1890–91 Stoke F.C. season

Stoke
1890–91 season
Chairman Mr S. Barker
Manager Joseph Bradshaw
Stadium Victoria Ground
Football Alliance 1st (33 Points)
FA Cup Third Round
Top goalscorer League: Alf Edge (12)
All: Alf Edge & Wilmot Turner (12)
Highest home attendance 4,000 vs Walsall Town Swifts (11 October 1890)
Lowest home attendance 1,000 vs Crewe Alexandra (8 November 1890)
Average home league attendance 2,136
Home colours

The 1890–91 season was Stoke's only season in the Football Alliance.

Stoke played their only season in the Football Alliance which they won the title and were re-elected back in to the Football League at the end of the season. Stoke found life much easier in the Alliance and lost just twice as they ended up with 33 points and their first league title.[1]

Season review

League

For the 1890–91 season Stoke joined the Football Alliance which comprised 12 teams made up from the Midlands and the North.[1] This was very much the secondary competition to the Football League and while Stoke had struggled in their two previous seasons, they quickly came to grips with life in the Alliance and finished as champions.[1] Stoke only lost two matches all season and were re-elected back into the Football League.[1] Both defeats came in Birmingham, 5–2 at St George's and 5–1 at Small Heath and in both games they had their goalkeeper (Bill Rowley and Wilf Merritt respectively) carried off due to injury.[1] With no reserve 'keepers available for the following fixtures Stoke resorted to utilising two outfield players, Hughie Phillips v Crewe Alexandra and Alf Underwood v Bootle in goal.[1] Eventually Ike Brookes the Staffordshire County cricket wicket-keeper was signed for the rest of the season and played in the last 12 matches where Stoke remained unbeaten to claim the title.[1]

FA Cup

While out of the Football League, Stoke played a major part in the formation of the penalty kick when, in February 1891 they were knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round by Notts County 1–0 after two previous 3–0 victory's over Preston North End and Aston Villa. With time running out and Stoke pressing forward for an equalizer, Notts County's defender Hendry handled in the area so the referee gave a free kick to Stoke. Notts County put all eleven men on the line and Stoke failed to score. This same referee, who recognised what an unjust event had occurred later became a football legislator and it was he who introduced the penalty kick to the Football League and FA Cup competitions for the 1891–92 season.[1]

Final league table

PosClubPWDLFAGAPts
1Stoke22137257391.46133
2Sunderland Albion22126469282.46430
3Grimsby Town22115643271.59227
4Birmingham St George's22122864621.03226
5Nottingham Forest2297666391.69225
6Darwen22103964591.08423
7Walsall Town Swifts22931034610.55721
8Crewe Alexandra22841059670.88020
9Newton Heath22731237550.67217
10Small Heath22721358660.87816
11Bootle22371240610.65513
12The Wednesday22451339660.59013

Key: P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football Alliance

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
113 September 1890Birmingham St George'sH6–31,500Ballham, Baker (4), Turner
220 September 1890Grimsby TownH2–12,000Edge, Coupar
327 September 1890 Newton HeathH2–12,000 Edge, Dunn
43 October 1890 Nottingham ForestA2–22,000Turner, Baker
54 October 1890 Grimsby TownA1–12,000Baker
611 October 1890 Walsall Town SwiftsH1–04,000Baker
718 October 1890 Birmingham St George'sA2–52,000Edge, Turner
8 1 November 1890 Small HeathA1–52,500Edge
98 November 1890 Crewe AlexandraH2–21,000Turner, Dunn
10 15 November 1890 BootleH2–11,500Dunn (2)
11 22 November 1890 Sunderland AlbionA1–11,500Dunn
12 29 November 1890 Nottingham ForestH2–12,000Dunn, Ballham
136 December 1890 BootleA2–21,000Dunn, Baker
1413 December 1890 The WednesdayA4–26,000Dunn, Baker (2), Edge
1526 December 1890 DarwenH6–23,000Baker, Edge (2), Ballham, Turner (2)
1627 December 1890 Small HeathH4–23,000Edge, Ballham, Turner (2)
173 January 1891 Sunderland AlbionH1–12,000Naughton
185 January 1891 Newton HeathA1–02,000Turner
1924 January 1891 Crewe AlexandraA4–21,500 Coupar, Dunn, Ballham, Clifford
207 March 1891 Walsall Town SwiftsA3–14,000Edge (2), Turner
2121 March 1891 DarwenA3–31,000Edge, Turner, Dunn
224 April 1891 The WednesdayH5–11,500 Edge, Naughton, Dunn, Christie, Ballham

FA Cup

Main article: 1890–91 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R117 January 1891 Preston North EndH3–08,000Ballham, Coupar, Turner
R231 January 1891Aston VillaH3–07,000Ballham (2), Coupar
R314 February 1891Notts CountyA0–116,000

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland Ike Brookes 12030150
GKEngland Wilf Merritt 200020
GKEngland Bill Rowley 600060
FBEngland George Bateman 100010
FBEngland Tommy Clare 22030250
FBEngland Jack Eccles 100010
FBEngland Alf Underwood 21030240
HBScotland Davy Brodie 22030250
HBScotland Davy Christie 22130251
HBScotland Hughie Clifford 17130201
HBScotland Hughie Phillips 700070
FWEngland Charlie Baker 1711001711
FWEngland Lewis Ballham 20633239
FWScotland Peter Coupar 323264
FWScotland Billy Dunn 2111302411
FWEngland Alf Edge 2212302512
FWScotland Willie Naughton 620062
FWEngland Wilmot Turner 2011312312

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.

See also

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