List of Stoke City F.C. seasons

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Graph showing Stoke City F.C.'s progress through the English football league system 1888 to the present Stoke City FC League Performance.svg
Graph showing Stoke City F.C.'s progress through the English football league system 1888 to the present

Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. The club was formed in 1863 and played their first competitive match in November 1883 in the FA Cup. They were founder members of the Football League in 1888, in which they struggled finishing bottom in the first two seasons and failed to gain re-election for the 1890–91 meaning that they played in the Football Alliance. [1] They won the Alliance and re-joined the league. Stoke continued to struggle financially and in 1908 the club was liquidated and had to resign from the league. They re-branded as Stoke F.C. (1908) and joined the Birmingham & District League and Southern Football League before regaining their league status for the 1919–20 season. [1]

Contents

As a Football League team Stoke have won two divisional titles at the second and third levels of the English football league system. They have been promoted eight times and suffered relegation on seven occasions. They played in the 2011 FA Cup Final, losing to Manchester City and their best achievement is in the League Cup which they beat Chelsea in the 1972 Final. [1] As of the end of the 2023–24 season, the club has spent 62 seasons in the top tier of the English football league system, 47 in the second and 8 in the third.

History

Stoke were formed as Stoke Ramblers F.C. in 1863 they soon dropped the 'Ramblers' name and simply became known as Stoke F.C., and they played in friendlies against local and national sides as well as competing in the Staffordshire Senior Cup which was a prestigious competition at the time. [1] Stoke entered the FA Cup in the 1883–84 season and their first competitive fixture was against Manchester which they lost 2–1. [1] They continued with this type of fixture list until in 1888 the Football League was founded and Stoke became founder members. [1] In the first league season Stoke finished bottom of the table and again took bottom spot in the second season leading to the club being replaced by Sunderland. Stoke joined the Football Alliance and claimed the title and were re-elected back into the league. [1] Stoke continued to struggle and had a number of narrow escapes from relegation in the early 1900s. Eventually the club's fortunes ran out and they were relegated to the Second Division in the 1906–07. [1] The next season Stoke's finances dried up and the club was liquidated and they had to resign from the league. They were saved by a number of local business men and incredibly they were able to apply for re-election but they failed to gain enough votes and had to enter the Birmingham & District League and Southern Football League. [1]

Stoke re-entered the League after World War I and during the 1920s the club added 'City' to their name and had the highs of being promoted to the First Division and the lows of being relegated to the Third Division North. [1] Despite the divisional changes Stoke brought through a number of promising youth players most notably that of Stanley Matthews. [1] Stoke went on to gain promotion to the First Division in the 1932–33 season and went on to finished in 4th place in the 1935–36 season, their highest position until that point. [1] Immediately after World War II Stoke were involved in a title race and they had the chance to become champions of England for the first time on the final day of the 1946–47 season they needed to beat Sheffield United to claim the title, but they lost 2–1 and ended up finishing 4th for the second time. [1]

Relegation to the Second Division was suffered in the 1952–53 season and it took Stoke ten season to get back into the First Division with Tony Waddington helping Stoke to gain promotion. [1] He had a successful time at Stoke leading the club to their first major trophy in 1972, winning the Football League Cup as well as reaching the semi-final of the FA Cup and competed in European football on two occasions. [1] However Stoke's Victoria Ground was damaged by gale-force winds in January 1976 and the club had to sell their best players to cover the cost for the repairs. [1] This eventually led to Stoke being relegated the following 1976–77 season, Stoke soon made a return though gaining promotion in 1978–79 season. In the 1984–85 season Stoke experienced a terrible season finishing bottom after picking up a record low of 17 points. Five seasons of Second Division obscurity followed before the club slipped into the third tier for the second time. [1]

Lou Macari got Stoke out of the Third Division at the second time of asking and guided the club to the 1995–96 play-offs but lost out to Leicester City. [2] Stoke moved to the all-seater Britannia Stadium in 1997 but were relegated to the third tier in the first season at the new ground. [2] Four seasons in Division Two followed during which time the club had won their second Football League Trophy and entered the play-offs three times eventually gaining promotion at the third attempt. Tony Pulis became Stoke manager in November 2002 and lead the club to safety on the final day of the 2002–03 season. He was sacked at the end of the 2004–05 season but was re-appointed by returning chairman Peter Coates in July 2006. [2] He led the club to promotion to the Premier League in 2007–08 season and has since helped the club to establish themselves back in English football's top tier. Stoke reached the FA Cup Final for the first time in the 2010–11 season losing 1–0 to Manchester City. On reaching the final Stoke qualified for the UEFA Europa League where they reached the last 32, losing out to Valencia. Pulis was replaced by Mark Hughes in May 2013 and he guided the club to their highest Premier League position of 9th in three successive seasons 2013–14, 2014–15 and 2015–16. Decline set in under Hughes in 2016–17 which led to relegation in 2017–18.

