1926–27 Stoke City F.C. season

Stoke City
1926–27 season
ChairmanMr A.McSherwin
ManagerTom Mather
StadiumVictoria Ground
Football League Third Division North1st (63 Points)
FA CupFirst Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Charlie Wilson
(25)
All: Charlie Wilson
(26)
Highest home attendance16,827 vs Crewe Alexandra
(12 March 1927)
Lowest home attendance6,778 vs Wigan Borough
(30 August 1926)
Average home league attendance10,311

The 1926–27 season was Stoke City's 27th season in the Football League and the first in the Third Division North.

With relegation last season Stoke found themselves playing in the bottom tier of the Football League the Third Division North. Whilst there was obvious disappointment of the clubs failures it soon became clear that an instant return to the Second Division would be achieved as Stoke proved to be too good for their league opponents and ended the season as champions with 63 points and an impressive goal average of 2.3.[1]

Season review

League

After the trauma of two pretty bad seasons, there was to be a turn around in Stoke's fortunes in 1926–27 and from the outset there was never any doubt that promotion back to the Second Division would be achieved.[1]

There had been reservations regarding the midfield, but manager Tom Mather gambled and switched Harry Sellars to right-half, brought in Cecil Eastwood from Preston North End to occupy left-half and slotted Tom Williamson between them.[1] Thanks to the consistent form of this trio Stoke were on top of the league throughout the season, achieving ten doubles over their opponents.[1] During the season a number of teams made their one and only trip to the Victoria Ground these were Ashington who were beaten 7–0, Durham City 4–0, Nelson 4–1, Wigan Borough 2–0 and New Brighton who managed a 1–1.[1] In the return fixture against New Brighton Stoke produced what was easily their worst display of the season and crashed to a 5–0 defeat.[1]

Stoke moved into April 1927 sitting on top of the table, but they were rocked by a 4–0 defeat to second place Rochdale. A 2–0 win over Tranmere Rovers eased the tensions but a 3–1 defeat at Doncaster Rovers on Good Friday put the celebrations on hold again, and although they beat Durham City 24 hours later, a goalless draw with Doncaster left Stoke with just a three-point lead over Rochdale.[1] With three games remaining Stoke required four points to secure the title and with it promotion. However promotion was sealed in the next match against Accrington Stanley Stoke winning 1–0 thanks to a Jack Eyres goal and news that both Rochdale and Nelson had been beaten meant that Stoke took the title and returned to the Second Division at the first time of asking.[1]

FA Cup

In the FA Cup Stoke were embarrassed as Welsh League side Rhyl Athletic took Stoke to a second replay before winning 2–1.[1]

Final league table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion
1 Stoke City 42 27 9 6 92 40 2.300 63 Division Champions, promoted
2 Rochdale 42 26 6 10 105 65 1.615 58
3 Bradford Park Avenue 42 24 7 11 101 59 1.712 55
4 Halifax Town 42 21 11 10 70 53 1.321 53
5 Nelson 42 22 7 13 104 75 1.387 51
Source: rsssf.com

