1899–1900 Stoke F.C. season
Introduction The 1899–1900 season was Stoke's 11th season in the Football League.As the nineteenth century gave way to the twentieth, it became common knowledge that Stoke were still under a heavy financial cloud. There had been more public appeals for funds - and a certain amount of money had been raised. The directors had continued to go to Scotland for players but, they were not all that successful. The team itself had flirted with relegation for a number of seasons now and there had been only one respectable cup run, Stoke often looked capable of beating the best teams in the country but they were far too inconsistent and always seemed to be at least a couple of quality players short of what was required to challenge for honours.Stoke's final season of the nineteenth century saw them finish in a mid table position of 9th, Stoke struggled for goals during the season scoring 37 only the bottom two relegated clubs scoring less.
Season review ===League===Stoke began the 1899–1900 campaign well, beating Liverpool and Preston North End at home and drawing away at Burnley in their first three matches. Tom Wilkes had replaced the outgoing George Clawley in goal and there was a change in attack as local player Sam Higginson was introduced in the place of Fred Molyneux who joined Bristol City while Jack Farrell joined Southampton. Tom Holford also came through the ranks at the Victoria Ground and he went on to become a club legend making over 260 appearances. There was also change in the boardroom as Mr W Cowlishaw replaced Mr J Fenton.On 13 November 1899 league leaders Aston Villa visited Stoke which attracted a crowd of 15,000 to the Victoria Ground. Gate receipts amounted to £379 a record at the time. Villa won 2–0 and were on their way to a third straight title. Stoke took ninth place in the First Division just two points away from fifth.===FA Cup===After last seasons run to the semi-final Stoke exited the FA Cup this season in the first round losing 1–0 in a replay to Liverpool after a 0–0 draw.
Final league table
Results ''Stoke's score comes first''===Legend===WinDrawLoss===Football League First Division===MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers1 2 September 1899 LiverpoolH3–28,000Maxwell (2), Kennedy2 9 September 1899 BurnleyA2–25,000Higginson, Parsons3 16 September 1899 Preston North EndH3–16,000Maxwell (2), Kennedy4 18 September 1899 Wolverhampton WanderersH1–36,500Turner5 23 September 1899 Nottingham ForestA0–15,0006 30 September 1899 GlossopH1–03,000Maxwell7 7 October 1899 Wolverhampton WanderersA2–03,000Maxwell, Higginson8 14 October 1899 SunderlandA0–37,0009 21 October 1899 West Bromwich AlbionH1–013,500Maxwell10 28 October 1899 EvertonH1–112,000Maxwell11 4 November 1899 Blackburn RoversH2–03,000Maxwell, Holford12 11 November 1899 Derby CountyA0–25,00013 13 November 1899 Aston VillaH0–215,00014 25 November 1899 Notts CountyA3–19,000Turner (2), Robertson (pen)15 2 December 1899 Manchester CityH1–012,000Johnson16 9 December 1899 Sheffield UnitedA0–110,00017 16 December 1899 Newcastle UnitedH2–24,000Turner, Higginson18 23 December 1899 Aston VillaA1–418,000Robertson19 25 December 1899 EvertonA0–215,00020 26 December 1899 BurnleyH3–04,500Maxwell (2), Tooth21 30 December 1899 LiverpoolA0–05,00022 13 January 1900 Preston North EndA0–34,00023 20 January 1900 Nottingham ForestH0–04,00024 3 February 1900 GlossopA2–12,000Turner (2)25 10 March 1900 Blackburn RoversA0–36,00026 17 March 1900 Derby CountyH1–15,000Turner27 19 March 1900 West Bromwich AlbionA0–41,71728 26 March 1900 SunderlandH1–26,000Kennedy29 31 March 1900 Notts CountyH1–06,000Turner30 7 April 1900 Manchester CityA0–115,00031 13 April 1900 BuryA1–06,500Wood32 14 April 1900 Sheffield UnitedH1–16,000Jones33 16 April 1900 BuryH2–04,000Jones (2)34 21 April 1900 Newcastle UnitedA2–212,000Jones (2)===FA Cup===RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersR127 January 1900 LiverpoolH0–08,500R1 Replay1 February 1900 LiverpoolA0–17,000
Squad statistics Pos.NameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGK Arthur Cartlidge300030GK Tom Wilkes31020330FB Bill Capewell11010120FB Jack Eccles26020280FB Tom Robertson34220362HB John Bowman200020HB James Bradley33020350HB Tom Holford710071HB Edward Parsons31120331HB Alf Wood27120291FW Ephraim Colclough100010FW Sam Higginson31320333FW Freddie Johnson29110301FW Jimmy Jones14520165FW Jack Kennedy29320313FW William Maxwell2211002211FW Harry Mellor300030FW Arthur Roberts200020FW George Tooth410041FW Joe Turner30820328FW Harvey Whittaker400040
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