1888–89 Stoke F.C. season

Stoke
1888–89 season
Chairman Mr S.Barker
Manager Harry Lockett
Stadium Victoria Ground
Football League 12th (12 Points)
FA Cup First Qualifying Round
Top goalscorer League: Bob McSkimming (6)
All: Bob McSkimming (6)
Highest home attendance 5,000 vs Blackburn Rovers (1 December 1888)
Lowest home attendance 1,500 vs Everton (15 December 1888)
Average home league attendance 3,450
Home colours

The 1888–89 season was Stoke's first season in the Football League, Stoke becoming one of the 12 founder members.

There was a major change to English football in 1888–89 following the formation of the Football League. Stoke successfully joined the league along with 11 other professional football clubs. Managed by Harry Lockett Stoke struggled throughout the season and ended up finishing bottom of the table after managing just four victories.

Season review

League

Prior to the 1888–89 season clubs played in friendlies as well as in the FA Cup which Stoke entered for the first time in 1883. However once a team has been knocked out of the cup there was little excitement for players and supporters and so a league format was advocated by the chairman of Aston Villa, William McGregor and in the spring of 1888 the Football League was formed with McGregor as its first president. Harry Lockett represented Stoke at the meeting in Anderton's Hall Hotel, London and was successful as three weeks later Stoke joined the league and Lockett was appointed as the league's first secretary which he went on to occupy from 1888 to 1902.[1] Stoke's first league match was at the Victoria Ground against midlands rivals and FA Cup holders West Bromwich Albion. A crowd in excess of 4,500 attended the contest which was won 2–0 by the visitors thanks to late goals from Joe Wilson and George Woodhall which meant that the "Baggies" were the first side to be top of the table.[1]

Stoke had the misfortune to finish bottom of the table, albeit on goal-average at the end of the first league season after only winning 4 of their 22 matches. These were 3–0 both home and away over Notts County the team who finished level on points with Stoke, 4–3 v Burnley and 2–1 against Blackburn Rovers.[1] Frank Staton had the honour of scoring the club's first league goal which came in a 5–1 loss at Aston Villa.[1] Stoke's first win was against Notts County on 22 September with two goals from Billy Tunncliffe and a strike from the clubs first Scottish player Bob McSkimming who went on be the leading goalscorer with six.[1] Stoke's heaviest defeat was a 7–0 loss away at the eventual winners of both League and cup Preston North End. Two Stoke players failed to board the train on the morning of that game at Deepdale and so Preston agreed to loan two of their reserves (Bill Smalley and Alfred Dempsey) to make up the numbers.[1] Alf Underwood and Bob McSkimming were Stoke's only ever-presents and Bill Rowley only missed one game. Stoke successfully applied for re-election to along with Notts County, Derby and Burnley.[1]

FA Cup

On the same day as the first qualifying round Stoke's first team had an away match against Preston North End so Stoke's reserve side, the Stoke Swifts played the FA Cup tie against Warwick County which they lost 2–1.[1]

Final league table

PosClubPWDLFAGAPts
1Preston North End22184074154.93340
2Aston Villa22125561431.41929
3Wolverhampton Wanderers22124650371.35128
4Blackburn Rovers22106666451.46726
5Bolton Wanderers221021063591.06822
6West Bromwich Albion221021040460.87022
7Accrington2268848481.00020
8Everton22921135460.76120
9Burnley22731242620.67717
10Derby County22721341610.67216
11Notts County22521540730.54812
12Stoke22441426510.51012

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

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
18 September 1888West Bromwich AlbionH0–24,524
215 September 1888Aston VillaA1–53,000Staton
322 September 1888Notts CountyH3–03,000Tunnicliffe (2), McSkimming
429 September 1888AccringtonH2–45,000Staton, McSkimming
56 October 1888Preston North EndA0–73,500
613 October 1888Bolton WanderersA1–23,000Slater
720 October 1888BurnleyH4–34,500Sloane, Tunnicliffe (2), Lawton
827 October 1888Blackburn RoversA2–53,000McSkimming (2)
93 November 1888Aston VillaH1–14,000Shutt
1012 November 1888Preston North EndH0–34,500
1117 November 1888Wolverhampton WanderersH0–12,500
1224 November 1888Notts CountyA3–02,500McSkimming, Milarvie (2)
131 December 1888Blackburn RoversH2–15,000McSkimming, Edge
148 December 1888BurnleyA1–23,000Edge
1515 December 1888EvertonH0–01,500
1622 December 1888Wolverhampton WanderersA1–42,500Sloane
1729 December 1888West Bromwich AlbionA0–24,900
1812 January 1889EvertonA1–27,000Milarvie
1919 January 1889Bolton WanderersH2–24,000Milarvie (2)
2026 January 1889Derby CountyA1–23,000Edge
216 April 1889Derby CountyH1–14,000Sayer
2220 April 1889AccringtonA0–22,000

FA Cup

Main article: 1888–89 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
QR16 October 1888 Warwick CountyH1–21,500Wainwright

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland Charlie Hassall 001010
GKEngland Wilf Merritt 100010
GKEngland Bill Rowley 21000210
FBEngland Albert Bourne 001010
FBEngland Tommy Clare 21000210
FBWales Edgar Montford 001010
FBEngland Alf Underwood 22000220
HBEngland Albert Farmer 001010
HBScotland Billy Hendry 200020
HBEngland Will Holford 001010
HBEngland Bob Ramsey 21000210
HBEngland George Shutt 21100211
HBEngland Elijah Smith 21000210
FWEngland Charlie Baker 100010
FWScotland Bob Barr 300030
FWEngland Alfred Dempsey 100010
FWEngland Alf Edge 19310203
FWEngland Tom Forrester 001010
FWEngland Freddie Gee 100010
FWEngland Billy Hutchinson 100010
FWEngland George Lawton 13100131
FWScotland Bob McSkimming 22600226
FWScotland Bob Milarvie 15500155
FWWales Harry Montford 101020
FWScotland Thomas Moore 100010
FWEngland Jimmy Sayer 711081
FWEngland George Slater 210021
FWScotland Jimmy Sloane 11200112
FWEngland Bill Smalley 100010
FWEngland Frank Staton 420042
FWEngland Billy Tunnicliffe 841094
FWEngland Tom Wainwright 101121

References

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