1925–26 Stoke City F.C. season

Stoke City
1925–26 season
Chairman Mr A.McSherwin
Manager Tom Mather
Stadium Victoria Ground
Football League Second Division 21st (32 Points)
FA Cup Fourth Round
Top goalscorer League: Harry Davies & Bobby Archibald (10)
All: Harry Davies & Dick Johnson
Highest home attendance 21,782 vs Port Vale (7 September 1925)
Lowest home attendance 6,670 vs Bradford City (27 February 1926)
Average home league attendance 12,144
Home colours

The 1925–26 season was Stoke City's 26th season in the Football League and the seventh in the Second Division. It was also the first season under the name of Stoke City.

Stoke-on-Trent was granted city status in 1925 and so Stoke added the word 'City' to their name and have since been forever known as Stoke City. However, despite a change of name there was no change in fortunes on the pitch as Stoke failed to improve after last season's narrow escape and they were relegated to the Third Division North this time finishing one point from safety.[1]

Season review

League

The 1925–26 season was a season of change as Stoke F.C. became Stoke City F.C. and there was a new offside law introduced which allowed two opponents (not three as before) to be between the attacker and the goal.[1] This change prompted many high scoring matches throughout the county as teams struggled to adapt the changes with the traditional 2–3–5 formation, eventually teams started to use new formations and tactics.[1] But Stoke did not share the high scoring and they struggled all season with many disappointing displays.[1]

Injuries certainly hampered the team's efforts throughout the season and by the new year relegation looked inevitable and despite a late revival a failure to beat Southampton on the final day of the season sealed Stoke's fate and they dropped into the third tier for the first time.[1] However the signing of Huddersfield Town's Charlie Wilson in March 1926 proved to be a vital addition as he would be key in making sure Stoke's stay in the Third Division North would be a short one.[1]

FA Cup

With sides in the top two divisions now starting in the third round Stoke played Wigan Borough and beat them 5–2 however Stoke themselves were on the receiving end of a heavy cup defeat losing 6–3 to Swansea Town in the fourth round.[1]

Final league table

PosClubPWDLFAGAPts
1The Wednesday42276988481.83360
2Derby County422571077421.83357
3Chelsea421914976491.55152
4Wolverhampton Wanderers422171484601.40049
5Swansea Town4219111277571.35149
6Blackpool4217111476691.10145
7Oldham Athletic421881674621.19444
8Port Vale421961779691.14544
9South Shields421881674651.13844
10Middlesbrough422121977681.13244
11Portsmouth4217101579741.06844
12Preston North End421871771840.84543
13Hull City421691763611.03341
14Southampton421581963631.00038
15Darlington4214101872770.93538
16Bradford City4213101947660.71236
17Nottingham Forest421482051730.69936
18Barnsley4212121858840.69036
19Fulham4211121946770.59734
20Clapton Orient421292150650.76933
21Stoke City421282254770.70132
22Stockport County42892551970.52625

Key: P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
1 29 August 1925 Stockport CountyH3–017,296Clennell (2), Archibald
2 31 August 1925 Port ValeA0–320,000
3 5 September 1925 FulhamA4–210,000Davies (2), Ralphs (2)
4 7 September 1925 Port ValeH0–321,782
5 12 September 1925 South ShieldsH0–113,334
6 14 September 1925 Oldham AthleticA2–76,680Sellars, Howe (pen)
7 19 September 1925 Preston North EndA0–210,000
8 26 September 1925 MiddlesbroughH4–09,617Paterson (3), Archibald
9 3 October 1925 PortsmouthA0–212,000
10 10 October 1925 Wolverhampton WanderersH0–015,609
11 17 October 1925 Bradford CityH1–08,377Davies
12 24 October 1925 Derby CountyA3–715,000Davies (2), Paterson
13 31 October 1925 Clapton OrientH0–09,106
14 7 November 1925 BarnsleyA1–210,000D Johnson
15 14 November 1925 BlackpoolH1–38,529Archibald
16 21 November 1925 DarlingtonA2–18,529D Johnson, Clennell
17 28 November 1925 Hull CityH3–17,155D Johnson, Clennell, Archibald
18 5 December 1925 ChelseaA1–115,000Davies
19 12 December 1925 Nottingham ForestH1–19,033Archibald
20 19 December 1925 SouthamptonA2–19,033D Johnson, Clennell
21 25 December 1925 Swansea TownA1–112,000Davies
22 26 December 1925 Swansea TownH1–119,814Ralphs
23 2 January 1926 Stockport CountyA1–26,600Walker
24 16 January 1926 FulhamH5–07,565D Johnson (4), Archibald
25 23 January 1926 South ShieldsA1–55,000Davies
26 6 February 1926 MiddlesbroughA0–38,800
27 13 February 1926 PortsmouthH2–111,724Davies, Clifford (o.g.)
28 20 February 1926 Wolverhampton WanderersA1–515,000Clennell
29 22 February 1926 Preston North EndH1–310,140Archibald
30 27 February 1926 Bradford CityA1–26,140Davies
31 6 March 1926 Derby CountyH0–114,808
32 13 March 1926 Clapton OrientA0–48,000
33 20 March 1926 BarnsleyH1–218,638Archibald
34 27 March 1926 BlackpoolA0–07,500
35 3 April 1926 DarlingtonH6–113,811Clennell (2), Archibald, Wilson, Williams (2)
36 5 April 1926 The WednesdayH0–118,138
37 6 April 1926 The WednesdayA0–220,000
38 10 April 1926 Hull CityA0–16,000
39 17 April 1926 ChelseaH1–310,219Wilson
40 24 April 1926 Nottingham ForestA2–112,000Archibald, Sellars
41 26 April 1926 Oldham AthleticH1–08,461Wilson
42 1 May 1926 SouthamptonH1–18,012D Johnson

FA Cup

Main article: 1925–26 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R39 January 1926 Wigan BoroughA5–23,992D Johnson (3), Davies (2)
R430 January 1926 Swansea TownA3–621,000D Johnson, Davies, Beswick

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKScotland Kenny Campbell 700070
GKEngland Bob Dixon 34020360
GKEngland Percy Knott 100010
DFEngland Tommy Howe 610061
DFScotland Bob McGrory 36020380
DFEngland Alec Milne 25020270
DFEngland Harold Robson 100010
DFEngland Billy Spencer 16000160
MFEngland Ewart Beswick 23011241
MFEngland Harry Brough 500050
MFEngland Tommy Dawson 800080
MFScotland George Dickie 100010
MFEngland Reginald Hodgkins 200020
MFEngland Peter Jackson 10000100
MFEngland Sam Johnson 30020320
MFEngland Alec McClure 402060
MFEngland Harry Sellars 13200132
MFEngland John Walker 25110261
FWScotland Bobby Archibald 4210204410
FWEngland Len Armitage 14000140
FWEngland Walter Bussey 400040
FWEngland Joe Clennell 24820268
FWEngland John Cull 300030
FWEngland Harry Davies 3010233213
FWEngland Jack Eyres 300030
FWEngland Charles Hallam 600060
FWEngland Dick Johnson 319243313
FWEngland Charles Kelly 100010
FWScotland James Maxwell 10000100
FWScotland George Paterson 740074
FWEngland Bert Ralphs 16320183
FWEngland Arthur Watkin 200020
FWEngland Joey Williams 11200112
FWEngland Charlie Wilson 11300113
Own goals 101

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
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