1915–16 Stoke F.C. season

Stoke
1915–16 season
Chairman Mr E.Reynish
Manager Joe Schofield
Stadium Victoria Ground
Lancashire Section Primary Competition 8th
Midland Section Secondary Competition 4th
Top goalscorer Bob Whittingham (26)
Highest home attendance 14,000 vs Bolton Wanderers (5 February 1916)
Lowest home attendance 3,000 vs Various teams
Home colours

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

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
1 4 September 1915 Preston North EndH3 – 16,000Smith, Jones, Whittingham
2 11 September 1915 Stockport CountyA1 – 34,000Smith
3 18 September 1915 LiverpoolH2 – 28,000Whittingham (2)
4 25 September 1915 BuryH3 – 27,000Whittingham (2), Herbert
5 2 October 1915 Manchester UnitedH0 – 06,500
6 9 October 1915 BlackpoolA1 – 14,000Herbert
7 16 October 1915 Southport CentralH2 – 03,000Whittingham, Tempest
8 23 October 1915 Oldham AthleticA3 – 12,000Whittingham (2), Herbert
9 30 October 1915 EvertonH3 – 24,000Whittingham, Smith, Hargreaves
10 6 November 1915 Bolton WanderersA1 – 24,000Smith
11 13 November 1915 Manchester CityH1 – 07,000Parker
12 20 November 1915 RochdaleH1 – 14,000Whittingham
13 27 November 1915 BurnleyA2 – 34,000Whittingham, Hargreaves
14 4 December 1915 Preston North EndA3 – 23,500Whittingham (2), Ellis
15 11 December 1915 Stockport CountyH0 – 23,000
16 18 December 1915 LiverpoolA0 – 27,500
17 25 December 1915 BuryA2 – 42,000Herbert, Whittingham
18 1 January 1916 Manchester UnitedA2 – 18,000Hargreaves, Ellis
19 8 January 1916 BlackpoolH3 – 17,500Whittingham, Watkin (2)
20 15 January 1916 Southport CentralA1 – 12,000Whittingham
21 22 January 1916 Oldham AthleticH2 – 16,000Whittingham (2)
22 29 January 1916 EvertonA1 – 44,000Whittingham (pen)
23 5 February 1916 Bolton WanderersH1 – 114,000Parker
24 12 February 1916 Manchester CityA2 – 410,000Own Goal, Ellis
25 19 February 1916 RochdaleA1 – 33,000Whittingham
26 26 February 1916 BurnleyH2 – 213,000Whittingham, Smith

Midland Section Secondary Competition

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
1 4 March 1916 Chesterfield TownA0 – 32,000
2 11 March 1916 Nottingham ForestH0 – 14,000
3 18 March 1916 Leicester FosseA1 – 27,500Whittingham
4 25 March 1916 Notts CountyH3 – 06,000Whittingham (2), Smith
5 1 April 1916 Derby CountyA2 – 44,000Smith (2)
6 8 April 1916 Chesterfield TownH7 – 17,000Herbert (3), Ellis, Turner, Boxley (2)
7 15 April 1916 Nottingham ForestA1 – 34,000Morris
8 22 April 1916 Leicester FosseH1 – 06,000Own Goal
9 24 April 1916 Derby CountyH6 – 16,000Own Goal, Whittingham (2), Herbert, Boxley, Harrison
10 29 April 1916 Notts CountyA0 – 34,000

Squad statistics

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

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.