ST GEORGE'S DAY FOR THE WELSH

April 23rd 1927 and St George's Day, a very English occasion. It was the day of the "English Cup" as it had earlier been known. But it was the Welsh who captured the headlines the next day, with the amazing victory by Cardiff City over Arsenal, who were in their pomp and just beginning to benefit from Herbert Chapman's managerial regime. It was their first Cup Final and a single goal scored in the 73rd minute, won the game. Sadly it was a blunder by the Welshman, Dan Lewis, the Arsenal goalkeeper and Welsh international, that let in the one goal that took the Cup to Wales for the first and so far the only time! The goalie blamed the error on his brand new woollen keeper's jersey, which he said was greasey! Arsenal since then had a tradition of washing the keeper's jersey before every game.

Arsenal had been League runners up in 1925-6 and Cardiff lounged in 16th place in the First Division. The following season they were a little closer in the First Division, Arsenal 11th and Cardiff 14th, only 2 points between them. But Arsenal were very much favourites.

It was gloomy Saturday afternoon at Wembley. With 15 minutes to go, heading towards a goaless draw, Hugh Ferguson the Cardiff centre-forward, shot and the Arsenal keeper fumbled the ball into his own net, the ball tantilisingly slipped under his body, hit his elbow and trickled towards the goal. Cardiff's Len Davies race in to help the ball over the line. Ferguson claimed the goal and Lewis would always be haunted by his mistake. There will always be a welcome for him back in the Valleys.
The Cup Final was broadcast live from Wembley  by the BBC with George Allison commentating (he later became Arsenal's manager) and Derek McCulloch, later to be best known to thousands of children, as Uncle Mac from BBC's "Children's Hour".

It brought another "first" being the first time "Community Singing" was had before the kick off. Just over 91,000 packed the stadium and joined in the pre-match nuptials!

Cardiff had been beaten by Sheffield United in the 1924-5 Final and then later lost to Portsmouth in the 2007-8 Final.