1922–23 Stoke F.C. season

The 1922–23 season was Stoke's 23rd season in the Football League and the 19th in the First Division.

Stoke
1922–23 season
ChairmanMr E.Reynish
ManagerArthur Shallcross,
Jock Rutherford
StadiumVictoria Ground
Football League First Division21st (30 Points)
FA CupSecond Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Jimmy Broad
(23)

All: Jimmy Broad
(26)
Highest home attendance44,000 vs Sunderland
(26 December 1922)
Lowest home attendance10,000 vs Nottingham Forest
(31 March 1923)
Average home league attendance19,450

With Stoke's achievements last season they found themselves back in the First Division for the first time since 1907; however it would prove to be a short stay.[1] In their opening eight matches, Stoke collected just two points and found themselves bottom of the table. Despite spending money on improving the squad, results were still poor and manager Arthur Shallcross was sacked in April 1923. He was replaced with former England international Jock Rutherford, but he was unable to avoid relegation.[1] Rutherford then completed the shortest managerial spell in the club's history as a heated argument with the directors led him to resign just four weeks into his tenure.[1]

Season review

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League

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With the club's First Division ambitions achieved, there was more than the usual air of optimism for the 1922–23 season, but things did not go according to plan and from their opening eight matches, Stoke claimed just two points (both draws) and found themselves anchored to the bottom of the table.[1] Stoke's first win of the season came away at West Bromwich Albion when Harry Davies scored the only goal in his second appearance.[1] Again the director's ambition and determination to maintain First Division status showed through with the arrivals of Joe Kasher and Bert Ralphs to name a few.[1] This belated heavy expenditure on players cost the finance's dearly, but good crowds were able to cover the cost. Unfortunately relegation was not avoided and Stoke made an instant return to the Second Division.[1]

Former England international Jock Rutherford was appointed manager of Stoke in April 1923, taking over from Arthur Shallcross who had served the club for the previous four years. However his stay was brief and after a heated row with directors the quickly left leaving Stoke without a manager going into the 1923–24 season.[1]

FA Cup

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In the Cup Stoke beat Blyth Spartans 3–0 in the first round before being knocked out 3–1 to Bury.[1]

Final league table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Relegation
18 Middlesbrough 42 13 10 19 57 63 0.905 36
19 Chelsea 42 9 18 15 45 53 0.849 36
20 Nottingham Forest 42 13 8 21 41 70 0.586 34
21 Stoke (R) 42 10 10 22 47 67 0.701 30 Relegation to the Second Division
22 Oldham Athletic (R) 42 10 10 22 35 65 0.538 30
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(R) Relegated

Results

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Stoke's score comes first

Legend

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Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

