CARDIFF’S BEST EVER STRIKER?
THOUGH Cardiff City’s recent misfortunes with strikers are well documented, there is no doubting a series of iconic marksmen have graced the hallowed turf of Ninian Park and, less so, Cardiff City Stadium in the club’s steeped history.
From the ‘Galacticos’ of the 1960s to the wonderful Dave Jones side of a decade ago via the Darling Buds of Eddie May, many forwards have captured the hearts of thousands of Bluebirds over many generations.
When comprising a list such as Cardiff City’s greatest-ever strikers, a range of factors must of course be considered; longevity, goals and impact.
For clarity, we have selected players who played the vast majority of their games up front for the club, so the likes of John Charles, Peter King, Derek Tapscott and our very own Nathan Blake, while supreme strikers, often played in other positions while at the club, in defence for the former or out on the wing for the latter three.
So, here we have shone a light on 20 of the club’s greatest forwards. Who’s the best? Well, that’s for you to decide, but we have attempted to rank them at the bottom of this article...
Jimmy Gilligan
The Hammersmith-born striker enjoyed the best spell of his career at Cardiff. He was signed for a bargain £17,500 and finished the 1987/88 season as the 20-goal top scorer as City won promotion from Division Four. Also won a Welsh Cup winners’ medal and scored a hat-trick in Europe against Derry City.
Jay Bothroyd
Signed for a fee of £350,000 in 2008, Bothroyd went on to become a big fans’ favourite. His form between 2009 and 2011 was simply superb, with the striker becoming the linchpin of Dave Jones’ side and earning himself an England call-up and cap along the way.
Phil Stant
Averaged a goal every other game during three seasons at Ninian Park in the early 1990s, a prolific scorer who helped the Bluebirds earn promotion and win the Welsh Cup. An iconic figure with a harrowing military past, ‘Ooh-Aah, Stantona’ was a popular chant at Ninian Park throughout that magical time.
Trevor Ford
Was the world’s costliest player when he moved from Aston Villa to Sunderland for £30,000 in 1950, and arrived at Cardiff for just £500 three years later. One of the leading forwards in his day, he scored 59 goals in 119 appearances for Cardiff during his spell at Ninian Park before moving to PSV Eindhoven.
Michael Chopra
One of the Bluebirds’ best finishers at his height. A prolific campaign during 2006-07 led to a move to Sunderland for £5m, but he returned to lead the Bluebirds to the Championship play-off final, where his goal wasn’t enough to secure promotion.
Gerry Hitchens
The England international began his Football League career with Cardiff, scoring a goal on his debut in 1955 which kept them up in Division One. Scored 28 goals in all competitions the following season, but later sold to Aston Villa. Went on to play in Italy and for Merthyr.
Brian Clark
A real Ninian Park legend. Scored Cardiff’s winner against Real Madrid in 1971 as he formed a dangerous partnership with John Toshack. Had two spells with the Bluebirds and earned four Welsh Cup winners’ medals – and helped City earn promotion in 1975/76.
Wilf Grant
A winger with Southampton who became a centre-forward for Cardiff, Grant had a devastating turn of speed. He scored 14 goals in the 1950-51 season when Cardiff finished in third place in Division Two and helped them earn promotion to the top flight a year later as his displays earned an England B call-up.
Chris Pike
The dependable striker played a key role in the 1992/93 promotion season during the second of his two spells playing for the Bluebirds, usually in partnership with Carl Dale. Has found later fame as the uncle of a certain Gareth Bale.
John Toshack
At 16 years, 236 days, ‘Tosh’ became the youngest player to appear in a league match for the Bluebirds during a 3-1 win against Orient in 1965. After teaming up with Brian Clark he scored 31 goals in 1968/69, but later moved to Liverpool for a club-record £110,000 in a transfer which still causes animated discussions among Cardiff fans.
