1927–28 Stoke City F.C. season

The 1927–28 season was Stoke City's 28th season in the Football League and the eighth in the Second Division.

Stoke City
1927–28 season
ChairmanMr A.J. Sherwin
ManagerTom Mather
StadiumVictoria Ground
Football League Second Division5th (52 points)
FA CupQuarter-final
Top goalscorerLeague: Charlie Wilson
(32)

All: Charlie Wilson
(38)
Highest home attendance27,453 vs Manchester City
(7 April 1928)
Lowest home attendance8,251 vs Southampton
(31 December 1927)
Average home league attendance14,395

Record season ticket sales were recorded prior to the start of the 1927–28 season as supporters were buoyed following last season's Third Division North title win. Stoke had a good return to the Second Division, finishing 5th in the table, five points from promotion, and also reached the quarter final of the FA Cup losing to Arsenal. Charlie Wilson top-scored this season with a club-record 38 goals.[1]

Season review

edit

League

edit

The 1927–28 season saw Stoke back within one Division of the top flight, although a heavy bank overdraft of £13,000 meant that they couldn't go out and bolster the squad, Mather being forced to rely on the players who had served him well last season.[1] However, chairman Sherwin assured the fans that he would spend the money if weakness became apparent but he stated that he would not be able to join in the transfer fee spiral that was gathering pace elsewhere.[1] On a brighter note Stoke reported record season ticket sales for the new campaign.[1]

Stoke made a fantastic start back in the Second Division beating Southampton 6–3 in the first match, this was followed up with 4–2 and 3–0 victories as Stoke started the season in fine form. Performances did eventually drop off and the team hit an inconsistent spell just before Christmas but then won six matches back to back.[1] Stoke enjoyed a successful end to the campaign finishing in 5th position.[1] Stoke's cup run perhaps cost them a genuine promotion challenge but nevertheless it was a good season with the club's bank balance improving and the team showing great consistency with six players playing 40 or more League games.[1] The reserves also had a fine season, winning the Central League title for the first time.[1]

FA Cup

edit

After a number of pretty terrible performances in the FA Cup in the past few seasons, the 1927–28 season saw a marked improvement as Stoke beat Gillingham 6–1, Bolton Wanderers 4–2, Manchester City 1–0 before losing 4–1 to Arsenal in the quarter final stage.[1] Nevertheless, the board were happy with the club's performance and income which the cup run generated.[1]

Final league table

edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
3 Chelsea 42 23 8 11 75 45 1.667 54
4 Preston North End 42 22 9 11 100 66 1.515 53
5 Stoke City 42 22 8 12 78 59 1.322 52
6 Swansea Town 42 18 12 12 75 63 1.190 48
7 Oldham Athletic 42 19 8 15 75 51 1.471 46
Source: [citation needed]

