1917–18 Stoke F.C. season explained

Season:1917–18
Chairman:Mr E.Reynish
League:Lancashire Section Primary Competition
League Result:1st
Cup1:Lancashire Section Secondary Competition Group B
Cup1 Result:3rd
League Topscorer:Billy Herbert
(32)
Highest Attendance:25,000 vs Liverpool
(9 March 1918)
Lowest Attendance:4,000 vs Various teams
Pattern La1:_red_stripes
Pattern B1:_red_stripes
Pattern Ra1:_red_stripes
Pattern So1:_color_3_stripes_white
Shorts1:FFFFFF
Socks1:FF0000

The 1917–18 season was Stoke's third season in the War-time League.[1]

With the start of World War I, all Football League football was cancelled.[1] In its place were formed War Leagues, based on geographical lines rather than based on previous league placement. Stoke contested the Lancashire Section in the Principal Tournament, and the Lancashire Section Secondary Competition Group B. However, none of these were considered to be competitive football, and thus their records are not recognised by the Football League.[1]

Season review

In the Primary Competition of the Lancashire League Stoke finished in 1st place with 48 points whilst in the Secondary Competition they finished 3rd with 6 points.[1] Stoke were in free scoring form this season amassing 106 goals including a 16–0 win over Blackburn Rovers this was followed up by an 8–1 win over Rovers a week later.[1] Stoke also beat teams 9–0 (Burnley), 7–0 (Oldham), 6–0 (Port Vale). Stoke won the Primary Competition and thus competed in the championship decider against Leeds City over two legs.[1] However Leeds won 2–1.[1] Both matches against Leeds drew impressive crowds and gate receipts totalled £918 which went to the National Footballers' War Fund.[1]

Final league table

Lancashire Section Secondary Competition Group B

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend

WinDrawLoss

Lancashire Section Primary Competition

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
11 September 1917 Bolton WanderersA5–26,000Howell (2), Bridgett, Whittingham (2)
28 September 1917 Bolton WanderersH6–27,000Howell (2), Bridgett, Whittingham, Herbert (2)
315 September 1917 Preston North EndA3–25,000Howell, Whittingham, Herbert
422 September 1917 Preston North EndH4–08,000Howell, Herbert, Bridgett, Jones
529 September 1917 Port ValeA2–010,000Herbert, Whittingham
66 October 1917 Port ValeH4–18,000Herbert, Whittingham (2), Howell
713 October 1917 BlackpoolA5–04,000Harrison, Herbert (2), Howell (2)
820 October 1917 BlackpoolH3–17,000Howell, Whittingham, Parker
927 October 1917 Manchester CityH4–39,000Herbert, Watkin (2), Turner
103 November 1917 Manchester CityA0–120,000
1110 November 1917 Blackburn RoversH16–08,000Whittingham (4), Turner (4), Herbert (3), Parker (2), Harrison, Bridgett, Jones
1217 November 1917 Blackburn RoversA8–14,000Whittingham (2), Herbert, Howell (2), Jones, Bridgett (2)
131 December 1917 RochdaleA0–04,000
148 December 1917 EvertonH3–08,000Bridgett (2), Howell
1515 December 1917 EvertonA2–310,000Bridgett, Whittingham
1622 December 1917 BuryH1–05,000Howell
1729 December 1917 BuryA1–14,000P. Jones
185 January 1918 Oldham AthleticH7–05,000Herbert (4), Howell (2), Martin
1912 January 1918 Oldham AthleticA2–23,000
2019 January 1918 Stockport CountyH2–14,000
2121 January 1918 Stockport CountyA3–03,000Martin, Jones, Smith
222 February 1918 Manchester UnitedH5–16,000Bridgett, Parker, Herbert, Howell (2)
239 February 1918 Manchester UnitedA1–210,000Harrison
2416 February 1918 Southport CentralA2–03,000Howell, Turner
2523 February 1918 Southport CentralH4–04,000Turner, Lockett, Herbert, Jones
262 March 1918 LiverpoolA1–122,000Howell
279 March 1918 LiverpoolH3–125,000Howell (2), Bridgett
2816 March 1918 BurnleyH9–016,000Herbert (2), Bridgett, Howell (3), Parker, Lockett, Harrison
2923 March 1918 BurnleyA2–04,000Howell, Lockett
3027 April 1918 RochdaleH1–26,000Jones

Lancashire Section Secondary Competition Group B

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
129 March 1918 Port ValeA2–17,000Herbert, P. Jones
230 March 1918 Manchester UnitedA1–211,000Jones
31 April 1918 Port ValeH6–012,000Herbert (3), Lockett, Bassett (2)
46 April 1918 Manchester UnitedH0–08,000
513 April 1918 Manchester CityH1–19,000Herbert
620 April 1918 Manchester CityA0–211,000

Championship Decider

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
1st leg4 May 1918 Leeds CityA0–215,000
2nd leg11 May 1918 Leeds CityH1–014,000Parker

Squad statistics

Pos.NameMatches
AppsGoals
GK Richard Herron20
GK A. Morns50
GK Teddy Peers310
DF Arthur Allman50
DF Jack Maddock230
DF Alec Milne40
DF George Turner10
DF Billy Twemlow370
DF Harry Wootton10
MF Joe Jones386
MF Charlie Parker386
MF Dick Smith321
FW G. Bassett42
FW J. Bridgett2410
FW Billy Briscoe10
FW S. Connor10
FW S. Cooper10
FW Thomas Greaves20
FW Billy Harrison334
FW Billy Herbert3832
FW Harry Howell3128
FW P. Jones32
FW Aaron Lockett95
FW James Martin93
FW G. McGregor10
FW Billy Tempest10
FW Eli Turner139
FW Arthur Watkin32
FW Bob Whittingham1715

Notes and References

  1. Book: Matthews, Tony. The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. 1994. Lion Press. 0-9524151-0-0.