CITY IN THE STATES
Club News
10th October
Another American connection as Charlie Horton called-up to U.S U23 squad.
19-year-old Charlie Horton has been rewarded for his impressive displays since joining City in the summer with a USA U23 call up.
The young goalkeeper signed from Peterborough United, and has played a key part in the U21 development side’s unbeaten start to the campaign.
The United States U23 Men’s National Team will be training in Brasilia, Brazil before taking on their hosts in a friendly match on Monday 13th October 2014. These international training camps are seen as a crucial part of the selection process made each four years ahead of each Olympic qualifying campaign, the next one to be held in 2015.
Charlie’s call up is just one of a number of famous links between the United States and Cardiff City Football Club – the most famous recent connection being cult hero Eddie Johnson.
Johnson joined City on loan for the 2008-09 season from Fulham, making his debut during the 2-1 victory over Milton Keynes Dons in the League Cup. Eddie went on to make his league debut as an eight-fifth minute substitute four days later in a 0-0 draw with Sheffield United. While he was known throughout the MLS for his goal-scoring ability, he did struggle to recreate this form while in the UK.
Johnson scored his first goal in English football in March 2009 as City defeated Doncaster Rovers, 3-0. While his time as a Bluebird was less than prolific, his status in the Cardiff City FC record books was cemented on April 8th 2009, as Cardiff defeated Derby County 4-1 – Johnson not only scoring the final goal under the floodlights at Ninian Park, but also slicing the ball into his own net for Derby’s last minute consolation goal.
Eddie has since returned to the US, and continued his impressive goal-scoring record in the MLS with Seattle Sounders and DC United, he remains a firm favourite with the Cardiff City FC supporters to this day.
Other links between City and our cross Atlantic friends include the strange story of Godfrey Ingram. In September 1982, Godfrey Ingram was signed from San Jose Earthquakes for a club-record fee. The Luton-born forward was with the club only two months before returning to the now rebranded Golden Bay Earthquakes for the exact same fee. Ingram played 11 matches while a Bluebird, scoring twice but the whole story of his time in South Wales remains a mystery.
Finally, Scotland International winger Denis Lawson, signed from St. Mirren in November 1923, and eventually joined Springfield Babes (USA) at the end of 1925/26 after being refused a free transfer from Ninian Park. He then played for Providence Clamdiggers before returning to play for Wigan Borough, forerunners of Wigan Athletic. The wide right midfielder finished his career back in Scotland with Brechin City and Clyde FC.
