Cardiff City playing record

1912-13 - Southern League Division 2

The Board of Directors, keen to see a higher standard of football at the club, make further funds available to Fred Stewart to strengthen the side. They also decide to join the Southern Alliance, a strong competition for reserve sides, but in the event, the side selected for most matches is mainly made up of first team players. There are further personnel changes as Davy McDougall decides on a move to Newport County to become their player-manager, where he signs City goalkeeper Ted Husbands. Fred Stewart goes out and signs another series of seasoned professionals in the form of goalkeeper Jack Kneeshaw from Colne, defenders Tommy Doncaster from Barnsley, Henry Harvey (known as 'Kidder') from Wallsend, Reuben Croft from Portsmouth and Pat Cassidy from Bradford City. Forward Harry Keggans arrives from the same source. A local amatuer is signed on from the Roath Wednesdays club, one Fred Keenor. He eventually signs on full time during November 1912. City's first opponents of the season are Swansea Town, making their debut in the Southern League, and the result is 1-1. City then win a couple of games but Fred Stewart decides that the team still needs strengthening and signs Billy Devlin from Stockport County to play at centre forward. During the autumn City go on a run that brings forth 9 successive wins, but this ends when Luton Town beat City 2-0 at Kenilworth Road on Boxing Day. City bounce back with big wins over Llanelly by 5-0 , then Ton Pentre by 9-0, and this sets City well on the road to promotion. Still Fred Stewart is not entirely satisfied though, and he pays Newport County a £100 transfer fee to for their winger Andy Holt. He also brings in defender Colin McKechnie from Bradford City. These signings are able to be financed by the ever strengthening support for the club, and a new crowd record for Ninian Park is established on March 31st when table leaders Luton Town visit for a match that is seen by just over 20,000 spectators. City win the game 3-0. It is City's last home game of the season, but two further wins and a draw mean that City are Southern League Second Division Champions. In the F.A.Cup, City go to Merthyr in the 1st preliminary round, and not only win unexpectedly, but convincingly, by 5-1. Pontypridd then visit Ninian Park where in front of 12,000, City win 2-1. They also dispose of Llanelly and then Southern League First Division opponents in the form of Exeter City, by 5-1. The run is ended when Southend United visit Ninian Park on December 14th and win 3-0. In the Welsh Cup, City dispose of Ton Pentre and Bangor City before Swansea Town visit Ninian Park and win 4-2. It has been an outstanding season with the major objective achieved in the form of promotion to the Southern League First Division.

A City team group pictured sometime during the 1912-13 season.
BACK (L-R): Charles Kyd (director), Jack Finn (Assistant Trainer).
MIDDLE: Billy Douglas, Tommy Doncaster, Jack Bennett, John Duffy, Jack Kneeshaw, Jack Evans, Reuben Croft, Pat Cassidy, George Latham (Trainer).
FRONT: Tom Abley, George Burton, Harry Featherstone, Sid Nicholls (chairman), Jack Burton, Charles Wall (director), Billy Hardy, Harry Tracey, Bob Leah.
SEATED: Harry Keggans, Henry Harvey.

MANAGER: Fred Stewart

P. 24 W. 18 D. 5 L. 1 For 54 Ag. 15 Pts. 41 Posn. 1st (Prom.)

Names displayed in light green indicate a player making his debut.

