List of Cardiff City F.C. seasons explained

Cardiff City Football Club, a professional association football club based in Cardiff, Wales, was founded in 1899 as Riverside A.F.C. by members of Riverside Cricket Club.^[1] The club's first year was made up of friendlies before they were admitted to the Cardiff & District League in 1900 and later the South Wales Amateur League in 1907. The following year, the club were granted permission to adopt the name Cardiff City, having been denied the previous year as they were deemed not to be playing at a high enough level,^[1] and moved into the English football league system for the first time by joining Division Two of the Southern Football League.^[2] They won promotion to Division One in the 1912–13 season and remained there until 1920, playing just three seasons during this time due to the outbreak of the First World War when league football was abandoned. In 1920, they were elected to The Football League, joining the Second Division for one season, winning promotion in their first season after finishing second.^[3] The club also competed regularly in the Welsh Cup, winning the trophy 22 times during their history, second only to Wrexham's 23,^[4] before they were denied entrance into the competition from 1995 onward by the Football Association of Wales, along with all other clubs playing in the English league pyramid.^{[5] [6]}

The following decade is regarded as the most successful in the club's history as they finished second during the 1923–24 season, losing out on winning the league title on the goal average system used at the time to Huddersfield Town. During this period, they reached two FA Cup finals, losing 1–0 to Sheffield United in 1925 before returning to the final two years later, beating Arsenal 1–0 at Wembley Stadium in 1927.^{[7] [8]} They also won the FA Charity Shield after beating amateur side Corinthians 2–1.^[9] Cardiff remain the only non-English side to have ever won the FA Cup or FA Charity Shield.^[7]

Cardiff were relegated for the first time in their history in 1929 and entered a period of decline, dropping into the third tier two years later. The club did manage to return to the top tier in 1952, but their relegation in 1962 led to a decline in the club's fortunes that saw them outside the top division for 51 years, the longest absence in the club's history, not returning until 2013.^[10] Relegation from Division Two in the 1984–85 season saw the club enter a downward period that culminated with their joint lowest ever finish in the Football League, 22nd in the fourth tier in the 1995–96 season.^{[3] [11]}

In 2000, the club was purchased by Lebanese businessman Sam Hammam, who invested money into the side and saw them rise from the fourth tier to the second tier in just three seasons.^{[12] [13]} Although Hammam left the club in 2006, they continued their progress, reaching the Football League Championship play-offs for three consecutive seasons between 2009 and 2012, suffering defeat on all three occasions. The following season, under the ownership of new owner Vincent Tan, they finished first in the Championship, winning promotion back into the top tier for the first time since 1962.^[14] However, they suffered relegation in their only season and returned to the Championship.^[3]

As of the end of the 2021–22 season, the club had spent 17 seasons in the top tier of English football, 48 in the second, 20 in the third and 10 in the fourth.^[3] This list details their achievements in first-team competitions, and records their top goalscorer, for each completed season since their first appearance in the English football pyramid as members of the Southern Football League in 1910–11. Due to the unavailability of complete statistics, seasons prior to 1910 in the amateur Welsh leagues are not included.

Key

Key to league record:

• Pld = Matches played
• W = Matches won
• D = Matches drawn
• L = Matches lost
• GF = Goals for
• GA = Goals against
• Pts = Points
• Pos = Final position

Key to divisions:

• SL Div 1 = Southern Football League First Division
• SL Div 2 = Southern Football League Second Division
• Div 1 = Football League First Division
• Div 2 = Football League Second Division
• Div 3 = Football League Third Division
• Div 4 = Football League Fourth Division
• Champ = EFL Championship
• Prem = Premier League

Key to rounds:

• GS = Group Stages
• QR = Qualifying round
• R1 = Round 1
• R2 = Round 2
• R3 = Round 3
• R4 = Round 4
• R5 = Round 5
• QF = Quarter-finals
• SF = Semi-finals
• RU = Runners-up
• W = Winners

Key to colours and symbols:

style=background:gold	1st or W	Winners
style=background:silver	2nd or RU	Runners-up
style=background:#cfc		Promoted
style=background:MistyRose		Relegated
style=background:PaleGreen		Promoted via play-offs
style=background:yellow	♦	Top league scorer in Cardiff's division

