1925–26 Stoke City F.C. season

The 1925–26 season was Stoke City's 26th season in the Football League and the seventh in the Second Division. It was also the first season under the name of Stoke City.

Stoke City
1925–26 season
ChairmanMr A.McSherwin
ManagerTom Mather
StadiumVictoria Ground
Football League Second Division21st (32 Points)
FA CupFourth Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Harry Davies
& Bobby Archibald (10)

All: Harry Davies
& Dick Johnson
Highest home attendance21,782 vs Port Vale (7 September 1925)
Lowest home attendance6,670 vs Bradford City (27 February 1926)
Average home league attendance12,144

Stoke-on-Trent was granted city status in 1925 and so Stoke added the word 'City' to their name and have since been forever known as Stoke City. However, despite a change of name there was no change in fortunes on the pitch as Stoke failed to improve after last season's narrow escape and they were relegated to the Third Division North this time finishing one point from safety.[1]

Season review

League

The 1925–26 season was a season of change as Stoke F.C. became Stoke City F.C. and there was a new offside law introduced which allowed two opponents (not three as before) to be between the attacker and the goal.[1] This change prompted many high scoring matches throughout the county as teams struggled to adapt the changes with the traditional 2–3–5 formation, eventually teams started to use new formations and tactics.[1] But Stoke did not share the high scoring and they struggled all season with many disappointing displays.[1]

Injuries certainly hampered the team's efforts throughout the season and by the new year relegation looked inevitable and despite a late revival a failure to beat Southampton on the final day of the season sealed Stoke's fate and they dropped into the third tier for the first time.[1] However the signing of Huddersfield Town's Charlie Wilson in March 1926 proved to be a vital addition as he would be key in making sure Stoke's stay in the Third Division North would be a short one.[1]

FA Cup

With sides in the top two divisions now starting in the third round Stoke played Wigan Borough and beat them 5–2 however Stoke themselves were on the receiving end of a heavy cup defeat losing 6–3 to Swansea Town in the fourth round.[1]

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
18 Barnsley 42 12 12 18 58 84 0.690 36
19 Fulham 42 11 12 19 46 77 0.597 34
20 Clapton Orient 42 12 9 21 50 65 0.769 33
21 Stoke City 42 12 8 22 54 77 0.701 32 Relegated
22 Stockport County 42 8 9 25 51 97 0.526 25
Source:

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
129 August 1925Stockport CountyH3–017,296Clennell (2), Archibald
231 August 1925Port ValeA0–320,000
35 September 1925FulhamA4–210,000Davies (2), Ralphs (2)
47 September 1925Port ValeH0–321,782
512 September 1925South ShieldsH0–113,334
614 September 1925Oldham AthleticA2–76,680Sellars, Howe (pen)
719 September 1925Preston North EndA0–210,000
826 September 1925MiddlesbroughH4–09,617Paterson (3), Archibald
93 October 1925PortsmouthA0–212,000
1010 October 1925Wolverhampton WanderersH0–015,609
1117 October 1925Bradford CityH1–08,377Davies
1224 October 1925Derby CountyA3–715,000Davies (2), Paterson
1331 October 1925Clapton OrientH0–09,106
147 November 1925BarnsleyA1–210,000D Johnson
1514 November 1925BlackpoolH1–38,529Archibald
1621 November 1925DarlingtonA2–18,529D Johnson, Clennell
1728 November 1925Hull CityH3–17,155D Johnson, Clennell, Archibald
185 December 1925ChelseaA1–115,000Davies
1912 December 1925Nottingham ForestH1–19,033Archibald
2019 December 1925SouthamptonA2–19,033D Johnson, Clennell
2125 December 1925Swansea TownA1–112,000Davies
2226 December 1925Swansea TownH1–119,814Ralphs
232 January 1926Stockport CountyA1–26,600Walker
2416 January 1926FulhamH5–07,565D Johnson (4), Archibald
2523 January 1926South ShieldsA1–55,000Davies
266 February 1926MiddlesbroughA0–38,800
2713 February 1926PortsmouthH2–111,724Davies, Clifford (o.g.)
2820 February 1926Wolverhampton WanderersA1–515,000Clennell
2922 February 1926Preston North EndH1–310,140Archibald
3027 February 1926Bradford CityA1–26,140Davies
316 March 1926Derby CountyH0–114,808
3213 March 1926Clapton OrientA0–48,000
3320 March 1926BarnsleyH1–218,638Archibald
3427 March 1926BlackpoolA0–07,500
353 April 1926DarlingtonH6–113,811Clennell (2), Archibald, Wilson, Williams (2)
365 April 1926The WednesdayH0–118,138
376 April 1926The WednesdayA0–220,000
3810 April 1926Hull CityA0–16,000
3917 April 1926ChelseaH1–310,219Wilson
4024 April 1926Nottingham ForestA2–112,000Archibald, Sellars
4126 April 1926Oldham AthleticH1–08,461Wilson
421 May 1926SouthamptonH1–18,012D Johnson

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R39 January 1926Wigan BoroughA5–23,992D Johnson (3), Davies (2)
R430 January 1926Swansea TownA3–621,000D Johnson, Davies, Beswick

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Kenny Campbell 700070
GK Bob Dixon 34020360
GK Percy Knott 100010
DF Tommy Howe 610061
DF Bob McGrory 36020380
DF Alec Milne 25020270
DF Harold Robson 100010
DF Billy Spencer 16000160
MF Ewart Beswick 23011241
MF Harry Brough 500050
MF Tommy Dawson 800080
MF George Dickie 100010
MF Reginald Hodgkins 200020
MF Peter Jackson 10000100
MF Sam Johnson 30020320
MF Alec McClure 402060
MF Harry Sellars 13200132
MF John Walker 25110261
FW Bobby Archibald 4210204410
FW Len Armitage 14000140
FW Walter Bussey 400040
FW Joe Clennell 24820268
FW John Cull 300030
FW Harry Davies 3010233213
FW Jack Eyres 300030
FW Charles Hallam 600060
FW Dick Johnson 319243313
FW Charles Kelly 100010
FW James Maxwell 10000100
FW George Paterson 740074
FW Bert Ralphs 16320183
FW Arthur Watkin 200020
FW Joey Williams 11200112
FW Charlie Wilson 11300113
Own goals 101

References

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