1999–2000 Stoke City F.C. season

For the third consecutive summer, Stoke were hunting for a new manager, this time they had a clear favourite, Tony Pulis.[1] However Pulis decided to join Bristol City after openly admitting that he felt the board lacked ambition.[1] Second choice was Gary Megson, hard working and honest manager in the same mould as Pulis and he accepted Stoke's job offer.[1] He appointed Nigel Pearson as his assistant and surprisingly John Rudge was made director of football after spending a long time at Port Vale.[1] There was little expectation as the season began with some steady if unspectacular results and by the end of August Lárus Sigurðsson was sold to West Bromwich Albion for £350,000.[1] Peter Thorne was proving to be a top player in the Second Division he scored the first few of his 30 goals.[1] Stoke then went on a nine match unbeaten run and lifted themselves into the play-offs.[1] In October news spread that a group of Icelandic businessmen were interested in taking control of the club and by mid November Stoke fans had their wishes granted and Gunnar Gíslason completed the Icelandic takeover under the name of Stoke Holding.[1]

Gary Megson through no fault of his own was replaced by Gudjon Thordarson and in came a number of Icelandic players and the new era began well with Stoke beating Wycombe Wanderers 4–0 away.[2] There was now a much better feeling about the club with the injection of new money and players but this was knocked back greatly in early 2000.[1] On 23 February 2000 arguably one of the greatest footballers the world has ever seen Stanley Matthews died at the age of 85. Matthews was not just a club legend but also to Stoke-on-Trent as a whole.[1] He was remembered in a perfect way with Stoke beating Chesterfield 5–1 with Thorne scoring four goals.[3]

Stoke maintained their form from this match and went unbeaten until the final match of the season but despite a 1–0 defeat at Reading Stoke finished two points above Bristol Rovers and entered the play-offs.[1] Their opponents were Gillingham and in the first leg 22,124 saw Stoke make a great start going into a 2–0 lead thanks to Arnar Gunnlaugsson and Kyle Lightbourne Gillingham pulled one back but Thorne put Stoke two goals ahead again. Andy Hessenthaler the scored in injury time meaning the second leg would be a very tough match.[1] In the second leg at Priestfield Stadium referee Rob Styles sent off both Graham Kavanagh and Clive Clarke for minor offences and Gillingham went on to win 3–0.[1]

Another early exit for Stoke this season, defeated 2–0 away at Blackpool.[1]

After beating last seasons opponents Macclesfield Town Stoke lost 3–1 to Premier League Sheffield Wednesday.[1]

Stoke began their Football League Trophy campaign on a cold December night against Third Division Darlington at the Britannia Stadium. With the scores level after normal time Kyle Lightbourne scored a golden goal to send Stoke through.[1] Away wins over Oldham Athletic, Blackpool and Chesterfield saw Stoke in the area final against Rochdale.[1] A 3–1 win in the first leg was followed by a 1–0 win in the second earning a place in the final against Bristol City.[1] A crowd of 75,057 at Wembley saw Graham Kavanagh opened the scoring for Stoke before Paul Holland equalised for the Robins. Peter Thorne scored a close range winner for Stoke after 82 minutes earning Stoke their second Football League Trophy win.[1]