1915–16 Stoke F.C. season

The 1915–16 season was Stoke's first season in the non-competitive War League.[1]

Stoke
1915–16 season
ChairmanMr E.Reynish
ManagerJoe Schofield
StadiumVictoria Ground
Lancashire Section Primary Competition8th
Midland Section Secondary Competition4th
Top goalscorerBob Whittingham (26)
Highest home attendance14,000 vs Bolton Wanderers (5 February 1916)
Lowest home attendance3,000 vs Various teams

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 Southern Division of the Midland Section in the Subsidiary Tournament. However, none of these were considered to be competitive football, and thus their records are not recognised by the Football League.[1]

Season review

With Peter Hodge returning to his family in Scotland former club great, Joe Schofield returned to the club in 1915 as manager for the War-time seasons and with a number of first team players joining the army Stoke fielded a number of 'guest' players as did many other clubs.[1] For the whole war Stoke played in the Lancashire section and in the 1915–16 season ended up in mid-table position of 8th while in the Midland Section Secondary Competition Stoke finished 4th.[1] Stoke's best result was a 7–1 win over Chesterfield Town and guest forward Bob Whittingham was top scorer with 26 goals to his name.[1]

Final league table

Lancashire Section Primary Competition

PosClubPWDLFAGAPts
1Manchester City26163761351.74235
2Burnley26145771431.65133
3Blackpool26143954411.31731
4Everton261501059421.40430
5Oldham Athletic26133952441.18129
6Liverpool26117848421.14229
7Stockport County261331047431.09329
8Stoke26107943460.93427
9Southport Central26961141411.00024
10Bury261031346520.88423
11Manchester United26781141510.80322
12Bolton Wanderers26931448650.73821
13Rochdale26751434560.60719
14Preston North End26422023670.34310

Key: P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points

Midland Section Secondary Competition

PosClubPWDLFAGAPts
1Nottingham Forest1070328122.33314
2Notts County1053216121.33313
3Leicester Fosse1033415190.7899
4Stoke1040621181.1168
5Derby County1040623280.8218
6Chesterfield Town1032515290.5178

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Lancashire Section Primary Competition

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
14 September 1915Preston North EndH3–16,000Smith, Jones, Whittingham
211 September 1915Stockport CountyA1–34,000Smith
318 September 1915LiverpoolH2–28,000Whittingham (2)
425 September 1915BuryH3–27,000Whittingham (2), Herbert
52 October 1915Manchester UnitedH0–06,500
69 October 1915BlackpoolA1–14,000Herbert
716 October 1915Southport CentralH2–03,000Whittingham, Tempest
823 October 1915Oldham AthleticA3–12,000Whittingham (2), Herbert
930 October 1915EvertonH3–24,000Whittingham, Smith, Hargreaves
106 November 1915Bolton WanderersA1–24,000Smith
1113 November 1915Manchester CityH1–07,000Parker
1220 November 1915RochdaleH1–14,000Whittingham
1327 November 1915BurnleyA2–34,000Whittingham, Hargreaves
144 December 1915Preston North EndA3–23,500Whittingham (2), Ellis
1511 December 1915Stockport CountyH0–23,000
1618 December 1915LiverpoolA0–27,500
1725 December 1915BuryA2–42,000Herbert, Whittingham
181 January 1916Manchester UnitedA2–18,000Hargreaves, Ellis
198 January 1916BlackpoolH3–17,500Whittingham, Watkin (2)
2015 January 1916Southport CentralA1–12,000Whittingham
2122 January 1916Oldham AthleticH2–16,000Whittingham (2)
2229 January 1916EvertonA1–44,000Whittingham (pen)
235 February 1916Bolton WanderersH1–114,000Parker
2412 February 1916Manchester CityA2–410,000Own Goal, Ellis
2519 February 1916RochdaleA1–33,000Whittingham
2626 February 1916BurnleyH2–213,000Whittingham, Smith

Midland Section Secondary Competition

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
14 March 1916Chesterfield TownA0–32,000
211 March 1916Nottingham ForestH0–14,000
318 March 1916Leicester FosseA1–27,500Whittingham
425 March 1916Notts CountyH3–06,000Whittingham (2), Smith
51 April 1916Derby CountyA2–44,000Smith (2)
68 April 1916Chesterfield TownH7–17,000Herbert (3), Ellis, Turner, Boxley (2)
715 April 1916Nottingham ForestA1–34,000Morris
822 April 1916Leicester FosseH1–06,000Own Goal
924 April 1916Derby CountyH6–16,000Own Goal, Whittingham (2), Herbert, Boxley, Harrison
1029 April 1916Notts CountyA0–34,000

Squad statistics

Pos. Name Matches
Apps Goals
GK Richard Herron 360
DF G. Cameron 20
DF George Clarke 20
DF Albert Groves 20
DF Alec McClure 20
DF Alec Milne 10
DF George Smart 320
DF George Turner 361
DF Billy Twemlow 10
MF Frank Bentley 110
MF George Handley 20
MF Billy Harrison 71
MF Joe Jones 331
MF A. Morris 61
MF Charlie Parker 282
MF Jack Shelton 260
FW David Boxley 23
FW Billy Briscoe 20
FW Matthew Burton 10
FW S. Cooper 10
FW Albert Ellis 204
FW Reginald Forrester 10
FW Thomas Greaves 70
FW Henry Hargreaves 223
FW Billy Herbert 358
FW Jack Peart 10
FW Dick Smith 237
FW Billy Tempest 131
FW Billy Tompkinson 40
FW G. Ward 10
FW Arthur Watkin 32
FW Albert Whitehurst 10
FW Bob Whittingham 3226

References

  1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
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