1991–92 Stoke City F.C. season

Stoke City
1991–92 season
Chairman Peter Coates
Manager Lou Macari
Football League Third Division 4th (77 Points)
FA Cup First Round
League Cup Second Round
League Trophy Winners
Top goalscorer League: Wayne Biggins (22)
All: Wayne Biggins (28)
Highest home attendance 23,645 vs West Bromwich Albion (12 February 1992)
Lowest home attendance 8,419 vs Wigan Athletic (14 December 1991)
Average home league attendance 13,007
Home colours

The 1991–92 season was Stoke City's 85th season in the Football League and 3rd in the Third Division.

Lou Macari was appointed as Stoke City manager in June 1991 with the hope that he would be the man to bring life back into the club. He made an instant impact and Stoke were fully involved in the fight for promotion and it was very nearly achieved. Stoke reached the Football League play-offs for the first time but lost 2–1 on aggregate to Stockport County, Stoke did however beat County at Wembley in the final of the Football League Trophy. Stoke did well in terms of goalscoring with both Wayne Biggins and new signing Mark Stein scoring 20+.[1]

Season review

League

The board appointed former Birmingham City manager Lou Macari on 18 June 1991.[1] Macari had a glittering career at the highest level of the game. He was seen as a man who knew what was required to achieve results and he wasted no time in altering his squad.[1] He brought in Steve Foley (£50,000 from Swindon Town), Vince Overson (£55,000 from Birmingham City), Ronnie Sinclair (£25,000 from Bristol City) and forward Mark Stein from Oxford United for what turned out to be a bargain £100,000.[1]

From the previous season's all-time low Stoke under Macari rose to great heights in 1991–92 and reached a Wembley final for the first time since 1972.[1] In the Third Division Stoke were in the hunt for automatic promotion all season eventually having to settle for a play-off place where they came up against Stockport County.[1] The first leg at Edgeley Park saw County win 1–0 thanks to a free-kick from Lee Todd after Carl Beeston had been sent-off and in the second leg Stoke went behind in the first minute and despite Stein pulling one back Stoke went out 2–1 on aggregate.[1] Despite the obvious disappointment of missing out on promotion it was a positive season for Stoke and there was high hopes that it could be the start of the club's revival.[1]

FA Cup

Stoke again drew non-league Telford United but this time the "Bucks" gained revenge beating Stoke 2–1.[1]

League Cup

After beating Chesterfield in the first round Stoke drew Liverpool in the second and in the first leg at Anfield almost 8,000 Stoke fans made the trip to see Stoke make a great contest and come away with a 2–2 draw.[1] Stoke again put up a fight in the second leg but went out of the competition losing 3–2.[1]

League Trophy

After qualifying from their group which included Birmingham City and Walsall, Stoke then advanced past Cardiff City, Walsall (for a second time), Leyton Orient and Peterborough United with Paul Ware scoring the vital goal to send Stoke through to Wembley.[1] In the final against Stockport County a single goal from Mark Stein gave Stoke a 1–0 victory.[1]

Final league table

PosClubPWDLFAGDPts
1Brentford46257148155+2682
2Birmingham City462312116952+1781
3Huddersfield Town462212125938+2178
4Stoke City462114116959+1077
5Stockport County462210147549+2676
6Peterborough United462014126558+1374
7West Bromwich Albion461913146449+1571
8Bournemouth462011155248+471
9Fulham461913145753+470
10Leyton Orient461811176252+1065
11Hartlepool United461811175757065
12Reading461613175962–361
13Bolton Wanderers461417155756+159
14Hull City461611195454059
15Wigan Athletic461514175864–659
16Bradford City461319146261+158
17Preston North End461512196172–1157
18Chester City461414185659–356
19Swansea City461414185565–1056
20Exeter City461411215780–2353
21Bury461312215574–1951
22Shrewsbury Town461211235369–1547
23Torquay United46138254268–2647
24Darlington46107295690–3437

