1899–1900 Stoke F.C. season

The 1899–1900 season was Stoke's 11th season in the Football League.

Stoke
1899–1900 season
ChairmanMr W Cowlishaw
ManagerHorace Austerberry
StadiumVictoria Ground
Football League First Division9th (34 Points)
FA CupFirst Round
Top goalscorerLeague: William Maxwell
(11)

All: William Maxwell
(11)
Highest home attendance15,000 vs Aston Villa
(13 November 1899)
Lowest home attendance3,000 vs Blackburn Rovers
(4 November 1899)
Average home league attendance7,250

As the nineteenth century gave way to the twentieth, it became common knowledge that Stoke were still under a heavy financial cloud. There had been more public appeals for funds - and a certain amount of money had been raised. The directors had continued to go to Scotland for players but, they were not all that successful. The team itself had flirted with relegation for a number of seasons now and there had been only one respectable cup run, Stoke often looked capable of beating the best teams in the country but they were far too inconsistent and always seemed to be at least a couple of quality players short of what was required to challenge for honours.[1]

Stoke's final season of the nineteenth century saw them finish in a mid table position of 9th, Stoke struggled for goals during the season scoring 37 only the bottom two relegated clubs scoring less.[1]

Season review

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League

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Stoke began the 1899–1900 campaign well, beating Liverpool and Preston North End at home and drawing away at Burnley in their first three matches.[1] Tom Wilkes had replaced the outgoing George Clawley in goal and there was a change in attack as local player Sam Higginson was introduced in the place of Fred Molyneux who joined Bristol City while Jack Farrell joined Southampton.[1] Tom Holford also came through the ranks at the Victoria Ground and he went on to become a club legend making over 260 appearances.[1] There was also change in the boardroom as Mr W Cowlishaw replaced Mr J Fenton.[1]

On 13 November 1899 league leaders Aston Villa visited Stoke which attracted a crowd of 15,000 to the Victoria Ground. Gate receipts amounted to £379 a record at the time. Villa won 2–0 and were on their way to a third straight title. Stoke took ninth place in the First Division just two points away from fifth.[1]

FA Cup

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After last seasons run to the semi-final Stoke exited the FA Cup this season in the first round losing 1–0 in a replay to Liverpool after a 0–0 draw.[1]

Final league table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
7 Manchester City 34 13 8 13 50 44 1.136 34
8 Nottingham Forest 34 13 8 13 56 55 1.018 34
9 Stoke 34 13 8 13 37 45 0.822 34
10 Liverpool 34 14 5 15 49 45 1.089 33
11 Everton 34 13 7 14 47 49 0.959 33
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Results

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Stoke's score comes first

Legend

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Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

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Match Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
1 2 September 1899 Liverpool H 3–2 8,000 Maxwell (2), Kennedy
2 9 September 1899 Burnley A 2–2 5,000 Higginson, Parsons
3 16 September 1899 Preston North End H 3–1 6,000 Maxwell (2), Kennedy
4 18 September 1899 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 1–3 6,500 Turner
5 23 September 1899 Nottingham Forest A 0–1 5,000
6 30 September 1899 Glossop H 1–0 3,000 Maxwell
7 7 October 1899 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 2–0 3,000 Maxwell, Higginson
8 14 October 1899 Sunderland A 0–3 7,000
9 21 October 1899 West Bromwich Albion H 1–0 13,500 Maxwell
10 28 October 1899 Everton H 1–1 12,000 Maxwell
11 4 November 1899 Blackburn Rovers H 2–0 3,000 Maxwell, Holford
12 11 November 1899 Derby County A 0–2 5,000
13 13 November 1899 Aston Villa H 0–2 15,000
14 25 November 1899 Notts County A 3–1 9,000 Turner (2), Robertson (pen)
15 2 December 1899 Manchester City H 1–0 12,000 Johnson
16 9 December 1899 Sheffield United A 0–1 10,000
17 16 December 1899 Newcastle United H 2–2 4,000 Turner, Higginson
18 23 December 1899 Aston Villa A 1–4 18,000 Robertson
19 25 December 1899 Everton A 0–2 15,000
20 26 December 1899 Burnley H 3–0 4,500 Maxwell (2), Tooth
21 30 December 1899 Liverpool A 0–0 5,000
22 13 January 1900 Preston North End A 0–3 4,000
23 20 January 1900 Nottingham Forest H 0–0 4,000
24 3 February 1900 Glossop A 2–1 2,000 Turner (2)
25 10 March 1900 Blackburn Rovers A 0–3 6,000
26 17 March 1900 Derby County H 1–1 5,000 Turner
27 19 March 1900 West Bromwich Albion A 0–4 1,717
28 26 March 1900 Sunderland H 1–2 6,000 Kennedy
29 31 March 1900 Notts County H 1–0 6,000 Turner
30 7 April 1900 Manchester City A 0–1 15,000
31 13 April 1900 Bury A 1–0 6,500 Wood
32 14 April 1900 Sheffield United H 1–1 6,000 Jones
33 16 April 1900 Bury H 2–0 4,000 Jones (2)
34 21 April 1900 Newcastle United A 2–2 12,000 Jones (2)

FA Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
R1 27 January 1900 Liverpool H 0–0 8,500
R1 Replay 1 February 1900 Liverpool A 0–1 7,000

Squad statistics

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Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   Arthur Cartlidge 3 0 0 0 3 0
GK   Tom Wilkes 31 0 2 0 33 0
FB   Bill Capewell 11 0 1 0 12 0
FB   Jack Eccles 26 0 2 0 28 0
FB   Tom Robertson 34 2 2 0 36 2
HB   John Bowman 2 0 0 0 2 0
HB   James Bradley 33 0 2 0 35 0
HB   Tom Holford 7 1 0 0 7 1
HB   Edward Parsons 31 1 2 0 33 1
HB   Alf Wood 27 1 2 0 29 1
FW   Ephraim Colclough 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW   Sam Higginson 31 3 2 0 33 3
FW   Freddie Johnson 29 1 1 0 30 1
FW   Jimmy Jones 14 5 2 0 16 5
FW   Jack Kennedy 29 3 2 0 31 3
FW   William Maxwell 22 11 0 0 22 11
FW   Harry Mellor 3 0 0 0 3 0
FW   Arthur Roberts 2 0 0 0 2 0
FW   George Tooth 4 1 0 0 4 1
FW   Joe Turner 30 8 2 0 32 8
FW   Harvey Whittaker 4 0 0 0 4 0

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.