1924–25 Stoke F.C. season explained

Season:1924–25
Chairman:Mr A. McSherwin
League Result:20th (35 Points)
Cup1 Result:First Round
League Topscorer:Harry Davies
(8)
Season Topscorer:Harry Davies
(8)
Highest Attendance:22,747 vs Port Vale
(20 September 1924)
Lowest Attendance:4,806 vs Bradford City
(1 January 1925)
Average Attendance:11,030
Nextseason:1925–26
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Pattern B1:_red_stripes
Pattern Ra1:_red_stripes
Pattern So1:_band_red
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Socks1:000000

The 1924–25 season was Stoke's 25th season in the Football League and the sixth in the Second Division.

Following the squad clear-out by manager Tom Mather and with a number of new useful signings Stoke had a decent looking squad on paper going into the 1924–25 season. However the performances out on the pitch were poor and the team was almost relegated staying up by a single point.[1]

Season review

League

A strong new chairman emerged with the arrival in August 1924 of Mr A. McSherwin who had already spent eleven years on the board and he would go on to hold his position for the next twelve years.[1] After a period of real doubt, confidence started to emerge for the 1924–25 season and was certainly helped by Tom Mather replacing old players with new fresh talent.[1] Under new skipper Vic Rouse, Stoke started the season reasonably well and seemed to have the basis of a useful side with the likes of goalkeeper Bob Dixon, Bob McGrory, Alec Milne, Bert Ralphs, Harry Davies and Len Armitage in the squad.[1]

But overall performances on the pitch were below standard and the team went 12 matches without a win (1 January 1925 to 21 March 1925) and were almost relegated.[1] Four wins and three draws in their last eight matches ensured survival by the narrowest of margins, a single point.[1]

FA Cup

Stoke exited the cup at the first round going down to a poor 3–0 defeat at Leicester City.[1]

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend

WinDrawLoss

Football League Second Division

See main article: 1924–25 Football League.

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
130 August 1924 Stockport CountyA0–26,000
21 September 1924 SouthamptonH2–014,806Davies (2)
36 September 1924 Manchester UnitedH0–018,105
48 September 1924 SouthamptonA0–310,000
513 September 1924 Leicester CityA1–015,000Armitage
620 September 1924 Port ValeH0–122,747
722 September 1924 ChelseaH1–08,527Sellars
827 September 1924 Coventry CityH4–111,338Davies, Watkin, Brough, Eyres
94 October 1924 Oldham AthleticA0–27,000
1011 October 1924 The WednesdayH0–212,388
1118 October 1924 Clapton OrientA2–05,000Kelly (2)
1225 October 1924 MiddlesbroughA0–115,000
131 November 1924 BarnsleyH1–15,281Rouse
148 November 1924 Wolverhampton WanderersA0–115,000
1515 November 1924 FulhamH1–18,916Eyres
1622 November 1924 PortsmouthA0–010,000
1729 November 1924 Hull CityH2–07,136Jones, Ralphs
186 December 1924 BlackpoolA2–110,000Kelly, Hallham
1913 December 1924 Derby CountyH1–113,317Watkin
2020 December 1924 South ShieldsA0–410,000
2126 December 1924 Bradford CityA0–112,000
2227 December 1924 Stockport CountyH3–010,993Hallham, Kelly (pen), Armitage
231 January 1925 Bradford CityH0–04,806
243 January 1925 Manchester UnitedA0–239,907
2517 January 1925 Leicester CityH1–111,705Watkin
2624 January 1925 Port ValeA0–217,214
2731 January 1925 Coventry CityA1–310,000Rouse
287 February 1925 Oldham AthleticH0–17,656
2914 February 1925 The WednesdayA1–220,000Davies
3021 February 1925 Clapton OrientH0–110,120
3128 February 1925 MiddlesbroughH0–111,807
327 March 1925 BarnsleyA1–18,500Davies
3314 March 1925 Wolverhampton WanderersH0–320,000
3421 March 1925 FulhamA0–110,000
3528 March 1925 PortsmouthH2–19,920Clennell, Johnson
364 April 1925 Hull CityA0–07,000
3710 April 1925 Crystal PalaceA1–010,000Johnson
3811 April 1925 BlackpoolH3–115,912Johnson, Davies, Jones (o.g.)
3913 April 1925 Crystal PalaceH1–112,000Johnson
4018 April 1925 Derby CountyA2–110,000Davies (2)
4125 April 1925 South ShieldsH0–013,875
4227 April 1925 ChelseaA1–210,000Ralphs

FA Cup

See main article: 1924–25 FA Cup.

Squad statistics

Pos.NameLeagueFA CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK Kenny Campbell900090
GK Bob Dixon33010340
DF Tommy Howe19000190
DF Bob McGrory40010410
DF Alec Milne18010190
MF Tom Brittleton800080
MF Harry Brough35100351
MF Tommy Dawson500050
MF Peter Jackson10000100
MF Sam Johnson800080
MF Alec McClure24010250
MF Vic Rouse31210322
MF Frank Searle000000
MF George Stentiford300030
MF John Walker9010100
FW Len Armitage17210182
FW Sid Blackie200020
FW Joe Clennell910091
FW Harry Davies26800268
FW John Evans12000120
FW Jack Eyres14200142
FW Charles Hallam19200192
FW Dick Johnson13400134
FW Alfred Jones510051
FW Charles Kelly17410184
FW Dai Nicholas700070
FW Edgar Powell200020
FW Bert Ralphs42210432
FW Harry Sellars811091
FW Arthur Watkin14310153
FW Bob White300030
FW William Wood000000
Own goals101

Notes and References

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