No. Date Opponents Competition V. Res.   Goalscorers Att. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
1. September 7 Swansea T. Southern League A 1-1 D Burton J. 8,000 J.Kneeshaw R.Croft R.Leah H.Harvey L.Saunders W.Hardy H.Tracey J.Burton H.Featherstone H.Keggans J.Evans
2. September 12 Mid-Rhondda Southern League A 1-0 W Keggans 4,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey J.Burton H.Featherstone H.Keggans J.Evans
3. September 14 Newport Co. Southern League H 2-0 W Tracey, Featherstone 8,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey J.Burton H.Featherstone H.Keggans J.Evans
4. September 21 Ton Pentre Southern League A 1-0 W Burton J. 6,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey J.Burton W.Douglas H.Keggans W.Gaughan
5. September 28 Croydon Common Southern League H 3-1 W Burton J. 2, Keggans 7,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey J.Burton W.Devlin H.Keggans J.Evans
6. October 3 Millwall Southern Alliance A 3-2 W Burton J., Evans, Devlin   J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah T.Abley P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey J.Burton W.Devlin H.Keggans J.Evans
7. October 5 Treharris Ath. Southern League A 2-0 W Keggans, Devlin 2,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey J.Burton W.Devlin H.Keggans J.Evans
8. October 12 Merthyr T. FA Cup (Q1) A 5-1 W Harvey, Burton J., Devlin 3 11,500 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey J.Burton W.Devlin H.Keggans J.Evans
9. October 19 Mardy Southern League H 5-2 W Burton G., Burton J., Cassidy, Evans, Devlin 6,500 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy T.Abley H.Tracey G.Burton W.Devlin J.Burton J.Evans
10. October 23 Brighton & H.A. Southern Alliance A 1-4 L Evans   W.Douglas G.Latham T.Doncaster H.Harvey P.Cassidy T.Abley H.Tracey G.Burton W.Devlin J.Burton J.Evans
11. November 2 Pontypridd FA Cup (Q2) H 2-1 W Burton G., Burton J. 12,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey L.Saunders W.Hardy H.Tracey G.Burton H.Featherstone J.Burton W.Gaughan
12. November 9 Croydon Common Southern League A 2-1 W Burton G. Evans 6,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey G.Burton H.Featherstone J.Burton J.Evans
13. November 12 Southampton Southern Alliance H 1-2 L Burton J.   J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey G.Burton H.Featherstone J.Burton J.Evans
14. November 16 Llanelly FA Cup (Q3) A 4-1 W Burton G., Tracey, Evans, Gough (og) 4,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey G.Burton W.Devlin J.Burton J.Evans
15. November 20 Brentford Southern Alliance H 4-2 W Burton G., Tracey, Featherstone, Hickleston (og)   .Lewis T.Doncaster R.Croft H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey G.Burton H.Featherstone J.Burton J.Evans
16. November 30 Exeter C. FA Cup (Q4) H 5-1 W Harvey, Burton G., Burton J., Devlin 2 14,000 W.Douglas T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey G.Burton W.Devlin J.Burton J.Evans
17. December 7 Treharris Ath. Southern League H 2-1 W Tracey, Cassidy 8,000 W.Douglas T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey G.Burton W.Devlin J.Burton J.Evans
18. December 11 Southampton Southern Alliance A 1-3 L Devlin 500 W.Douglas T.Doncaster R.Leah T.Abley H.Featherstone W.Hardy H.Tracey G.Burton W.Devlin J.Burton W.Gaughan
19. December 14 Southend Utd. FA Cup (Q5) A 0-3 L   7,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey G.Burton W.Devlin J.Burton J.Evans
20. December 21 Southend Utd. Southern League H 1-0 W Evans 8,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey G.Burton W.Devlin J.Burton J.Evans
21. December 25 Pontypridd Southern League H 1-1 D Featherstone 11,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey G.Burton H.Featherstone J.Burton J.Evans
22. December 26 Luton T. Southern League A 0-2 L   6,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey G.Burton H.Featherstone J.Burton J.Evans
23. January 1 Llanelly Southern League H 5-0 W Burton J. 2, Featherstone 2, Devlin 3,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey H.Featherstone W.Devlin J.Burton J.Evans
24. January 4 Ton Pentre Welsh Cup (3) H 4-2 W Burton G., Douglas 2, Featherstone 2,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey G.Latham W.Hardy J.Bennett H.Featherstone W.Douglas G.Burton W.Gaughan
25. January 20 Ton Pentre Southern League H 9-0 W Tracey 2, Burton J., Cassidy 2, Devlin 3, Evans 3,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey H.Featherstone W.Devlin J.Burton J.Evans
