Cardiff City playing record

Season 1977-78 - League Division 2

Yet again there are no new faces for the new season. The only outgoing player is Derek Showers, who made his debut originally during the 1970-71 season. He is transferred to Bournemouth for a small fee. The club is hit hard by the first Safety at Sports Ground Act, when the local council refuse Ninian Park a safety certificate. Eventually after some negociations, the ground capacity is set at 10,000, with the provisio that no floodlit matches are permitted. When the players report for pre-season training, there is an absentee, Robin Friday, whose non-appearance is the subject of some speculation. Friday's presence is obviously missed and a signing is needed quickly, so after a punchless display in tbe opening game of the season against Bristol Rovers, Jimmy Andrews pays a fee of £25,000 for Keith Robson of West Ham United. He makes his debut up front with Ray Bishop, also a debutant, at Blackburn Rovers, where City lose 0-3. The gloom continues and City win just one League game in the opening ten. By this time Robin Friday has reappeared for training, and is fit for an October 29th game at Brighton, but fails to last the game as he is sent off after launching a furious attack on Mark Lawrenson. To make things worse, City lose 0-4. Friday then goes missing again and cannot be located after the game. During the following week, the situation gets even worse when Stefan Terlezski is ousted from the chairmanship of the club in a boardroom coup. Bob Grogan takes over, and the problems are compounded on the pitch when Tony Evans is struck down with an injury. Jimmy Andrews decides on some changes, and Doug Livermore is transferred to Chester for £12,000, while he manages to obtain the signature of Derby County's Welsh international defender, Rod Thomas, for £10,000. City win their next match 2-0, then lose at Hull 1-4. City are now stuck firmly in the relegation places when Sheffield United visit on December 3rd, and hand out City a 1-6 thrashing. This is followed by the reappearance, yet again, of Robin Friday at Bolton Wanderers where City get another beating, 3-6. Friday fails to complete the game yet again as he is substituted, patently unfit. He never plays professionally again. It seems that things can get no worse, but after an uninspiring 0-0 draw against Hull City, coach Alan Sealy and Keith Robson have a post match fracas in the car park. The ship is stabilised a little with two consecutive home wins over Christmas, lifting the club out of the relegation places, but in the last week of the year, Jimmy Andrews decides that Keith Robson can go to Norwich City for £18,000. After Chris Williams is given a brief run in the team in his place, Andrews decides on putting Paul Went at centre forward. He also picks Phil Dwyer in the position during this period. Went responds with his usual enthusiasm and actually gets two in one game that City win in highly entertaining fashion by 5-2 against Sunderland. When they manage to follow that with a draw at Mansfield and another home win against Blackpool, the situation is eased somewhat. The week after though, it is back to crisis time, as the board force Jimmy Andrews to place the entire playing staff on the transfer list, to alleviate the deteriorating financial plight of the club. Two players leave as a result, Peter Sayer transferring to Brighton for £100,000 while Bill Irwin goes to play for the Vancouver Whitecaps. During the last four matches in March City draw two and win two, and once again, there is an improvement in the League position. But when the side goes five matches without a win, they sink back into the relegation places, so, with an air of some desperation, Jimmy Andrews recalls Tony Evans, who is still not fully fit. City win three more on the trot though, and the third of these, by 2-1 over Notts County at Ninian Park, makes the League position safe. In the F.A.Cup, City entertain Ipswich Town in the third round. Ipswich have their best side in many years, and win 2-0 with Paul Mariner scoring twice. In the League Cup, City play Torquay United in the first round. It goes to a replay after the first two games end 3-3 on aggregate. The match, watched by a crowd of only 1,711, is notable only for a long range John Buchanan free kick that wins the game 2-1. The second round match is one best forgotten for City, as Swindon Town are far too strong, and win easily by 5-1. City also struggle in the Welsh Cup, replays are needed to beat Worcester City and Kidderminster Harriers, and Wrexham come to Ninian Park for the semi final. Wrexham are by far the better side on the night and win 2-0. The European Cup Winners Cup brings FK Austria Memphis for the home leg. City, short of strikers because of injuries, suspensions and absences, are unable to break through a mass defence and draw 0-0. The away leg has a strange looking City side on the field, and they lose 0-1 after making a determined rearguard action. It is a season to forget with problems on the field, in the dressing room, in the boardroom, and even in the car park.

City's first team squad at the start of the 1977-78 season.
BACK ROW (L-R): Alan Sealey (coach), Alan Campbell, Tony Evans, Richie Morgan, Ron Healey, Paul Went, Bill Irwin, Keith Pontin, Albert Larmour, John Buchanan, Ken Whifield (trainer).
FRONT: Peter Sayer, Clive Charles, Steve Grapes, Doug Livermore, Jimmy Andrews (manager), Phil Dwyer, David Giles, Fred Pethard, Brian Attley.