Seasons

Season	League^[15]									FA Cup^[16]	League Cup	Welsh Cup	Other^[17] ^[18]	Top scorer(s)	Average Home Attendance
scope=col	Division	scope=col	Pld	scope=col	W	scope=col	D	scope=col	L	scope=col	GF		scope=col	GA	scope=col	Pts	scope=col	Pos	scope=col	Competition	scope=col	Result	scope=col	Player(s)	scope=col	Goals
1910–11	SL Div 2	22	12	4	6	48	29	28				2R				19
1911–12	SL Div 2	26	15	4	7	55	26	34				bgcolor=gold	W				16
1912–13	SL Div 2	24	18	5	1	54	14	41	bgcolor=gold				SF				16
1913–14	SL Div 1	38	13	12	13	46	42	38	10th			3R				10
1914–15	SL Div 1	38	21	7	10	72	38	48		1R		3R				13
1915–19	The Southern League was suspended until after the First World War.
1919–20	SL Div 1	42	18	17	7	70	43	53		3R		bgcolor=gold	W				14
1920–21	Div 2	42	24	10	8	59	32	58	bgcolor=silver		SF						20	28,000
1921–22	Div 1	42	19	10	13	61	53	48		QF		bgcolor=gold	W				30	27,500
1922–23	Div 1	42	18	7	17	73	59	43		3R		bgcolor=gold	W				28	28,238
1923–24	Div 1	42	22	13	7	61	34	57	bgcolor=silver		QF		5R				24	29,324
1924–25	Div 1	42	16	11	15	56	51	43	11th	bgcolor=silver			5R				22	21,238
1925–26	Div 1	42	16	7	19	61	76	39	16th	4R		5R				21	17,946
1926–27	Div 1	42	16	9	17	55	65	41	14th	bgcolor=gold	W		bgcolor=gold	W				31	15,424
1927–28	Div 1	42	17	10	15	70	80	44		5R		bgcolor=gold	W	FA Charity Shield	bgcolor=gold	W		25	15,607
1928–29	style=background:MistyRose	Div 1	42	8	13	21	43	59	29	22nd	3R		bgcolor=silver					15	14,880
1929–30	Div 2	42	18	8	16	61	59	44		4R		bgcolor=gold	W				15	12,944
1930–31	style=background:MistyRose	Div 2	42	8	9	25	47	87	25	22nd	3R		SF				12	8,267
1931–32	Div 3S	42	19	8	15	87	73	46		1R		6R				28	7,684
1932–33	Div 3S	42	12	7	23	69	99	31	19th	1R		SF				18	7,008
1933–34	Div 3S	42	9	6	27	57	105	24	22nd	1R		6R	Third Division South Cup	1R		13	7,959
1934–35	Div 3S	42	13	9	20	62	82	35	19th	1R		7R	Third Division South Cup	2R		19	9,908
1935–36	Div 3S	42	13	10	19	60	73	36	20th	1R		7R	Third Division South Cup	1R		11	9,528
1936–37	Div 3S	42	14	7	21	54	87	35	18th	3R		6R	Third Division South Cup	2R		9	15,661
1937–38	Div 3S	42	15	12	15	67	54	42	10th	3R		6R	Third Division South Cup	2R		28	20,009
1938–39	Div 3S	42	15	11	16	61	65	41	13th	4R		bgcolor=silver		Third Division South Cup	2R		21	14,107
1939–40	Div 3S	3	2	0	1	5	5	4		—		6R				4
1939–45	The Football League was suspended until after the Second World War.
1945–46	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	3R		—			Bryn Allen	1
1946–47	Div 3S	42	30	6	6	93	30	66	bgcolor=gold		3R		5R				30	28,604
1947–48	Div 2	42	18	11	13	61	58	47		3R		5R				12	37,871
1948–49	Div 2	42	19	13	10	62	47	51		5R		SF				14	35,091
1949–50	Div 2	42	16	10	16	41	44	42	10th	5R		7R				12	28,521
1950–51	Div 2	42	17	16	9	53	45	50		3R		bgcolor=silver					18	28,888
1951–52	Div 2	42	20	11	11	72	54	51	bgcolor=silver		3R		6R				27	28,945
1952–53	Div 1	42	14	12	16	54	46	40	12th	3R		SF				15	37,932