26. January 25 Bangor C. Welsh Cup (4) A 4-0 W Burton J., Featherstone, Cassidy, Devlin 3,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey H.Featherstone W.Devlin J.Burton J.Evans
27. February 1 Portsmouth Southern Alliance H 1-1 D Featherstone 3,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey L.Newton W.Hardy H.Tracey H.Featherstone W.Devlin J.Burton J.Evans
28. February 5 Croydon Common Southern Alliance A 0-3 L     J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey G.Latham W.Hardy H.Tracey G.Burton H.Featherstone L.Nash J.Evans
29. February 8 Newport Co. Southern League A 3-1 W Burton G., Cassidy, Tracey 8,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey H.Featherstone W.Devlin G.Burton J.Evans
30. February 12 Aberdare Ath. Southern League H 3-0 W Harvey, Tracey, Devlin 4,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey H.Featherstone W.Devlin J.Burton J.Evans
31. February 15 Swansea T. Welsh Cup (5) H 2-4 L Burton J., Cassidy 12,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey H.Featherstone W.Devlin J.Burton J.Evans
32. February 22 Southend Utd. Southern League A 1-1 D Burton G. 7,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy J.Bennett G.Burton J.Clarke J.Burton H.Tracey
33. February 26 Brighton & H.A. Southern Alliance H 0-1 L   3,500 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah C.McKechnie T.Abley W.Hardy J.Bennett G.Burton J.Clarke J.Burton W.Gaughan
34. March 1 Mid Rhondda Southern League H 1-0 W Burton G. 6,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey G.Burton J.Clarke J.Burton J.Evans
35. March 8 Mardy Southern League A 2-1 W Burton G., Clarke 3,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster G.Latham C.McKechnie P.Cassidy W.Hardy A.Holt G.Burton J.Clarke J.Burton J.Evans
36. March 12 Croydon Common Southern Alliance H 1-2 L Holt 5,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Croft T.Abley L.Newton C.McKechnie A.Holt G.Burton W.Douglas J.Clarke J.Evans
37. March 15 Swansea T. Southern League H 0-0 D   10,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy T.Abley A.Holt G.Burton W.Devlin J.Clarke J.Evans
38. March 21 Luton T. Southern League H 3-0 W Burton J. 2, Burton G. 22,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey G.Burton W.Devlin J.Burton J.Evans
39. March 22 Southend Utd. Southern Alliance H 1-1 D Burton J.   J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah G.Burton G.Latham C.McKechnie H.Tracey J.Clarke W.Devlin J.Burton J.Evans
40. March 24 Pontypridd Southern League A 1-1 D Hardy 7,500 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy J.Bennett G.Burton W.Devlin J.Burton J.Evans
41. March 29 Llanelly Southern League A 2-0 W Burton J., Devlin 1,500 J.Kneeshaw G.Latham R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey G.Burton W.Devlin J.Burton J.Evans
42. April 5 Aberdare Ath. Southern League A 3-2 W Devlin, Evans, Burton G. 2,000 J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey J.Burton W.Devlin G.Burton J.Evans
43. April 9 Millwall Southern Alliance H 3-2 W Tracey 2, Clarke   W.Douglas T.Doncaster R.Leah H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy J.Bennett H.Tracey J.Clarke J.Burton J.Evans
44. April 12 Southend Utd. Southern Alliance A 0-1 L     J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Croft H.Harvey G.Latham W.Hardy J.Bennett H.Tracey J.Clarke J.Burton J.Evans
45. April 14 Brentford Southern Alliance A 2-4 L Bennett, Evans   W.Douglas T.Doncaster R.Croft H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy J.Bennett H.Tracey J.Clarke J.Burton J.Evans
46. April 19 Luton T. Southern Alliance A 0-2 L     .Lewis T.Doncaster R.Croft H.Harvey G.Latham W.Hardy H.Tracey J.Clarke W.Devlin J.Burton J.Evans
47. April 23 Portsmouth Southern Alliance A 1-3 L Devlin 2,000 W.Douglas T.Doncaster R.Croft H.Harvey G.Latham W.Hardy H.Tracey J.Clarke W.Devlin J.Burton J.Evans
48. April 26 Luton T. Southern Alliance H 5-2 W Devlin 2, Burton G. 2, Hardy   J.Kneeshaw T.Doncaster R.Croft H.Harvey P.Cassidy W.Hardy H.Tracey J.Clarke W.Devlin G.Burton J.Evans

The following matches were also played during the season.

Date Match Details Opponents v. Res   Goalscorers
September 4 Friendly Treharris Ath. H 5-0 W Douglas 2, Keggans 2
November 11 Friendly Cwm Albion A 1-2 L Gorman
March 25 Friendly Newport Co. A 1-1 D Evans J.
April 2 Friendly Bridgend YMCA A 9-0 W Douglas 3, Evans D. 2, Evans J., Newton, Bennett, Keenor
April 28 Friendly Pontypridd A 1-1 D Douglas
April 30 Friendly Mid-Rhondda A 1-1 D Burton G.