Appearances 1977-78 Transfers 1977-78

MANAGER: Jimmy Andrews

P. 42 W. 13 D. 12 L. 17 For 51 Ag. 71 Pts. 38 Posn. 19th

Names displayed in light green indicate a player making his debut.
No. Date Opponents Competition V. Res.   Goalscorers Pts. Pos. Att. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
1. August 13 Torquay Utd. League Cup (1-1) A 0-1 L   ~ ~ 3,925 R.Healey B.Attley C.Charles A.Campbell P.Dwyer A.Larmour J.Buchanan D.Livermore A.Evans P.Sayer D.Giles S.Grapes
2. August 17 Torquay Utd. League Cup (1-2) H 3-2 W Dwyer, Giles, Sayer ~ ~ 3,500 R.Healey B.Attley C.Charles* A.Campbell P.Dwyer A.Larmour S.Grapes D.Livermore A.Evans P.Sayer D.Giles K.Pontin
3. August 20 Bristol Rov. League H 1-1 D Went 1 ~ 7,581 R.Healey P.Dwyer B.Attley A.Campbell P.Went A.Larmour S.Grapes D.Livermore A.Evans P.Sayer D.Giles R.Bishop
4. August 24 Torquay Utd. League Cup (1R) H 2-1 W Sayer (Pen.), Buchanan ~ ~ 1,711 W.Irwin B.Attley K.Pontin J.Buchanan P.Went A.Larmour S.Grapes A.Campbell P.Dwyer P.Sayer D.Giles R.Bishop
5. August 27 Blackburn Rov. League A 0-3 L   1 ~ 7,088 W.Irwin P.Dwyer B.Attley K.Pontin P.Went A.Larmour* A.Campbell R.Bishop K.Robson P.Sayer D.Giles G.Byrne
6. August 30 Swindon T. League Cup (2) A 1-5 L Buchanan ~ ~ 8,919 W.Irwin P.Dwyer B.Attley A.Campbell P.Went K.Pontin G.Byrne J.Buchanan K.Robson* P.Sayer D.Giles R.Bishop
7. September 3 Tottenham H. League H 0-0 D   2 21 8,880 W.Irwin P.Dwyer B.Attley A.Campbell P.Went K.Pontin G.Byrne J.Buchanan K.Robson* P.Sayer D.Giles R.Bishop
8. September 10 Notts County League A 1-1 D Dwyer 3 19 7,330 W.Irwin P.Dwyer B.Attley K.Pontin P.Went G.Byrne A.Campbell J.Buchanan K.Robson P.Sayer D.Giles R.Bishop
9. September 14 Austria Memphis ECWC (1-1) H 0-0 D   ~ ~ 3,631 W.Irwin B.Attley G.Byrne A.Campbell P.Went K.Pontin D.Livermore P.Sayer A.Evans P.Dwyer D.Giles* S.Grapes
10. September 17 Mansfield T. League H 1-1 D Robson 4 19 6,843 W.Irwin P.Dwyer K.Pontin J.Buchanan* P.Went G.Byrne A.Campbell B.Attley K.Robson A.Evans D.Giles S.Grapes
11. September 24 Fulham League H 3-1 W Robson, Evans 2 6 14 8,789 W.Irwin P.Dwyer B.Attley K.Pontin P.Went G.Byrne A.Campbell J.Buchanan K.Robson* A.Evans P.Sayer D.Giles
12. September 28 Austria Memphis ECWC (1-2) A 0-1 L   ~ ~ 8,000 W.Irwin F.Pethard B.Attley* A.Campbell P.Went K.Pontin G.Byrne J.Buchanan A.Evans P.Dwyer* P.Sayer D.Livermore/R.Bishop
13. October 1 Blackpool League A 0-3 L   6 19 8,704 W.Irwin P.Dwyer B.Attley* A.Campbell P.Went K.Pontin G.Byrne J.Buchanan K.Robson A.Evans P.Sayer D.Livermore
14. October 4 Sunderland League A 1-1 D Livermore 7 18 18,484 W.Irwin P.Dwyer B.Attley A.Campbell P.Went K.Pontin G.Byrne D.Livermore A.Evans K.Robson J.Buchanan F.Pethard
15. October 8 Luton T. League H 1-4 L Dwyer 7 19 8,259 W.Irwin P.Dwyer B.Attley A.Campbell P.Went K.Pontin G.Byrne J.Buchanan A.Evans K.Robson P.Sayer D.Livermore
16. October 15 Orient League A 1-2 L Grapes 7 20 5,444 W.Irwin P.Dwyer B.Attley K.Pontin P.Went F.Pethard A.Campbell J.Buchanan K.Robson P.Sayer S.Grapes D.Giles
17. October 22 Oldham Ath. League H 1-0 W Went 9 19 6,862 W.Irwin F.Pethard B.Attley P.Dwyer P.Went K.Pontin A.Campbell J.Buchanan K.Robson P.Sayer S.Grapes* G.Byrne
18. October 29 Brighton & H.A. League A 0-4 L   9 20 22,740 W.Irwin P.Dwyer F.Pethard A.Campbell P.Went K.Pontin S.Grapes* P.Sayer K.Robson R.Friday J.Buchanan D.Giles
19. November 5 Stoke C. League H 2-0 W Dwyer, Sayer 11 19 8,577 W.Irwin R.Thomas F.Pethard A.Campbell P.Went K.Pontin S.Grapes P.Dwyer K.Robson P.Sayer D.Giles B.Attley
