1955–56 Cardiff City F.C. season

Cardiff City

1955–56 season
Chairman	Herbert Merrett[1]
Manager	Trevor Morris
Division One	17th
FA Cup	4th round
Welsh Cup	Winners
Top goalscorer	League: Gerry Hitchens (15) All: Gerry Hitchens (28)
Highest home attendance	42,546 v Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 September 1955
Lowest home attendance	16,086 v Luton Town, 14 April 1956
Average home league attendance	26,631
Home colours
← 1954–55 1956–57 →

The 1955–56 season was Cardiff City F.C.'s 29th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the first tier of English football, finishing seventeenth.

Season review

League standings

Results by round

FA Cup

After beating Leeds United in their first game, Cardiff were eliminated by West Ham United in the fourth round.^[2]

Welsh Cup

Cardiff were drawn against Pembroke Borough in the fifth round for the second time in a row and, after a 2–2 draw, advanced to the sixth round with a 9–0 replay win. Wins over Wrexham and Oswestry Town saw the club reach the final,^[3] beating South Wales rivals Swansea Town 3–2,^[4] with a brace from Brian Walsh and one goal from John McSeveney winning the trophy for the eighth time in the club's history and their first since 1930.

Players

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. 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  WAL Colin Gale -- DF  SCO Danny Malloy -- DF  ENG Charles Rutter -- DF  WAL Alf Sherwood -- DF  WAL Ron Stitfall -- DF  WAL Derrick Sullivan -- MF  WAL Dennis Callan -- MF  WAL Alan Harrington -- MF  WAL Islwyn Jones

No. Pos. Nation Player -- MF  SCO George McGuckin -- MF  SCO John McSeveney -- MF  ENG Cliff Nugent -- MF  ENG Gordon Nutt -- MF  WAL Ken Tucker -- MF  ENG Brian Walsh -- MF  WAL Roley Williams -- FW  ENG Cecil Dixon -- FW  WAL Trevor Ford -- FW  ENG Gerry Hitchens -- FW  ENG Bernard Jones -- FW  ENG Harry Kirtley -- FW  WAL Neil O'Halloran -- FW  WAL Howard Sheppeard -- FW  ENG Ron Stockin

Fixtures and results

First Division

Cardiff City v Sunderland

20 August 1955 (1955-08-20) 1	Cardiff City	3–1	Sunderland	Cardiff
15:15	John McSeveney 55' (pen), 80' Trevor Ford 68'		58' Charlie Fleming	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 36,098 Referee: Alf Bond (Fulham)

Arsenal v Cardiff City

23 August 1955 (1955-08-23) 2	Arsenal	3–1	Cardiff City	London
18:30	Tommy Lawton Tommy Lawton Tommy Lawton		Ron Stockin	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 31,361 Referee: JF Gardner (Kidderminster)

Aston Villa v Cardiff City

27 August 1955 (1955-08-27) 3	Aston Villa	2–0	Cardiff City	Birmingham
15:00	Johnny Dixon Peter McParland			Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 32,893 Referee: ER Hill (Chester)

Cardiff City v Bolton Wanderers

31 August 1955 (1955-08-31) 4	Cardiff City	1–0	Bolton Wanderers	Cardiff
18:30	Alan Harrington			Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 26,973 Referee: Bill Clements (West Bromwich)

Cardiff City v Wolverhampton Wanderers

3 September 1955 (1955-09-03) 5	Cardiff City	1–9	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Cardiff
15:15	Ron Stockin 84'		1' Johnny Hancocks 10' Johnny Hancocks 14' Jimmy Mullen 19' Roy Swinbourne 35' Johnny Hancocks 56' Roy Swinbourne 67' Peter Broadbent 76' Peter Broadbent 82' Roy Swinbourne	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 42,546 Referee: John Kelly (Eccleston)

Bolton Wanderers v Cardiff City

7 September 1955 (1955-09-07) 6	Bolton Wanderers	4–0	Cardiff City	Bolton
	Ray Parry Ray Parry Dennis Stevens Nat Lofthouse			Stadium: Burnden Park Attendance: 25,012

Manchester City v Cardiff City

10 September 1955 (1955-09-10) 7	Manchester City	3–1	Cardiff City	Manchester
15:00	Joe Hayes Joe Hayes Bobby Johnstone		Roley Williams	Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 33,240 Referee: Norman Taylor (Westbury)

Cardiff City v Sheffield United

17 September 1955 (1955-09-17) 8	Cardiff City	3–2	Sheffield United	Cardiff
15:15	Alan Harrington Trevor Ford Gerry Hitchens		Peter Wragg Alf Ringstead	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 23,337 Referee: FV Stringer (Nantwich)

Cardiff City v Huddersfield Town

24 September 1955 (1955-09-24) 9	Cardiff City	1–2	Huddersfield Town	Cardiff
15:15	Harry Kirtley		Jimmy Watson Willie Davie	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 25,117 Referee: RH Mann (Worcester)

Blackpool v Cardiff City

1 October 1955 (1955-10-01) 10	Blackpool	2–1	Cardiff City	Blackpool
15:00	Bill Perry Ewan Fenton		Trevor Ford	Stadium: Bloomfield Road Attendance: 33,451 Referee: George McCabe (Sheffield)

