and with one game left at home to Liverpool Stoke required victory to keep their place in the First Division. To add to the drama star striker Freddie Steele arranged to get married on the morning of the match, he made it to the ground on time and scored a vital goal as Stoke won 2–0 to remain in the top division. However the season was dominated by the continuing frictions between Matthews and the club board and in February 1938 Matthews handed in a transfer request after a fall out with manager Bob McGrory. Around 4,000 Stoke fans met with the directors at the King's Hall to see the board of directors come to the conclusion that Matthews must not leave. Matthews refused and reiterated his request to leave. Stoke rejected his request and Matthews wrote to the local paper thanking the fans for there support and he forged an uneasy truce with the management and board. Matthews pledged to do his best for his home town club and he did so until 1947 when he joined Blackpool. FA Cup Stoke exited at the fourth round this season losing at home 2–1 to Bradford Park Avenue in a replay. Final league table Results Stoke's score comes first Legend Football League First Division FA Cup Squad statistics References Stoke City F.C. seasons English football clubs 1937–38 season