20. November 12 Hull C. League A 1-4 L Sayer (Pen.) 11 20 5,228 W.Irwin R.Thomas F.Pethard A.Campbell P.Went K.Pontin* D.Giles P.Dwyer P.Sayer K.Robson S.Grapes B.Attley
21. November 19 Burnley League H 2-1 W Dwyer, Sayer (Pen.) 13 19 7,069 W.Irwin B.Attley P.Dwyer D.Giles R.Thomas A.Campbell P.Sayer P.Went K.Robson F.Pethard S.Grapes* J.Buchanan
22. November 26 Crystal Palace League A 0-2 L   13 20 16,262 W.Irwin B.Attley F.Pethard A.Campbell P.Went G.Byrne D.Giles P.Dwyer P.Sayer K.Robson J.Buchanan K.Pontin
23. December 3 Sheffield Utd. League H 1-6 L Buchanan 13 20 6,395 W.Irwin B.Attley F.Pethard P.Went R.Thomas P.Dwyer A.Campbell D.Giles P.Sayer K.Robson J.Buchanan R.Bishop
24. December 10 Bolton Wand. League A 3-6 L Robson, Sayer, Bishop 13 20 18,072 W.Irwin P.Dwyer F.Pethard A.Campbell P.Went K.Pontin D.Giles P.Sayer R.Friday* K.Robson J.Buchanan R.Bishop
25. December 17 Hull C. League H 0-0 D   14 20 5,663 W.Irwin P.Dwyer F.Pethard A.Campbell P.Went A.Larmour D.Giles R.Bishop K.Robson* P.Sayer S.Grapes J.Buchanan
26. December 21 Worcester C. Welsh Cup (5) A 2-2 D Went (Pen.), Bishop ~ ~ 2,915 W.Irwin P.Dwyer F.Pethard A.Campbell P.Went A.Larmour D.Giles J.Buchanan K.Robson R.Bishop S.Grapes G.Byrne
27. December 26 Southampton League A 1-3 L Robson 14 21 21,861 W.Irwin P.Dwyer F.Pethard A.Campbell P.Went A.Larmour D.Giles P.Sayer K.Robson R.Bishop S.Grapes* J.Buchanan
28. December 28 Millwall League H 4-1 W Bishop, Buchanan 2, Robson 16 20 8,253 R.Healey P.Dwyer F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour D.Giles J.Buchanan K.Robson R.Bishop B.Attley S.Grapes
29. December 31 Charlton Ath. League H 1-0 W Berry (og) 18 19 8,472 R.Healey P.Dwyer F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour D.Giles J.Buchanan C.Williams R.Bishop B.Attley P.Went
30. January 2 Bristol Rov. League A 2-3 L Giles, Pontin 18 19 11,957 R.Healey P.Dwyer F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour D.Giles J.Buchanan C.Williams R.Bishop B.Attley P.Went
31. January 7 Ipswich T. FA Cup (3) H 0-2 L   ~ ~ 13,854 R.Healey P.Dwyer F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour D.Giles P.Sayer P.Went R.Bishop B.Attley* S.Grapes
32. January 11 Worcester C. Welsh Cup (5R) H 3-0 W Bishop, Robson, Barton (og) ~ ~ 963 R.Healey P.Dwyer F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour S.Grapes D.Giles K.Robson R.Bishop P.Sayer B.Attley
33. January 14 Blackburn Rov. League H 1-1 D Bishop 19 20 7,025 R.Healey B.Attley F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour D.Giles P.Dwyer K.Robson* R.Bishop S.Grapes P.Went
34. January 21 Tottenham H. League A 1-2 L Went 19 21 29,104 W.Irwin P.Dwyer F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour S.Grapes D.Giles P.Went R.Bishop J.Buchanan* R.Thomas
35. January 28 Sunderland League H 5-2 W Buchanan 2 (1 Pen.), Went 2, Bishop 21 20 8,436 R.Healey P.Dwyer F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour S.Grapes D.Giles P.Went R.Bishop J.Buchanan* P.Sayer
36. February 11 Mansfield T. League A 2-2 D Bishop, Buchanan 22 19 6,538 R.Healey P.Dwyer F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour S.Grapes R.Bishop P.Went P.Sayer J.Buchanan R.Thomas
37. February 25 Blackpool League H 2-1 W Went, Grapes 24 19 7,304 R.Healey P.Dwyer F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour S.Grapes R.Bishop P.Went D.Giles J.Buchanan B.Attley