Key

Seasons

SeasonLeague FA Cup League
Cup
Europe / OtherTop goalscorer(s)
DivisionPldWDLGFGAPtsPosPlayer(s)Goals
1883–84 R1 Edward Johnson 1
1884–85 R1
1885–86 R1 Jimmy Sayer & George Shutt 1
1886–87 R2 Alf Edge 6
1887–88 R5 Wally Owen 3
1888–89 The Football League [lower-alpha 1] 22441426511212th [lower-alpha 2] QR1 Bob McSkimming 6
1889–90 The Football League 22341527691012th [lower-alpha 3] QF Freddie Gee 5
1890–91 Football Alliance 2213725739331st [lower-alpha 4] QF Alf Edge 12
1891–92 The Football League 26541738611413th QF Joe Schofield 9
1892–93 First Division [lower-alpha 5] 30125135848297th R1 Joe Schofield 13
1893–94 First Division 301331465792911th [lower-alpha 6] R2 United Counties League [lower-alpha 7] GS Joe Schofield 15
1894–95 First Division 30961550672414th [lower-alpha 8] R2 Joe Schofield 13
1895–96 First Division 30150155647306th QF Tommy Hyslop 17
1896–97 First Division 301131648592513th R2 William Maxwell 13
1897–98 First Division 30881435552416th [lower-alpha 9] R2 William Maxwell 12
1898–99 First Division 341371447523312th SF William Maxwell 16
1899–1900 First Division 34138134745349th R1 William Maxwell 11
1900–01 First Division 341151846572716th R1 William Maxwell 16
1901–02 First Division 341191445553116th QF Mart Watkins 15
1902–03 First Division 34157124638376th QF Mart Watkins 12
1903–04 First Division 341071754572716th R1 Arthur Capes 11
1904–05 First Division 341341740583012th R2 Fred Rouse 12
1905–06 First Division 381671554553910th R2 Jack Hall 11
1906–07 First Division 388102041642620th R1 John Chalmers 11
1907–08 Second Division 381651757523710th [lower-alpha 10] QF Tom Holford 12
1908–09 Birmingham & District League 34135167164318th R1 William Davies 14
1909–10 Birmingham & District League 34157128252377th R1 Birmingham League CupR3 Amos Baddeley 24
Southern League Division Two [lower-alpha 11] 101000489201st [lower-alpha 12] Arthur Griffiths 36
1910–11 Birmingham & District League 3424289548501st [lower-alpha 13] R1 Jack Peart 31
Southern League Division Two 2217147221352nd Alf Smith 31
1911–12 Southern League Division One 3813101551633610th QR5 William Smith 9
1912–13 Southern League Division One 381042439752420th R1 Alf Smith 9
1913–14 Southern League Division Two 3019297134405th R1 Alf Smith 16
1914–15 Southern League Division Two 2417436215381st [lower-alpha 14] QR3 Arthur Watkin 24
1915–19No competitive football was played between 1915 and 1919 due to the First World War
1919–20 Second Division 421861860544210th R1 David Brown 13
1920–21 Second Division 4212111946563520th R1 Arthur Watkin 15
1921–22 Second Division 42181686044522nd R3 Jimmy Broad 25
1922–23 First Division 4210102247673021st R2 Jimmy Broad 23
1923–24 Second Division 421418104442466th R1 Jimmy Broad 14
1924–25 Second Division 4212111934463520th R1 Harry Davies 8
1925–26 Second Division 421282254773221st R4 Bobby Archibald 10
1926–27 Third Division North 4227969240631st R1 Charlie Wilson 25
1927–28 Second Division 42228127859525th QF Charlie Wilson 32
1928–29 Second Division 421712137451466th R3 Charlie Wilson 22
1929–30 Second Division 421681874724011th R3 Charlie Wilson 20
1930–31 Second Division 4217101564714411th R3 Wilf Kirkham 14
1931–32 Second Division 42191496948523rd R5 Joe Mawson 20
