 Despite the cup success and arrival of new signing Geoff Hurst , Stoke laboured to a 15th @-@ place finish in 1972 – 73 . Smith blamed the car crash and subsequent injury to Gordon Banks in October 1972 as the cause for the club 's mid @-@ season slump , which compounded an already poor start to the season . Any concerns over relegation disappeared though with six victories in the final eight league games . After a poor start to 1973 – 74 , Waddington signed Alan Hudson in January 1974 to help revive the club 's fortunes . The defence also improved , as Smith helped to ensure only two goals were conceded in the last nine games of the season as Stoke finished fifth . On 23 February 1974 , Smith scored the winning goal against Leeds to end their opponent 's 29 @-@ game unbeaten run . Leeds went on to have a £ 250 @,@ 000 bid for Smith turned down by Stoke in the summer . 