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Match Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
1 26 August 1922 Oldham Athletic A 1–4 19,000 Groves
2 28 August 1922 Chelsea H 1–2 20,000 Watkin
3 2 September 1922 Oldham Athletic H 2–2 25,000 J Broad (2)
4 4 September 1922 Chelsea A 2–3 20,000 J Broad (2)
5 9 September 1922 Huddersfield Town H 2–2 22,000 J Broad, Watkin
6 13 September 1922 Birmingham A 0–2 20,000
7 16 September 1922 Huddersfield Town A 0–1 10,000
8 23 September 1922 West Bromwich Albion H 0–2 20,000
9 30 September 1922 West Bromwich Albion A 1–0 25,000 Davies
10 7 October 1922 Manchester City H 1–1 20,000 J Broad
11 14 October 1922 Manchester City A 1–2 18,000 J Broad
12 21 October 1922 Sheffield United A 0–2 10,000
13 28 October 1922 Sheffield United H 4–0 15,000 Davies (2), J Broad, Nicholas
14 4 November 1922 Bolton Wanderers A 1–1 12,000 J Broad
15 11 November 1922 Bolton Wanderers H 2–0 16,000 J Broad, Seddon (o.g.)
16 18 November 1922 Blackburn Rovers H 1–1 18,000 T Broad
17 2 December 1922 Cardiff City A 1–2 20,000 J Broad
18 9 December 1922 Cardiff City H 3–1 10,000 J Broad (pen) (2), Tempest
19 16 December 1922 Middlesbrough A 1–3 5,000 Tempest
20 23 December 1922 Middlesbrough H 0–0 15,112
21 26 December 1922 Sunderland H 1–2 44,000 J Broad
22 30 December 1922 Arsenal A 0–3 16,000
23 1 January 1923 Sunderland A 0–2 30,000
24 6 January 1923 Arsenal H 1–0 22,000 Brittleton
25 20 January 1923 Everton A 0–4 23,000
26 22 January 1923 Blackburn Rovers A 5–1 10,000 J Broad (3), Nicholas, Ralphs
27 27 January 1923 Everton H 4–1 15,000 J Broad, Nicholas, Watkin (2)
28 8 February 1923 Preston North End A 2–4 12,000 J Broad (2)
29 10 February 1923 Preston North End H 4–2 10,000 J Broad (pen) (3), Davies
30 17 February 1923 Aston Villa A 0–6 20,000
31 24 February 1923 Aston Villa H 1–1 19,850 Watkin
32 3 March 1923 Burnley A 2–3 10,000 Davies, Eyres
33 10 March 1923 Burnley H 0–1 20,000
34 17 March 1923 Tottenham Hotspur H 0–0 20,000
35 24 March 1923 Tottenham Hotspur A 1–3 28,000 Watkin
36 31 March 1923 Nottingham Forest H 0–1 10,000
37 2 April 1923 Birmingham H 0–0 20,000
38 7 April 1923 Nottingham Forest A 1–0 12,000 Richardson
39 14 April 1923 Newcastle United H 1–0 20,000 Watkin
40 21 April 1923 Newcastle United A 0–1 13,000
41 28 April 1923 Liverpool H 0–0 18,000
42 5 May 1923 Liverpool A 0–1 15,000

FA Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
R1 13 January 1923 Blyth Spartans A 3–0 9,121 J Broad (2), Nicholas
R2 3 February 1923 Bury A 1–3 32,000 J Broad

Squad statistics

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Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   Gilbert Brookes 12 0 2 0 14 0
GK   Kenny Campbell 8 0 0 0 8 0
GK   Bob Dixon 2 0 0 0 2 0
GK   Leslie Scott 20 0 0 0 20 0
DF   Tommy Howe 6 0 0 0 6 0
DF   George Lennon 2 0 0 0 2 0
DF   Bob McGrory 32 0 2 0 34 0
DF   Alec Milne 36 0 2 0 38 0
DF   Tommy Weston 4 0 0 0 4 0
MF   Ewart Beswick 3 0 0 0 3 0
MF   Tom Brittleton 16 1 2 0 18 1
MF   Harry Brough 12 0 0 0 12 0
MF   George Clarke 25 0 1 0 26 0
MF   Joe Kasher 29 0 2 0 31 0
MF   Billy Poole 6 0 0 0 6 0
MF   Vic Rouse 37 0 1 0 38 0
MF   Dickie Smith 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW   Jimmy Broad 30 23 2 3 32 26
FW   Tommy Broad 21 1 1 0 22 1
FW   Harry Davies 24 5 0 0 24 5
FW   Jack Eyres 4 1 0 0 4 1
FW   Fred Groves 13 1 0 0 13 1
FW   Dai Nicholas 32 3 2 1 34 4
FW   Joe Pointon 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW   Bert Ralphs 22 1 1 0 23 1
FW   Frank Richardson 8 1 0 0 8 1
FW   Jock Rutherford 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW   Andy Smith 2 0 0 0 2 0
FW   Victor Staley 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW   Billy Tempest 20 2 2 0 22 2
FW   Arthur Watkin 34 7 2 0 36 7
FW   Albert Whitehurst 1 0 0 0 1 0
Own goals 1 0 1

References

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