19' (o.g.)		87' Johnny McNichol	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 26,568 Referee: Gilbert Pullin (Bristol)

12 September 1956 (1956-09-12) 8	Sheffield Wednesday	5–3	Cardiff City	Sheffield
19:30	Redfern Froggatt Redfern Froggatt Alan Finney Alan Finney Albert Quixall		John McSeveney (pen.) John McSeveney Brian Walsh	Stadium: Hillsborough Attendance: 37,235

15 September 1956 (1956-09-15) 9	Bolton Wanderers	2–0	Cardiff City	Bolton
	Ray Parry Nat Lofthouse			Stadium: Burnden Park Attendance: 28,738 Referee: HJ Husband (London)

22 September 1956 (1956-09-22) 10	Birmingham City	2–1	Cardiff City	Birmingham
	Alex Govan Noel Kinsey		Neil O'Halloran	Stadium: St Andrew's Attendance: 39,931 Referee: Jim Pickles (Cheshire)

29 September 1956 (1956-09-29) 11	Cardiff City	0–0	West Bromwich Albion	Cardiff
15:15				Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 22,362 Referee: Les Hamer (Bolton)

6 October 1956 (1956-10-06) 12	Cardiff City	4–1	Leeds United	Cardiff
15:00	Gerry Hitchens Gerry Hitchens Trevor Ford John McSeveney		Bobby Forrest	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 38,333 Referee: SW Barker (Kent)

13 October 1956 (1956-10-13) 13	Tottenham Hotspur	5–0	Cardiff City	London
	George Robb George Robb George Robb 89' Alfie Stokes Alfie Stokes			Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 52,429 Referee: Peter Brandwood (Worcester)

27 October 1956 (1956-10-27) 14	Wolverhampton Wanderers	3–1	Cardiff City	Wolverhampton
15:00	Jimmy Mullen Harry Hooper Colin Booth		Gerry Hitchens	Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 34,935 Referee: HJ Husband (London)

3 November 1956 (1956-11-03) 15	Cardiff City	1–1	Manchester City	Cardiff
14:45	Brayley Reynolds		Jack Dyson	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 23,820 Referee: AE Westwood (Stratford on Avon)

10 November 1956 (1956-11-10) 16	Charlton Athletic	0–2	Cardiff City	London
			Gerry Hitchens Brayley Reynolds	Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 17,642

17 November 1956 (1956-11-17) 17	Cardiff City	1–0	Sunderland	Cardiff
14:45	Cliff Nugent 54'			Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 20,017 Referee: Jim Pickles (Bradford)

24 November 1956 (1956-11-24) 18	Luton Town	3–0	Cardiff City	Luton
14:15	Tony Gregory 22' Bob Morton 57', 64'			Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 13,674 Referee: W Hickson (Wigan)

1 December 1956 (1956-12-01) 19	Cardiff City	1–0	Everton	Cardiff
14:30	John McSeveney 67'			Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 15,600 Referee: JJ Baxter (Baisingbourn, Herts)

8 December 1956 (1956-12-08) 20	Blackpool	3–1	Cardiff City	Blackpool
14:15	Allan Brown Allan Brown Dave Durie		Brian Walsh	Stadium: Bloomfield Road Attendance: 16,623 Referee: Ken Aston (Ilford, Essex)

15 December 1956 (1956-12-15) 21	Cardiff City	2–3	Arsenal	Cardiff
14:30	Gerry Hitchens Gerry Hitchens		Joe Haverty David Herd David Herd	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 11,302 Referee: Hugh Gerrard (Preston)

22 December 1956 (1956-12-22) 22	Burnley	6–2	Cardiff City	Burnley
14:15	Jimmy McIlroy 12', 65' Doug Newlands 14', 32' Les Shannon 47' Albert Cheesebrough 80'		6', 58' Gerry Hitchens	Stadium: Turf Moor Attendance: 10,118 Referee: Ken Aston (Ilford, Essex)

26 December 1956 (1956-12-26) 23	Manchester United	3–1	Cardiff City	Manchester
14:15	Dennis Viollet Liam Whelan Tommy Taylor		(pen.) Danny Malloy	Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 28,810

29 December 1956 (1956-12-29) 24	Cardiff City	2–3	Preston North End	Cardiff
14:30	Ron Stockin John McSeveney		Tommy Thompson Tommy Thompson (o.g.) Danny Malloy	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 15,474 Referee: Norman Taylor (Westbury)

12 January 1957 (1957-01-12) 25	Chelsea	1–2	Cardiff City	London
14:15	Derek Saunders 43'		32' John McSeveney 76' Gerry Hitchens	Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 28,828 Referee: Gilbert Pullin (Bristol)

19 January 1957 (1957-01-19) 26	Cardiff City	2–0	Bolton Wanderers	Cardiff
14:45	Gerry Hitchens Brian Walsh			Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 12,810 Referee: HJ Husband (London)

2 February 1957 (1957-02-02) 27	Cardiff City	1–2	Birmingham City	Cardiff
15:00	John McSeveney		Eddy Brown Gordon Astall	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 16,854 Referee: Jim Pickles (Cheshire)

