1999–2000 Stoke City F.C. season

Stoke City
1999–2000 season
Chairman Keith Humphries,
Gunnar Gíslason
Manager Gary Megson,
Gudjon Thordarson
Stadium Britannia Stadium
Football League Second Division 6th (82 Points)
FA Cup First Round
League Cup Second Round
League Trophy Winner
Top goalscorer League: Peter Thorne (24)
All: Peter Thorne (30)
Highest home attendance 15,354 vs Burnley (29 January 2000)
Lowest home attendance 7,054 vs Millwall (22 August 1999)
Average home league attendance 11,246
Home colours

The 1999–2000 season was Stoke City's 93rd season in the Football League and sixth in the third tier.

For the third pre-season Stoke were looking for a new manager but the directors were finding difficult with first choice Tony Pulis joining Bristol City openly admitting that he felt the board lacked ambition. Second choice was Gary Megson and accepted the job offers as did John Rudge who became director of football. Stoke slowly built up some decent results but there were still tensions between fans and the board and so when news spread that an Icelandic business consortium wanted to take over it became a no-brainer. Unfortunately for Megson new chairman Gunnar Gíslason appointed his own man, former Iceland national manager Gudjon Thordarson. In came a number of Icelandic players and the side did well winning the Football League Trophy and reached the play-offs against Gillingham. After beating the "Gills" 3–2 in the first leg, two controversial refereeing decisions cost Stoke dearly and they lost the second leg 3–0.[1]

Season review

League

For the third consecutive summer, Stoke were hunting for a new manager, this time they had a clear favourite, Tony Pulis.[1] However Pulis decided to join Bristol City after openly admitting that he felt the board lacked ambition.[1] Second choice was Gary Megson, hard working and honest manager in the same mould as Pulis and he accepted Stoke's job offer.[1] He appointed Nigel Pearson as his assistant and surprisingly John Rudge was made director of football after spending a long time at Port Vale.[1] There was little expectation as the season began with some steady if unspectacular results and by the end of August Lárus Sigurðsson was sold to West Bromwich Albion for £350,000.[1] Peter Thorne was proving to be a top player in the Second Division he scored the first few of his 30 goals.[1] Stoke then went on a nine match unbeaten run and lifted themselves into the play-offs.[1] In October news spread that a group of Icelandic businessmen were interested in taking control of the club and by mid November Stoke fans had their wishes granted and Gunnar Gíslason completed the Icelandic takeover under the name of Stoke Holding.[1]

Gary Megson through no fault of his own was replaced by Gudjon Thordarson and in came a number of Icelandic players and the new era began well with Stoke beating Wycombe Wanderers 4–0 away.[2] There was now a much better feeling about the club with the injection of new money and players but this was knocked back greatly in early 2000.[1] On 23 February 2000 arguably one of the greatest footballers the world has ever seen Stanley Matthews died at the age of 85. Matthews was not just a club legend but also to Stoke-on-Trent as a whole.[1] He was remembered in a perfect way with Stoke beating Chesterfield 5–1 with Thorne scoring four goals.[1]

Stoke maintained their form from this match and went unbeaten until the final match of the season but despite a 1–0 defeat at Reading Stoke finished two points above Bristol Rovers and entered the play-offs.[1] Their opponents were Gillingham and in the first leg 22,124 saw Stoke make a great start going into a 2–0 lead thanks to Arnar Gunnlaugsson and Kyle Lightbourne Gillingham pulled one back but Thorne put Stoke two goals ahead again. Andy Hessenthaler the scored in injury time meaning the second leg would be a very tough match.[1] In the second leg at Priestfield Stadium referee Rob Styles sent off both Graham Kavanagh and Clive Clarke for minor offences and Gillingham went on to win 3–0.[1]

FA Cup

Another early exit for Stoke this season, defeated 2–0 away at Blackpool.[1]

League Cup

After beating last seasons opponents Macclesfield Town Stoke lost 3–1 to Premier League Sheffield Wednesday.[1]

League Trophy

Stoke began their Football League Trophy campaign on a cold December night against Third Division Darlington at the Britannia Stadium. With the scores level after normal time Kyle Lightbourne scored a golden goal to send Stoke through.[1] Away wins over Oldham Athletic, Blackpool and Chesterfield saw Stoke in the area final against Rochdale.[1] A 3–1 win in the first leg was followed by a 1–0 win in the second earning a place in the final against Bristol City.[1] A crowd of 75,057 at Wembley saw Graham Kavanagh opened the scoring for Stoke before Paul Holland equalised for the Robins. Peter Thorne scored a close range winner for Stoke after 82 minutes earning Stoke their second Football League Trophy win.[1]

