1975–76 Stoke City F.C. season

Stoke City
1975–76 season
Chairman Albert Henshall
Manager Tony Waddington
Stadium Victoria Ground
Vale Park
Football League First Division 12th (41 Points)
FA Cup Fifth Round
League Cup Second Round
Top goalscorer League: Jimmy Greenhoff
& Ian Moores (11)

All: Jimmy Greenhoff
& Ian Moores (13)
Highest home attendance 32,092 vs Liverpool (26 December 1975)
Lowest home attendance 15,598 vs Norwich City (24 April 1976)
Average home league attendance 22,314
Home colours

The 1975–76 season was Stoke City's 69th season in the Football League and the 45th in the First Division.

After two very successful league campaigns there was high hopes for the 1975–76 season as Stoke looked to establish themselves amongst the best in the country. Their form was good and going into the new year Stoke were in the top half of the table and looking good. But disaster struck in January 1976 as winds of hurricane force battered Stoke-on-Trent and the Victoria Ground was badly damaged. The roof of the Butler Street stand collapsed and Stoke had to play a league match against Middlesbrough at nearby Vale Park whilst repair work was carried out. Results declined thereafter and Stoke took 12th position.[1]

Season review

League

There had been heavy transfer costs incurred in 1974–75 with the club recording a loss of £448,342 and therefore now in debt despite an increase in the average attendance.[1] Geoff Hurst was sold to West Bromwich Albion for £20,000, the only outgoing transfer for cash in the summer of 1975, although two other notable departures were those of club record goalscorer John Ritchie who retired after finding the back of the net a record 176 times for the "Potters" and also goalkeeper John Farmer.[1] Hopes were high again of a successful season, but Stoke stayed stubbornly in the middle of the division never threatening the top or bottom to the table.[1]

After some good and bad results come January 1976 Stoke experienced perhaps their greatest misfortune.[1] In a powerful storm which hit the Stoke-on-Trent area the Butler Street stand had its roof blown off by strong winds and the Victoria Ground was closed while repair work was carried out.[1] Near neighbours Port Vale offered Stoke the use of Vale Park and on the one occasion they used it Middlesbrough were beaten 1–0 with Ian Moores scoring in front of 21,009.[1] Stoke were allowed back home for their next match against Manchester City in the FA Cup on 4 February.[1] Stoke lost the momentum they had and finished the season in 12th spot.[1] Eric Skeels left the club at the end of the season dubbed 'Mr Dependable' by Tony Waddington Skeels is Stoke's all-time record appearance holder having made 592 appearances for the club in all competitions.[1]

FA Cup

Stoke beat both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City before losing to Sunderland in a replay.[1]

League Cup

Fourth Division Lincoln City caused a shock as they beat Stoke 2–1 at Sincil Bank.[1]

Final league table

PosClubPWDLFAGAPts
1Liverpool422314566312.12960
2Queens Park Rangers422411767332.03059
3Manchester United422310968421.61956
4Derby County4221111075581.29353
5Leeds United422191265461.41351
6Ipswich Town4216141254481.12546
7Leicester City4213191048510.94145
8Manchester City4216111564461.39143
9Tottenham Hotspur4214151363631.00043
10Norwich City4216101658581.00042
11Everton4215121560660.90942
12Stoke City4215111648500.96041
13Middlesbrough4215101746451.02240
14Coventry City4213141547570.82540
15Newcastle United421591871621.14539
16Aston Villa4211171451590.86439
17Arsenal4213101947530.88736
18West Ham United4213101948710.67636
19Birmingham City421372257750.76033
20Wolverhampton Wanderers4210102251680.75030
21Burnley429102343660.65228
22Sheffield United426102633820.40222

