March
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John Heyda, our resident US based statistician has been delving deep into his book case and has blown the cobwebs off "50 Years of F. A. Cup Finals 1883-1932". Funnily enough published in 1932.

To celebrate the anniversary's of our two Wembley appearances here are the match reports written at the time.

April 23rd 1927. Arsenal 0 - 1 Cardiff City.
Video of this goal is available in the video archive section of this website.
"A new chapter in the history of the Association Cup was written as the result of this Final, when for the first time since its foundation it was won by a Welsh club - the first and only time the cup had been taken out of England.  Cardiff had given evidence of their remarkable progress by qualifying for the Final two years previously when they met with a narrow defeat at the hands of Sheffield United by the only goal scored.  Cardiff put up a fine clean game, but it has to be admitted that their entry into the charmed circle of Cup winners was the result of a tragic error by the Arsenal goalkeeper.  An additional irony could be found in the fact that Lewis was a Welsh International player.

"The Arsenal, captained by a great player and personality in Buchan,  had most of the game in the first half, but nerves and a lively ball helped to make most of the opening moves look exceptionally slow and futile.  Repeated free kicks for off-side or foul tackles further broke up any sequence of movement.  Any attacks by Cardiff may fairly be described as break-aways, as their forwards showed little or no signs of concerted combination.  There was no score in the first half.

"The Arsenal again showed to advantage in the opening exchanges of the second half, Buchan in particular distinguishing himself with short spells of brilliant dribbling and placing of the ball.  The veteran Hardy, with his bald head and sturdy figure, was also always prominent.  Twenty-five minutes' play of the second half had fluctuated from end to end when the tragic blunder dashed the aspirations of the Arsenal.  The decisive movement started from a throw-in.  Ferguson took a pass and drove a hard low shot at goal.  Lewis appeared to field it brilliantly, but the ball seemed to twist on his chest and in grabbing it he sent it trickling over his own goal-line.  An almost incredible trifle, but sufficient to enable Cardiff to take the Cup to Wales for the first time in the long history of the competition."

"Result: -- Cardiff ... 1 goal.  Arsenal ... nil."

April 25th 1923. Sheff Utd 1 - 0 Cardiff City.
"An item of especial interest with regard to this Final was the fact that it marked the first occasion that a Welsh team had ever taken part in one.  Cardiff City had made a meteoric advance during their few years in first-class football, and this remarkable crowning to their achievements had stirred the hearts of their fellow countrymen to a degree that had to be seen to be realised.  It is questionable if ever such a crowd of Welshmen had invaded London before.  Literally tens of thousands, many of whom had no earthly chance of seeing the match, came to give heart to the team from Cardiff, and needless to say their popular national vegetable, the leek, was everywhere in evidence.

"Sheffield United won on their merits.  Cardiff never reached the level of skill one was accustomed to see in their League games.  They played as if conscious of their inferiority, and yet their defence was as sound as the United's attack was strategic.  It was always an exciting match, as indeed it was bound to be, but apart from spasmodic interludes the football was never first-class.  Fourteen minutes before the interval the issue at stake was settled when Wake's hesitation gave Tunstall the opportunity to give the finishing touch to a long swinging pass from Pantling by dribbling to within a few yards from goal and pushing, rather than shooting, the ball into the Cardiff net.  Sheffield made the most of their victory, for they made the most of their one real chance.  Cardiff could not really grumble at the result, for in the second half they had a remarkably easy chance to equalise, when any one of three practically  unhampered forwards had the United goal at their mercy, but each in turn failed to make history.  Gillespie, the Sheffield captain, played a memorable game on this occasion, and his performance will long live in the recollection of those who were privileged to see it.

"91,000 attended this Final."

"Result: -- Sheffield United ... 1 goal.  Cardiff City ... nil."