List of Stoke City F.C. seasons

Graph showing Stoke City F.C.'s progress through the English football league system 1889–2014

Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. The club was formed in 1863 and played their first competitive match in November 1883 in the FA Cup. They were founder members of the Football League in 1888, in which they struggled finishing bottom in the first two seasons and failed to gain re-election for the 1890–91 meaning that they played in the Football Alliance.[1] They won the Alliance and re-joined the league. Stoke continued to struggle financially and in 1908 the club was liquidated and had to resign from the league. They re-branded as Stoke F.C. (1908) and joined the Birmingham & District League and Southern Football League before regaining their league status for the 1919–20 season.[1]

As a Football League team Stoke have won two divisional titles at the second and third levels of the English football league system. They have been promoted eight times and suffered relegation on seven occasions. They played in the 2011 FA Cup Final, losing to Manchester City and their best achievement is in the League Cup which they beat Chelsea in the 1972 Final.[1] As of the end of the 2015–16 season, the club has spent 60 seasons in the top tier of the English football league system, 41 in the second and 8 in the third.

History

Stoke were formed as Stoke Ramblers F.C. in 1863 they soon dropped the 'Ramblers' name and simply became known as Stoke F.C., and they played in friendlies against local and national sides as well as competing in the Staffordshire Senior Cup which was a prestigious competition at the time.[1] Stoke entered the FA Cup in the 1883–84 season and their first competitive fixture was against Manchester which they lost 2–1.[1] They continued with this type of fixture list until in 1888 the Football League was founded and Stoke became founder members.[1] In the first league season Stoke finished bottom of the table and again took bottom spot in the second season leading to the club being replaced by Sunderland. Stoke joined the Football Alliance and claimed the title and were re-elected back into the league.[1] Stoke continued to struggle and a number of narrow escapes from relegation in the early 1900s. Eventually the club's fortunes ran out and they were relegated to the Second Division in the 1906–07.[1] The next season Stoke's finances dried up and the club was liquidated and they had to resign from the league. They were saved by a number of local business men and incredibly they were able to apply for re-election but they failed to gain enough votes and had to enter the Birmingham & District League and Southern Football League.[1]

Stoke re-entered the League after World War I and during the 1920s the club added 'City' to their name and had the highs of being promoted to the First Division and the lows of being relegated to the Third Division North.[1] Despite the divisional changes Stoke brought through a number of promising youth players most notably that of Stanley Matthews.[1] Stoke went on to gain promotion to the First Division in the 1932–33 season and went on to finished in 4th place in the 1935–36 season, their highest position until that point.[1] Immediately after World War II Stoke were involved in a title race and they had the chance to become champions of England for the first time on the final day of the 1946–47 season they needed to beat Sheffield United to claim the title, but they lost 2–1 and ended up finishing 4th.[1]

Relegation to the Second Division was suffered in the 1952–53 season and it took Stoke ten season to get back into the First Division with Tony Waddington helping Stoke to gain promotion.[1] He had a successful time at Stoke leading the club to their first major trophy in 1972, winning the Football League Cup as well as reaching the semi-final and European football on two occasions.[1] However Stoke's Victoria Ground was damaged by gale force winds in January 1976 and the club had to sell their best players to cover the cost for the repairs.[1] This eventually led to Stoke being relegated the following 1976–77 season, Stoke soon made a return though gaining promotion in 1978–79 season. In the 1984–85 season Stoke experienced a terrible season finishing bottom after picking up a record low of 17 points. Five seasons of Second Division obscurity followed before the club slipped into the Third tier for the second time.[1]

Lou Macari got Stoke out of the Third Division at the second time of asking and guided the club to the 1995–96 play-offs but lost out to Leicester City.[2] Stoke moved to the all-seater Britannia Stadium in 1997 but were relegated to the third tier in the first season at the new ground.[2] Four seasons in Division Two followed during which time the club had won their second Football League Trophy and entered the play-offs three times eventually gaining promotion at the third attempt. Tony Pulis became Stoke manager in November 2002 and lead the club to safety on the final day of the 2002–03 season. He was sacked at the end of the 2004–05 season but was re-appointed by returning chairman Peter Coates in July 2006.[2] He led the club to promotion to the Premier League in 2007–08 season and has since helped the club to establish themselves back in English football's top tier. Stoke reached the FA Cup Final for the first time in the 2010–11 season losing 1–0 to Manchester City. On reaching the final Stoke qualified for the UEFA Europa League where they reached the last 32, losing out to Valencia. Pulis was replaced by Mark Hughes in May 2013 and he guided the club to their highest Premier League position of 9th in 2013–14.

