1923–24 Stoke F.C. season

The 1923–24 season was Stoke's 24th season in the Football League and the fifth in the Second Division.

Stoke
1923–24 season
ChairmanMr E.Reynish
ManagerTom Mather
StadiumVictoria Ground
Football League Second Division6th (46 Points)
FA CupFirst Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Jimmy Broad (14)
All: Jimmy Broad (14)
Highest home attendance25,297 vs Bury (22 March 1924)
Lowest home attendance6,000 vs Hull City (27 October 1923)
Average home league attendance11,765

With Stoke back in the Second Division after their short stay in the First and without a manager the supporters questioned what the future held for the club. Tom Mather was appointed as the club's new manager in October 1923 and it would start a run of consistency as from 1923 to 1976 Stoke had just four managers.[1] Mather led the club to sixth position in the table with just two wins in their last 12 matches costing Stoke a promotion challenge. At the end of the season Mather decided to sell a number of players including fans favourites Jimmy Broad, Tommy Broad and Billy Tempest; some players not asked to re-sign smashed up the offices at the Victoria Ground and caused a considerable amount of damage.[1]

Season review

League

There was little money available for new players, and when former Southend United boss Tom Mather, a Lancastrian from Chorley, was given the managerial position in October, he quickly set about restoring the team's fortunes.[1] Mather, who had been assistant manager at both Manchester City and Bolton Wanderers before becoming manager at Burnden Park during World War I, certainly consolidated the club and a final league finish of 6th was a decent outcome and would give Mather a platform to build on.[1]

There was however a regrettable incident at the club just as the season ended when a group of players, who had not been asked to re-sign for the next season, arrived at the Victoria Ground and started smashing up the offices and dressing rooms, causing a considerable amount of damage.[1] The offenders were immediately released by the club and things were quickly sorted out.[1] There was a substantial clear-out, with a number of players leaving who had served the club well whilst there was also changes at boardroom level with chairman Mr E. Reynish relinquishing his position as chairman and wealthy director John Slater also left after he had injected a lot of his own money into the club with mixed success.[1]

FA Cup

No progress was made in the FA Cup with Stoke going out in the first round to Leeds United.[1]

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
4 Blackpool 42 18 13 11 72 47 1.532 49
5 Southampton 42 17 14 11 52 31 1.677 48
6 Stoke 42 14 18 10 44 42 1.048 46
7 Oldham Athletic 42 14 17 11 45 52 0.865 45
8 The Wednesday 42 16 12 14 54 51 1.059 44
Source:

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
125 August 1923Leeds UnitedH1–120,000J Broad
227 August 1923Leicester CityA0–514,500
31 September 1923Leeds UnitedA0–015,000
43 September 1923Leicester CityH1–011,000Davies
58 September 1923BlackpoolH2–211,898Davies, Richardson
615 September 1923BlackpoolA1–16,000Davies
722 September 1923NelsonH4–012,150Davies (2), J Broad, Howe
824 September 1923SouthamptonH1–120,000Richardson
929 September 1923NelsonA0–212,000
106 October 1923Port ValeH1–021,685Clarke
1113 October 1923Port ValeA4–216,800J Broad (2), Eyres (2)
1215 October 1923SouthamptonA1–014,000Kelly
1320 October 1923Hull CityA0–28,000
1427 October 1923Hull CityH1–06,000Kasher
153 November 1923Derby CountyH1–120,000J Broad
1610 November 1923Derby CountyA1–112,000Eyres
1717 November 1923Crystal PalaceH1–19,000J Broad
1824 November 1923Crystal PalaceA1–515,000Eyres
191 December 1923The WednesdayH1–18,000Eyres
208 December 1923The WednesdayA0–314,000
2115 December 1923Coventry CityA2–112,000J Broad, Eyres
2222 December 1923Coventry CityH2–16,000J Broad, Eyres
2326 December 1923Bradford CityH2–018,000J Broad, Davies
2429 December 1923Bristol CityA1–17,000J Broad
255 January 1924Bristol CityH3–010,300Davies (2), Clarke
2619 January 1924Clapton OrientH0–111,000
2726 January 1924Clapton OrientA2–07,700J Broad, Sellars
282 February 1924Stockport CountyH0–013,800
299 February 1924Stockport CountyA1–04,000Roxburgh
3016 February 1924Oldham AthleticH1–16,000Davies
3123 February 1924Oldham AthleticA0–05,000
321 March 1924South ShieldsH0–08,348
338 March 1924South ShieldsA0–16,000
3415 March 1924BuryA0–16,000
3522 March 1924BuryH0–025,297
3629 March 1924Manchester UnitedA2–210,000J Broad, Tempest
375 April 1924Manchester UnitedH3–020,000J Broad, Tempest, Sellars
3812 April 1924BarnsleyH2–09,799Sellars (2)
3919 April 1924BarnsleyA0–06,224
4021 April 1924FulhamA0–310,000
4123 April 1924FulhamH0–08,000
4226 April 1924Bradford CityA1–24,000J Broad

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R112 January 1924Leeds UnitedA0–126,574

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Kenny Campbell 11000110
GK Bob Dixon 31010320
DF Sammy Davis 200020
DF Tommy Howe 24100241
DF George Lennon 100010
DF Bob McGrory 29010300
DF Billy Wootton 000000
MF Ewart Beswick 500050
MF Tom Brittleton 35010360
MF Harry Brough 33000330
MF George Clarke 18210192
MF Joseph Depledge 500050
MF Wilf Edwards 000000
MF Billy Fitchford 000000
MF Alfred Jordan 200020
MF Joe Kasher 23110241
MF Arden Maddison 100010
MF Vic Rouse 24010250
MF George Stentiford 800080
FW Len Armitage 300030
FW Jimmy Broad 3714103814
FW Tommy Broad 30010310
FW Harry Davies 31910329
FW Jack Eyres 19700197
FW Charles Kelly 910091
FW Dai Nicholas 9010100
FW Bert Ralphs 12000120
FW Frank Richardson 620062
FW John Roxburgh 14100141
FW Harry Sellars 840084
FW Andy Smith 300030
FW Billy Tempest 29210302

References

  1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.