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 16 August 1975 West Ham UnitedH1–223,744Moores 89'
2 20 August 1975 Wolverhampton WanderersH2–222,551Bowers 53', Conroy 57' (pen)
3 23 August 1975 ArsenalA1–028,025Hudson 42'
4 27 August 1975 Leicester CityA1–122,878Hudson 3'
5 30 August 1975 Manchester UnitedH0–123,337
6 6 September 1975 MiddlesbroughA0–320,975
7 13 September 1975 Leeds UnitedH3–223,139Conroy 32', Pejic 40', Greenhoff 73'
8 20 September 1975 Coventry CityA3–018,965Greenhoff 44', Moores (2) 47', 77'
9 24 September 1975 Manchester CityA0–128,915
10 27 September 1975 Derby CountyH1–025,097Greenhoff 11'
11 4 October 1975 Norwich CityA1–022,318Haslegrave 73'
12 11 October 1975 Ipswich TownH0–121,978
13 18 October 1975 Sheffield UnitedA2–023,410Greenhoff (2) 75', 84'
14 25 October 1975 Newcastle UnitedH1–124,057Greenhoff 60'
15 1 November 1975 BurnleyA1–018,269Moores 55'
16 8 November 1975 EvertonH3–224,651Salmons 12', Robertson 80', Moores 81'
17 15 November 1975 Tottenham HotspurA1–125,698Moores 71'
18 22 November 1975 Sheffield UnitedH2–121,959Salmons (2) 20', 28' (1 pen)
19 29 November 1975 Queens Park RangersA2–322,328Moores 46', Bloor 55'
20 6 December 1975 Aston VillaH1–128,492Greenhoff 22'
21 13 December 1975 ArsenalH2–118,628Salmons 73', Greenhoff 80'
22 20 December 1975 West Ham UnitedA1–321,135Bloor 34'
23 26 December 1975 LiverpoolH1–132,092Salmons 52'
24 27 December 1975 Birmingham CityA1–137,166Moores 40'
25 10 January 1976 Leeds UnitedA0–236,909
26 17 January 1976 MiddlesbroughH1–021,009Moores 87'
27 31 January 1976 Wolverhampton WanderersA1–224,190Conroy 72'
28 7 February 1976 Leicester CityH1–221,001Moores 3'
29 21 February 1976 Tottenham HotspurH1–217,113Greenhoff 6'
30 3 March 1976 Newcastle UnitedA1–037,459Burns (o.g.) 19'
31 6 March 1976 BurnleyH4–116,062Smith (2) 18', 30', Greenhoff 25', Mahoney 75'
32 13 March 1976 Ipswich TownA1–122,812Smith 83'
33 20 March 1976 Queens Park RangersH0–122,848
34 24 March 1976 Derby CountyA1–130,156Bloor 2'
35 27 March 1976 Aston VillaA0–032,359
36 2 April 1976 Manchester CityH0–018,798
37 7 April 1976 EvertonA1–216,974Greenhoff 59' (pen)
38 10 April 1976 Coventry CityH0–116,059
39 17 April 1976 LiverpoolA3–544,069Conroy 30', Moores 60', Bloor 89'
40 19 April 1976 Birmingham CityH1–019,918Gallagher 6' (o.g.)
41 21 April 1976 Manchester UnitedA1–053,879Bloor 87'
42 24 April 1976 Norwich CityH0–215,598

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R33 January 1976 Tottenham HotspurA1–126,715Mahoney 31'
R3 Replay24 January 1976 Tottenham HotspurH2–129,520Moores 35', Salmons 88' (pen)
R44 February 1976 Manchester CityH1–038,073Greenhoff 81'
R514 February 1976 SunderlandH0–041,171
R5 Replay17 February 1976 SunderlandA1–247,583Smith 77'

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R210 September 1975 Lincoln CityA1–213,472Greenhoff 18'

Friendlies

GameOpponentVenueResult
1Phwelli & DistrictA7–1
2Olympique de MarseilleA0–0
3AS MonacoA1–0
4CruzeiroA0–3
5Atlético MadridA0–0
6BuxtonA3–2
7Stafford RangersA2–0
8Brighton & Hove AlbionA1–1
9Stockport CountyA2–2
10Port ValeA1–1
11RCD EspanyolA2–1

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland Peter Shilton 4205010480
DFEngland Alan Bloor 3254010375
DFEngland Danny Bowers 6(1)120008(1)1
DFEngland Alan Dodd 39(1)0501045(1)0
DFEngland Kevin Lewis 90000090
DFEngland John Lumsdon 9(1)000009(1)0
DFEngland Jackie Marsh 25(1)0401030(1)0
DFEngland Mike Pejic 3912010421
DFEngland Eric Skeels 40000040
DFEngland Denis Smith 1933100224
MFRepublic of Ireland Terry Conroy 1641010184
MFEngland Sean Haslegrave 23(5)1001024(5)1
MFEngland Alan Hudson 3425010402
MFWales John Mahoney 3815110442
MFEngland Kevin Sheldon 30000030
MFScotland Jimmy Robertson 12(6)1500017(6)1
FWEngland Garth Crooks 20000020
FWEngland Dave Goodwin 2(2)000002(2)0
FWEngland Jimmy Greenhoff 401151114613
FWEngland Ian Moores 29(3)11411034(3)12
FWEngland Geoff Salmons 39(1)5510044(1)6
Own goals 2002

References

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