Wikipedia

1975–76 Stoke City F.C. season

The 1975–76 season was Stoke City's 69th season in the Football League and the 45th in the First Division.

Stoke City
1975–76 season
ChairmanAlbert Henshall
ManagerTony Waddington
StadiumVictoria Ground
Vale Park
Football League First Division12th (41 Points)
FA CupFifth Round
League CupSecond Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Jimmy Greenhoff
& Ian Moores
(11)
All: Jimmy Greenhoff
& Ian Moores
(13)
Highest home attendance32,092 vs Liverpool
(26 December 1975)
Lowest home attendance15,598 vs Norwich City
(24 April 1976)
Average home league attendance22,314

After two very successful league campaigns there was high hopes for the 1975–76 season as Stoke looked to establish themselves amongst the best in the country. Their form was good and going into the new year Stoke were in the top half of the table and looking good. But disaster struck in January 1976 as winds of hurricane force battered Stoke-on-Trent and the Victoria Ground was badly damaged. The roof of the Butler Street stand collapsed and Stoke had to play a league match against Middlesbrough at nearby Vale Park whilst repair work was carried out. Results declined thereafter and Stoke took 12th position.[1]

Season review edit

League edit

There had been heavy transfer costs incurred in 1974–75 with the club recording a loss of £448,342 and therefore now in debt despite an increase in the average attendance.[1] Geoff Hurst was sold to West Bromwich Albion for £20,000, the only outgoing transfer for cash in the summer of 1975, although two other notable departures were those of club record goalscorer John Ritchie who retired after finding the back of the net a record 176 times for the "Potters" and also goalkeeper John Farmer.[1] Hopes were high again of a successful season, but Stoke stayed stubbornly in the middle of the division never threatening the top or bottom to the table.[1]

After some good and bad results come January 1976 Stoke experienced perhaps their greatest misfortune.[1] In a powerful storm which hit the Stoke-on-Trent area the Butler Street stand had its roof blown off by strong winds and the Victoria Ground was closed while repair work was carried out.[1] Near neighbours Port Vale offered Stoke the use of Vale Park and on the one occasion they used it Middlesbrough were beaten 1–0 with Ian Moores scoring in front of 21,009.[1] Stoke were allowed back home for their next match against Manchester City in the FA Cup on 4 February.[1] Stoke lost the momentum they had and finished the season in 12th spot.[1] Eric Skeels left the club at the end of the season. Skeels is Stoke's all-time record appearance holder having made 592 appearances for the club in all competitions.[1]

FA Cup edit

Stoke beat both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City before losing to Sunderland in a replay.[1]

League Cup edit

Fourth Division Lincoln City caused a shock as they beat Stoke 2–1 at Sincil Bank.[1]

Final league table edit

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
10 Norwich City 42 16 10 16 58 58 1.000 42
11 Everton 42 15 12 15 60 66 0.909 42
12 Stoke City 42 15 11 16 48 50 0.960 41
13 Middlesbrough 42 15 10 17 46 45 1.022 40
14 Coventry City 42 13 14 15 47 57 0.825 40
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Results edit

