1895–96 Stoke F.C. season
Introduction The 1895–96 season was Stoke's seventh season in the Football League.Stoke enjoyed their best season yet under new manager Bill Rowley finishing in 6th position with 30 points. Stoke only drew one game this season and that came in the FA Cup against Burnley.
Season Review ===League===In the summer of 1895 the club had become a Limited liability company and long serving goalkeeper Bill Rowley was given the position of secretary-manager. One of Rowley's best pieces of business was to bring William Maxwell to the club from Dundee. Maxwell went on to score 75 goals in 156 matches in six seasons with Stoke.Before the start of the season, there was a mini-exodus of players to Southampton St. Mary's such as Jack Farrell, Samuel Meston, Willie Naughton and trainer Bill Dawson. Some players would later return to Stoke after their spell on the south coast.One of Stoke's most bizarre transfer deals took place in February 1896 when they signed Allan Maxwell from Darwen. Instead of requesting a transfer fee Darwen wanted a set of wrought iron gates to be supplied by Stoke. On the pitch Stoke finished their highest position yet of sixth place, picking up 30 points in the process. No league draw was forthcoming for Stoke their only draw came in the FA Cup against Burnley.===FA Cup===For the second season running Stoke were knocked out of the FA Cup by Wolverhampton Wanderers this time 3–0 in the third round. Prior to this Stoke were in free scoring form beating Tottenham Hotspur 5–0 and Burnley 7–1.
Final league table
Results ''Stoke's score comes first''===Legend===WinDrawLoss===Football League First Division===MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers1 2 September 1895 Bolton WanderersH2–07,000Dickson, W Maxwell2 7 September 1895 Derby CountyH2–16,000Schofield (2)3 14 September 1895 Small HeathA2–16,000Dickson, Hyslop4 21 September 1895 West Bromwich AlbionH3–112,000 Hyslop (3)5 28 September 1895 Sheffield UnitedA0–16,0006 5 October 1895 Wolverhampton WanderersA0–14,0007 12 October 1895 Derby CountyA1–28,000 Wood8 19 October 1895 Small HeathH6–18,000 Schofield (3), Hyslop, W Maxwell, Grewer9 26 October 1895 Bolton WanderersA1–34,000 Hyslop10 2 November 1895 Sheffield UnitedH4–08,000 Hyslop (2), Dickson, Clare11 9 November 1895 West Bromwich AlbionA0–13,50012 11 November 1895 Preston North EndH4–07,000Hyslop (2), Lonie (2)13 16 November 1895 The WednesdayA1–24,000W Maxwell14 23 November 1895 Wolverhampton WanderersH4–15,000Lonie, Dickson (3)15 28 November 1895 Nottingham ForestA0–44,00016 30 November 1895 BuryA1–02,500Hyslop17 7 December 1895 BurnleyH2–11,000Lonie, Schofield18 14 December 1895 EvertonA2–710,000Schofield, Sandland19 21 December 1895 The WednesdayH5–04,000Hyslop (3), Dickson, Proctor20 25 December 1895 Preston North EndA1–05,000Proctor21 26 December 1895 BuryH0–24,00022 4 January 1896 Aston VillaH1–212,000Schofield23 22 February 1896 Aston VillaA2–510,000Dickson, W Maxwell24 14 March 1896 SunderlandH5–06,000W Maxwell, Heames, Hyslop, A Maxwell, McNeill (o.g. )25 16 March 1896 BurnleyA0–23,00026 21 March 1896 Nottingham ForestH1–05,000Hyslop27 28 March 1896 SunderlandA1–43,000Hyslop28 3 April 1896 Blackburn RoversA1–33,000Turner29 4 April 1896 Blackburn RoversH3–03,500W Maxwell (2), Johnson30 11 April 1896 EvertonH1–23,000Schofield===FA Cup===RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersR11 February 1896 Tottenham HotspurH5–06,000W Maxwell (3), Dickson, A MaxwellR215 February 1896 BurnleyA1–110,000DicksonR2 Replay20 February 1896 BurnleyH7–14,000Dickson, Hyslop (4), A Maxwell, W MaxwellR329 February 1896 Wolverhampton WanderersA0–316,000
Squad statistics Pos.NameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGK Albert Boardman300030GK George Clawley26040300GK Bill Rowley100010FB Bill Capewell101020FB Tommy Clare30140341FB Jack Eccles28040320FB Duncan McDonald000000HB Davy Brodie29020310HB Jimmy Grewer29140331HB Tom Robertson13020150HB Edgar Sanderson000000HB Jimmy Turner24130271HB Alf Wood410041FW Arthur Brookfield200020FW Billy Dickson308433411FW Billy Heames210021FW Tommy Hyslop2717343021FW Freddie Johnson811091FW Tom Lonie940094FW Allan Maxwell8142123FW William Maxwell237442711FW Edward Proctor320032FW Teddy Sandland110011FW Bill Sawers100010FW Joe Schofield28940329–Own goals–1–0–1
References