38. March 1 Kidderminster H. Welsh Cup (6) H 1-1 D Buchanan ~ ~ 1,639 R.Healey P.Dwyer F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour S.Grapes D.Giles P.Went R.Bishop* J.Buchanan A.Evans
39. March 4 Luton T. League A 1-3 L Buchanan 24 19 6,029 R.Healey P.Dwyer F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour S.Grapes D.Giles P.Went R.Bishop J.Buchanan R.Thomas
40. March 7 Fulham League A 0-1 L   24 19 6,571 R.Healey R.Thomas F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour G.Byrne* P.Dwyer P.Went R.Bishop J.Buchanan S.Grapes
41. March 15 Kidderminster H. Welsh Cup (6R) A 3-1 W Giles 2, Buchanan (Pen.) ~ ~ 3,000 R.Healey R.Thomas F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour S.Grapes D.Giles P.Dwyer R.Bishop* J.Buchanan P.Went
42. March 18 Oldham Ath. League A 1-1 D Went 25 19 7,581 R.Healey R.Thomas F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour P.Dwyer R.Bishop P.Went D.Giles J.Buchanan B.Attley
43. March 24 Brighton & H.A. League H 1-0 W Buchanan 27 18 10,308 R.Healey R.Thomas F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour S.Grapes D.Giles A.Evans* P.Went J.Buchanan R.Bishop
44. March 25 Millwall League A 1-1 D Bishop 28 19 5,941 R.Healey R.Thomas F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour S.Grapes D.Giles R.Bishop* P.Went* J.Buchanan A.Evans
45. March 29 Southampton League H 1-0 W Bishop 30 18 11,332 R.Healey R.Thomas F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour S.Grapes P.Dwyer R.Bishop P.Went J.Buchanan D.Giles
46. April 1 Stoke C. League A 0-2 L   30 19 14,804 R.Healey R.Thomas F.Pethard A.Campbell* K.Pontin A.Larmour S.Grapes P.Dwyer C.Williams P.Went D.Giles G.Byrne
47. April 4 Charlton Ath. League A 0-0 D   31 19 8,395 R.Healey R.Thomas F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour S.Grapes P.Dwyer R.Bishop P.Went J.Buchanan* D.Giles
48. April 8 Crystal Palace League H 2-2 D Dwyer 2 32 19 9,314 R.Healey R.Thomas F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour S.Grapes P.Dwyer R.Bishop* P.Went J.Buchanan A.Evans
49. April 13 Wrexham Welsh Cup (SF) H 0-2 L   ~ ~ 8,928 R.Healey R.Thomas F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour B.Attley* P.Dwyer R.Bishop P.Went J.Buchanan A.Evans
50. April 15 Burnley League A 2-4 L Buchanan, Evans 32 20 11,610 R.Healey R.Thomas F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour P.Dwyer R.Bishop A.Evans P.Went J.Buchanan* G.Byrne
51. April 22 Bolton Wand. League H 1-0 W Bishop 34 20 12,538 R.Healey R.Thomas* F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour S.Grapes P.Dwyer A.Evans P.Went J.Buchanan R.Bishop
52. April 29 Sheffield Utd. League A 1-0 W Evans 36 18 13,687 R.Healey P.Dwyer F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour S.Grapes R.Bishop P.Went A.Evans J.Buchanan R.Thomas
53. May 3 Notts County League H 2-1 W Buchanan, Went 38 18 9,506 R.Healey P.Dwyer F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour S.Grapes* R.Bishop A.Evans P.Went J.Buchanan R.Thomas
54. May 9 Orient League H 0-1 L   38 18 8,238 R.Healey P.Dwyer F.Pethard A.Campbell K.Pontin A.Larmour S.Grapes R.Bishop A.Evans P.Went J.Buchanan B.Attley

Player substituted marked with asterisk. Non playing substitutes shown in italics.

The following matches were also played during the season.

Date Match Details Opponents v. Res   Goalscorers
July 27 Pre-Season Friendly Swindon Town H 4-1 W Evans 4
July 30 Pre-Season Friendly Reading A 1-4 L Went