1926–27 Stoke City F.C. season

The 1926–27 season was Stoke City's 27th season in the Football League and the first in the Third Division North.

Stoke City
1926–27 season
ChairmanMr A.McSherwin
ManagerTom Mather
StadiumVictoria Ground
Football League Third Division North1st (63 Points)
FA CupFirst Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Charlie Wilson (25)
All: Charlie Wilson (26)
Highest home attendance16,827 vs Crewe Alexandra (12 March 1927)
Lowest home attendance6,778 vs Wigan Borough (30 August 1926)
Average home league attendance10,311

With relegation last season Stoke found themselves playing in the bottom tier of the Football League the Third Division North. Whilst there was obvious disappointment of the clubs failures it soon became clear that an instant return to the Second Division would be achieved as Stoke proved to be too good for their league opponents and ended the season as champions with 63 points and an impressive goal average of 2.3.[1]

Season review

League

After the trauma of two pretty bad seasons, there was to be a turn around in Stoke's fortunes in 1926–27 and from the outset there was never any doubt that promotion back to the Second Division would be achieved.[1]

There had been reservations regarding the midfield, but manager Tom Mather gambled and switched Harry Sellars to right-half, brought in Cecil Eastwood from Preston North End to occupy left-half and slotted Tom Williamson between them.[1] Thanks to the consistent form of this trio Stoke were on top of the league throughout the season, achieving ten doubles over their opponents.[1] During the season a number of teams made their one and only trip to the Victoria Ground these were Ashington who were beaten 7–0, Durham City 4–0, Nelson 4–1, Wigan Borough 2–0 and New Brighton who managed a 1–1.[1] In the return fixture against New Brighton Stoke produced what was easily their worst display of the season and crashed to a 5–0 defeat.[1]

Stoke moved into April 1927 sitting on top of the table, but they were rocked by a 4–0 defeat to second place Rochdale. A 2–0 win over Tranmere Rovers eased the tensions but a 3–1 defeat at Doncaster Rovers on Good Friday put the celebrations on hold again, and although they beat Durham City 24 hours later, a goalless draw with Doncaster left Stoke with just a three-point lead over Rochdale.[1] With three games remaining Stoke required four points to secure the title and with it promotion. However promotion was sealed in the next match against Accrington Stanley Stoke winning 1–0 thanks to a Jack Eyres goal and news that both Rochdale and Nelson had been beaten meant that Stoke took the title and returned to the Second Division at the first time of asking.[1]

FA Cup

In the FA Cup Stoke were embarrassed as Welsh League side Rhyl Athletic took Stoke to a second replay before winning 2–1.[1]

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion
1 Stoke City 42 27 9 6 92 40 2.300 63 Division Champions, promoted
2 Rochdale 42 26 6 10 105 65 1.615 58
3 Bradford Park Avenue 42 24 7 11 101 59 1.712 55
4 Halifax Town 42 21 11 10 70 53 1.321 53
5 Nelson 42 22 7 13 104 75 1.387 51
Source: rsssf.com

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division North

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
128 August 1926Bradford Park AvenueH0–011,388
230 August 1926Wigan BoroughH2–06,778Johnson, Wilson
34 September 1926WalsallA1–07,000Davies
46 September 1926Wigan BoroughA3–03,500Bussey, Archibald, Wilson
511 September 1926NelsonH4–110,557Beswick, Johnson, Wilson (2)
613 September 1926Hartlepools UnitedH3–18,237Davies, Wilson (2)
718 September 1926ChesterfieldA1–14,600Wilson
822 September 1926Hartlepools UnitedA3–13,000Wilson (2), Johnson
925 September 1926AshingtonH7–08,927Wilson (5), Davies, Williams
102 October 1926New BrightonA0–54,000
119 October 1926WrexhamH2–08,806Wilson, Davies
1216 October 1926BarrowH4–09,638Wilson (3), Bussey
1323 October 1926Crewe AlexandraA2–014,765Wilson, Bussey
1430 October 1926Stockport CountyH0–112,523
156 November 1926SouthportA3–03,500Davies, Williams, Wilson
1613 November 1926RochdaleH3–111,144Davies, Johnson, Williamson
1720 November 1926Tranmere RoversA1–14,000Williamson
184 December 1926Accrington StanleyA1–05,000Johnson
1918 December 1926Halifax TownA2–27,964Bussey, Armitage
2025 December 1926Rotherham UnitedH4–113,580Bussey, Armitage (2), Wilson
2127 December 1926Rotherham UnitedA2–24,000Bussey, Wilson
221 January 1927Lincoln CityH2–012,035Bussey, Armitage
238 January 1927Durham CityH4–07,382Armitage, Williamson (2), Wilson
2415 January 1927Bradford Park AvenueA0–321,458
2522 January 1927WalsallH4–110,125Archibald, Davies, Eyres (2)
2629 January 1927NelsonA0–16,000
275 February 1927ChesterfieldH3–29,759Davies, Archibald, Williams
2812 February 1927AshingtonA2–04,708Williams, Eyres
2919 February 1927New BrightonH1–112,209Williams
3026 February 1927WrexhamA6–24,000Williams, Davies, Eyres (3), Wilson
315 March 1927BarrowA0–04,155
3212 March 1927Crewe AlexandraH2–116,827Eyres, Watkin
3319 March 1927Stockport CountyA2–228,460Watkin, Archibald
3426 March 1927SouthportH4–07,826Watkin, Davies, Williamson, Eyres
352 April 1927RochdaleA0–43,338
369 April 1927Tranmere RoversH2–06,950Cull, Davies
3715 April 1927Doncaster RoversA1–317,974Archibald
3816 April 1927Durham CityA2–12,956Davies, Bussey
3918 April 1927Doncaster RoversH0–015,903
4023 April 1927Accrington StanleyH1–08,440Eyres
4130 April 1927Lincoln CityA3–13,330Davies, Eyres, Wilson
427 May 1927Halifax TownH5–110,280Davies (2), Eyres (2), Archibald

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R127 November 1926Rhyl AthleticA1–15,000Wilson
R1 Replay2 December 1926Rhyl AthleticH1–17,662Davies
R1 2nd Replay6 December 1926Rhyl AthleticN1–23,000Davies

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Bob Dixon 41030440
GK Dick Williams 100010
DF Arthur Beachill 100010
DF Bob McGrory 42030450
DF Billy Spencer 36020380
DF Harry Watson 001010
MF Ewart Beswick 10100101
MF Tommy Dawson 501060
MF Cecil Eastwood 39020410
MF Reginald Hodgkins 300030
MF Peter Jackson 101020
MF Harry Sellars 30030330
MF Tom Williamson 28520305
FW Bobby Archibald 37600376
FW Len Armitage 22500225
FW Walter Bussey 15800158
FW John Cull 10100101
FW Harry Davies 3915324217
FW Jack Eyres 1712101812
FW Charles Hallam 602080
FW Dick Johnson 15530185
FW Frank Watkin 530053
FW Joey Williams 28630316
FW Charlie Wilson 3125313426

References

  1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
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