Final league table

PosClubPWDLFAGDPts
1Preston North End46281177437+3791
2Burnley46251386947+2288
3Gillingham462510117948+3185
4Wigan Athletic46221777238+3483
5Millwall462313107650+2682
6Stoke City462313106842+2682
7Bristol Rovers462311126945+2480
8Notts County461811176155+665
9Bristol City461519125957+264
10Reading461614165763–662
11Wrexham461711185261–962
12Wycombe Wanderers461613175653+361
13Luton Town461710196165–461
14Oldham Athletic461612185055–560
15Bury461318156164–357
16Bournemouth46169215962–357
17Brentford461313204761–1452
18Colchester United461410225982–2352
19Cambridge United461212226465–148
20Oxford United46129254373–3045
21Cardiff City46917204567–2244
22Blackpool46817214977–2841
23Scunthorpe United46912254074–3439
24Chesterfield46715243463–2936

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

Pre-Season Friendlies

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
117 July 1999Bolton WanderersH2–12,921Crowe, Connor
221 July 1999Newport CountyA2–1878Oldfield (2)
324 July 1999Hereford UnitedA0–0634
325 July 1999Newcastle TownA4–11,966Connor (2), MacKenzie, Crowe
428 July 1999Newcastle UnitedH1–27,171Jacobsen
531 July 1999Chester CityA0–01,249

Football League Second Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
1 7 August 1999 Oxford UnitedH1–211,300Kavanagh 59'
2 14 August 1999 Preston North EndA1–211,465Thorne 8'
3 22 August 1999 MillwallH3–17,054Thorne 15', Connor 51', Kavanagh 84' (pen)
4 28 August 1999 BurnleyA0–111,328
5 30 August 1999 GillinghamH1–18,369Sigurðsson 87'
6 4 September 1999 Cambridge UnitedA3–14,007Connor 19', Oldfield 81', Thorne 86'
7 11 September 1999 ChesterfieldA2–04,285Lightbourne (2) 50', 90'
8 18 September 1999 Wigan AthleticH1–111,195Lightbourne 48'
9 25 September 1999 WrexhamA3–25,924Thorne 27', Lightbourne 50', Mohan 78'
10 2 October 1999 Scunthorpe UnitedH1–013,068Connor 90'
11 9 October 1999 ReadingH2–19,621Mohan 68', Jacobsen 89'
12 16 October 1999 BournemouthA1–15,990Clarke 62'
13 19 October 1999 Cardiff CityA2–16,146Thorne 23', O'Connor 58'
14 23 October 1999 WrexhamH2–010,545O'Connor 58', Kavanagh 58'
15 3 November 1999 Notts CountyH0–111,619
16 6 November 1999 BuryA0–04,280
17 14 November 1999 Bristol CityH1–110,775Mohan 66'
18 23 November 1999 Wycombe WanderersA4–04,345Kavanagh 44', Daníelsson 45', Thorne 62', Mohan 71'
19 27 November 1999 Colchester UnitedH1–114,183Lightbourne 82'
20 4 December 1999 Oxford UnitedA1–15,700Thorne 79'
21 18 December 1999 Bristol RoversH1–210,379Keen 52'
22 26 December 1999 BlackpoolA2–15,274Robinson 21', Kavanagh 57'
23 28 December 1999 Oldham AthleticH0–013,709
24 3 January 2000 BrentfordA1–06,792Thorne 60'
25 8 January 2000 Luton TownH2–110,016Connor 24', Lightbourne 87'
26 14 January 2000 Preston North EndH2–110,285Kippe 3', O'Connor 87'
27 22 January 2000 MillwallA0–111,548
28 29 January 2000 BurnleyH2–215,354Thorne 68', Davis (o.g.) 71'
29 5 February 2000 GillinghamA0–37,801
30 8 February 2000 Luton TownA1–25,396O'Connor 33'
31 12 February 2000 Cambridge UnitedH1–09,429Connor 31'
32 19 February 2000 Colchester UnitedA0–14,364
33 26 February 2000 Wigan AthleticA2–19,429Kavanagh 28', O'Connor 77'
34 4 March 2000 ChesterfieldH5–111,968Thorne (4) 8', 18', 41', 61', Jacobsen 90'
35 11 March 2000 Notts CountyA0–09,677
36 18 March 2000 Wycombe WanderersH1–19,738Gunnlaugsson 54' (pen)
37 25 March 2000 BlackpoolH3–010,002Gunnarsson 62', Mohan 69', Guðjónsson 71'
38 28 March 2000 Bristol CityA2–28,103Lightbourne 26', Kavanagh 39'
39 1 April 2000 Bristol RoversA3–39,312Thorne (3) 10', 62', 79'
40 4 April 2000 Oldham AthleticA1–04,474Thorne 23'
41 8 April 2000 BrentfordH1–09,955Thorne 8'
42 22 April 2000 BournemouthH1–015,022Thorne 81'
43 24 April 2000 Scunthorpe UnitedA2–05,435Thorne (2) 24', 39'
44 30 April 2000 Cardiff CityH2–114,192Gunnlaugsson 3', O'Connor 69'
45 3 May 2000 BuryH3–014,792Thorne (3) 11', 55', 81'
46 6 May 2000 ReadingA0–113,146

