1893–94 Stoke F.C. season

The 1893–94 season was Stoke's fifth season in the Football League.

Stoke
1893–94 season
ChairmanMr S. Barker
ManagerArthur Reeves
StadiumVictoria Ground
Football League First Division11th (29 Points)
FA CupSecond Round
United Counties LeagueGroup Stage
Top goalscorerLeague: Joe Schofield (15)
All: Joe Schofield (18)
Highest home attendance12,000 vs Sunderland (24 March 1894)
Lowest home attendance2,500 vs Newton Heath (23 March 1894)
Average home league attendance5,075

Stoke finished the season in 11th position after picking up 29 points of which 27 were claimed at the Victoria Ground. Indeed, Stoke's home form of 1893–94 was excellent with 13 wins from 15 but their away from was terrible as they failed to win any away game during the season.[1] Stoke also competed in the short lived United Counties League which was won on goal average by West Bromwich Albion.[1]

Season review

League

In 1893–94 the Stoke side was broken up with Alf Underwood, Bill Rowley and Ted Evans all losing their first choice status.[1] Eleventh place in the table was achieved, thanks in main to an excellent home record of 13 wins from 15. The only defeat in front of their own fans came shortly after Christmas when Wolverhampton Wanderers won 3–0 whilst eventual champions Aston Villa were held 3–3 in the other game.[1] As their home form was good Stoke's away from was awful picking up just two points and conceded 62 goals on their travels.[1] Indeed, from 1 April 1893 to 17 March 1895 not one away win was gained and by coincidence it was Sheffield Wednesday whom Stoke beat on each occasion at the start and at the end of that dismal run.[1] There was tragedy during the season as young defender Jack Proctor fell ill with pneumonia and died at the age of 22.[1]

Stoke also competed in the United Counties League this season which involved two groups of four teams playing each other twice and the winners of each group playing each other to win the title. Stoke finished 2nd in their group behind West Bromwich Albion on goal average. West Brom went on to lose to Derby County in the final. The tournament failed to get the supporters in through the gates and after just one season the United Counties League was scrapped.[1]

FA Cup

Season 1893–94 also saw one of Stoke's best FA Cup displays since they entered the competition in 1883.[1] Competing in gale-force winds, they knocked out Everton 1–0 with a Joe Schofield goal in the final minute of the match. The Stoke players were praised by watching reporters for making the match highly entertaining in difficult conditions.[1] Alas they went out in the next round defeated by Sheffield Wednesday.[1]

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
9 Wolverhampton Wanderers 30 14 3 13 52 63 0.825 31
10 Sheffield United 30 13 5 12 47 61 0.770 31
11 Stoke 30 13 3 14 65 79 0.823 29
12 The Wednesday 30 9 8 13 48 57 0.842 26
13 Bolton Wanderers 30 10 4 16 38 52 0.731 24
Source:

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
12 September 1893Bolton WanderersA1–45,000Clare
29 September 1893Nottingham ForestH2–16,000Schofield, McReddie
311 September 1893Aston VillaA1–58,000Dickson
416 September 1893DarwenA1–31,000Schofield
523 September 1893Derby CountyH3–15,000McReddie (2), Robertson
630 September 1893BurnleyA0–47,000
77 October 1893The WednesdayH4–14,000Naughton (2), Evans, Christie
814 October 1893SunderlandA0–46,000
916 October 1893Aston VillaH3–34,000Robertson (2), Evans
1021 October 1893Nottingham ForestA0–27,000
1128 October 1893Blackburn RoversH3–16,000McReddie, Naughton, Sawers
124 November 1893West Bromwich AlbionA2–43,000McReddie, Naughton
1311 November 1893BurnleyH4–25,000McReddie, Naughton, Schofield (2)
1413 November 1893Preston North EndH2–17,000Brodie, Sawers
1525 November 1893Wolverhampton WanderersA2–47,000Schofield, Sawers
162 December 1893DarwenH3–17,000Schofield (2), Evans
177 December 1893The WednesdayA1–45,000McReddie
1816 December 1893Sheffield UnitedH5–05,000Naughton (2), Robertson, Schofield, Sawers
1923 December 1893Derby CountyA2–57,000Schofield, Dickson
2025 December 1893Preston North EndA3–33,500Dickson (2), Sawers
2130 December 1893Wolverhampton WanderersH0–35,000
2213 January 1894Bolton WanderersH5–04,000McReddie, Robertson, Clare, Naughton, Dickson
2320 January 1894West Bromwich AlbionH3–13,000Robertson (2), Dickson
243 February 1894Sheffield UnitedA3–38,000Schofield, Naughton, McReddie
253 March 1894EvertonH3–17,000Naughton (2), Robertson
2623 March 1894Newton HeathA2–62,500Hood (o.g.), Dickson
2724 March 1894SunderlandH2–012,000Schofield, Dickson
2831 March 1894Newton HeathH3–13,000Schofield, Clare, McReddie
297 April 1894EvertonA2–610,000Schofield (2)
3014 April 1894Blackburn RoversA0–54,000

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R127 January 1894EvertonH1–014,000Schofield
R210 February 1894The WednesdayA0–117,000

United Counties League

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
10 March 1894West Bromwich AlbionA0–51,000
17 March 1894Wolverhampton WanderersA2–11,500Heames, Dickson
19 March 1894West Bromwich AlbionH5–22,000Dickson (2), McReddie, Schofield (2)
2 April 1894Small HeathA0–32,000
9 April 1894Small HeathH2–11,500Dickson (2)
16 April 1894Wolverhampton WanderersH3–02,000Naughton, McReddie, Robertson

Table

PosClubPWDLFAPts
1West Bromwich Albion640220158
2Stoke640212128
3Small Heath621314145
4Wolverhampton Wanderers611410153

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup United Counties Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Tom Cain 1100030140
GK Arthur Evans 900020110
GK Bill Rowley 1002010130
FB Tommy Clare 2732010303
FB Jack Eccles 1102060190
FB Arthur Foster 10000010
FB Lachie Thomson 20000020
FB Alf Underwood 10000010
HB Davy Brodie 3012060381
HB Davy Christie 2912050361
HB Hughie Clifford 10000010
HB Peter Dowds 1702050240
HB Billy Draycott 10000010
HB Samuel Meston 10006070
HB Jack Proctor 1000000100
FW Billy Dickson 29820653613
FW Ted Evans 1030020123
FW Billy Heames 10003141
FW Wally McReddie 301020623812
FW Willie Naughton 281010613511
FW Jimmie Robertson 2682031319
FW Bill Sawers 1751010195
FW Joe Schofield 281521423418
Own goals 1001

References

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