Key: P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Results

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
1 17 August 1991 Bradford CityA0–17,556
2 24 August 1991 BournemouthH1–110,011Biggins 17' (pen)
3 31 August 1991 Peterborough UnitedA1–17,174Biggins 1'
4 4 September 1991 Shrewsbury TownH1–010,182Biggins 53'
5 7 September 1991 DarlingtonA1–04,230Ellis 57'
6 14 September 1991 FulhamH2–210,567Biggins 25', Cranson 53'
7 17 September 1991 Hartlepool UnitedH3–29,394Biggins (2) 37', 39', Butler 75'
8 21 September 1991 Preston North EndA2–26,345Biggins (2) 41', 59'
9 28 September 1991 Stockport CountyH2–26,345Biggins (2) 14', 28' (1 pen)
10 5 October 1991 Chester CityA0–04,212
11 12 October 1991 Bolton WanderersH2–012,420Biggins 16', Scott 80'
12 19 October 1991 Swansea CityA1–23,365Ellis 88'
13 26 October 1991 Leyton OrientH2–09,555Biggins 36', Cranson 71'
14 2 November 1991 Huddersfield TownH0–210,116
15 5 November 1991 BuryA3–13,245Ellis (2) 3', 78', Overson 83'
16 19 November 1991 Exeter CityA0–05,309
17 23 November 1991 Torquay UnitedH3–09,124Biggins 2', Stein (2) 34', 60'
18 30 November 1991 West Bromwich AlbionA2–217,207Overson (2) 40', 52'
19 14 December 1991 Wigan AthleticH3–08,419Stein 17', Kelly 43', Biggins 81'
20 21 December 1991 BournemouthA2–15,436Biggins 10', Kelly 76'
21 26 December 1991 Peterborough UnitedH3–314,733Kevan 7', Stein 30', Biggins 70'
22 28 December 1991 Bradford CityH0–012,208
23 1 January 1992 Shrewsbury TownA0–18,557
24 4 January 1992 Birmingham CityH2–118,914Ware 52', Biggins 77'
25 11 January 1992 BrentfordA0–29,004
26 18 January 1992 ReadingH3–010,835Jones 24' (o.g.), Butler 54', Stein 71'
27 25 January 1992 Hull CityA1–04,996Russell 20'
28 1 February 1992 Swansea CityH2–111,299Ware 41', Beeston 90'
29 8 February 1992 Leyton OrientA1–07,153Beeston 4'
30 12 February 1992 West Bromwich AlbionH1–023,645Stein 28'
31 15 February 1992 Wigan AthleticA0–15,695
32 22 February 1992 BrentfordH2–116,417Butler 10', Stein 65'
33 29 February 1992 Birmingham CityA1–122,162Barnes 89'
34 4 March 1992 ReadingA4–34,362Stein 28', Foley 30', Ware 60', McPherson 66' (o.g.)
35 7 March 1992 Hull CityH2–313,563Barnes 52', Stein 73'
36 11 March 1992 BuryH1–212,385Barnes 85'
37 14 March 1992 Huddersfield TownA2–110,156Biggins 27', Stein 28'
38 21 March 1992 Exeter CityH5–213,634Biggins 16', Stein 33', Beeston 42', Grimes 61', Steele 90'
39 28 March 1992 Torquay UnitedA0–13,260
40 31 March 1992 FulhamA1–15,779Stein 72'
41 3 April 1992 DarlingtonH3–013,579Biggins (2) 10', 20' (1 pen), Stein 69'
42 11 April 1992 Hartlepool UnitedA1–14,360Stein 44'
43 18 April 1992 Preston North EndH2–116,151Stein 44', Biggins 50' (pen)
44 20 April 1992 Stockport CountyA0–08,129
45 25 April 1992 Chester CityH0–118,474
46 2 May 1992 Bolton WanderersA1–39,997Stein 7'

