1936–37 Stoke City F.C. season

Stoke City
1936–37 season
Chairman Mr H. Booth
Manager Bob McGrory
Stadium Victoria Ground
Football League First Division 10th (42 Points)
FA Cup Fourth Round
Top goalscorer League: Freddie Steele (33)
All: Freddie Steele (36)
Highest home attendance 51,373 vs Arsenal (29 March 1937)
Lowest home attendance 8,224 vs West Bromwich Albion (4 February 1937)
Average home league attendance 22,261
Home colours

The 1936–37 season was Stoke City's 37th season in the Football League and the 23rd in the First Division.

After the club's best ever season last campaign Stoke struggled to live up to their previous success and finished the season in a mid-table position of 10th. However it was a to be a season of record making with three being set during the 1936–37 season. A record attendance of 51,373 made it into the Victoria Ground on 29 March to watch a 0–0 draw with Arsenal. However the most remarkable achievement was that of a 10–3 victory over Staffordshire rivals West Bromwich Albion and thirdly, Freddie Steele finished the season with 33 league goals.[1]

Season review

League

During the summer of 1936 there was a change at boardroom level with Mr H. Booth replacing Mr A. Sherwin as chairman. After the club's best ever season in 1935–36 Stoke found it difficult in the 1936–37 season to improve and a disappointing 10th-place finish was the final outcome.[1] Stoke were hampered by a poor away record with only three wins forthcoming during the season and an equal record of 15 wins and defeats a mid-table finish was the obvious outcome.[1]

During the 1936–37 season Stoke made three new club records which all still stand. A record attendance of 51,373 made it into the Victoria Ground on 29 March to watch a 0–0 draw with Arsenal.[1] However the most remarkable achievement was that of a 10–3 victory over Staffordshire rivals West Bromwich Albion and thirdly, Freddie Steele finished the season with 33 league goals.[1]

Record league victory

A 10–3 win over West Bromwich Albion is Stoke City's record League victory here is a summary of the match.

Stoke gave debuts to Scottish keeper Douglas Westland and full-back James Harbot.[1] Stoke went into the match as narrow favourites but went on to outclass Albion in all positions. The first goal came after 10 minutes as Steele headed in a Stanley Matthews cross.[1] Albion levelled just a minute later through Richardson following a fine move.[1] Stoke re-took the lead through a copy of their first on 20 minutes as Albion struggled to contain Matthews. After 32 minutes Stoke went 3–1 up, Steele was brought down in the area by Bill Richardson and Arthur Turner scored from the spot.[1] Four minutes before half-time Steele claimed his hat-trick.[1] In the second half Stoke made it 5–1 through England winger Joe Johnson before Steele missed an open goal.[1] Wally Boyes pulled one back to 5–2 however Steele got his fourth and fifth to make it 7–2 on 67 minutes.[1] Richardson made it 7–3 before Johnson again and George Antonio got on the score sheet. With 15 minutes left the score line was 9–3 and with the crowd chanting for more it duly arrived when Antonio made it 10–3 to complete a historic result.[1]

FA Cup

Stoke beat Birmingham 4–1 in the third round with Freddie Steele bagging a hat trick.[1] However Stoke were on the end of a heavy defeat themselves in the next round as they lost 5–1 to eventual runners-up Preston North End.[1]

Final league table

PosClubPWDLFAGAPts
1Manchester City4222137107611.75457
2Charlton Athletic422112958491.18454
3Arsenal421816880491.63352
4Derby County422171496901.06749
5Wolverhampton Wanderers422151684671.25447
6Brentford4218101482781.05146
7Middlesbrough421981574711.04246
8Sunderland421961789871.02344
9Portsmouth4217101562660.93944
10Stoke City4215121572571.26342
11Birmingham4213151464601.06741
12Grimsby Town421771886811.06241
13Chelsea4214131552550.94541
14Preston North End4214131556670.83641
15Huddersfield Town4212151562640.96939
16West Bromwich Albion421662077980.78638
17Everton421491981781.03837
18Liverpool4212111962840.73835
19Leeds United421542360800.75034
20Bolton Wanderers4210141843660.65234
21Manchester United4210122055780.70532
22Sheffield Wednesday429122153690.76830