Tony Evans
The Liverpool-born forward formed one half of a vaunted frontline alongside Adrian Alston in the promotion season of 1975/76. Notched almost 50 goals in his 124 appearances for the club, but will be most fondly remembered for that first campaign. Went on to become a social worker and set up the ‘Midnight League’ to give youngsters an opportunity to play football instead of hanging around on the streets.
Robin Friday
Now, here is where we talk about impact. The term iconic was almost designed for a man like Robin Friday. His off-field boozing and drug exploits placed him in hot water a number of times, while the photograph of him
flipping the V-sign to Luton goalkeeper Milija Aleksic after scoring a goal is as iconic as the player himself. He was also sent off once for kicking Mark Lawrenson in the face. Scored six goals in 21 appearances before retiring aged just 25, but he still lives on strongly in many Cardiff fans’ memories. He died of a heart attack aged just 38.
Robert Earnshaw
Zambia-born ‘Earnie’ moved to Wales with his family as a schoolboy. Scored more than 100 goals for the Bluebirds – and has scored over 200 in club football during his career.
Len Davies
The club’s all-time top scorer, his total of 148 in 339 games looks unlikely to be beaten. He qualified as a marine engineer and spent time at sea before joining City in 1919. His involvement with the club coincided with their greatest period, a term in which Cardiff consolidated their position in the First Division and won the 1927 FA Cup against Arsenal.
Hughie Ferguson
Scored Cardiff’s winner against Arsenal in the 1927 FA Cup final, having netted five times on the way to Wembley Stadium. Scored five goals in a First Division fixture v Burnley, while his 32 goals in all competitions during 1926/27 was a club record until Robert Earnshaw overtook it in 2003. One of only seven players in the history of Football League to have scored 350 league goals.
Carl Dale
Master marksman Dale went on to spend the majority of his playing career at Cardiff where he played more than 200 league games and became a firm favourite with the club’s supporters. During his time at City he won a Division Three title and two Welsh Cups with the team. His 94 goals put him joint third on Cardiff’s all-time list.
Ivor Allchurch
The ‘Golden Boy’ of Welsh football, spent three years playing for the Bluebirds during the 1960s. One of the most gifted footballers ever to emerge from Wales.
The Bluebirds paid £18,000 to sign Allchurch from Newcastle in 1962 and he scored on his debut, ironically a 4-4 draw against the Magpies. Scored 39 goals in more than 100 Cardiff appearances, and Sir Bobby Charlton said he was ‘a great player with footballing presence and charisma’.
Peter Thorne
Centre-forward who commanded Cardiff’s record transfer fee of £1.7m in 2001 and it proved money well spent as he was outstanding alongside Robert Earnshaw, setting up and scoring goals. Played in Cardiff’s team when they won promotion to the Championship via the 2003 play-offs.
Stan Richards
A fine, goalscoring centre-forward, who, incredibly, didn’t make his professional debut until the age of 29. He notched 30 league goals when Cardiff won the Third Division title in 1946/47, a record which stood for 56 years until broken by Robert Earnshaw in 2003. Surprisingly earned only one Welsh cap, against England in 1946.
Leo Fortune-West
Pound for pound, Big Leo proved one of Cardiff’s best-value signings. Despite his ungainly style, he was highly effective up front. Secured two promotion medals with Cardiff, his hat-trick at York City in a 3-3 draw sealing one of them in 2001.
Our verdict: 20. Tony Evans, 19. Robin Friday, 18. Leo Fortune-West,
17. Gerry Hitchens, 16. Chris Pike,
15. Jay Bothroyd, 14. Phil Stant, 13. Michael Chopra, 12. Carl Dale, 11. Peter Thorne, 10. Jimmy Gilligan, 9. Trevor Ford, 8. Wilf Grant, 7. John Toshack, 6. Stan Richards, 5. Brian Clark, 4. Len Davies, 3. Hughie Ferguson, 2. Ivor Allchurch, 1. Robert Earnshaw.