1953–54	Div 1	42	18	8	16	51	71	44	10th	4R		SF				15	32,410
1954–55	Div 1	42	13	11	18	62	76	37	20th	3R		SF				24	24,311
1955–56	Div 1	42	15	9	18	55	69	39	17th	4R		bgcolor=gold	W				28	26,631
1956–57	style=background:MistyRose	Div 1	42	10	9	23	53	88	29	21st	4R		6R				25	20,528
1957–58	Div 2	42	14	9	19	63	77	37	15th	5R		5R				15	15,893
1958–59	Div 2	42	18	7	17	65	65	43		4R		bgcolor=gold	W				17	17,759
1959–60	Div 2	42	23	12	7	90	62	57	bgcolor=silver		3R		bgcolor=silver					21	24,183
1960–61	Div 1	42	13	11	18	60	85	37	15th	3R	2R	SF				30	23,390
1961–62	style=background:MistyRose	Div 1	42	9	14	19	50	81	32	21st	3R	3R	SF				21	19,294
1962–63	Div 2	42	18	7	17	83	73	43	10th	3R	2R	6R				24	15,567
1963–64	Div 2	42	14	10	18	56	81	38	15th	3R	2R	bgcolor=silver					17	13,782
1964–65	Div 2	42	13	14	15	64	57	40	13th	3R	2R	bgcolor=gold	W	Cup Winners' Cup	QF		19	10,588
1965–66	Div 2	42	12	10	20	71	91	34	20th	4R	SF	5R	Cup Winners' Cup	1R		23	11,005
1966–67	Div 2	42	12	9	21	61	87	33	20th	4R	2R	bgcolor=gold	W				17	10,258
1967–68	Div 2	42	13	12	17	60	66	38	13th	3R	2R	bgcolor=gold	W	Cup Winners' Cup	SF		18	13,301
1968–69	Div 2	42	20	7	15	67	54	47		3R	2R	bgcolor=gold	W	Cup Winners' Cup	1R		style=background:yellow	31 ♦	16,870
1969–70	Div 2	42	18	13	11	61	41	49		3R	2R	bgcolor=gold	W	Cup Winners' Cup	2R		28	21,486
1970–71	Div 2	42	20	13	9	64	41	53		4R	2R	bgcolor=gold	W	Cup Winners' Cup	QF		22	21,575
1971–72	Div 2	42	10	14	18	56	69	34	19th	5R	2R	bgcolor=silver		Cup Winners' Cup	1R		27	15,539
1972–73	Div 2	42	11	11	20	43	58	33	20th	4R	1R	bgcolor=gold	W				19	11,634
1973–74	Div 2	42	10	16	16	49	62	36	17th	3R	2R	bgcolor=gold	W	Cup Winners' Cup	1R		14	10,678
1974–75	style=background:MistyRose	Div 2	42	9	14	19	36	62	32	21st	3R	1R	bgcolor=silver		Cup Winners' Cup	1R		10	9,224
1975–76	Div 3	46	22	13	11	69	48	57	bgcolor=silver		4R	1R	bgcolor=gold	W				29	11,696
1976–77	Div 2	42	12	10	20	56	67	34	18th	5R	2R	bgcolor=gold	W	Cup Winners' Cup	1R		24	12,463
1977–78	Div 2	42	13	12	17	51	71	38	19th	3R	2R	SF	Cup Winners' Cup	1R		14	8,369
1978–79	Div 2	42	16	10	16	56	70	42		3R	1R	5R	Anglo-Scottish Cup	GS		18	9,259
1979–80	Div 2	42	16	8	18	41	48	40	15th	3R	2R	4R				11	9,932
1980–81	Div 2	42	12	12	18	44	60	36	19th	3R	3R	4R				19	6,770
1981–82	style=background:MistyRose	Div 2	42	12	8	22	45	61	44	20th	3R	1R	bgcolor=silver					18	5,498
1982–83	Div 3	46	25	11	10	76	50	86	bgcolor=silver		2R	2R	3R				26	7,730
1983–84	Div 2	42	15	6	21	53	66	51	15th	3R	2R	5R				18	7,016
1984–85	style=background:MistyRose	Div 2	42	9	8	25	47	79	35	21st	3R	2R	4R				17	4,372
1985–86	style=background:MistyRose	Div 3	46	12	9	25	53	83	45	22nd	1R	1R	SF	Associate Members' Cup	GS		17	3,433
1986–87	Div 4	46	15	16	15	48	50	61	13th	4R	4R	4R	Associate Members' Cup	GS		11	3,128
1987–88	Div 4	46	24	13	9	66	41	85	bgcolor=silver		1R	1R	bgcolor=gold	W	Associate Members' Cup	1R		25	4,849
