1936–37 Stoke City F.C. season

The 1936–37 season was Stoke City's 37th season in the Football League and the 23rd in the First Division.

Stoke City
1936–37 season
ChairmanMr H. Booth
ManagerBob McGrory
StadiumVictoria Ground
Football League First Division10th (42 Points)
FA CupFourth Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Freddie Steele (33)
All: Freddie Steele (36)
Highest home attendance51,373 vs Arsenal (29 March 1937)
Lowest home attendance8,224 vs West Bromwich Albion (4 February 1937)
Average home league attendance22,261

After the club's best ever season last campaign Stoke struggled to live up to their previous success and finished the season in a mid-table position of 10th. However it was a to be a season of record making with three being set during the 1936–37 season. A record attendance of 51,373 made it into the Victoria Ground on 29 March to watch a 0–0 draw with Arsenal. However the most remarkable achievement was that of a 10–3 victory over Staffordshire rivals West Bromwich Albion and thirdly, Freddie Steele finished the season with 33 league goals.[1]

Season review

League

During the summer of 1936 there was a change at boardroom level with Mr H. Booth replacing Mr A. Sherwin as chairman. After the club's best ever season in 1935–36 Stoke found it difficult in the 1936–37 season to improve and a disappointing 10th-place finish was the final outcome.[1] Stoke were hampered by a poor away record with only three wins forthcoming during the season and an equal record of 15 wins and defeats a mid-table finish was the obvious outcome.[1]

During the 1936–37 season Stoke made three new club records which all still stand. A record attendance of 51,373 made it into the Victoria Ground on 29 March to watch a 0–0 draw with Arsenal.[1] However the most remarkable achievement was that of a 10–3 victory over Staffordshire rivals West Bromwich Albion and thirdly, Freddie Steele finished the season with 33 league goals.[1]

Record league victory

A 10–3 win over West Bromwich Albion is Stoke City's record League victory here is a summary of the match.

Stoke gave debuts to Scottish keeper Douglas Westland and full-back James Harbot.[1] Stoke went into the match as narrow favourites but went on to outclass Albion in all positions. The first goal came after 10 minutes as Steele headed in a Stanley Matthews cross.[1] Albion levelled just a minute later through Richardson following a fine move.[1] Stoke re-took the lead through a copy of their first on 20 minutes as Albion struggled to contain Matthews. After 32 minutes Stoke went 3–1 up, Steele was brought down in the area by Bill Richardson and Arthur Turner scored from the spot.[1] Four minutes before half-time Steele claimed his hat-trick.[1] In the second half Stoke made it 5–1 through England winger Joe Johnson before Steele missed an open goal.[1] Wally Boyes pulled one back to 5–2 however Steele got his fourth and fifth to make it 7–2 on 67 minutes.[1] Richardson made it 7–3 before Johnson again and George Antonio got on the score sheet. With 15 minutes left the score line was 9–3 and with the crowd chanting for more it duly arrived when Antonio made it 10–3 to complete a historic result.[1]

FA Cup

Stoke beat Birmingham 4–1 in the third round with Freddie Steele bagging a hat trick.[1] However Stoke were on the end of a heavy defeat themselves in the next round as they lost 5–1 to eventual runners-up Preston North End.[1]

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
8 Sunderland 42 19 6 17 89 87 1.023 44 FA Cup Winners
9 Portsmouth 42 17 10 15 62 66 0.939 44
10 Stoke City 42 15 12 15 72 57 1.263 42
11 Birmingham 42 13 15 14 64 60 1.067 41
12 Grimsby Town 42 17 7 18 86 81 1.062 41
Source:

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
129 August 1936LiverpoolA1–223,000Johnson
231 August 1936Charlton AthleticH1–123,524Steele
35 September 1936Leeds UnitedH2–119,080Liddle, Milburn (o.g.)
47 September 1936Charlton AthleticA0–220,000
512 September 1936BirminghamA4–210,000Steele (3), Matthews
614 September 1936Grimsby TownH2–018,229Steele (2)
719 September 1936MiddlesbroughH6–229,106Steele (3), Matthews, Johnson (2)
826 September 1936West Bromwich AlbionA2–227,086Steele, Johnson
93 October 1936Manchester CityH2–236,292Steele, Matthews
1010 October 1936PortsmouthA0–118,000
1117 October 1936Preston North EndH0–219,518
1224 October 1936Sheffield WednesdayA0–018,000
1331 October 1936Manchester UnitedH3–022,464Davies, Matthews, Johnson
147 November 1936Derby CountyA2–220,000Johnson, Steele
1514 November 1936Wolverhampton WanderersH2–121,349Johnson, Steele
1621 November 1936SunderlandA0–325,000
1728 November 1936Huddersfield TownH1–113,644Fursland
185 December 1936EvertonA1–115,000Robson
1912 December 1936Bolton WanderersH2–28,359Matthews (2)
2019 December 1936BrentfordA1–225,000Robson
2125 December 1936ChelseaH2–024,789Johnson (2)
2226 December 1936LiverpoolH1–138,940Robson
2328 December 1936ChelseaA0–118,000
242 January 1937Leeds UnitedA1–220,000Johnson
259 January 1937BirminghamH2–015,211Turner (pen), Westland
2623 January 1937MiddlesbroughA0–114,000
274 February 1937West Bromwich AlbionH10–38,224Steele (5), Turner (pen), Johnson (2), Antonio (2)
286 February 1937Manchester CityA1–230,000Turner (pen)
2913 February 1937PortsmouthH2–418,237Steele (2)
3024 February 1937Preston North EndA1–08,000Steele
316 March 1937Manchester UnitedA1–215,000Steele
3213 March 1937Derby CountyH1–220,106Steele
3320 March 1937Wolverhampton WanderersA1–220,000Steele
3426 March 1937ArsenalA0–040,000
3527 March 1937SunderlandH5–329,292Westland, Tutin, Steele (3)
3629 March 1937ArsenalH0–051,373
373 April 1937Huddersfield TownA1–212,000Steele
385 April 1937Sheffield WednesdayH1–011,573Westland
3910 April 1937EvertonH2–117,646Westland, Mercer (o.g.)
4017 April 1937Bolton WanderersA0–012,000
4124 April 1937BrentfordH5–118,349Steele (3), Antonio, Matthews
421 May 1937Grimsby TownA3–18,000Steele (2), Johnson

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R316 January 1937BirminghamH4–131,480Steele (3), Johnson
R430 January 1937Preston North EndA1–523,866Johnson

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Norman Wilkinson 41020430
GK Douglas Westland 100010
DF Harry Brigham 21020230
DF James Harbot 101020
DF Charlie Scrimshaw 41010420
DF Bill Winstanley 21000210
MF Jock Kirton 12020140
MF Bill Moore 200020
MF Frank Soo 31000310
MF Arthur Turner 42320443
MF Arthur Tutin 39120411
FW George Antonio 20320223
FW Frank Baker 400040
FW Harry Davies 23100231
FW Syd Fursland 210021
FW Joe Johnson 3613223815
FW Owen Johnson 000000
FW Bobby Liddle 20100201
FW Stanley Matthews 40720427
FW Syd Peppitt 300030
FW Billy Robson 630063
FW Freddie Steele 3533233736
FW James Westland 21420234
Own goals 202

References

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