▁and ▁the ▁team ▁was ▁almost ▁re leg ated ▁stay ing ▁up ▁by ▁a ▁single ▁point . ▁ ▁Season ▁review ▁ ▁League ▁A ▁strong ▁new ▁chairman ▁emer ged ▁with ▁the ▁arrival ▁in ▁August ▁ 1 9 2 4 ▁of ▁Mr ▁A . ▁Mc S her win ▁who ▁had ▁already ▁spent ▁eleven ▁years ▁on ▁the ▁board ▁and ▁he ▁would ▁go ▁on ▁to ▁hold ▁his ▁position ▁for ▁the ▁next ▁twelve ▁years . ▁After ▁a ▁period ▁of ▁real ▁doubt , ▁confidence ▁started ▁to ▁emer ge ▁for ▁the ▁ 1 9 2 4 – 2 5 ▁season ▁and ▁was ▁certainly ▁helped ▁by ▁Tom ▁M ather ▁replacing ▁old ▁players ▁with ▁new ▁fresh ▁talent . ▁Under ▁new ▁ski pper ▁Vic ▁R ouse , ▁Sto ke ▁started ▁the ▁season ▁reason ably ▁well ▁and ▁seemed ▁to ▁have ▁the ▁basis ▁of ▁a ▁useful ▁side ▁with ▁the ▁lik es ▁of ▁goal keeper ▁Bob ▁D ixon , ▁Bob ▁Mc Gr ory , ▁Ale c ▁Mil ne , ▁Bert ▁Ralph s , ▁Harry ▁Dav ies ▁and ▁Len ▁Ar mit age ▁in ▁the ▁squad . ▁ ▁But ▁overall ▁performances ▁on ▁the ▁pitch ▁were ▁below ▁standard ▁and ▁the ▁team ▁went ▁ 1 2 ▁matches ▁without ▁a ▁win ▁( 1 ▁January ▁ 1 9 2 5 ▁to ▁ 2 1 ▁March ▁ 1 9 2 5 ) ▁and ▁were ▁almost ▁re leg ated . ▁Four ▁wins ▁and ▁three ▁draw s ▁in ▁their ▁last ▁eight ▁matches ▁ens ured ▁surv ival ▁by ▁the ▁narrow est ▁of ▁marg ins , ▁a ▁single ▁point . ▁ ▁FA ▁Cup ▁Sto ke ▁ex ited ▁the