Key

Key to league record:

  • P = Played
  • W = Games won
  • D = Games drawn
  • L = Games lost
  • F = Goals for
  • A = Goals against
  • Pts = Points
  • Pos = Final position

Key to divisions:

Key to rounds:

  • F = Final
  • Group = Group stage
  • QF = Quarter-finals
  • QR1 = First Qualifying Round
  • QR2 = Second Qualifying Round
  • QR3 = Third Qualifying Round
  • QR4 = Fourth Qualifying Round
  • RInt = Intermediate Round
  • R1 = Round 1
  • R2 = Round 2
  • R3 = Round 3
  • R4 = Round 4
  • R5 = Round 5
  • R6 = Round 6
  • SF = Semi-finals

Champions Runners-up Promoted Relegated

Seasons

Season League FA Cup League
Cup		 Europe / Other Top goalscorer
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos Name Goals
1883–84 n/a R1 Edward Johnson 1
1884–85 n/a R1
1885–86 n/a R1 Jimmy Sayer & George Shutt 1
1886–87 n/a R2 Alf Edge 6
1887–88 n/a R5 Wally Owen 3
1888–89 FL[A] 22 4 4 14 26 51 12 12th QR1 Bob McSkimming 6
1889–90 FL 22 3 4 15 27 69 10 12th QF Freddie Gee 5
1890–91 All 22 13 7 2 57 39 33 1st QF Alf Edge 12
1891–92 FL 26 5 4 17 38 61 14 13th QF Joe Schofield 9
1892–93 Div 1[B] 30 12 5 13 58 48 29 7th R1 Joe Schofield 13
1893–94 Div 1 30 13 3 14 65 79 29 11th R2 Joe Schofield 15
1894–95 Div 1 30 9 6 15 50 67 24 14th R2 Joe Schofield 13
1895–96 Div 1 30 15 0 15 56 47 30 6th QF Tommy Hyslop 17
1896–97 Div 1 30 11 3 16 48 59 25 13th R2 William Maxwell 13
1897–98 Div 1 30 8 8 14 35 55 24 16th R2 William Maxwell 12
1898–99 Div 1 34 13 7 14 47 52 33 12th SF William Maxwell 16
1899–1900 Div 1 34 13 8 13 47 45 34 9th R1 William Maxwell 11
1900–01 Div 1 34 11 5 18 46 57 27 16th R1 William Maxwell 16
1901–02 Div 1 34 11 9 14 45 55 31 16th QF Mart Watkins 15
1902–03 Div 1 34 15 7 12 46 38 37 6th QF Mart Watkins 12
1903–04 Div 1 34 10 7 17 54 57 27 16th R1 Arthur Capes 11
1904–05 Div 1 34 13 4 17 40 58 30 12th R2 Fred Rouse 12
1905–06 Div 1 38 16 7 15 54 55 39 10th R2 Jack Hall 11
1906–07 Div 1 38 8 10 20 41 64 26 20th R1 John Chalmers 11
1907–08 Div 2 38 16 5 17 57 52 37 10th QF Tom Holford 12
1908–09 BDL 34 13 5 16 71 64 31 8th R1 William Davies 14
1909–10 BDL 34 15 7 12 82 52 37 7th R1 Amos Baddeley 24
SL2W 10 10 0 0 48 9 20 1st Arthur Griffiths 36
1910–11 BDL 34 24 2 8 95 48 50 1st R1 Jack Peart 31
SL2 22 17 1 4 72 21 35 2nd Alf Smith 31
1911–12 SL1 38 13 10 15 51 63 36 10th QR5 William Smith 9
1912–13 SL1 38 10 4 24 39 75 24 20th R1 Alf Smith 9
1913–14 SL2 30 19 2 9 71 34 40 5th R1 Alf Smith 16
1914–15 SL2 24 17 4 3 62 15 38 1st QR3 Arthur Watkin 24
No competitive football was played between 1915 and 1919 due to the First World War
1919–20 Div 2 42 18 6 18 60 54 42 10th R1 David Brown 13
1920–21 Div 2 42 12 11 19 46 56 35 20th R1 Arthur Watkin 15
1921–22 Div 2 42 18 16 8 60 44 52 2nd R3 Jimmy Broad 25
1922–23 Div 1 42 10 10 22 47 67 30 21st R2 Jimmy Broad 23
1923–24 Div 2 42 14 18 10 44 42 46 6th R1 Jimmy Broad 14
1924–25 Div 2 42 12 11 19 34 46 35 20th R1 Harry Davies 8
1925–26 Div 2 42 12 8 22 54 77 32 21st R4 Bobby Archibald 10
1926–27 Div 3N 42 27 9 6 92 40 63 1st R1 Charlie Wilson 25
1927–28 Div 2 42 22 8 12 78 59 52 5th QF Charlie Wilson 32
