Cardiff Corinthians FC are a football club from Cardiff in Wales. They currently play in the Welsh Football League Second Division.
History The club was formed in 1897 when players from the Alpha Cricket Club decided to form a football team to keep in touch during the winter months. With their base at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff for the first six years the team only played friendlies but then joined the Rhymney Valley League. It was in cup competitions that the team made its mark and in 1914 they won the Welsh Amateur Cup beating Holywell 1-0 at Newton. They have several nicknames including The Corries, Alpha or The Cards (shortened version of Cardiff).
After the war the club moved to Pengam Farm. Tremorfa and in 1921 took the bold step of joining the professional Western League, but because of traveling expenses were so high in 1924 the club opted to join the Welsh League. In 1921 the club played a series of friendly matches against FC Barcelona, losing 4-0, 2-1 and 2-1.
The outbreak of the Second World War interrupted Welsh League football but the Corries continued to play friendlies using a number of grounds. They finally settled at Llandaff Road, Cardiff, a ground which became a permanent home thanks to a loan from former player and patron, Fred Dewey.
In the sixties and seventies the team went up and down the divisions although the late seventies they finished as Runners Up in the Premier Division and repeated the feat again in 1982. More glory came when in 1985 the club won the Welsh Amateur Cup.
In the late sixties the club made a frantic quest for another permanent home as the ground at Canton was lost when the club defaulted on the original loan. For one season the team played on an unenclosed pitch at Pontcanna followed by a season at Maindy Stadium and a couple at Fidlas Avenue in Llanishen. In 1974 the club negotiated a ground share with Radyr Cricket Club and this has been their permanent home since.
Famous names who have played for the club include Neil O'Halloran, Ritchie Morgan and Wales Keepers Graham Vearncombe and of course life vice-president, Tommy Forse.
Honours - Welsh Amateur Cup
- Winners 1914, 1929, 1930, 1934, 1962
- South Wales Football Association Amateur Cup
- South Wales Amateur League
- Division One Champions 1924-25
- Division Town Champions 1970-71
- Welsh Youth Cup
- Welsh League
- Premier Division Champions 1984-85
- Division One Champions 1970-71, 1977-78
- Division Two East Champions 1955-56, 1959-60
- Challenge Cup Winners 1976
- Corinthian Cup
- Welsh Intermediate Cup
|