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division North

Main article: 1926–27 Football League
Match Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
1 28 August 1926 Bradford Park Avenue H 0–0 11,388
2 30 August 1926 Wigan Borough H 2–0 6,778 Johnson, Wilson
3 4 September 1926 Walsall A 1–0 7,000 Davies
4 6 September 1926 Wigan Borough A 3–0 3,500 Bussey, Archibald, Wilson
5 11 September 1926 Nelson H 4–1 10,557 Beswick, Johnson, Wilson (2)
6 13 September 1926 Hartlepools United H 3–1 8,237 Davies, Wilson (2)
7 18 September 1926 Chesterfield A 1–1 4,600 Wilson
8 22 September 1926 Hartlepools United A 3–1 3,000 Wilson (2), Johnson
9 25 September 1926 Ashington H 7–0 8,927 Wilson (5), Davies, Williams
10 2 October 1926 New Brighton A 0–5 4,000
11 9 October 1926 Wrexham H 2–0 8,806 Wilson, Davies
12 16 October 1926 Barrow H 4–0 9,638 Wilson (3), Bussey
13 23 October 1926 Crewe Alexandra A 2–0 14,765 Wilson, Bussey
14 30 October 1926 Stockport County H 0–1 12,523
15 6 November 1926 Southport A 3–0 3,500 Davies, Williams, Wilson
16 13 November 1926 Rochdale H 3–1 11,144 Davies, Johnson, Williamson
17 20 November 1926 Tranmere Rovers A 1–1 4,000 Williamson
18 4 December 1926 Accrington Stanley A 1–0 5,000 Johnson
19 18 December 1926 Halifax Town A 2–2 7,964 Bussey, Armitage
20 25 December 1926 Rotherham United H 4–1 13,580 Bussey, Armitage (2), Wilson
21 27 December 1926 Rotherham United A 2–2 4,000 Bussey, Wilson
22 1 January 1927 Lincoln City H 2–0 12,035 Bussey, Armitage
23 8 January 1927 Durham City H 4–0 7,382 Armitage, Williamson (2), Wilson
24 15 January 1927 Bradford Park Avenue A 0–3 21,458
25 22 January 1927 Walsall H 4–1 10,125 Archibald, Davies, Eyres (2)
26 29 January 1927 Nelson A 0–1 6,000
27 5 February 1927 Chesterfield H 3–2 9,759 Davies, Archibald, Williams
28 12 February 1927 Ashington A 2–0 4,708 Williams, Eyres
29 19 February 1927 New Brighton H 1–1 12,209 Williams
30 26 February 1927 Wrexham A 6–2 4,000 Williams, Davies, Eyres (3), Wilson
31 5 March 1927 Barrow A 0–0 4,155
32 12 March 1927 Crewe Alexandra H 2–1 16,827 Eyres, Watkin
33 19 March 1927 Stockport County A 2–2 28,460 Watkin, Archibald
34 26 March 1927 Southport H 4–0 7,826 Watkin, Davies, Williamson, Eyres
35 2 April 1927 Rochdale A 0–4 3,338
36 9 April 1927 Tranmere Rovers H 2–0 6,950 Cull, Davies
37 15 April 1927 Doncaster Rovers A 1–3 17,974 Archibald
38 16 April 1927 Durham City A 2–1 2,956 Davies, Bussey
39 18 April 1927 Doncaster Rovers H 0–0 15,903
40 23 April 1927 Accrington Stanley H 1–0 8,440 Eyres
41 30 April 1927 Lincoln City A 3–1 3,330 Davies, Eyres, Wilson
42 7 May 1927 Halifax Town H 5–1 10,280 Davies (2), Eyres (2), Archibald

FA Cup

Main article: 1926–27 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
R1 27 November 1926 Rhyl Athletic A 1–1 5,000 Wilson
R1 Replay 2 December 1926 Rhyl Athletic H 1–1 7,662 Davies
R1 2nd Replay 6 December 1926 Rhyl Athletic N 1–2 3,000 Davies

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Bob Dixon 41 0 3 0 44 0
GK England Dick Williams 1 0 0 0 1 0
DF England Arthur Beachill 1 0 0 0 1 0
DF Scotland Bob McGrory 42 0 3 0 45 0
DF England Billy Spencer 36 0 2 0 38 0
DF England Harry Watson 0 0 1 0 1 0
MF England Ewart Beswick 10 1 0 0 10 1
MF England Tommy Dawson 5 0 1 0 6 0
MF England Cecil Eastwood 39 0 2 0 41 0
MF England Reginald Hodgkins 3 0 0 0 3 0
MF England Peter Jackson 1 0 1 0 2 0
MF England Harry Sellars 30 0 3 0 33 0
MF Scotland Tom Williamson 28 5 2 0 30 5
FW Scotland Bobby Archibald 37 6 0 0 37 6
FW England Len Armitage 22 5 0 0 22 5
FW England Walter Bussey 15 8 0 0 15 8
FW England John Cull 10 1 0 0 10 1
FW England Harry Davies 39 15 3 2 42 17
FW England Jack Eyres 17 12 1 0 18 12
FW England Charles Hallam 6 0 2 0 8 0
FW England Dick Johnson 15 5 3 0 18 5
FW England Frank Watkin 5 3 0 0 5 3
FW England Joey Williams 28 6 3 0 31 6
FW England Charlie Wilson 31 25 3 1 34 26

References

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