9 February 1957 (1957-02-09) 28	West Bromwich Albion	1–2	Cardiff City	West Bromwich
15:00	Derek Kevan		Gerry Hitchens Colin Baker	Stadium: The Hawthorns Attendance: 23,522

16 February 1957 (1957-02-16) 29	Leeds United	3–0	Cardiff City	Leeds
	Frank McKenna John Charles Bobby Forrest			Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 21,695 Referee: SW Barker (Kent)

23 February 1957 (1957-02-23) 30	Cardiff City	2–2	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Cardiff
15:15	Gerry Hitchens Colin Baker		Joe Bonson Joe Bonson	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 13,879 Referee: HJ Husband (London)

9 March 1957 (1957-03-09) 31	Cardiff City	3–4	Blackpool	Cardiff
15:15	Gerry Hitchens Gerry Hitchens John McSeveney (pen.)		Dave Durie Dave Durie Dave Durie Dave Durie	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 15,274 Referee: Ken Aston (Ilford, Essex)

13 March 1957 (1957-03-13) 32	Aston Villa	4–1	Cardiff City	Birmingham
15:00	Peter McParland 1' Jackie Sewell 5', 61' Stan Lynn 84' (pen.)		9' Gerry Hitchens	Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 12,567 Referee: AA Howlett (Swindon)

16 March 1957 (1957-03-16) 33	Manchester City	4–1	Cardiff City	Manchester City
15:00	Bobby Johnstone 25', 53', 87' Jack Dyson 71'		(pen.) John McSeveney	Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 26,395 Referee: AE Westwood (Stratford on Avon)

23 March 1957 (1957-03-23) 34	Cardiff City	2–3	Charlton Athletic	Cardiff
15:15	Colin Baker 14' Gerry Hitchens 39'		60', 81' Stuart Leary 84' Sam Lawrie	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 17,047 Referee: RH Mann (Worcester)

30 March 1957 (1957-03-30) 35	Sunderland	1–1	Cardiff City	Sunderland
15:00	Billy Bingham 23'		68' Gerry Hitchens	Stadium: Roker Park Attendance: 40,100 Referee: Alf Bond (Fulham)

3 April 1957 (1957-04-03) 36	Cardiff City	1–0	Aston Villa	Cardiff
17:15	John McSeveney 48'			Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 18,354 Referee: AA Howlett (Swindon)
Note: McSeveney missed a penalty on 50 minutes

6 April 1957 (1957-04-06) 37	Cardiff City	0–0	Luton Town	Cardiff
15:15				Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 18,730 Referee: W Hickson (Wigan)

13 April 1957 (1957-04-13) 38	Everton	0–0	Cardiff City	Liverpool
15:15				Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 24,397 Referee: JJ Baxter (Royston, Herts)

19 April 1957 (1957-04-19) 39	Portsmouth	1–0	Cardiff City	Portsmouth
15:00	Peter Harris 29'			Stadium: Fratton Park Attendance: 31,223 Referee: Gilbert Pullin (Bristol)

20 April 1957 (1957-04-20) 40	Cardiff City	0–3	Tottenham Hotspur	Cardiff
15:15			Johnny Brooks Dave Dunmore Terry Dyson	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 25,181 Referee: Peter Brandwood (Kidderminster)

22 April 1957 (1957-04-22) 41	Cardiff City	0–2	Portsmouth	Cardiff
15:15			Peter Harris Peter Harris	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 22,197 Referee: Gilbert Pullin (Bristol)

27 April 1957 (1957-04-27) 42	Cardiff City	2–3	Manchester United	Cardiff
15:15	Gerry Hitchens 47' (52)		86' Alex Dawson 43', 90' (pen.) Albert Scanlon	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 17,708

FA Cup

5 January 1957 (1957-01-05) Round 3	Leeds United	1–2	Cardiff City	Leeds
	John Charles		Ron Stockin John McSeveney	Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 34,237 Referee: John Kelly (Chorley)

26 January 1957 (1957-01-26) Round 4	Cardiff City	0–1	Barnsley	Cardiff
14:45				Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 32,000 Referee: AE Westwood (Stockport)

Welsh Cup

31 January 1957 (1957-01-31) Round 5	Haverfordwest County	3–3	Cardiff City	Haverfordwest
			Gerry Hitchens Gerry Hitchens Harry Kirtley	Attendance: 1,800

6 February 1957 (1957-02-06) Round 5 (Replay)	Cardiff City	8–0	Haverfordwest County	Cardiff
14:45	Gerry Hitchens Gerry Hitchens Brian Walsh Brian Walsh Harry Kirtley Ron Stockin Derrick Sullivan J Williams (o.g.)			Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 3,500 Referee: J Jones (Swansea)

27 February 1957 (1957-02-27) Round 6	Cardiff City	0–2	Chester City	Cardiff
15:30				Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 5,000

References

Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-462-0.
"Football Club History Database – Cardiff City".
Welsh Football Data Archive