1932–33 Second Division 42256117839561st R4 Joe Mawson 16
1933–34 First Division 4215111658714112th QF Tommy Sale 15
1934–35 First Division 421861871704210th R3 Tommy Sale 24
1935–36 First Division 42207155757474th [lower-alpha 15] R5 Tommy Sale 14
1936–37 First Division 4215121572574210th R4 Freddie Steele 33
1937–38 First Division 4213121758593817th R4 Freddie Steele 15
1938–39 First Division 421712137168467th R3 Freddie Steele 26
1939–40 First Division 31117448th [lower-alpha 16] Tommy Sale 3
1939–46No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1946 due to the Second World War
1945–46 QF [lower-alpha 17] Freddie Steele 7
1946–47 First Division 42247119053554th [lower-alpha 18] R5 Freddie Steele 29
1947–48 First Division 4214101841553815th R4 Freddie Steele 10
1948–49 First Division 421691766684111th R5 Frank Bowyer 21
1949–50 First Division 4211121945753419th R3 Frank Bowyer 15
1950–51 First Division 4213141550594013th R5 Frank Bowyer 16
1951–52 First Division 421272349883120th R4 Sammy Smyth 12
1952–53 First Division 4212102053663421st R4 Harry Oscroft 10
1953–54 Second Division 4212171371604111th R4 Frank Bowyer 14
1954–55 Second Division 422110116946525th R4 Harry Oscroft 21
1955–56 Second Division 422041871624413th R5 Frank Bowyer, Johnny King 18
1956–57 Second Division 42208148358485th R3 Tim Coleman 26
1957–58 Second Division 421861875734211th R5 George Kelly 22
1958–59 Second Division 42217147258495th R4 Dennis Wilshaw 18
1959–60 Second Division 421472166833517th R3 Frank Bowyer 14
1960–61 Second Division 4212121851593618th R5 R2 Johnny King 12
1961–62 Second Division 42178175557428th R4 R2 Tommy Thompson 16
1962–63 Second Division 42201397350521st R3 R3 Dennis Viollet 23
1963–64 First Division 4214101877783817th R5 RU [lower-alpha 19] John Ritchie 18
1964–65 First Division 4216101667664211th R4 R4 John Ritchie 25
1965–66 First Division 4215121565644210th R3 R4 John Ritchie 13
1966–67 First Division 421771863584112th R3 R2 Peter Dobing 19
1967–68 First Division 421472150733518th R4 QF Harry Burrows, Peter Dobing 15
1968–69 First Division 429151840633319th R5 R2 David Herd 9
1969–70 First Division 421515125652459th R4 R2 John Ritchie, Harry Burrows 14
1970–71 First Division 4212131744483713th SF R2 Anglo-Italian Cup
Texaco Cup
GS
R1
John Ritchie 19
1971–72 First Division 4210151739563517th SF W [lower-alpha 20] Anglo-Italian Cup
Texaco Cup
GS
R2
John Ritchie 18
1972–73 First Division 4214101861563815th R3 R4 UEFA Cup [lower-alpha 21] R1 Jimmy Greenhoff 20
1973–74 First Division 421516115442465th R3 R4 Texaco Cup
Watney Cup [lower-alpha 22]
John Ritchie 15
1974–75 First Division 421715106448495th R3 R4 UEFA Cup [lower-alpha 23] R1 Jimmy Greenhoff 15
1975–76 First Division 4215111648504112th R5 R2 Jimmy Greenhoff 13
1976–77 First Division 4210141828513421st R3 R3 Terry Conroy, Garth Crooks 6
1977–78 Second Division 421610165349427th R4 R2 Garth Crooks 19
1978–79 Second Division 42201665831563rd R3 QF Brendan O'Callaghan 16
1979–80 First Division 4213101944583618th R3 R3 Garth Crooks 15
1980–81 First Division 4212181251604211th R3 R2 Lee Chapman 17
1981–82 First Division 421282244634418th R3 R2 Lee Chapman 17
1982–83 First Division 421691753645713th R4 R2 Mickey Thomas 12