Preston North End v Cardiff City

8 October 1955 (1955-10-08) 11	Preston North End	1–2	Cardiff City	Preston
	Tom Finney		Trevor Ford Ron Stockin	Stadium: Deepdale Attendance: 19,433

Cardiff City v Burnley

15 October 1955 (1955-10-15) 12	Cardiff City	2–2	Burnley	Cardiff
15:00	Trevor Ford 4', 36'		28' Albert Cheesebrough 54' Peter McKay	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 24,338 Referee: Stanley Rogers

West Bromwich Albion v Cardiff City

22 October 1955 (1955-10-22) 13	West Bromwich Albion	2–1	Cardiff City	West Bromwich
	Ronnie Allen Ronnie Allen		Harry Kirtley	Stadium: The Hawthorns Attendance: 22,131

Cardiff City v Manchester United

29 October 1955 (1955-10-29) 14	Cardiff City	0–1	Manchester United	Cardiff
15:00			43' Tommy Taylor	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 27,759 Referee: Ted (EW) Abbott (Brentwood, Essex)

Tottenham Hotspur v Cardiff City

5 November 1955 (1955-11-05) 15	Tottenham Hotspur	1–1	Cardiff City	London
	Johnny Brooks (pen)		Brian Walsh	Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 34,368

Cardiff City v Everton

12 November 1955 (1955-11-12) 16	Cardiff City	3–1	Everton	Cardiff
14:45	Brian Walsh 4' John McSeveney 42', 50'		22' Jimmy Harris	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 22,439 Referee: Gilbert Pullin (Bristol)

Newcastle United v Cardiff City

19 November 1955 (1955-11-19) 17	Newcastle United	4–0	Cardiff City	Newcastle
14:15	Charlie Crowe Vic Keeble Jackie Milburn Jackie Milburn			Stadium: St James's Park Attendance: 35,603

Cardiff City v Birmingham City

26 November 1955 (1955-11-26) 18	Cardiff City	2–1	Birmingham City	Cardiff
14:30	Harry Kirtley Cecil Dixon		Eddy Brown	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 23,638

Luton Town v Cardiff City

3 December 1955 (1955-12-03) 19	Luton Town	3–0	Cardiff City	Luton
	Jimmy Adam Gordon Turner Bob Morton			Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 21,827

Cardiff City v Charlton Athletic

10 December 1955 (1955-12-10) 20	Cardiff City	3–1	Charlton Athletic	Cardiff
14:30	Neil O'Halloran Neil O'Halloran Neil O'Halloran		Gordon Hurst	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 23,132 Referee: Frank Cowen (Manchester)

Sunderland v Cardiff City

17 December 1955 (1955-12-17) 21	Sunderland	1–1	Cardiff City	Sunderland
14:00	Billy Elliott 10'		26' (og) Jack Hedley	Stadium: Roker Park Attendance: 29,823 Referee: Alf Bond (Fulham)

Cardiff City v Aston Villa

24 December 1955 (1955-12-24) 22	Cardiff City	1–0	Aston Villa	Cardiff
14:30	Gerry Hitchens			Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 20,384

Cardiff City v Chelsea

26 December 1955 (1955-12-26) 23	Cardiff City	1–1	Chelsea	Cardiff
14:30	Alf Sherwood (pen)		Roy Bentley	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 26,974 Referee: HL Broadhurst (Atherstone)

Chelsea v Cardiff City

27 December 1955 (1955-12-27) 24	Chelsea	2–1	Cardiff City	London
11:15	John McNichol 50' Les Stubbs 80'		86' Gerry Hitchens	Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 36,740 Referee: HL Broadhurst (Atherstone)

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Cardiff City

31 December 1955 (1955-12-31) 25	Wolverhampton Wanderers	0–2	Cardiff City	Wolverhampton
			Gerry Hitchens Trevor Ford	Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 36,772

Cardiff City v Manchester City

14 January 1956 (1956-01-14) 26	Cardiff City	4–1	Manchester City	Cardiff
14:45	Gerry Hitchens Gerry Hitchens John McSeveney Trevor Ford		Bobby Johnstone	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 26,329 Referee: Norman Taylor (Westbury)

Sheffield United v Cardiff City

21 January 1956 (1956-01-21) 27	Sheffield United	2–1	Cardiff City	Sheffield
14:45	Thomas Hoyland Bobby Howitt		Alf Sherwood	Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 22,921

Huddersfield Town v Cardiff City

4 February 1956 (1956-02-04) 28	Huddersfield Town	1–2	Cardiff City	Huddersfield
	Vic Metcalfe (pen)		Gerry Hitchens Trevor Ford	Stadium: Leeds Road Attendance: 12,586 Referee: RH Mann (Worcester)

Cardiff City v Blackpool

11 February 1956 (1956-02-11) 29	Cardiff City	1–0	Blackpool	Cardiff
15:15	Trevor Ford			Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 36,019 Referee: AW Smith (Aldershot)