1988–89	Div 3	46	14	15	17	44	56	57	16th	3R	2R	5R				23	4,782
1989–90	style=background:MistyRose	Div 3	46	12	14	20	57	70	50	21st	3R	1R	SF	Associate Members' Cup	GS		23	3,630
1990–91	Div 4	46	15	15	16	43	54	60	13th	1R	2R	3R	Associate Members' Cup	GS		16	2,958
1991–92	Div 4	42	17	15	10	66	53	66		1R	1R	bgcolor=gold	W	Associate Members' Cup	1R		28	5,665
1992–93		42	25	8	9	77	47	83	bgcolor=gold		1R	1R	bgcolor=gold	W				18	7,797
1993–94		46	13	15	18	66	79	54	19th	5R	1R	bgcolor=silver		Football League Trophy	2R		22	6,080
1994–95	style=background:MistyRose		46	9	11	26	46	74	38	22nd	1R	1R	bgcolor=silver					15	4,543
1995–96		46	11	12	23	41	64	45	22nd	2R	2R		Football League Trophy	1R		30	3,420
1996–97		46	20	9	17	56	54	69		2R	1R		Football League Trophy	2R		14	3,594
1997–98		46	9	23	14	48	52	50	21st	4R	1R		Football League Trophy FAW Premier Cup	1R RU		14	3,574
1998–99		46	22	14	10	60	39	80		1R	1R		Football League Trophy FAW Premier Cup	1R SF		22	7,131
1999–2000	style=background:MistyRose		46	9	17	20	45	67	44	21st	3R	2R		Football League Trophy FAW Premier Cup	1R RU		17	6,903
2000–01		46	23	13	10	95	58	82	bgcolor=silver		3R	1R		Football League Trophy FAW Premier Cup	1R QF		25	7,962
2001–02		46	23	14	9	75	50	83		4R	1R		Football League Trophy FAW Premier Cup	2R W		16	12,522
2002–03		46	23	12	11	68	43	81	bgcolor=PaleGreen		3R	2R		Football League Trophy FAW Premier Cup	3R SF		style=background:yellow	35 ♦	13,049
2003–04		46	17	14	15	68	58	65	13th	3R	2R		FAW Premier Cup	SF		26	15,569
2004–05	Champ	46	13	15	18	48	51	54	16th	3R	4R		FAW Premier Cup	QF		14	13,029
2005–06	Champ	46	16	12	18	58	59	60	11th	3R	3R		FAW Premier Cup	QF		20	11,802
2006–07	Champ	46	17	13	16	57	53	64	13th	3R	1R		FAW Premier Cup	SF		22	15,224
2007–08	Champ	46	16	16	14	59	55	64	12th	bgcolor=Silver		4R		FAW Premier Cup	SF		11	13,939
2008–09	Champ	46	26	17	10	65	53	74		4R	3R					23	18,449
2009–10	Champ	46	22	10	14	73	54	76		5R	3R					style=background:yellow	25 ♦	19,413
2010–11	Champ	46	23	11	12	76	54	80		3R	2R					20	22,091
2011–12	Champ	46	19	18	9	66	53	75		3R	bgcolor=Silver						13	22,139
2012–13	Champ	46	25	12	9	72	45	87	bgcolor=gold		3R	1R					9	22,296
2013–14	style=background:MistyRose		38	7	9	22	40	74	30	20th	5R	2R					9	27,430
2014–15	Champ	46	16	14	16	57	61	62	11th	4R	3R					11	20,945
2015–16	Champ	46	17	17	12	56	51	68		3R	2R					9	16,463
2016–17	Champ	46	16	11	18	57	61	59		3R	1R					12	16,564
2017–18	Champ	46	27	8	10	69	39	90	bgcolor=silver		4R	2R					11	20,164
2018–19	style=background:MistyRose		38	10	4	24	34	69	34		3R	2R					5	31,229
2019–20	Champ	46	19	16	11	68	58	73		4R	2R					9	20,738
2020–21	Champ	46	18	14	14	66	49	68		3R	1R					20	0
2021–22	Champ	46	15	8	23	50	68	53		3R	2R					6	18,869
2022–23	Champ	46	13	10	23	41	58	49		3R	1R					8	19,455
2023–24	Champ	46	19	5	22	53	70	62		3R	3R					6	21,213