1983–84 First Division 4213111844635018th R3 R4 Paul Maguire 10
1984–85 First Division 42383124911722nd R3 R2 Ian Painter 9
1985–86 Second Division 4214151348505710th R3 R3 Full Members' Cup R3 Keith Bertschin 21
1986–87 Second Division 421610166353588th R5 R2 Full Members' Cup R1 Carl Saunders 19
1987–88 Second Division 4417111650576211th R3 R4 Full Members' Cup R4 Phil Heath, Graham Shaw 8
1988–89 Second Division 4615141757725913th R4 R2 Full Members' Cup R1 Peter Beagrie, Dave Bamber 9
1989–90 Second Division 466192135633724th R3 R2 Full Members' Cup R3 Wayne Biggins 10
1990–91 Third Division 4616121855596014th [lower-alpha 24] R2 R2 League Trophy R2 Wayne Biggins 12
1991–92 Third Division 462114116949774th [lower-alpha 25] R1 R2 League Trophy [lower-alpha 26] W Wayne Biggins 24
1992–93 Second Division [lower-alpha 27] 46271277334931st R1 R2 League Trophy SF Mark Stein 30
1993–94 First Division 4618131557596710th R4 R2 Anglo-Italian Cup GS Dave Regis 13
1994–95 First Division 4616151550536311th R3 R3 Anglo-Italian Cup SF Paul Peschisolido 15
1995–96 First Division 462013136049734th [lower-alpha 28] R3 R3 Anglo-Italian Cup GS Mike Sheron 15
1996–97 First Division 4618101851576412th R3 R3 Mike Sheron 23
1997–98 First Division 4611132244744623rd R3 R3 Peter Thorne 16
1998–99 Second Division 46216195963698th R2 R2 League Trophy R2 Graham Kavanagh 13
1999–2000 Second Division 462313106842826th [lower-alpha 29] R1 R2 League Trophy [lower-alpha 30] W Peter Thorne 30
2000–01 Second Division 462114117449775th [lower-alpha 31] R1 R4 League Trophy QF Peter Thorne 19
2001–02 Second Division 462311126740805th [lower-alpha 32] R3 R1 League Trophy R1 Chris Iwelumo 12
2002–03 First Division 4612142045695021st R5 R1 Andy Cooke, Chris Iwelumo 7
2003–04 First Division 4618121658556611th R3 R2 Ade Akinbiyi, Gifton Noel-Williams 10
2004–05 Championship [lower-alpha 33] 4617101936386112th R3 R1 Gifton Noel-Williams 13
2005–06 Championship 461772254635813th R5 R1 Paul Gallagher 12
2006–07 Championship 461916116241738th R4 R1 Ricardo Fuller 11
2007–08 Championship 46211696955792nd R3 R1 Ricardo Fuller, Liam Lawrence 15
2008–09 Premier League 381291738554512th R3 QF Ricardo Fuller 11
2009–10 Premier League 3811141334484711th QF R4 Ricardo Fuller 8
2010–11 Premier League 381371846484613th RU [lower-alpha 34] R4 Kenwyne Jones, Jonathan Walters 12
2011–12 Premier League 3811121536534514th QF R4 UEFA Europa League [lower-alpha 35] R32 Peter Crouch 14
2012–13 Premier League 389151434454213th R4 R2 Jonathan Walters 11
2013–14 Premier League 381311144552509th R4 QF Peter Crouch 10
2014–15 Premier League 38159144845549th R5 R4 Mame Biram Diouf 12
2015–16 Premier League 38149154155519th R4 SF Marko Arnautović 12
2016–17 Premier League 3811111641564413th R3 R3 Peter Crouch 10
2017–18 Premier League 387121935683319th R3 R3 Xherdan Shaqiri 8
2018–19 Championship 4611221345525516th R3 R3 Benik Afobe 9
2019–20 Championship 461682262685615th R3 R4 Sam Clucas 11
2020–21 Championship 4615151650526014th R3 QF Nick Powell 12
2021–22 Championship 4617111857526214th R5 R4 Jacob Brown 14
2022–23 Championship 4614112155545316th R5 R1 Jacob Brown, Tyrese Campbell 9
2023–24 Championship 4615112049605617th R3 R3 André Vidigal 7