Cardiff City v Preston North End

18 February 1956 (1956-02-18) 30	Cardiff City	3–1	Preston North End	Cardiff
15:15	Gerry Hitchens Harry Kirtley Trevor Ford		Bobby Foster	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 25,300 Referee: HJ Husband (London)

Burnley v Cardiff City

25 February 1956 (1956-02-25) 31	Burnley	0–2	Cardiff City	Burnley
			40', 71' Gerry Hitchens	Stadium: Turf Moor Attendance: 18,549 Referee: Stanley Rogers (Shrewsbury)

Cardiff City v Newcastle United

7 March 1956 (1956-03-07) 32	Cardiff City	1–1	Newcastle United	Cardiff
16:30	Colin Baker		Bill Curry	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 31,265

Manchester United v Cardiff City

10 March 1956 (1956-03-10) 33	Manchester United	1–1	Cardiff City	Manchester
15:00	Roger Byrne		Gerry Hitchens	Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 44,914 Referee: Ted (EW) Abbott (Brentwood, Essex)

Everton v Cardiff City

24 March 1956 (1956-03-24) 34	Everton	2–0	Cardiff City	Liverpool
	Tony McNamara 48' Eddie Wainwright 79'			Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 29,959 Referee: Gilbert Pullin (Bristol)

Portsmouth v Cardiff City

30 March 1956 (1956-03-30) 35	Portsmouth	1–1	Cardiff City	Portsmouth
15:00	Johnny Gordon		Trevor Ford	Stadium: Fratton Park Attendance: 26,443 Referee: Bill Clements (West Bromwich)

Cardiff City v West Bromwich Albion

31 March 1956 (1956-03-31) 36	Cardiff City	1–3	West Bromwich Albion	Cardiff
15:15	Gerry Hitchens		Johnny Nicholls Ronnie Allen Bobby Robson	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 31,641 Referee: CG Porter (Taunton)

Cardiff City v Portsmouth

2 April 1956 (1956-04-02) 37	Cardiff City	2–3	Portsmouth	Cardiff
15:15	John McSeveney Trevor Ford		Peter Harris Mike Barnard Jackie Henderson	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 27,018

Birmingham City v Cardiff City

7 April 1956 (1956-04-07) 38	Birmingham City	2–1	Cardiff City	Birmingham
15:00	Eddy Brown Colin Baker (og)		Gerry Hitchens	Stadium: St Andrew's Attendance: 37,154 Referee: AA Howlett (Wiltshire)

Cardiff City v Luton Town

14 April 1956 (1956-04-14) 39	Cardiff City	2–0	Luton Town	Cardiff
15:15	Gerry Hitchens Brian Walsh			Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 16,086 Referee: Norman Taylor (Westbury)

Cardiff City v Arsenal

28 April 1956 (1956-04-28) 42	Cardiff City	1–2	Arsenal	Cardiff
15:15	Gerry Hitchens		Cliff Holton Derek Tapscott	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 23,169 Referee: JF Gardner (Kidderminster)

FA Cup

Leeds United v Cardiff City

7 January 1956 (1956-01-07) Round 3	Leeds United	1–2	Cardiff City	Leeds
	John Charles		Gerry Hitchens John McSeveney	Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 40,000

West Ham United v Cardiff City

28 January 1956 (1956-01-28) Round 4	West Ham United	2–1	Cardiff City	London
14:45	Billy Dare 5' John Dick 29'		11' Trevor Ford	Stadium: Upton Park Attendance: 35,500 Referee: Ken Collinge(Sale, Cheshire)

Welsh Cup

Pembroke Borough v Cardiff City

1 February 1956 (1956-02-01) Round 5	Pembroke Borough	2–2	Cardiff City	Pembroke
			Trevor Ford Gerry Hitchens	Stadium: London Road Attendance: 5,000

Cardiff City v Pembroke Borough

8 February 1956 (1956-02-08) Round 5 (Replay)	Cardiff City	9–0	Pembroke Borough	Cardiff
14:45	Trevor Ford Trevor Ford Trevor Ford Trevor Ford Gerry Hitchens Gerry Hitchens Gerry Hitchens Colin Baker John McSeveney			Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 4,549 Referee: GO Hancock (Pontlottyn)

Cardiff City v Wrexham

29 February 1956 (1956-02-29) Round 6	Cardiff City	5–3	Wrexham	Cardiff
16:00	Gerry Hitchens Gerry Hitchens Gerry Hitchens Trevor Ford John McSeveney			Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 5,300

Oswestry v Cardiff City

17 March 1956 (1956-03-17) Semi Final	Oswestry	0–7	Cardiff City	Wrexham
			Trevor Ford Trevor Ford Gerry Hitchens Gerry Hitchens Gerry Hitchens Gerry Hitchens Gerry Hitchens	Stadium: The Racecourse Attendance: 11,418

Cardiff City v Swansea Town

30 April 1956 (1956-04-30) Final	Cardiff City	3–2	Swansea Town	Cardiff
18:30	Brian Walsh Brian Walsh John McSeveney		Tom Kiley Des Palmer	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 37,500

See also

• List of Cardiff City F.C. seasons

References

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