References

General

• Book: Hayes, Dean . The Who's Who of Cardiff City . Breedon Books . Nottingham . 2006 . 1-85983-462-0.
• Book: Shepherd, Richard . The Cardiff City Miscellany . Pitch Publishing . Sussex . 2007 . 978-1-905411-04-7.
• Book: Shepherd, Richard . The Definitive: Cardiff City F.C. . SoccerData Publications . Nottingham . 2002 . 1-899468-17-X.
• Web site: Football Club History Database - Cardiff City. Football Club History Database. 10 August 2016. 17 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181017191128/http://www.fchd.info/CARDIFFC.HTM. live.
• Web site: Southern League final tables . The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation . Dinant . Abbink . 10 August 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20100721195910/http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/engsouthernleaghist.html . 21 July 2010 .
• Web site: Cardiff City Complete History . statto.com . 30 August 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160901185559/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/cardiff-city/history . 1 September 2016 .
• Web site: Welsh Football Data Archive. Welsh Football Data Archive. 10 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160811102203/http://wfda.co.uk/index.php. 11 August 2016. dead.

Specific

Notes and References

1. Web site: 1899–1920 Foundations & The Early Years . Cardiff City F.C. . 6 September 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160622141513/http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk//news/article/1899-1920-724134.aspx . 22 June 2016 . dead .
2. Web site: Club history . Cardiff City F.C. . 9 September 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160622141513/http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk//news/article/1899-1920-724134.aspx . 22 June 2016 . dead .
3. Web site: Cardiff City . Football Club History Database . 26 April 2016 . 17 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181017191128/http://www.fchd.info/CARDIFFC.HTM . live .
4. Web site: Welsh Cup winners . Welsh Football Data Archive . 26 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160313043653/http://wfda.co.uk/welsh_cup_winners.php . 13 March 2016 . dead . dmy-all .
5. Web site: Uefa give Swansea and Cardiff European assurance . BBC Sport . 21 March 2012 . 5 December 2012 . 17 January 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170117120950/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17459332 . live .
6. Web site: Welsh Cup . Football Club History Database . 28 July 2016 . 17 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160817222657/http://fchd.info/cups/welshcupsummary.htm . live .
7. Web site: Cup Friends Reunited . BBC Sport . Peter . Shuttleworth . 4 January 2009 . 26 April 2016 . 1 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170901205505/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7328650.stm . live .
8. Web site: Happy anniversary: Cardiff City celebrate 86 years since their 1927 FA Cup win . WalesOnline . Gareth . Rogers . 23 April 2013 . 26 April 2016 . 20 December 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161220063757/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/happy-anniversary-cardiff-city-celebrate-2995570 . live .
9. Web site: England - List of FA Charity/Community Shield Matches . The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation . James . Ross . 26 April 2016 . 15 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201115125550/http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/engsupcuphist.html . live .
10. News: Premier League promotion party starts at Cardiff City after 0–0 draw against Charlton Athletic . The Daily Telegraph . Graham . Clutton . 17 April 2013 . 26 April 2016 . 20 April 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130420100703/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/cardiff-city/9999495/Premier-League-promotion-party-starts-at-Cardiff-City-after-0-0-draw-against-Charlton-Athletic.html . live .
11. Web site: 1988–1999: From darkness into light . Cardiff City F.C. . 26 April 2016 . 5 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160605032528/http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/article/1989-1999-727864.aspx?pageView=full#anchored . live .
12. Web site: Ignition & Promotion . Cardiff City F.C. . 26 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160605023359/http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/article/2000-2010-728084.aspx . 5 June 2016 . dead .
13. Web site: Hammam accused of Cardiff 'Greed' . BBC Sport . 23 December 2006 . 26 April 2016 . 26 January 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070126022554/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/6205951.stm . live .
14. Web site: Cardiff City fans celebrate first promotion to Premier League . BBC News . 17 April 2013 . 26 April 2016 . 22 January 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160122203323/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-22175764 . live .
15. Web site: Cardiff City - Complete History . Statto.com . 9 August 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160901185559/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/cardiff-city/history . 1 September 2016 .
16. Web site: The FA Cup Past Results . The Football Association . 21 July 2016 . 2 February 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120202070506/http://www.thefa.com/thefacup/more/pastresults . live . Individual seasons accessed via dropdown menu.
17. Web site: Football League Division Three South Cup 1938–39 . Football Club History Database . 9 August 2016 . 20 December 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161220070429/http://fchd.info/cups/div3scup1938-39.htm . live .
18. Web site: Welsh clubs in Europe . Welsh Football Data Archive . 9 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160830210724/http://wfda.co.uk/europe_index.php . 30 August 2016 . dead .