1903–04 Stoke F.C. season

Stoke
1903–04 season
Chairman Mr W Cowlishaw
Manager Horace Austerberry
Stadium Victoria Ground
Football League First Division 16th (27 Points)
FA Cup First Round
Top goalscorer League: Arthur Capes (11)
All: Arthur Capes (11)
Highest home attendance 16,000 vs Bury (1 September 1903)
Lowest home attendance 4,000 vs West Brom (28 November 1903)
Average home league attendance 8,610
Home colours

The 1903–04 season was Stoke's 15th season in the Football League.

Any hopes Stoke fans had that last season's achievement of finishing sixth would signal a change in the club's fortunes were short-lived as the 1903–04 season was another poor one for Stoke. The team was in a hard relegation battle again and for the third time in four seasons Stoke required a final day escape and again they survived. Stoke drew the final match 1–1 with Derby County giving Stoke one more point than relegated Liverpool.[1]

Season review

League

Off the pitch, Stoke's financial problems continued after spending £2000 on a roof for the Butler Street Stand meaning that the season's budget was spent before a ball was kicked.[1] Stoke did receive some support from the church who agreed to provide a 21-year lease on the Victoria Ground enabling Stoke to continue improving their ground.[1] Hopes for similar improvements on the pitch however were short-lived as the 1903–04 season was another poor one for Stoke and their supporters.[1] The team were in deep relegation trouble from Christmas onwards. Arthur Lockett such a key figure in the side last season signed for Aston Villa, and although one or two other players were drafted in few looked to have any real class.[1] Stoke's best signing was that of Fred Rouse from Grimsby Town who would eventually be sold for a profit.[1]

By January 1904 Mart Watkins had followed Lockett to Villa and at Easter time there was certainly an element of déjà vu about the position the club were in.[1] West Bromwich Albion were sitting bottom of the table with 21 points from 30 games whilst Stoke were above then with the same number of points and matches played, while Liverpool had 22 points and Derby 23.[1] Again it all came down to the final match of the season and yet again Stoke survived, a point against Derby was enough to keep Stoke up.[1]

FA Cup

Stoke lost 3–2 at home to Aston Villa in the first round in front of 15,000 spectators with Stoke's goals coming from George Baddeley and Sam Higginson.[1]

Final league table

PosClubPWDLFAGAPts
1The Wednesday34207748281.71447
2Manchester City34196971451.57844
3Everton341951059321.84443
4Newcastle United341861058451.28942
5Aston Villa341771070481.45841
6Sunderland341751263491.28639
7Sheffield United341581162571.08838
8Wolverhampton Wanderers341481244660.66736
9Nottingham Forest341191457571.00031
10Middlesbrough349121346470.97930
11Small Heath341181539520.75030
12Bury347151240530.75529
13Notts County341251737610.60729
14Derby County349101558600.96728
15Blackburn Rovers341161748600.80028
16Stoke341071754570.94727
17Liverpool34981749620.79026
18West Bromwich Albion347101736600.60024

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 1 September 1903 BuryH4–116,000Davies, Higginson, Watkins, Capes
2 5 September 1903 Manchester CityH1–215,000Whitehouse
3 12 September 1903 Notts CountyA0–112,000
4 19 September 1903 Sheffield UnitedH3–412,000Whitehouse, Higginson, Bradley
5 26 September 1903 Newcastle UnitedA0–115,000
6 3 October 1903 Aston VillaH2–014,000Watkins, Whitehouse
7 10 October 1903 MiddlesbroughA0–215,000
8 17 October 1903 LiverpoolH5–210,000Whitehouse, Capes, Holford, Holdcroft (2)
9 24 October 1903 BuryA2–25,000Holford, Coxon
10 31 October 1903 Blackburn RoversH6–210,000 Holford, Coxon, Watkins, Whitehouse, Capes, Eastham (o.g.)
11 14 November 1903 The WednesdayH3–112,000Coxon, Watkins, Capes
12 21 November 1903 SunderlandA0–310,000
13 25 November 1903 Nottingham ForestA2–41,500Baddeley, Capes
14 28 November 1903 West Bromwich AlbionH5–04,000Watkins, Whitehouse, Davies (2), Higginson
15 5 December 1903 Small HeathA0–15,000
16 12 December 1903 EvertonH2–37,000Watkins, Coxon
17 19 December 1903 Wolverhampton WanderersH5–16,000Watkins (2), Capes (3)
18 25 December 1903 Blackburn RoversA0–225,000
19 26 December 1903 Derby CountyA0–518,000
20 28 December 1903 MiddlesbroughH0–010,000
21 2 January 1904 Manchester CityA2–216,000Capes, Whitehouse
22 9 January 1904 Notts CountyH0–28,000
23 16 January 1904 Sheffield UnitedA1–112,000Gallimore
24 23 January 1904 Newcastle UnitedH2–36,000Capes, Holford
25 30 January 1904 Aston VillaA1–310,000Capes
26 13 February 1904 LiverpoolA0–013,000
27 5 March 1904 Nottingham ForestH2–37,000Leonard (2)
28 12 March 1904 The WednesdayA0–115,000
29 19 March 1904 SunderlandH3–110,000Leonard, Bradley, Haworth
30 26 March 1904 West Bromwich AlbionA0–38,107
31 2 April 1904 Small HeathH1–05,000Coxon
32 4 April 1904 Wolverhampton WanderersA0–06,000
33 9 April 1904 EvertonA1–012,000Whitehouse
34 23 April 1904 Derby CountyH1–15,000Whitehouse

FA Cup

Main article: 1903–04 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R12 February 1904 Aston VillaH2–315,000Higginson, Baddeley

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland Jack Benton 100010
GKWales Leigh Richmond Roose 32010330
GKWales Horace Viner 100010
FBEngland Harry Benson 13000130
FBEngland Charlie Burgess 22000220
FBEngland Arthur Hartshorne 26010270
FBWales Sam Meredith 701080
HBEngland George Baddeley 34111352
HBEngland James Bradley 29210302
HBEngland Tom Holford 34310353
HBEngland Albert Sturgess 300030
FWEngland Arthur Capes 2811102911
FWEngland Tom Coxon 21510225
FWWales Lloyd Davies 730073
FWEngland Ross Fielding 501060
FWEngland George Gallimore 310031
FWEngland Jack Haworth 410041
FWEngland Sam Higginson 20311214
FWEngland Charlie Hinks 100010
FWEngland Ted Holdcroft 17300173
FWEngland Arthur Leonard 10300103
FWEngland Albert Pitt 400040
FWEngland Fred Rouse 100010
FWEngland Alf Smith 100010
FWWales Mart Watkins 19800198
FWEngland Frank Whitehouse 31910329
Own goals 101

References

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