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 First Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
1 29 August 1936 LiverpoolA1–223,000Johnson
2 31 August 1936 Charlton AthleticH1–123,524Steele
3 5 September 1936 Leeds UnitedH2–119,080Liddle, Milburn (o.g.)
4 7 September 1936 Charlton AthleticA0–220,000
5 12 September 1936 BirminghamA4–210,000Steele (3), Matthews
6 14 September 1936 Grimsby TownH2–018,229Steele (2)
7 19 September 1936 MiddlesbroughH6–229,106Steele (3), Matthews, Johnson (2)
8 26 September 1936 West Bromwich AlbionA2–227,086Steele, Johnson
9 3 October 1936 Manchester CityH2–236,292Steele, Matthews
10 10 October 1936 PortsmouthA0–118,000
11 17 October 1936 Preston North EndH0–219,518
12 24 October 1936 Sheffield WednesdayA0–018,000
13 31 October 1936 Manchester UnitedH3–022,464Davies, Matthews, Johnson
14 7 November 1936 Derby CountyA2–220,000Johnson, Steele
15 14 November 1936 Wolverhampton WanderersH2–121,349Johnson, Steele
16 21 November 1936 SunderlandA0–325,000
17 28 November 1936 Huddersfield TownH1–113,644Fursland
18 5 December 1936 EvertonA1–115,000Robson
19 12 December 1936 Bolton WanderersH2–28,359Matthews (2)
20 19 December 1936 BrentfordA1–225,000Robson
21 25 December 1936 ChelseaH2–024,789Johnson (2)
22 26 December 1936 LiverpoolH1–138,940Robson
23 28 December 1936 ChelseaA0–118,000
24 2 January 1937 Leeds UnitedA1–220,000Johnson
25 9 January 1937 BirminghamH2–015,211Turner (pen), Westland
26 23 January 1937 MiddlesbroughA0–114,000
27 4 February 1937 West Bromwich AlbionH10–38,224Steele (5), Turner (pen), Johnson (2), Antonio (2)
28 6 February 1937 Manchester CityA1–230,000Turner (pen)
29 13 February 1937 PortsmouthH2–418,237Steele (2)
30 24 February 1937 Preston North EndA1–08,000Steele
31 6 March 1937 Manchester UnitedA1–215,000Steele
32 13 March 1937 Derby CountyH1–220,106Steele
33 20 March 1937 Wolverhampton WanderersA1–220,000Steele
34 26 March 1937 ArsenalA0–040,000
35 27 March 1937 SunderlandH5–329,292Westland, Tutin, Steele (3)
36 29 March 1937 ArsenalH0–051,373
37 3 April 1937 Huddersfield TownA1–212,000Steele
38 5 April 1937 Sheffield WednesdayH1–011,573Westland
39 10 April 1937 EvertonH2–117,646Westland, Mercer (o.g.)
40 17 April 1937 Bolton WanderersA0–012,000
41 24 April 1937 BrentfordH5–118,349Steele (3), Antonio, Matthews
42 1 May 1937 Grimsby TownA3–18,000Steele (2), Johnson

FA Cup

Main article: 1936–37 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R316 January 1937 BirminghamH4–131,480Steele (3), Johnson
R430 January 1937 Preston North EndA1–523,866Johnson

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland Norman Wilkinson 41020430
GKScotland Douglas Westland 100010
DFEngland Harry Brigham 21020230
DFEngland James Harbot 101020
DFEngland Charlie Scrimshaw 41010420
DFEngland Bill Winstanley 21000210
MFScotland Jock Kirton 12020140
MFEngland Bill Moore 200020
MFEngland Frank Soo 31000310
MFEngland Arthur Turner 42320443
MFEngland Arthur Tutin 39120411
FWEngland George Antonio 20320223
FWEngland Frank Baker 400040
FWEngland Harry Davies 23100231
FWWales Syd Fursland 210021
FWEngland Joe Johnson 3613223815
FWEngland Bobby Liddle 20100201
FWEngland Stanley Matthews 40720427
FWEngland Syd Peppitt 300030
FWEngland Billy Robson 630063
FWEngland Freddie Steele 3533233736
FWScotland James Westland 21420234
Own goals 202

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
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