1943–44 Stoke City F.C. season
The 1943–44 season was Stoke City's ninth season in the non-competitive War League.[1]
In 1939 World War II was declared and the Football League was cancelled. In its place were formed War Leagues and cups, based on geographical lines rather than based on previous league placement. However, none of these were considered to be competitive football, and thus their records are not recognised by the Football League and thus not included in official records.[1]
Season review
With the war now at its most demanding clubs had to rely on even more guest players and Stoke used the most players this season more than any other time during the war.[1] With most senior players being called for military duty there was a largely youthful feel to Stoke squad for the 1943–44 season and it showed as they ended the first phase of the Football League North in an overall position of 34th (out of 50 teams) and in the second phase they finished in 13th.[1] Freddie Steele hit an impressive 20 goals from just 9 matches including a double hat trick against Wolverhampton Wanderers.[1]
Results
Stoke's score comes first
Legend
Football League North 1st Phase
Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
1 | 23 August 1943 | Aston Villa | H | 0–2 | 6,000 | |
2 | 4 September 1943 | Aston Villa | A | 1–2 | 15,000 | Sale |
3 | 11 September 1943 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 1–2 | 4,905 | F Mountford |
4 | 18 September 1943 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 4–2 | 3,950 | Sale, Bowyer (2), G Mountford |
5 | 25 September 1943 | Derby County | H | 5–1 | 4,000 | Leuty (o.g.), Peppitt (2), G Mountford, Franklin |
6 | 2 October 1943 | Derby County | A | 2–2 | 8,000 | Bowyer, Liddle |
7 | 9 October 1943 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 5–0 | 5,119 | Bowyer, G Mountford (2), Basnett (2) |
8 | 16 October 1943 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 2–1 | 7,242 | Basnett (2) |
9 | 23 October 1943 | Birmingham | H | 1–1 | 5,000 | G Mountford |
10 | 30 October 1943 | Birmingham | A | 0–2 | 3,900 | |
11 | 6 November 1943 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 3–3 | 3,520 | Sale (2), Liddle |
12 | 13 November 1943 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 0–3 | 6,912 | |
13 | 20 November 1943 | Wrexham | A | 1–4 | 3,850 | Sale |
14 | 27 November 1943 | Wrexham | H | 7–3 | 3,000 | Sale (2), Basnett (2), Steele (2), Liddle |
15 | 4 December 1943 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 5–0 | 3,500 | Sale (2), Peppitt (2), Basnett |
16 | 11 December 1943 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 1–2 | 3,000 | Franklin |
17 | 18 December 1943 | Walsall | A | 2–4 | 1,147 | Clewlow, Rist (o.g.) |
18 | 28 December 1943 | Walsall | H | 0–1 | 6,022 | |
Football League North 2nd Phase
Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
1 | 18 March 1944 | Leicester City | H | 2–5 | 3,279 | F Mountford, Sellars |
2 | 25 March 1944 | Leicester City | A | 2–2 | 7,000 | Ormston, Bowyer |
3 | 10 April 1944 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 6–1 | 4,350 | Bowyer (2), Sale (2), F Mountford, Pointon |
4 | 29 April 1944 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 2–2 | 2,156 | Sale, Jackson |
5 | 6 May 1944 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–2 | 1,997 | Watkin |
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
QR | 30 December 1943 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–1 | 19,951 | Sale |
QR | 1 January 1944 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 9–3 | 6,798 | Steele (6), Sale (2), Liddle |
QR | 8 January 1944 | Aston Villa | H | 6–3 | 16,492 | Steele (3), Peppitt (3) |
QR | 15 January 1944 | Aston Villa | A | 2–0 | 32,000 | Kirton, Ormston |
QR | 22 January 1944 | Birmingham | A | 1–4 | 1,750 | Basnett |
QR | 29 January 1944 | Birmingham | H | 4–1 | 20,000 | Steele (3), Sale |
QR | 5 February 1944 | Walsall | H | 5–1 | 4,000 | Sale (2), Ormston, Peppitt, Shelton (o.g.) |
QR | 12 February 1944 | Walsall | A | 2–0 | 1,986 | Sale, F Mountford |
QR | 19 February 1944 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 8–2 | 5,000 | Sale (3), Steele (4), Bowyer |
QR | 26 February 1944 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 5–4 | 8,000 | Sale (2), Steele (2), G Mountford |
R1 1st leg | 4 March 1944 | Aston Villa | H | 4–5 | 11,508 | Sale (2), Steele (2) |
R1 2nd leg | 11 March 1944 | Aston Villa | A | 0–3 | 22,000 | |
Midland Cup
Squad statistics
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0952415100.