1928–29 Div 2 42 17 12 13 74 51 46 6th R3 Charlie Wilson 22
1929–30 Div 2 42 16 8 18 74 72 40 11th R3 Charlie Wilson 20
1930–31 Div 2 42 17 10 15 64 71 44 11th R3 Wilf Kirkham 14
1931–32 Div 2 42 19 14 9 69 48 52 3rd R5 Joe Mawson 20
1932–33 Div 2 42 25 6 11 78 39 56 1st R4 Joe Mawson 16
1933–34 Div 1 42 15 11 16 58 71 41 12th QF Tommy Sale 15
1934–35 Div 1 42 18 6 18 71 70 42 10th R3 Tommy Sale 24
1935–36 Div 1 42 20 7 15 57 57 47 4th R5 Tommy Sale 14
1936–37 Div 1 42 15 12 15 72 57 42 10th R4 Freddie Steele 33
1937–38 Div 1 42 13 12 17 58 59 38 17th R4 Freddie Steele 15
1938–39 Div 1 42 17 12 13 71 68 46 7th R3 Freddie Steele 26
1939–40[C] Div 1 Tommy Sale 3
No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1946 due to the Second World War
1945–46 n/a[D] QF Freddie Steele 7
1946–47 Div 1 42 24 7 11 90 53 55 4th R5 Freddie Steele 29
1947–48 Div 1 42 14 10 18 41 55 38 15th R4 Freddie Steele 10
1948–49 Div 1 42 16 9 17 66 68 41 11th R5 Frank Bowyer 21
1949–50 Div 1 42 11 12 19 45 75 34 19th R3 Frank Bowyer 15
1950–51 Div 1 42 13 14 15 50 59 40 13th R5 Frank Bowyer 16
1951–52 Div 1 42 12 7 23 49 88 31 20th R4 Sammy Smyth 12
1952–53 Div 1 42 12 10 20 53 66 34 21st R4 Harry Oscroft 10
1953–54 Div 2 42 12 17 13 71 60 41 11th R4 Frank Bowyer 14
1954–55 Div 2 42 21 10 11 69 46 52 5th R4 Harry Oscroft 21
1955–56 Div 2 42 20 4 18 71 62 44 13th R5 Frank Bowyer, Johnny King 16
1956–57 Div 2 42 20 8 14 83 58 48 5th R3 Tim Coleman 26
1957–58 Div 2 42 18 6 18 75 73 42 11th R5 George Kelly 22
1958–59 Div 2 42 21 7 14 72 58 49 5th R4 Dennis Wilshaw 18
1959–60 Div 2 42 14 7 21 66 83 35 17th R3 Frank Bowyer 14
1960–61 Div 2 42 12 12 18 51 59 36 18th R5 R2 Johnny King 12
1961–62 Div 2 42 17 8 17 55 57 42 8th R4 R2 Tommy Thompson 16
1962–63 Div 2 42 20 13 9 73 50 52 1st R3 R3 Dennis Viollet 23
1963–64 Div 1 42 14 10 18 77 78 38 17th R5 RU John Ritchie 18
1964–65 Div 1 42 16 10 16 67 66 42 11th R4 R4 John Ritchie 25
1965–66 Div 1 42 15 12 15 65 64 42 10th R3 R4 John Ritchie 13
1966–67 Div 1 42 17 7 18 63 58 41 12th R3 R2 Peter Dobing 19
1967–68 Div 1 42 14 7 21 50 73 35 18th R4 QF Harry Burrows, Peter Dobing 15
1968–69 Div 1 42 9 15 18 40 63 33 19th R5 R2 David Herd 9
1969–70 Div 1 42 15 15 12 56 52 45 9th R4 R2 John Ritchie, Harry Burrows 14
1970–71 Div 1 42 12 13 17 44 48 37 13th SF R2 John Ritchie 19
1971–72 Div 1 42 10 15 17 39 56 35 17th SF W John Ritchie 18
1972–73 Div 1 42 14 10 18 61 56 38 15th R3 R4 UEFA Cup R1 Jimmy Greenhoff 20
1973–74 Div 1 42 15 16 11 54 42 46 5th R3 R4 John Ritchie 15
1974–75 Div 1 42 17 15 10 64 48 49 5th R3 R4 UEFA Cup R1 Jimmy Greenhoff 15
1975–76 Div 1 42 15 11 16 48 50 41 12th R5 R2 Jimmy Greenhoff 13
1976–77 Div 1 42 10 14 18 28 51 34 21st R3 R3 Terry Conroy, Garth Crooks 6
1977–78 Div 2 42 16 10 16 53 49 42 7th R4 R2 Garth Crooks 19
1978–79 Div 2 42 20 16 6 58 31 56 3rd R3 QF Brendan O'Callaghan 16
1979–80 Div 1 42 13 10 19 44 58 36 18th R3 R3 Garth Crooks 15
1980–81 Div 1 42 12 18 12 51 60 42 11th R3 R2 Lee Chapman 17
1981–82 Div 1 42 12 8 22 44 63 44 18th R3 R2 Lee Chapman 17
1982–83 Div 1 42 16 9 17 53 64 57 13th R4 R2 Mickey Thomas 12