Stoke's score comes first

Legend edit

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division edit

Main article: 1975–76 Football League
Match Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
1 16 August 1975 West Ham United H 1–2 23,744 Moores 89'
2 20 August 1975 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 2–2 22,551 Bowers 53', Conroy 57' (pen)
3 23 August 1975 Arsenal A 1–0 28,025 Hudson 42'
4 27 August 1975 Leicester City A 1–1 22,878 Hudson 3'
5 30 August 1975 Manchester United H 0–1 23,337
6 6 September 1975 Middlesbrough A 0–3 20,975
7 13 September 1975 Leeds United H 3–2 23,139 Conroy 32', Pejic 40', Greenhoff 73'
8 20 September 1975 Coventry City A 3–0 18,965 Greenhoff 44', Moores (2) 47', 77'
9 24 September 1975 Manchester City A 0–1 28,915
10 27 September 1975 Derby County H 1–0 25,097 Greenhoff 11'
11 4 October 1975 Norwich City A 1–0 22,318 Haslegrave 73'
12 11 October 1975 Ipswich Town H 0–1 21,978
13 18 October 1975 Sheffield United A 2–0 23,410 Greenhoff (2) 75', 84'
14 25 October 1975 Newcastle United H 1–1 24,057 Greenhoff 60'
15 1 November 1975 Burnley A 1–0 18,269 Moores 55'
16 8 November 1975 Everton H 3–2 24,651 Salmons 12', Robertson 80', Moores 81'
17 15 November 1975 Tottenham Hotspur A 1–1 25,698 Moores 71'
18 22 November 1975 Sheffield United H 2–1 21,959 Salmons (2) 20', 28' (1 pen)
19 29 November 1975 Queens Park Rangers A 2–3 22,328 Moores 46', Bloor 55'
20 6 December 1975 Aston Villa H 1–1 28,492 Greenhoff 22'
21 13 December 1975 Arsenal H 2–1 18,628 Salmons 73', Greenhoff 80'
22 20 December 1975 West Ham United A 1–3 21,135 Bloor 34'
23 26 December 1975 Liverpool H 1–1 32,092 Salmons 52'
24 27 December 1975 Birmingham City A 1–1 37,166 Moores 40'
25 10 January 1976 Leeds United A 0–2 36,909
26 17 January 1976 Middlesbrough H 1–0 21,009 Moores 87'
27 31 January 1976 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 1–2 24,190 Conroy 72'
28 7 February 1976 Leicester City H 1–2 21,001 Moores 3'
29 21 February 1976 Tottenham Hotspur H 1–2 17,113 Greenhoff 6'
30 3 March 1976 Newcastle United A 1–0 37,459 Burns (o.g.) 19'
31 6 March 1976 Burnley H 4–1 16,062 Smith (2) 18', 30', Greenhoff 25', Mahoney 75'
32 13 March 1976 Ipswich Town A 1–1 22,812 Smith 83'
33 20 March 1976 Queens Park Rangers H 0–1 22,848
34 24 March 1976 Derby County A 1–1 30,156 Bloor 2'
35 27 March 1976 Aston Villa A 0–0 32,359
36 2 April 1976 Manchester City H 0–0 18,798
37 7 April 1976 Everton A 1–2 16,974 Greenhoff 59' (pen)
38 10 April 1976 Coventry City H 0–1 16,059
39 17 April 1976 Liverpool A 3–5 44,069 Conroy 30', Moores 60', Bloor 89'
40 19 April 1976 Birmingham City H 1–0 19,918 Gallagher 6' (o.g.)
41 21 April 1976 Manchester United A 1–0 53,879 Bloor 87'
42 24 April 1976 Norwich City H 0–2 15,598

FA Cup edit

Main article: 1975–76 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
R3 3 January 1976 Tottenham Hotspur A 1–1 26,715 Mahoney 31'
R3 Replay 24 January 1976 Tottenham Hotspur H 2–1 29,520 Moores 35', Salmons 88' (pen)
R4 4 February 1976 Manchester City H 1–0 38,073 Greenhoff 81'
R5 14 February 1976 Sunderland H 0–0 41,171
R5 Replay 17 February 1976 Sunderland A 1–2 47,583 Smith 77'

League Cup edit

Main article: 1975–76 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
R2 10 September 1975 Lincoln City A 1–2 13,472 Greenhoff 18'

Friendlies edit

Game Opponent Venue Result
1 Pwllheli & District A 7–1
2 Olympique de Marseille A 0–0
3 AS Monaco A 1–0
4 Cruzeiro A 0–3
5 Atlético Madrid A 0–0
6 Buxton A 3–2
7 Stafford Rangers A 2–0
8 Brighton & Hove Albion A 1–1
9 Stockport County A 2–2
10 Port Vale A 1–1
11 RCD Espanyol A 2–1

Squad statistics edit

Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   Peter Shilton 42 0 5 0 1 0 48 0
DF   Alan Bloor 32 5 4 0 1 0 37 5
DF   Danny Bowers 6(1) 1 2 0 0 0 8(1) 1
DF   Alan Dodd 39(1) 0 5 0 1 0 45(1) 0
DF   Kevin Lewis 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
DF   John Lumsdon 9(1) 0 0 0 0 0 9(1) 0
DF   Jackie Marsh 25(1) 0 4 0 1 0 30(1) 0
DF   Mike Pejic 39 1 2 0 1 0 42 1
DF   Eric Skeels 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
DF   Denis Smith 19 3 3 1 0 0 22 4
MF   Terry Conroy 16 4 1 0 1 0 18 4
MF   Sean Haslegrave 23(5) 1 0 0 1 0 24(5) 1
MF   Alan Hudson 34 2 5 0 1 0 40 2
MF   John Mahoney 38 1 5 1 1 0 44 2
MF   Kevin Sheldon 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
MF   Jimmy Robertson 12(6) 1 5 0 0 0 17(6) 1
FW   Garth Crooks 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
FW   Dave Goodwin 2(2) 0 0 0 0 0 2(2) 0
FW   Jimmy Greenhoff 40 11 5 1 1 1 46 13
FW   Ian Moores 29(3) 11 4(1) 1 1 0 34(4) 12
FW   Geoff Salmons 39(1) 5 5 1 0 0 44(1) 6
– Own goals – 2 – 0 – 0 – 2

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
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