The 1896–97 season was Stoke's eighth season in the Football League.

After last season's success of finishing in 6th position there was high hopes that it would signal a change in the club's fortunes. Alas it was a disappointing season for Stoke as little progress was made and they finished the season in 13th position with 25 points.

Season review

League As the 1896–97 season beckoned there was a lot of talk of Stoke purchasing the football pitch at the cricket ground in the town, with a considerable amount of financial backing promised. However this never materialised much to the disappointment of chairman Mr S. Barker. During the campaign itself a total of 16 players made their senior debuts for the club including Zeke Johnston, Stoke's first Irishman signed from Burnley. There was little progress in the league with a 13th-place finish. The best result of the season saw Stoke beat Liverpool 6–1 in February 1897. Long serving forward Billy Dickson retired as did half-back Davy Brodie.

FA Cup After beating Glossop 5–2 in the first round Stoke lost 2–1 in the next to Preston North End.

Final league table

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers1 2 September 1896 Aston VillaA1–25,000Schofield2 5 September 1896 Wolverhampton WanderersH2–17,000 Johnson, Wood3 12 September 1896 Nottingham ForestA0–43,5004 19 September 1896 Bolton WanderersH2–34,000Schofield, Eccles5 26 September 1896 The WednesdayA3–46,000Schofield, Wood, Johnson6 10 October 1896 Wolverhampton WanderersA2–15,000W Maxwell, Wood7 17 October 1896 Nottingham ForestH3–05,000W Maxwell, Schofield, Johnson8 24 October 1896 Bolton WanderersA0–44,0009 31 October 1896 Aston VillaH0–24,00010 7 November 1896 Derby CountyA1–53,000W Maxwell11 9 November 1896 Preston North EndH2–14,000W Maxwell, Eardley12 14 November 1896 BuryA2–43,000A Maxwell, Wood13 21 November 1896 West Bromwich AlbionH2–26,200W Maxwell (2)14 28 November 1896 Preston North EndA0–35,00015 5 December 1896 Derby CountyH2–25,000W Maxwell (2)16 12 December 1896 West Bromwich AlbionA2–11,105W Maxwell (2)17 19 December 1896 EvertonA2–47,000W Maxwell, Schofield18 2 January 1897 EvertonH2–38,000W Maxwell, Schofield19 9 January 1897 BurnleyA3–13,000A Maxwell (2), Schofield20 16 January 1897 LiverpoolA0–17,00021 23 January 1897 The WednesdayH0–05,00022 6 February 1897 LiverpoolH6–17,000Schofield (2), W Maxwell, Hill (2), Hingerty23 20 February 1897 SunderlandA1–42,000Schofield 24 27 February 1897 BurnleyH3–28,000Hill (2), Hingerty25 20 March 1897 Blackburn RoversA1–28,000Hingerty26 27 March 1897 Sheffield UnitedA0–12,00027 3 April 1897 SunderlandH0–15,00028 10 April 1897 Blackburn RoversH1–05,000Hill29 12 April 1897 BuryH3–02,500Hill, Schofield, Darroch (o.g.)30 15 April 1897 Sheffield UnitedH2–03,000Hingerty, W Maxwell

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersR130 January 1897 GlossopH5–22,000W Maxwell (2), Schofield, Hingerty (2)R213 February 1897 Preston North EndA1–26,000W Maxwell

Squad statistics Pos.NameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGK Albert Boardman100010GK Zeke Johnston16020180GK Fred Latham500050GK Bill Rowley400040GK Fred Sheldon500050FB Tommy Clare30020320FB Peter Durber17020190FB Jack Eccles13110141HB Lucien Boullemier700070HB Davy Brodie17010180HB Bill Fearns400040HB Jimmy Grewer22020240HB Ted McDonald200020HB Jim Peacock100010HB Harry Simpson800080HB Arthur Rowley25020270HB Alf Wood12400124FW Billy Baird300030FW Arthur Bentley500050FW Samuel Cole000000FW Billy Dickson400040FW Billy Eardley10100101FW Billy Heames300030FW Jimmy Hill10610116FW Jim Hingerty10422126FW Freddie Johnson14310153FW Allan Maxwell23320253FW William Maxwell2913233116FW Joe Schofield2912213113FW Samuel Woods100010–Own goals–1–0–1

References