Notes

  1. Stoke joined the Football League as inaugural members along with eleven other clubs. [1]
  2. Finished bottom of the Football League and are re-elected. [1]
  3. Finished bottom of the Football League and failed to be re-elected. [1]
  4. Re-elected back to the Football League after winning the Football Alliance. [1]
  5. The Football League is expanded into two Divisions, the First Division and Second Division. [1]
  6. Re-elected after beating Sheffield United by one vote. [1]
  7. Competed in the short-lived United Counties League which was scrapped after one season. [1]
  8. Retained place in the First Division after beating Newton Heath 3–0 in a Test Match. [1]
  9. Retained place in the First Division after success in the Test Matches. However it was in controversial circumstances as in the final match against Burnley both sides knew a draw would see them play in the First Division, unsurprisingly the game ended 0–0 with neither side attempting to score a goal. The Football League decided to expand the First Division to 18 teams and scrap the Test Match system in favor of automatic promotion and relegation. [1]
  10. Placed into liquidation at the end of the season and resigned from the Football League. This prompted swift action from a group of local business men who bought the club and re-incorporated it. These impressive efforts lead to the club applying for re-election but they lost out to Tottenham Hotspur and had to take their reserve teams' place in the Birmingham & District League. [1]
  11. Joined the Southern League as the board believed that would present a better chance of being re-elected to the Football League. [1]
  12. Despite winning all of their ten matches in Division Two promotion to Division One was not achieved due to a league re-organisation. [1]
  13. First Team leave the Birmingham & District League to concentrate on the Southern League, the reserve side take their place. [1]
  14. Re-elected to the Football League. [1]
  15. Highest League finish.
  16. When the Second World War began, the 1939–40 Football League season was abandoned with three matches played and Stoke in eighth position. [3]
  17. With the war reaching its conclusion the FA Cup made a return in 1945–46 with rounds played over two-legs. Attendances were very large and when Stoke played at Bolton Wanderers over 65,000 crammed into Burnden Park, and unfortunately two barriers collapsed killing 33 people. [1]
  18. Highest League finish.
  19. Stoke reached their first major final in 1963–64, losing a two-legged tie 4–3 to Leicester City. [1]
  20. Won their first major trophy, beating Chelsea 2–1 at Wembley. [1]
  21. First match in a European competition was against German side 1. FC Kaiserslautern. Despite a 3–1 first leg lead Stoke lost the return leg 4–0 and were eliminated 5–3 on aggregate. [1]
  22. Won the short-lived Watney Cup, beating Hull City in the 2–0 final. [1]
  23. Played Dutch side Ajax in the UEFA Cup first round. Both legs were drawn 1–1 at home and 0–0 away meaning Stoke were eliminated on the away goals rule. [1]
  24. Lowest League finish.
  25. Competed in the Football League play-offs for the first time, losing 2–1 on aggregate to Stockport County. [1]
  26. Beat Stockport County 1–0 in front of 48,339 at Wembley. [1]
  27. Due to the Formation of the Premier League in 1992 the Third Division was renamed Second Division. [1]
  28. Lost First Division play-offs 1–0 on aggregate to Leicester City.
  29. Lost Second Division play-offs 5–3 on aggregate to Gillingham. [4]
  30. Beat Bristol City 2–1 in front of 75,057 at Wembley. [5]
  31. Lost Second Division play-offs 4–2 on aggregate to Walsall. [6]
  32. Promoted after beating Brentford 2–0 in the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium. [7]
  33. First Division was renamed the Championship from the 2004–05 season. [8]
  34. Reached their first FA Cup Final and lost 1–0 to Manchester City. Stoke had previously beaten Bolton Wanderers 5–0 in the semi-final. [9] [10]
  35. Competing in European football for the third time Stoke were eliminated by Valencia at the round of 32 stage. Stoke had previously beaten Hajduk Split, FC Thun in qualifying rounds and progressed through a group containing Beşiktaş, Dynamo Kyiv and Maccabi Tel Aviv. [11]

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References

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  2. 1 2 3 Lowe, Simon. Stoke City The Modern Era - A Complete Record. Desert Island Books. ISBN   1-874287-39-2.
  3. Felton, Paul. "Season 1939–40 (Abandoned)". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).
  4. "Gills crush nine-man Stoke". BBC Sport. 17 May 2000. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  5. "Wembley glory for Stoke City". BBC Sport. 29 June 2000. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  6. "Walsall too strong for Stoke City". BBC Sport. 16 May 2001. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  7. "Stoke seal promotion". BBC Sport. 11 May 2002. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  8. "League gets revamp". BBC Sport. 10 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  9. "Bolton 0–5 Stoke". BBC Sport. 17 April 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  10. "Man City 1–0 Stoke". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  11. "Valencia 1–0 Stoke". BBC Sport. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2020.