1913–14 Stoke F.C. season


The 1913–14 season was Stoke's fifth season in the Southern Football League.
Stoke were now back in the poor quality Southern League Division Two and expectations were to gain an instant return to Division One. Stoke started the season well winning nine games in a row, however the team ran into poor form in the new year and ended up finishing 5th, 11 points from promotion. It was a bad performance and in April 1914 both chairman Mr Rev. A Hurst and manager Alfred Barker stepped down.

Season review

League

Division Two of the Southern League for the 1913–14 season was made up of selection of poor Welsh clubs and a smattering of sides from around the London area, namely Luton Town, Brentford and Croydon Common. There was no money available, meaning the club had to rely on free transfers. There were still a number of new faces with the likes of former England international Fred Pentland joining from Halifax, James Bradley returning from Liverpool and Billy Herbert from Glossop. With Stoke doing well from the start of the season crowds were often good as Stoke embarked on a nine match winning run. However long distance travelling eventually caused Stoke problems and they lost their form and ended up finishing in a poor position of fifth.
The directors, obviously disappointed as were the players and supporters, at not winning promotion, vowed to continue to build the team despite having little money available. Alfred Barker was now under pressure from supporters and indeed some directors who questioned his wisdom to employ part-time staff. He and chairman A. Hurst both stepped down in April 1914. It was a sad way to see such key figures, responsible for saving the club, leave in such circumstances.

FA Cup

After progressing past Shrewsbury Town and Barrow, Stoke lost to Aston Villa in the first round.

Final league table

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

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend

Southern Football League Division Two

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
16 September 1913Croydon CommonH1–17,000Pentland
213 September 1913Croydon CommonA0–26,000
320 September 1913Mid RhonddaA2–02,500Pentland, A Smith
427 September 1913Ton PentreA2–14,000Pentland, Revill
54 October 1913AbertilleryH3–04,000A Smith, Revill
611 October 1913Treharris AthleticA5–03,000Pentland, Herbert, Jones
718 October 1913LlanelliH2–110,000Pentland, Herbert
81 November 1913Treharris AthleticH5–17,000Revill, Herbert, A Smith, Dyke
98 November 1913Swansea TownA3–23,000Herbert, A Smith
1015 November 1913BarryH7–14,500Herbert, A Smith, Jones, Revill, D Smith
1122 November 1913AberdareA4–21,000Herbert, A Smith
126 December 1913Newport CountyA2–33,000Turner, A Smith
1325 December 1913CaerphillyA5–13,000A Smith, D Smith
1426 December 1913CaerphillyH4–010,000Turner, Revill, Bailey, Lean
153 January 1914AberdareH4–110,000Herbert, Jenkins
1617 January 1914BrentfordA0–25,000
1724 January 1914Ton PentreH2–05,000Revill, Turner
1814 February 1914Mid RhonddaH1–04,000Revill
1921 February 1914AbertilleryA0–13,500
2028 February 1914BrentfordH2–16,000D Smith, Turner
2114 March 1914PontypriddH5–14,000D Smith, Revill, A Smith, Jones
2217 March 1914LlanelliA0–24,000
2321 March 1914BarryA1–13,500Herbert
2428 March 1914Newport CountyH2–04,000D Smith, Tempest
254 April 1914MardyA2–11,000Hamnett
2610 April 1914Luton TownA1–25,000D Smith
2711 April 1914MardyH4–03,000D Smith, Watkin, Hargreaves
2813 April 1914Luton TownH1–218,000Bradley
2918 April 1914PontypriddA1–42,000A Smith
3025 April 1914Swansea TownH0–15,000

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
4QR29 November 1913Shrewsbury TownH2–05,000D Smith, Herbert
5QR13 December 1913BarrowH3–110,000Holmes, Herbert
R110 January 1914Aston VillaA0–426,094

Squad statistics