1983–84 Div 1 42 13 11 18 44 63 50 18th R3 R4 Paul Maguire 10
1984–85 Div 1 42 3 8 31 24 91 17 22nd R3 R2 Ian Painter 9
1985–86 Div 2 42 14 15 13 48 50 57 10th R3 R3 Full Members Cup R3 Keith Bertschin 21
1986–87 Div 2 42 16 10 16 63 53 58 8th R5 R2 Full Members Cup R1 Carl Saunders 19
1987–88 Div 2 44 17 11 16 50 57 62 11th R3 R4 Full Members Cup R4 Phil Heath, Graham Shaw 8
1988–89 Div 2 46 15 14 17 57 72 59 13th R4 R2 Full Members Cup R1 Peter Beagrie, Dave Bamber 9
1989–90 Div 2 46 6 19 21 35 63 37 24th R3 R2 Full Members Cup R3 Wayne Biggins 10
1990–91 Div 3 46 16 12 18 55 59 60 14th R2 R2 League Trophy R2 Wayne Biggins 12
1991–92 Div 3 46 21 14 11 69 49 77 4th R1 R2 League Trophy W Wayne Biggins 24
1992–93 Div 2 46 27 12 7 73 34 93 1st R1 R2 League Trophy SF Mark Stein 30
1993–94 Div 1 46 18 13 15 57 59 67 10th R4 R2 Dave Regis 13
1994–95 Div 1 46 16 15 15 50 53 63 11th R3 R3 Paul Peschisolido 15
1995–96 Div 1 46 20 13 13 60 49 73 4th R3 R3 Mike Sheron 15
1996–97 Div 1 46 18 10 18 51 57 64 12th R3 R3 Mike Sheron 23
1997–98 Div 1 46 11 13 22 44 74 46 23rd R3 R3 Peter Thorne 16
1998–99 Div 2 46 21 6 19 59 63 69 8th R2 R2 League Trophy R2 Graham Kavanagh 13
1999–2000 Div 2 46 23 13 10 68 42 82 6th R1 R2 League Trophy W Peter Thorne 30
2000–01 Div 2 46 21 14 11 74 49 77 5th R1 R4 League Trophy QF Peter Thorne 19
2001–02 Div 2 46 23 11 12 67 40 80 5th R3 R1 League Trophy R1 Chris Iwelumo 12
2002–03 Div 1 46 12 14 20 45 69 50 21st R5 R1 Andy Cooke, Chris Iwelumo 7
2003–04 Div 1 46 18 12 16 58 55 66 11th R3 R2 Ade Akinbiyi, Gifton Noel-Williams 10
2004–05 Champ 46 17 10 19 36 38 61 12th R3 R1 Gifton Noel-Williams 13
2005–06 Champ 46 17 7 22 54 63 58 13th R5 R1 Paul Gallagher 12
2006–07 Champ 46 19 16 11 62 41 73 8th R4 R1 Ricardo Fuller 11
2007–08 Champ 46 21 16 9 69 55 79 2nd R3 R1 Ricardo Fuller, Liam Lawrence 15
2008–09 Prem 38 12 9 17 38 55 45 12th R3 QF Ricardo Fuller 11
2009–10 Prem 38 11 14 13 34 48 47 11th QF R4 Ricardo Fuller 8
2010–11 Prem 38 13 7 18 46 48 46 13th RU R4 Kenwyne Jones, Jonathan Walters 12
2011–12 Prem 38 11 12 15 36 53 45 14th QF R4 UEFA Europa League R32 Peter Crouch 14
2012–13 Prem 38 9 15 14 34 45 42 13th R4 R2 Jonathan Walters 11
2013–14 Prem 38 13 11 14 45 52 50 9th R4 QF Peter Crouch 10
2014–15 Prem 38 15 9 14 48 45 54 9th R5 R4 Mame Biram Diouf 12
2015–16 Prem 38 14 9 15 41 55 51 9th R4 SF Marko Arnautović 12

Footnotes

A. ^ Stoke were one of the 12 founding members of The Football League.
B. ^ The Football League expanded to two divisions in 1892, absorbing most of the teams from the Football Alliance. The league previously known simply as The Football League became the Football League First Division.
C. ^ The 1939–40 season was abandoned in early September and all results annulled. Stoke City's record at the time of the annulment was P3 W1 D1 L1 F7 A4 Pts3.
D. ^ The FA Cup was contested in 1945–46 but the Football League did not resume until the following season.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. 1 2 3 Lowe, Simon. Stoke City The Modern Era - A Complete Record. Desert Island Books. ISBN 1-874287-39-2.
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