1891–92 Stoke F.C. season

Stoke
1891–92 season
ChairmanMr S. Barker
ManagerJoseph Bradshaw,
Arthur Reeves
StadiumVictoria Ground
Football League13th (14 Points)
FA CupThird Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Joe Schofield
(9)

All: Joe Schofield
(12)
Highest home attendance7,000 vs Aston Villa
(24 October 1891)
Lowest home attendance1,000 vs Sunderland
(28 November 1891)
Average home league attendance3,950

The 1891–92 season was Stoke's third season in the Football League.

Stoke returned to the Football League after a season in the Football Alliance. Stoke continued to struggle in the more demanding competition and finished in 13th position with 14 points and had to seek re-election for the third time, they were successful in doing gaining more votes than Darwen and Sheffield United.[1]

Season review

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League

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Prior to the start of the season Stoke had to ditch their traditional red and white striped kit due to the Football League ruling that only one style of kit can be used by one club and Sunderland were allowed to use red and white. Stoke used amber and black which changed to plain maroon coloured shirts, it took until the 1910s before Stoke could use red and white stripes on a regular basis. The rule was eventually scrapped in 1919.[1]

For the 1891–92 season the Football League was increased from 12 to 14 clubs, Stoke along with Darwen joined the Football League.[1] Despite a bright enough start, Stoke winning 2–1 at home to Derby County, there was a lack of improvement in their overall form and the team quickly dropped down the table.[1] A 9–3 defeat at Darwen, who eventually finished bottom of the league and failed to be re-elected, was the most disappointing performance of a dismal campaign, although Stoke did win 5–1 in the return fixture.[1] Goalkeeper Bill Rowley had now returned from injury and was captain of the side, while Arthur Reeves replaced Joseph Bradshaw as manager in January 1892.[1] Re-election was again sought and duly achieved beating Sheffield United by one vote.[1] They instead joined the newly formed Second Division for the 1892–93 season.[1] Left-winger Joe Schofield made his debut for Stoke against Burnley on 10 October 1891. Schofield would go on to become one of Stoke's greatest players of the 1890s and earned a reputation as a goalscoring winger and he later managed the club during World War I.[1]

FA Cup

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After beating amateur side Casuals 3–0 (twice, after the first match was declared void due to icy pitch) and Burnley 3–1, Stoke drew 2–2 with Sunderland to set up Stoke's first cup replay which they lost 4–0.[1]

Final league table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification
10 Derby County 26 10 4 12 46 52 0.885 24
11 Accrington 26 8 4 14 40 78 0.513 20 Re-elected
12 West Bromwich Albion 26 6 6 14 51 58 0.879 18 FA Cup Winners[a]
13 Stoke[b] 26 5 4 17 38 61 0.623 14 Re-elected
14 Darwen[b] 26 4 3 19 38 112 0.339 11 Failed re-election[c]
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. ^ FA Cup winners — no re-election required
  2. ^ a b New club in the league
  3. ^ Not re-elected, invited to join Second Division.

Results

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Stoke's score comes first

Legend

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Win Draw Loss

Football League

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Match Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
1 5 September 1891 Derby County H 2–1 3,000 Turner (2)
2 12 September 1891 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 1–3 5,000 Dunn
3 19 September 1891 Burnley A 1–4 4,000 Evans
4 26 September 1891 Notts County A 1–1 6,000 Cameron
5 3 October 1891 Darwen A 3–9 4,500 Cameron, Dunn, Naughton
6 10 October 1891 Burnley H 3–0 3,500 Cameron (2), Schofield
7 17 October 1891 Derby County A 3–3 5,000 Naughton, Schofield, Turner
8 24 October 1891 Aston Villa H 2–3 7,000 Clifford, Schofield
9 7 November 1891 Preston North End H 0–1 4,500
10 9 November 1891 Blackburn Rovers H 0–1 4,000
11 14 November 1891 Bolton Wanderers A 1–1 3,500 Ballham
12 21 November 1891 Aston Villa A 1–2 5,500 Naughton
13 28 November 1891 Sunderland H 1–3 1,500 Schofield
14 5 December 1891 Darwen H 5–1 3,000 Schofield (2), Dunn, Turner, Evans
15 12 December 1891 Bolton Wanderers H 0–1 2,000
16 19 December 1891 Accrington H 3–1 3,000 Ballham (2), Schofield
17 25 December 1891 Preston North End A 2–3 3,000 Evans, Schofield
18 2 January 1892 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 1–4 1,300 Dunn
19 9 January 1892 Accrington A 0–3 1,500
20 6 February 1892 Notts County H 1–3 4,000 Evans
21 5 March 1892 Everton A 0–1 7,000
22 12 March 1892 Everton H 0–1 2,000
23 19 March 1892 Blackburn Rovers A 3–5 2,000 Ballham (2), Turner
24 2 April 1892 Sunderland A 1–4 3,000 Brodie
25 11 April 1892 West Bromwich Albion A 2–2 10,000 Evans, Turner
26 23 April 1892 West Bromwich Albion H 1–0 5,400 Schofield

FA Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
R1 16 January 1892 Casuals H 3–0 2,000 Dunn (2), Evans
R1 23 January 1892 Casuals H 3–0 2,000 Schofield, Ballham, Unknown
R2 30 January 1892 Burnley A 3–1 5,000 Turner, Schofield (2)
R3 13 February 1892 Sunderland H 2–2 9,000 Turner, Schofield
R3 Replay 20 February 1892 Sunderland A 0–4 10,000

Squad statistics

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Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Ike Brookes 2 0 0 0 2 0
GK England Bill Rowley 24 0 5 0 29 0
FB England George Bateman 5 0 0 0 5 0
FB England Tommy Clare 22 0 5 0 27 0
FB England Jesse Stanley 3 0 0 0 3 0
FB England Alf Underwood 22 0 5 0 27 0
HB Scotland Davy Brodie 24 1 5 0 29 1
HB Scotland Davy Christie 26 0 5 0 31 0
HB Scotland Hughie Clifford 13 1 0 0 13 1
HB England Billy Draycott 1 0 0 0 1 0
HB England Jack Proctor 12 0 3 0 15 0
HB England Bobby Smith 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW England Tommy Arthern 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW England Lewis Ballham 18 5 5 1 23 6
FW Scotland John Cameron 9 4 0 0 9 4
FW Scotland Billy Dunn 23 4 5 2 28 6
FW England Ted Evans 15 5 5 1 20 6
FW England Billy Forrester 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW Scotland Billy Fraser 3 0 0 0 3 0
FW Scotland Willie Naughton 16 3 2 0 18 3
FW England Joe Schofield 16 9 5 4 21 13
FW England John Tunnicliffe 3 0 0 0 3 0
FW England Wilmot Turner 26 6 5 2 31 8

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.