1923–24 Cardiff City F.C. season
The 1923–24 season was the 23rd season of competitive football played by Cardiff City F.C. and the team's third consecutive season in the First Division of the Football League. Cardiff had been promoted to the First Division in the 1920–21 season after finishing as runners-up in the Second Division. Cardiff played a much improved campaign from the previous season and led the First Division for the majority of the season. A poor run of form in March resulted in the team dropping to fourth position but they recovered to again lead the division prior to the final game of the season. Needing a win to claim the First Division title, Cardiff could only achieve a draw against Birmingham allowing Huddersfield Town to move into first place and win the championship on goal average. The margin of victory, 0.024 of a goal, remains the narrowest title win in the history of the top tier in English football and was the first time the championship had ever been decided by the method. In cup competitions, the side were eliminated in the fourth round of both the FA Cup and Welsh Cup by Manchester City and Newport County respectively. In the Welsh Cup, Cardiff and Newport required four matches to decide a winner of the tie. Jimmy Nelson made 53 appearances in all competitions, the most of any Cardiff player. He missed a single senior match during the season, a Welsh Cup tie against Newport County. Cardiff used 24 players during the campaign. Len Davies finished the campaign as the club's top goalscorer for the fourth consecutive season, netting 24 goals in all competitions. Background and preseason Cardiff City had entered the Football League in 1920, winning promotion from the Second Division in its first attempt after finishing as runners-up. The team had adapted well to the top tier of English football finishing in fourth place during the 1921–22 season and expectations ahead of the 1922–23 season had been high with The Times describing the team as being considered "as good a team as any in the First Division of the League". However, despite being the highest scoring team in the First Division, Cardiff endured a disappointing campaign and eventually finished in ninth position. Manager Fred Stewart remained in charge for his ninth season of competitive football. Confidence in the existing squad from Stewart and the club's board meant there was little transfer activity ahead of the new season. In a board meeting prior to the campaign a director of Cardiff was quoted as declaring the club were "envied by nearly all the other League clubs" in regards to the players contracted to the club. The decision to rely on the existing squad was described as "thoroughly justified" during the early stages of the campaign. The club's squad was regarded as largely youthful with only four players over the age of 30. Stewart continued his tradition of sourcing players from the North of England by signing forward Alfie Hagan and winghalf Harry Wake