Third Division Play-offs

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
Semi-final 1st Leg 10 May 1992 Stockport CountyA0–17,537
Semi-final 2nd Leg 13 May 1992 Stockport CountyH1–116,170Stein 81'

FA Cup

Main article: 1991–92 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R115 November 1991 Telford UnitedH0–09,974
R1 Replay26 November 1991 Telford UnitedA1–24,032Biggins 81'

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R1 1st Leg23 August 1991 ChesterfieldH1–07,815Ellis 20'
R1 2nd Leg27 August 1991 ChesterfieldA2–15,391Kelly 22', Beeston 68'
R2 1st Leg25 September 1991 LiverpoolA2–218,389Cranson 28', Kelly 88'
R2 2nd Leg10 October 1991 LiverpoolH2–322,355Biggins (2) 75', 88' (1 pen)

League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
Preliminary Round 122 October 1991 WalsallA2–03,758Sandford (2)
Preliminary Round 218 December 1991 Birmingham CityH3–15,982Barnes, Stein (pen), Ware
Southern Round 114 January 1992 Cardiff CityH3–04,851Biggins (2), Stein
Southern Quarter Final2 February 1992 WalsallH3–17,381Ware, Beeston, Stein
Southern Semi Final17 March 1992 Leyton OrientA1–03,792Stein
Southern Final 1st Leg6 April 1992 Peterborough UnitedH3–314,355Biggins (2), Sandford
Southern Final 2nd Leg15 April 1992 Peterborough UnitedA1–012,214Ware
Final16 May 1992 Stockport CountyN1–048,339Stein

Isle of Man Trophy

RoundOpponentResult
Quarter FinalIsle of Man XI7–0
Semi FinalSC Cambuur2–0
FinalSunderland2–0

Friendlies

MatchOpponentVenueResult
1Witton AlbionA2–2
2Worcester CityA3–1
3Newcastle TownA1–0
4AldershotA4–1
5RocesterA2–1
6Newcastle TownA1–0
7Kidsgrove AthleticA2–1
8Leek TownA5–0
9Munster XIA5–0

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Play-offs Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland Peter Fox 0020405000110
GKAustralia Jason Kearton 16000001000170
GKEngland Kevin Pressman 400000200060
GKScotland Ronnie Sinclair 26000000020280
DFJamaica Noel Blake 12(1)00(1)0201(1)02017(3)0
DFEngland John Butler 42310407020563
DFEngland Ian Cranson 41220418020573
DFEngland Lee Fowler 15(1)01040102023(1)0
DFEngland Tony Gallimore 2(1)0000000002(1)0
DFEngland Vince Overson 34(1)32020700045(1)3
DFEngland Paul Rennie 1000000(1)0001(1)0
DFEngland Lee Sandford 37(1)02030832052(1)3
DFEngland Ian Wright 30000(1)000003(1)0
MFEngland Carl Beeston 42(1)32141711058(1)6
MFRepublic of Ireland Ashley Grimes 4(6)100001(2)0207(8)1
MFRepublic of Ireland Mick Kennedy 19(1)02030100025(1)0
MFScotland Dave Kevan 431202(1)0802056(1)1
MFEngland Ian Scott 6(3)11030100011(3)1
MFEngland Paul Ware 22(2)310004(1)30027(3)6
FWEngland Paul Barnes 3(10)3001(1)02(1)1006(12)4
FWEngland Junior Bent 100000000010
FWEngland Wayne Biggins 4122204254205428
FWEngland Tony Ellis 9(6)40(2)02(1)11(2)00012(11)5
FWEngland Steve Foley 20100005010261
FWEngland Adrian Heath 5(1)00000300(1)08(2)0
FWEngland Tony Kelly 10(3)2003(1)2300(1)016(5)4
FWEngland Kevin Russell 510000000051
FWEngland Tim Steele 710000000071
FWEngland Mark Stein 3616200075214722
Own goals 200002

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
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