1985–86 Stoke City F.C. season

Stoke City
1985–86 season
Chairman Sandy Clubb
Manager Mick Mills
Stadium Victoria Ground
Football League Second Division 10th (57 Points)
FA Cup Third Round
League Cup Third Round
Full Members Cup Semi-final
Top goalscorer League: Keith Bertschin (19)
All: Keith Bertschin (23)
Highest home attendance 11,872 vs Blackburn Rovers (1 January 1986)
Lowest home attendance 6,469 vs Norwich City (16 November 1985)
Average home league attendance 8,288
Home colours

The 1985–86 season was Stoke City's 79th season in the Football League and 26th in the Second Division.

After the previous season's humiliating relegation Stoke's new manager Mick Mills had the tough task of restoring the club's pride. An early 6–2 victory over Leeds United certainly helped to boost morale but with poor crowds Stoke were never going to be involved in the race for promotion and with the squad considered too good to be relegated again a mid-table position of 10th was the final outcome in a season of recovery.[1]

Season review

League

Following last season's debacle, Stoke had the chance to rebuild with their new manager Mick Mills and his assistant Sammy Chung.[1] The Victoria Ground was in a state of depression as there was no money available whatsoever and the fans had deserted the team in their droves.[1] The average attendance had dropped to below 10,000 and there was a genuine concern that the side could fall all the way to the Third Division and there was no doubt that Mills had an enormous task on his hands.[1]

Stoke had a surprisingly good pre-season reaching the final of the Isle of Man Trophy, losing to Blackburn Rovers.[1] But they suffered a 3–1 defeat at home to Sheffield United on the opening day in their first Second Division fixture for six years.[1] But the fans finally had something to cheer about in their next home match as Mark Chamberlain rediscovered his lost form and starred in a 6–2 victory over Leeds United.[1] Money was still a major problem and Sheffield Wednesday moved in to sign Chamberlain for £300,000.[1]

The board hoped that this money would be available for Mills to spend on new players but instead it had to be used to reduce the club's overdraft.[1] Alan Hudson, struggling with injury, decided to retire in November and Mills quickly brought in John Devine from Norwich City; he also promoted youth team player Neil Adams to the first team and he did well as results slowly started to improve.[1] Paul Dyson was sold to West Bromwich Albion and Tony Kelly was signed from Wigan Athletic before the March transfer deadline and with Stoke out of all three cups and no worry of a relegation or promotion race they played out the final league fixtures without any pressure and finished in 10th position.[1]

FA Cup

For the third season running Stoke failed to make it past the third round losing to Notts County.

League Cup

Stoke beat Fourth Division Welsh side Wrexham before losing away at Portsmouth.[1]

Full Members Cup

With English clubs banned from UEFA competitions due to the Heysel Stadium disaster the FA set up the Full Members Cup as a replacement.[1] Stoke lost to Oxford United at the semi-final stage.[1]

Final league table

PosClubPWDLFAGDPts
1Norwich City4225988437+4784
2Charlton Athletic42221197845+3377
3Wimbledon42211385837+2176
4Portsmouth42227136941+2873
5Crystal Palace42199145752+566
6Hull City421713126555+1064
7Sheffield United421711146463+162
8Oldham Athletic42179166261+160
9Millwall42178176465–159
10Stoke City421415134850–257
11Brighton & Hove Albion42168186464+056
12Barnsley421414144750–356
13Bradford City42166205163–1254
14Leeds United42158195672–1653
15Grimsby Town421410185862–452
16Huddersfield Town421410185167–1652
17Shrewsbury Town42149195264–1251
18Sunderland421311184761–1450
19Blackburn Rovers421213175362–949
20Carlisle United42137224771–2446
21Middlesbrough42129214453–945
22Fulham42106264569–2436

