1893–94 Stoke F.C. season
Introduction The 1893–94 season was Stoke's fifth season in the Football League.Stoke finished the season in 11th position after picking up 29 points of which 27 were claimed at the Victoria Ground. Indeed, Stoke's home form of 1893–94 was excellent with 13 wins from 15 but their away from was terrible as they failed to win any away game during the season. Stoke also competed in the short lived United Counties League which was won on goal average by West Bromwich Albion.
Season review ===League===In 1893–94 the Stoke side was broken up with Alf Underwood, Bill Rowley and Ted Evans all losing their first choice status. Eleventh place in the table was achieved, thanks in main to an excellent home record of 13 wins from 15.The only defeat in front of their own fans came shortly after Christmas when Wolverhampton Wanderers won 3–0 whilst eventual champions Aston Villa were held 3–3 in the other game. As their home form was good Stoke's away from was awful picking up just two points and conceded 62 goals on their travels. Indeed, from 1 April 1893 to 17 March 1895 not one away win was gained and by coincidence it was Sheffield Wednesday whom Stoke beat on each occasion at the start and at the end of that dismal run. There was tragedy during the season as young defender Jack Proctor fell ill with pneumonia and died at the age of 22.Stoke also competed in the United Counties League this season which involved two groups of four teams playing each other twice and the winners of each group playing each other to win the title. Stoke finished 2nd in their group behind West Bromwich Albion on goal average. West Brom went on to lose to Derby County in the final. The tournament failed to get the supporters in through the gates and after just one season the United Counties League was scrapped.===FA Cup===Season 1893–94 also saw one of Stoke's best FA Cup displays since they entered the competition in 1883.Competing in gale-force winds, they knocked out Everton 1–0 with a Joe Schofield goal in the final minute of the match. The Stoke players were praised by watching reporters for making the match highly entertaining in difficult conditions. Alas they went out in the next round defeated by Sheffield Wednesday.
Final league table
Results ''Stoke's score comes first''===Legend===WinDrawLoss===Football League First Division===MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers1 2 September 1893 Bolton WanderersA1–45,000Clare2 9 September 1893 Nottingham ForestH2–16,000Schofield, McReddie3 11 September 1893 Aston VillaA1–58,000Dickson4 16 September 1893 DarwenA1–31,000Schofield5 23 September 1893 Derby CountyH3–15,000McReddie (2), Robertson6 30 September 1893 BurnleyA0–47,0007 7 October 1893 The WednesdayH4–14,000Naughton (2), Evans, Christie8 14 October 1893 SunderlandA0–46,0009 16 October 1893 Aston VillaH3–34,000Robertson (2), Evans10 21 October 1893 Nottingham ForestA0–27,00011 28 October 1893 Blackburn RoversH3–16,000McReddie, Naughton, Sawers12 4 November 1893 West Bromwich AlbionA2–43,000McReddie, Naughton13 11 November 1893 BurnleyH4–25,000McReddie, Naughton, Schofield (2)14 13 November 1893 Preston North EndH2–17,000 Brodie, Sawers15 25 November 1893 Wolverhampton WanderersA2–47,000 Schofield, Sawers16 2 December 1893 DarwenH3–17,000 Schofield (2), Evans17 7 December 1893 The WednesdayA1–45,000McReddie18 16 December 1893 Sheffield UnitedH5–0Naughton (2), Robertson, Schofield, Sawers19 23 December 1893 Derby CountyA2–5Schofield, Dickson20 25 December 1893 Preston North EndA3–3Dickson (2), Sawers21 30 December 1893 Wolverhampton WanderersH0–322 13 January 1894 Bolton WanderersH5–0McReddie, Robertson, Clare, Naughton, Dickson23 20 January 1894 West Bromwich AlbionH3–1Robertson (2), Dickson24 3 February 1894 Sheffield UnitedA3–3Schofield, Naughton, McReddie25 3 March 1894 EvertonH3–1Naughton (2), Robertson26 23 March 1894 Newton HeathA2–6Hood (o.g. ), Dickson27 24 March 1894 SunderlandH2–0Schofield, Dickson28 31 March 1894 Newton HeathH3–1Schofield, Clare, McReddie29 7 April 1894 EvertonA2–6Schofield (2)30 14 April 1894 Blackburn RoversA0–5===FA Cup===RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersR127 January 1894 EvertonH1–014,000SchofieldR210 February 1894 The WednesdayA0–117,000===United Counties League===* Derby County won the other group and beat West Bromwich Albion in the final. The United Counties League was not deemed a success due to poor attendances and was scrapped after just one season.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 10 March 1894 West Bromwich AlbionA0–51,000 17 March 1894 Wolverhampton WanderersA2–11,500Heames, Dickson 19 March 1894 West Bromwich AlbionH5–22,000Dickson (2), McReddie, Schofield (2) 2 April 1894 Small HeathA0–32,000 9 April 1894 Small HeathH2–11,500Dickson (2) 16 April 1894 Wolverhampton WanderersH3–02,000Naughton, McReddie, Robertson====Table====PosClubPWDLFAPts1West Bromwich Albion640220158'''2''''''Stoke''''''6''''''4''''''0''''''2''''''12''''''12''''''8'''3Small Heath6213141454Wolverhampton Wanderers611410153
Squad statistics Pos.NameLeagueFA CupUnited CountiesTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGK Tom Cain1100030140GK Arthur Evans900020110GK Bill Rowley1002010130FB Tommy Clare2732010303FB Jack Eccles1102060190FB Arthur Foster10000010FB Lachie Thomson20000020FB Alf Underwood10000010HB Davy Brodie3012060381HB Davy Christie2912050361HB Hughie Clifford10000010HB Peter Dowds1702050240HB Billy Draycott10000010HB Samuel Meston10006070HB Jack Proctor1000000100FW Billy Dickson	29820653613FW Ted Evans1030020123FW Billy Heames10003141FW Wally McReddie301020623812FW Willie Naughton281010613511FW Jimmie Robertson2682031319FW Bill Sawers1751010195FW Joe Schofield281521423418–Own goals–1–0–0–1
References