1928–29 Stoke City F.C. season

The 1928–29 season was Stoke City's 29th season in the Football League and the ninth in the Second Division.

Stoke City
1928–29 season
ChairmanMr A.McSherwin
ManagerTom Mather
StadiumVictoria Ground
Football League Second Division6th (46 Points)
FA CupThird Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Charlie Wilson (22)
All: Charlie Wilson (22)
Highest home attendance36,182 vs Port Vale (15 September 1928)
Lowest home attendance7,158 vs Oldham Athletic (24 November 1928)
Average home league attendance13,666

There were no major signings in 1928–29 as the club decided to change a number of policies regarding players' contracts in order to avoid a repeat of the scenes at the end of the 1923–24 season. Mather also brought in a number of players from the club's reserve and youth teams as the squad held a solid defence and with only 51 goals conceded Stoke had the best defensive record in the top two divisions. Stoke finished the season in sixth place which the fans thought they could have done better considering their defensive qualities.[1]

Season review

League

The Stoke board acquired the freehold of the Victoria Ground in the summer of 1928, but decided against any major signings for the 1928–29 campaign, as young players were slowly being introduced into the first team and reserve side.[1] After some of the players' actions of 1924, chairman Sherwin along with the board and manager decided to sort out the respective salaries of their professional players in order to avoid any further problems.[1]

Stoke had a solid look to their squad and they started the season in perfect fashion beating Nottingham Forest 5–1 on the opening day of the season at a stunned City Ground.[1] Stoke's good form continued and by the end of October the team was in a good position to mount a promotion challenge.[1] However they won just one match in November and December and although they did pick up in the new year Stoke were unable to challenge for a promotion spot and finished the season in sixth place.[1] Some supporters felt the team should have done better, especially as they had the best defensive record outside the First Division.[1] Fans were also disappointed at the sale of favourite Harry Davies to Huddersfield Town, he would later return to the club in 1931.[1]

FA Cup

Arsenal knocked Stoke out of the FA Cup for the second season running this time in the third round.[1]

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
4 Southampton 42 17 14 11 74 60 1.233 48
5 Notts County 42 19 9 14 78 65 1.200 47
6 Stoke City 42 17 12 13 74 51 1.451 46
7 West Bromwich Albion 42 19 8 15 80 79 1.013 46
8 Blackpool 42 19 7 16 92 76 1.211 45
Source:

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
125 August 1928Nottingham ForestA5–114,548Wilson (2), Davies, Bussey, Liddle
227 August 1928Bristol CityH2–014,067Davies, Armitage (pen)
31 September 1928West Bromwich AlbionH4–122,769Davies, Armitage (pen), Wilson, Archibald
45 September 1928Bristol CityA1–110,000Davies
58 September 1928Clapton OrientA0–16,000
615 September 1928Port ValeH2–136,182Davies, Bussey
722 September 1928Grimsby TownH1–215,512Wilson
829 September 1928Bradford Park AvenueA1–212,000Davies
96 October 1928Swansea TownH5–012,671Johnson (2), Williams, Bussey, Armitage
1013 October 1928BlackpoolA0–28,000
1120 October 1928Hull CityA3–17,760Davies, Archibald, Bussey
1227 October 1928Tottenham HotspurH2–015,307Archibald, Williams
133 November 1928ReadingA1–16,800Williams
1410 November 1928MillwallH0–09,185
1517 November 1928MiddlesbroughA0–110,000
1624 November 1928Oldham AthleticH1–17,185Davies
171 December 1928SouthamptonA0–08,000
188 December 1928Wolverhampton WanderersH4–39,012Wilson (2), Williams, Archibald
1915 December 1928Notts CountyA0–18,000
2022 December 1928Preston North EndH1–110,263Wilson
2125 December 1928ChelseaH0–112,031
2226 December 1928ChelseaA1–340,126Wilson
2329 December 1928Nottingham ForestH1–18,120Wilson
245 January 1929West Bromwich AlbionA3–220,067Shirley, Archibald, Bussey
2519 January 1929Clapton OrientH3–110,166Cull, Wilson, Williamson
2626 January 1929Port ValeA2–118,304Shirley (2)
272 February 1929Grimsby TownA1–28,000Bussey
289 February 1929Bradford Park AvenueH2–011,865Archibald, Davies
2916 February 1929Swansea TownA3–37,000Davies, Bussey, Mawson
3023 February 1929BlackpoolH1–112,538Ramsay (o.g.)
312 March 1929Hull CityH1–110,925Shirley
329 March 1929Tottenham HotspurA0–126,760
3316 March 1929ReadingH5–09,491Shirley, Williams (2), Wilson (2)
3423 March 1929MillwallA3–15,500Wilson, Archibald, Williamson
3529 March 1929BarnsleyA2–46,000Wilson, Bussey
3630 March 1929MiddlesbroughH3–219,717Wilson (2), Bussey
371 April 1929BarnsleyH0–013,126
386 April 1929Oldham AthleticA0–15,500
3913 April 1929SouthamptonH3–08,556Wilson (3)
4020 April 1929Wolverhampton WanderersA0–412,235
4127 April 1929Notts CountyH5–08,165Wilson (3), Bussey, Williams
424 May 1929Preston North EndA2–26,000Bussey, Williamson

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R312 January 1929ArsenalA1–230,762Bussey

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Bob Dixon 700070
GK Ormond Jones 000000
GK Dick Williams 35010360
DF Arthur Beachill 400040
DF Tommy Dawson 200020
DF Bob McGrory 38010390
DF Billy Spencer 40010410
MF Len Armitage 39310403
MF Thomas Godfrey 200020
MF Peter Jackson 10000100
MF Paddy Turley 100010
MF Harry Sellars 40010410
MF Tom Williamson 33310343
FW Bobby Archibald 41710427
FW Walter Bussey 3711113812
FW John Cull 810081
FW Harry Davies 3510103610
FW Jack Eyres 100010
FW Tommy Flannigan 400040
FW Dick Johnson 520052
FW Bobby Liddle 12100121
FW Joe Mawson 210021
FW John Shirley 12510135
FW Charlie Wilson 3122003122
FW Joey Williams 23710247
Own goals 101

References

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