Second Division play-offs

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
Semi-final 1st Leg 13 May 2000 GillinghamH3–222,124Gunnlaugsson 1', Lightbourne 8', Thorne 67'
Semi-final 2nd Leg17 May 2000 GillinghamA0–3 (aet)10,386

FA Cup

Main article: 1999–2000 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R130 October 1999 BlackpoolA0–24,721

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R1 1st Leg10 August 1999 Macclesfield TownA1–12,551Keen 8'
R1 2nd Leg25 August 1999 Macclesfield TownH3–05,003Connor 59', Thorne 69', O'Connor 75'
R2 1st Leg14 September 1999 Sheffield WednesdayH0–09,313
R2 2nd Leg22 September 1999 Sheffield WednesdayA1–310,993Kavanagh 74'

League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R18 December 1999 DarlingtonH3–2 (aet)3,341Lightbourne (2) 25', 93', Reed 40' (o.g.)
R218 January 2000 Oldham AthleticA1–0 (aet)4,682O'Connor 116'
Quarter final25 January 2000 BlackpoolA2–14,943Gunnarsson 19', Kavanagh 79'
Semi final15 February 2000 ChesterfieldA1–03,825O'Connor 82'
Area final 1st Leg14 March 2000 RochdaleA3–14,241Hansson 4', Thorne (2) 21', 27'
Area final 2nd Leg22 March 2000 RochdaleH1–016,876Thorne 86'
Final16 April 2000 Bristol CityN2–175,057Kavanagh 32', Thorne 82'

Squad statistics

No. Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Play-offs Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1GKEngland Gavin Ward 46010407020600
2DFEngland Jason Kavanagh 000010000010
2MFIceland Brynjar Gunnarsson 21(1)10000612029(1)2
3MFEngland Bryan Small 5(3)0001000006(3)0
4DFEngland Phil Robinson 14110201(1)00018(1)1
5DFEngland Nicky Mohan 40500306020515
6DFIceland Lárus Sigurðsson 510020000071
6DFIceland Sigursteinn Gíslason 4(4)000002(2)0006(6)0
7DFEngland Chris Short 140102(1)0000017(1)0
8MFRepublic of Ireland Graham Kavanagh 44(1)71041722058(1)10
9FWEngland Peter Thorne 41(4)2410314(1)41150(5)30
10FWEngland Dean Crowe 0(6)0000(2)010001(8)0
11MFAustralia David Oldfield 7(12)1002(1)00(1)0009(14)1
12FWBermuda Kyle Lightbourne 35(5)710304(2)22145(7)10
14GKEngland Carl Muggleton 000000000000
15MFEngland Neil MacKenzie 0(2)0000000000(2)0
15DFSweden Mikael Hansson 24(3)00000712033(3)1
16FWEngland Paul Connor 17(11)60(1)02(2)12(1)01(1)022(16)7
17MFRepublic of Ireland James O'Connor 42510317220558
18DFEngland Ben Petty 7(8)000102(3)00010(11)0
19DFEngland Lee Collins 000000000000
20FWEngland Steven Taaffe 200010000030
21MFEngland Robert Heath 0(3)00(1)00(1)000000(5)0
22DFRepublic of Ireland Clive Clarke 39(3)1103(1)0602051(4)1
23DFEngland Ashley Wooliscroft 001000000010
24DFEngland Matthew Bullock 4(3)00(1)00000004(4)0
25MFIceland Bjarni Guðjónsson 7(1)100001(2)01(1)09(4)1
26MFEngland Jamie Cartwright 000000000000
27GKEngland Stuart Fraser 000000000000
28DFEngland Jamie Godbold 000000000000
29DFEngland Richard Burgess 000000000000
30MFEngland Kevin Keen 20(3)1103(1)1000024(4)2
31FWScotland Chris Iwelumo 0(3)000000(1)0000(4)0
32DFNorway Anders Jacobsen 29(4)21030501(1)039(5)2
33MFIceland Einar Daníelsson 3(5)1000010004(5)1
34MFEngland Richard Dryden 11(2)000000(1)01012(3)0
34DFNorway Frode Kippe 15100005000201
35DFEngland Sam Aiston 2(4)0001000003(4)0
36MFIceland Arnar Gunnlaugsson 10(3)20000302115(3)3
37GKEngland Calvin Dixon 000000000000
38DFEngland Steve Melton 0(6)000000(1)00(1)00(8)0
Own goals 100102

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Lowe, Simon (2000). Stoke City The Modern Era - A Complete Record. Desert Island Books. ISBN 1-874287-39-2.
  2. "It's just like watching Iceland! Stoke City fans celebrate new era at Wycombe on this day in 1999". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
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