1896–97 Stoke F.C. season

Stoke
1896–97 season
Chairman Mr S. Barker
Manager Bill Rowley
Stadium Victoria Ground
Football League First Division 13th (25 Points)
FA Cup Second Round
Top goalscorer League: William Maxwell (13)
All: William Maxwell (16)
Highest home attendance 8,000 vs Everton (2 January 1897)
Lowest home attendance 2,500 vs Bury (12 April 1897)
Average home league attendance 5,400
Home colours

The 1896–97 season was Stoke's eighth season in the Football League.

After last season's success of finishing in 6th position there was high hopes that it would signal a change in the club's fortunes. Alas it was a disappointing season for Stoke as little progress was made and they finished the season in 13th position with 25 points.[1]

Season review

League

As the 1896–97 season beckoned there was a lot of talk of Stoke purchasing the football pitch at the cricket ground in the town, with a considerable amount of financial backing promised.[1] However this never materialised much to the disappointment of chairman Mr S. Barker.[1] During the campaign itself a total of 16 players made their senior debuts for the club including Zeke Johnston, Stoke's first Irishman signed from Burnley.[1] There was little progress in the league with a 13th-place finish.[1] The best result of the season saw Stoke beat Liverpool 6–1 in February 1897.[1] Long serving forward Billy Dickson retired as did half-back Davy Brodie.[1]

FA Cup

After beating Glossop North End 5–0 in the first round Stoke lost 2–1 in the next to Preston North End.[1]

Final league table

PosClubPWDLFAGAPts
1Aston Villa30215473381.92147
2Sheffield United301310742291.44836
3Derby County301641070501.40036
4Preston North End301112755401.37534
5Liverpool30129946381.21133
6The Wednesday301011942371.13531
7Everton301431362571.08831
8Bolton Wanderers301261240430.93030
9Bury3010101039440.88630
10Wolverhampton Wanderers301161345411.09828
11Nottingham Forest30981344490.89826
12West Bromwich Albion301061433560.58926
13Stoke301131648590.81425
14Blackburn Rovers301131635620.56525
15Sunderland30791434470.72323
16Burnley30671743610.70519

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 First Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
1 2 September 1896 Aston VillaA1–25,000Schofield
2 5 September 1896 Wolverhampton WanderersH2–17,000 Johnson, Wood
3 12 September 1896 Nottingham ForestA0–43,500
4 19 September 1896 Bolton WanderersH2–34,000Schofield, Eccles
5 26 September 1896 The WednesdayA3–46,000Schofield, Wood, Johnson
6 10 October 1896 Wolverhampton WanderersA2–15,000Maxwell, Wood
7 17 October 1896 Nottingham ForestH3–05,000Maxwell, Schofield, Johnson
8 24 October 1896 Bolton WanderersA0–44,000
9 31 October 1896 Aston VillaH0–24,000
10 7 November 1896 Derby CountyA1–53,000Maxwell
11 9 November 1896 Preston North EndH2–14,000Maxwell, Eardley
12 14 November 1896 BuryA2–43,000A Maxwell, Wood
13 21 November 1896 West Bromwich AlbionH2–26,200Maxwell (2)
14 28 November 1896 Preston North EndA0–35,000
15 5 December 1896 Derby CountyH2–25,000Maxwell (2)
16 12 December 1896 West Bromwich AlbionA2–11,105Maxwell (2)
17 19 December 1896 EvertonA2–47,000Maxwell, Schofield
18 2 January 1897 EvertonH2–38,000Maxwell, Schofield
19 9 January 1897 BurnleyA3–13,000A Maxwell (2), Schofield
20 16 January 1897 LiverpoolA0–17,000
21 23 January 1897 The WednesdayH0–05,000
22 6 February 1897 LiverpoolH6–17,000Schofield (2), Maxwell, Hill (2), Hingerty
23 20 February 1897 SunderlandA1–42,000Schofield
24 27 February 1897 BurnleyH3–28,000Hill (2), Hingerty
25 20 March 1897 Blackburn RoversA1–28,000Hingerty
26 27 March 1897 Sheffield UnitedA0–12,000
27 3 April 1897 SunderlandH0–15,000
28 10 April 1897 Blackburn RoversH1–05,000Hill
29 12 April 1897 BuryH3–02,500Hill, Schofield, Darroch (o.g.)
30 15 April 1897 Sheffield UnitedH2–03,000Hingerty, Maxwell

FA Cup

Main article: 1896–97 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R130 January 1897 GlossopH5–22,000Maxwell (2), Schofield, Hingerty (2)
R213 February 1897 Preston North EndA1–26,000Maxwell

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland Albert Boardman 100010
GK Zeke Johnston 16020180
GKEngland Fred Latham 500050
GKEngland Bill Rowley 400040
GKEngland Fred Sheldon 500050
FBEngland Tommy Clare 30020320
FBEngland Peter Durber 17020190
FBEngland Jack Eccles 13110141
HBEngland Lucien Boullemier 700070
HBScotland Davy Brodie 17010180
HBScotland Bill Fearns 400040
HBScotland Jimmy Grewer 22020240
HBEngland Ted McDonald 200020
HBEngland Jim Peacock 100010
HBEngland Harry Simpson 800080
HBEngland Arthur Rowley 25020270
HBEngland Alf Wood 12400124
FWScotland Billy Baird 300030
FWEngland Arthur Bentley 500050
FWScotland Billy Dickson 400040
FWEngland Billy Eardley 10100101
FWEngland Billy Heames 300030
FWScotland Jimmy Hill 10610116
FWEngland Jim Hingerty 10422126
FWEngland Freddie Johnson 14310153
FWScotland Alan Maxwell 23320253
FWScotland William Maxwell 2913233116
FWEngland Joe Schofield 2912213113
FWScotland Samuel Woods 100010
Own goals 101

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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