1927–28 Stoke City F.C. season

The 1927–28 season was Stoke City's 28th season in the Football League and the eighth in the Second Division.

Stoke City
1927–28 season
ChairmanMr A.J. Sherwin
ManagerTom Mather
StadiumVictoria Ground
Football League Second Division5th (52 points)
FA CupQuarter Final
Top goalscorerLeague: Charlie Wilson (32)
All: Charlie Wilson (38)
Highest home attendance27,453 vs Manchester City (7 April 1928)
Lowest home attendance8,251 vs Southampton (31 December 1927)
Average home league attendance14,395

Record season ticket sales were recorded prior to the start of the 1927–28 season as supporters were buoyed following last season's Third Division North title win. Stoke had a good return to the Second Division, finishing 5th in the table, five points from promotion, and also reached the quarter final of the FA Cup losing to Arsenal. Charlie Wilson top-scored this season with a club-record 38 goals.[1]

Season review

League

The 1927–28 season saw Stoke back within one Division of the top flight, although a heavy bank overdraft of £13,000 meant that they couldn't go out and bolster the squad, Mather being forced to rely on the players who had served him well last season.[1] However, chairman Sherwin assured the fans that he would spend the money if weakness became apparent but he stated that he would not be able to join in the transfer fee spiral that was gathering pace elsewhere.[1] On a brighter note Stoke reported record season ticket sales for the new campaign.[1]

Stoke made a fantastic start back in the Second Division beating Southampton 6–3 in the first match, this was followed up with 4–2 and 3–0 victories as Stoke started the season in fine form. Performances did eventually drop off and the team hit an inconsistent spell just before Christmas but then won six matches back to back.[1] Stoke enjoyed a successful end to the campaign finishing in 5th position.[1] Stoke's cup run perhaps cost them a genuine promotion challenge but nevertheless it was a good season with the club's bank balance improving and the team showing great consistency with six players playing 40 or more League games.[1] The reserves also had a fine season, winning the Central League title for the first time.[1]

FA Cup

After a number of pretty terrible performances in the FA Cup in the past few seasons, the 1927–28 season saw a marked improvement as Stoke beat Gillingham 6–1, Bolton Wanderers 4–2, Manchester City 1–0 before losing 4–1 to Arsenal in the quarter final stage.[1] Nevertheless, the board were happy with the club's performance and income which the cup run generated.[1]

Final league table

PosClubPWDLFAGAPts
1Manchester City422598100591.69559
2Leeds United422571098492.00057
3Chelsea422381175451.66754
4Preston North End4222911100661.51553
5Stoke City422281278591.32252
6Swansea Town4218121275631.19048
7Oldham Athletic421981575511.47146
8West Bromwich Albion4217121390701.28646
9Port Vale421881668571.19344
10Nottingham Forest4215101783840.98840
11Grimsby Town4214121669830.83140
12Bristol City421591876790.96239
13Barnsley4214111765850.76539
14Hull City4212151541540.75939
15Notts County4213121768740.91938
16Wolverhampton Wanderers4213101963910.69236
17Southampton421472168770.88335
18Reading4211131853750.70735
19Blackpool4213821831010.82234
20Clapton Orient4211121955850.64734
21Fulham421372268890.76433
22South Shields427926561110.50523

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

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
127 August 1927SouthamptonA6–312,000Archibald, Williamson, Eyres, Wilson, Davies (2)
231 August 1927West Bromwich AlbionA4–220,000Wilson (3), Armitage (pen)
33 September 1927Notts CountyH3–021,941Wilson (2), Archibald
45 September 1927West Bromwich AlbionH1–120,623Wilson
510 September 1927Oldham AthleticA1–38,000Wilson
617 September 1927Grimsby TownH0–015,480
724 September 1927ReadingA1–15,700Wilson
81 October 1927BlackpoolH2–012,014Davies (2)
98 October 1927ChelseaA0–116,000
1015 October 1927Clapton OrientH2–013,002Wilson, Williams
1122 October 1927BarnsleyH0–09,320
1229 October 1927Wolverhampton WanderersA2–120,000Wilson (2)
135 November 1927Port ValeH0–224,972
1412 November 1927FulhamA5–110,000Wilson, Davies, Shirley (2), Barrett (o.g.)
1519 November 1927Swansea TownH1–19,937Sellars
1626 November 1927Manchester CityA0–439,897
173 December 1927Hull CityH3–19,632Wilson, Armitage, Johnson
1810 December 1927Preston North EndA0–212,000
1917 December 1927Nottingham ForestH1–39,090Wallace (o.g.)
2024 December 1927Leeds UnitedA1–520,000Williamson
2127 December 1927South ShieldsH3–113,987Sellars, Shirley (2)
2231 December 1927SouthamptonH2–18,251Wilson, Davies
232 January 1928South ShieldsA3–24,640Archibald, Cull, Bussey
247 January 1928Notts CountyA2–19,908Wilson (2)
2521 January 1928Oldham AthleticH3–013,446Wilson, Bussey (2)
264 February 1928ReadingH4–111,806Bussey, Cull, Davies (2)
2711 February 1928BlackpoolA1–36,309Wilson
2820 February 1928ChelseaH1–010,223Bussey
2925 February 1928Clapton OrientA2–36,140Wilson, Campell (o.g.)
306 March 1928Grimsby TownA2–15,076Wilson, Sellars
3110 March 1928Wolverhampton WanderersH2–213,273Wilson, Davies
3217 March 1928Port ValeA0–025,084
3319 March 1928BarnsleyA1–36,000Williams
3424 March 1928FulhamH5–110,117Armitage (pen), Davies, Wilson (3)
3531 March 1928Swansea TownA1–15,460Armitage
366 April 1928Bristol CityA0–48,112
377 April 1928Manchester CityH2–027,453Wilson, Archibald
389 April 1928Bristol CityH1–012,547Wilson
3914 April 1928Hull CityA0–16,552
4021 April 1928Preston North EndH3–211,233Wilson (2), Archibald
4128 April 1928Nottingham ForestA2–09,043Wilson, Davies
425 May 1928Leeds UnitedH5–112,306Wilson (2), Bussey, Archibald, Cull

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R314 January 1928GillinghamH6–15,234Wilson (2), Archibald, Williamson, Bussey, Davies
R428 January 1928Bolton WanderersH4–224,868Davies, Archibald, Wilson (2)
R518 February 1928Manchester CityA1–050,132Wilson
Quarter final3 March 1928ArsenalA1–441,974Wilson

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Bob Dixon 41040450
GK Dick Williams 100010
DF Bob McGrory 42040460
DF Billy Spencer 42040460
MF Len Armitage 38430414
MF Cecil Eastwood 700070
MF Thomas Godfrey 601070
MF Peter Jackson 400040
MF Harry Sellars 33340373
MF Harry Watson 200020
MF Tom Williamson 40241443
FW Bobby Archibald 41642458
FW Walter Bussey 21841259
FW John Cull 19340233
FW Harry Davies 4011424413
FW Jack Eyres 610061
FW Dick Johnson 14100141
FW Bob Lister 100010
FW John Shirley 420042
FW Joey Williams 20200202
FW Charlie Wilson 4032464438
Own goals 303

References

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