Results

edit

Stoke's score comes first

Legend

edit
Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division

edit
Match Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
1 27 August 1927 Southampton A 6–3 12,000 Archibald, Williamson, Eyres, Wilson, Davies (2)
2 31 August 1927 West Bromwich Albion A 4–2 20,000 Wilson (3), Armitage (pen)
3 3 September 1927 Notts County H 3–0 21,941 Wilson (2), Archibald
4 5 September 1927 West Bromwich Albion H 1–1 20,623 Wilson
5 10 September 1927 Oldham Athletic A 1–3 8,000 Wilson
6 17 September 1927 Grimsby Town H 0–0 15,480
7 24 September 1927 Reading A 1–1 5,700 Wilson
8 1 October 1927 Blackpool H 2–0 12,014 Davies (2)
9 8 October 1927 Chelsea A 0–1 16,000
10 15 October 1927 Clapton Orient H 2–0 13,002 Wilson, Williams
11 22 October 1927 Barnsley H 0–0 9,320
12 29 October 1927 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 2–1 20,000 Wilson (2)
13 5 November 1927 Port Vale H 0–2 24,972
14 12 November 1927 Fulham A 5–1 10,000 Wilson, Davies, Shirley (2), Barrett (o.g.)
15 19 November 1927 Swansea Town H 1–1 9,937 Sellars
16 26 November 1927 Manchester City A 0–4 39,897
17 3 December 1927 Hull City H 3–1 9,632 Wilson, Armitage, Johnson
18 10 December 1927 Preston North End A 0–2 12,000
19 17 December 1927 Nottingham Forest H 1–3 9,090 Wallace (o.g.)
20 24 December 1927 Leeds United A 1–5 20,000 Williamson
21 27 December 1927 South Shields H 3–1 13,987 Sellars, Shirley (2)
22 31 December 1927 Southampton H 2–1 8,251 Wilson, Davies
23 2 January 1928 South Shields A 3–2 4,640 Archibald, Cull, Bussey
24 7 January 1928 Notts County A 2–1 9,908 Wilson (2)
25 21 January 1928 Oldham Athletic H 3–0 13,446 Wilson, Bussey (2)
26 4 February 1928 Reading H 4–1 11,806 Bussey, Cull, Davies (2)
27 11 February 1928 Blackpool A 1–3 6,309 Wilson
28 20 February 1928 Chelsea H 1–0 10,223 Bussey
29 25 February 1928 Clapton Orient A 2–3 6,140 Wilson, Campell (o.g.)
30 6 March 1928 Grimsby Town A 2–1 5,076 Wilson, Sellars
31 10 March 1928 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 2–2 13,273 Wilson, Davies
32 17 March 1928 Port Vale A 0–0 25,084
33 19 March 1928 Barnsley A 1–3 6,000 Williams
34 24 March 1928 Fulham H 5–1 10,117 Armitage (pen), Davies, Wilson (3)
35 31 March 1928 Swansea Town A 1–1 5,460 Armitage
36 6 April 1928 Bristol City A 0–4 8,112
37 7 April 1928 Manchester City H 2–0 27,453 Wilson, Archibald
38 9 April 1928 Bristol City H 1–0 12,547 Wilson
39 14 April 1928 Hull City A 0–1 6,552
40 21 April 1928 Preston North End H 3–2 11,233 Wilson (2), Archibald
41 28 April 1928 Nottingham Forest A 2–0 9,043 Wilson, Davies
42 5 May 1928 Leeds United H 5–1 12,306 Wilson (2), Bussey, Archibald, Cull

FA Cup

edit
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
R3 14 January 1928 Gillingham H 6–1 5,234 Wilson (2), Archibald, Williamson, Bussey, Davies
R4 28 January 1928 Bolton Wanderers H 4–2 24,868 Davies, Archibald, Wilson (2)
R5 18 February 1928 Manchester City A 1–0 50,132 Wilson
Quarter final 3 March 1928 Arsenal A 1–4 41,974 Wilson

Squad statistics

edit
Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   Bob Dixon 41 0 4 0 45 0
GK   Dick Williams 1 0 0 0 1 0
DF   Bob McGrory 42 0 4 0 46 0
DF   Billy Spencer 42 0 4 0 46 0
MF   Len Armitage 38 4 3 0 41 4
MF   Cecil Eastwood 7 0 0 0 7 0
MF   Thomas Godfrey 6 0 1 0 7 0
MF   Peter Jackson 4 0 0 0 4 0
MF   Harry Sellars 33 3 4 0 37 3
MF   Harry Watson 2 0 0 0 2 0
MF   Tom Williamson 40 2 4 1 44 3
FW   Bobby Archibald 41 6 4 2 45 8
FW   Walter Bussey 21 8 4 1 25 9
FW   John Cull 19 3 4 0 23 3
FW   Harry Davies 40 11 4 2 44 13
FW   Jack Eyres 6 1 0 0 6 1
FW   Dick Johnson 14 1 0 0 14 1
FW   Bob Lister 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW   John Shirley 4 2 0 0 4 2
FW   Joey Williams 20 2 0 0 20 2
FW   Charlie Wilson 40 32 4 6 44 38
Own goals 3 0 3

References

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