 Ball struggled in his first season in charge , 1989 – 90 , and his Stoke side were relegated to the third tier of English football after finishing bottom of the Second Division . The start of the 1990 – 91 season in the Third Division marked the first time Stoke had played at this level in 63 years . Ball kept his job for the start of this campaign but departed in February 1991 in the midst of an indifferent season that saw Stoke finish 15th . This remains the club 's lowest league position , as of 2007 . 