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

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
1 17 August 1985 Sheffield UnitedH1–311,679Heath 44'
2 24 August 1985 BarnsleyA0–06,598
3 26 August 1985 Leeds UnitedH6–27,047Berry 15', Bertschin (2) 55', 83', Chamberlain (2) 77', 88', Maskery 75'
4 1 September 1985 Bradford CityA1–36,999Painter 18'
5 4 September 1985 Grimsby TownH1–17,362Chamberlain 89'
6 7 September 1985 MillwallH0–07,187
7 10 September 1985 MiddlesbroughA1–14,255Parkin 80'
8 14 September 1985 PortsmouthA0–313,720
9 21 September 1985 Charlton AthleticA0–28,858
10 28 September 1985 Crystal PalaceH0–07,130
11 5 October 1985 Hull CityA2–06,890Bertschin 10', Saunders 73'
12 12 October 1985 Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–17,662Maskery 64'
13 19 October 1985 FulhamA0–14,007
14 25 October 1985 WimbledonH0–06,708
15 2 November 1985 Huddersfield TownH3–07,291Heath 12', Shaw 43', Bertschin 66'
16 9 November 1985 Carlisle UnitedA0–32,813
17 16 November 1985 Norwich CityH1–16,469Bertschin 53' (pen)
18 23 November 1985 Oldham AthleticA4–24,817Bertschin (2) 35', 60', Heath 44', Maskery 49'
19 30 November 1985 SunderlandH1–09,034Bertschin 80'
20 7 December 1985 MiddlesbroughH3–27,646Berry 25', Adams 33', Bertschin 55'
21 14 December 1985 Sheffield UnitedA2–112,370Adams 7', Shaw 46'
22 21 December 1985 BarnsleyH0–09,856
23 26 December 1985 Shrewsbury TownA0–19,565
24 1 January 1986 Blackburn RoversH2–211,875Bertschin 33' (pen), Adams 36'
25 11 January 1986 MillwallA3–24,611Donowa 15', Painter 17', Bertschin 71'
26 18 January 1986 Bradford CityH3–18,808Shaw 41', Bertschin (2) 48', 82'
27 25 January 1986 Grimsby TownA3–34,523Shaw 10', Bertschin 22', Adams 44'
28 1 February 1986 Leeds UnitedA0–410,425
29 18 February 1986 FulhamH1–06,449Devine 9'
30 22 February 1986 Charlton AthleticH0–09,297
31 8 March 1986 Hull CityH0–19,112
32 15 March 1986 Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–28,783
33 18 March 1986 Crystal PalaceA1–04,501Bertschin 36'
34 29 March 1986 Blackburn RoversA1–05,408Saunders 76'
35 31 March 1986 Shrewsbury TownH2–28,988Bertschin (2) 13', 63' (1 pen)
36 5 April 1986 Huddersfield TownA0–25,750
37 12 April 1986 Carlisle UnitedH0–07,159
38 19 April 1986 Norwich CityA1–117,757Bertschin 65'
39 22 April 1986 PortsmouthH2–08,529Berry 17', Heath 45'
40 26 April 1986 Oldham AthleticH2–08,585Shaw 40', Bertschin 47'
41 29 April 1986 WimbledonA0–15,959
42 3 May 1986 SunderlandA0–120,631

FA Cup

Main article: 1985–86 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R313 January 1986 Notts CountyH0–212,219

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R2 1st Leg24 September 1985 WrexhamA1–05,241Bertschin 49'
R2 2nd Leg9 October 1985 WrexhamH1–06,784Bertschin 80'
R329 October 1985 PortsmouthA0–213,319

Full Members Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
Group match 118 September 1985 Coventry CityH3–03,516Bertschin (pen), Saunders, Beeston
Group match 22 October 1985 MillwallA2–21,741Bertschin (pen), Maskery
Area semi final6 November 1985 Oxford UnitedH0–15,820

Isle of Man Trophy

RoundOpponentResult
Group match 1Wigan Athletic3–0
Group match 2Manchester City2–1
Group match 3Isle of Man5–0
Semi FinalCarlisle United1–0
FinalBlackburn Rovers0–1

Friendlies

MatchOpponentVenueResult
1Port ValeH1–1
2Crewe AlexandraA0–2
3Nottingham ForestA2–1
4Port ValeA1–0
5Stafford RangersA1–0
6Congleton TownA1–1

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup Full Members Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland Peter Fox 370103030440
GKEngland Barry Siddall 5000000050
DFScotland Phil Bonnyman 7000000070
DFEngland Steve Bould 330003020380
DFRepublic of Ireland Aaron Callaghan 6(2)00000006(2)0
DFRepublic of Ireland John Devine 151100000161
DFEngland Paul Dyson 310103030380
DFEngland Chris Hemming 23(1)010101026(1)0
DFEngland Mick Mills 310103020370
MFEngland Neil Adams 31(1)410303038(1)4
MFEngland Carl Beeston 2(3)00000113(3)1
MFWales George Berry 413103030483
MFEngland Alan Hudson 6000000060
MFEngland Tony Kelly 1000000010
MFEngland Chris Maskery 193002031244
MFEngland Steve Parkin 10(2)100303016(2)1
MFEngland Terry Williams 3(3)0001(1)01(1)05(5)0
FWEngland Keith Bertschin 42191032324923
FWEngland Mark Chamberlain 7300000073
FWWales Alan Curtis 3000000030
FWEngland Louie Donowa 410(1)000004(1)1
FWEngland Phil Heath 384003030444
FWEngland Ian Painter 15(4)210000016(4)2
FWEngland Carl Saunders 33(4)210202(1)138(5)3
FWEngland Graham Shaw 19(1)510000(1)020(2)5

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
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