1930–31 Stoke City F.C. season


The 1930–31 season was Stoke City's 31st season in the Football League and the 11th in the Second Division.
Stoke experienced an average season as they finished in the same position as last season, 11th. The season was notable for the debuts of future star players Arthur Turner and Tommy Sale.

Season review

League

Stoke's overall form in the 1930–31 season improved only marginally as they again took 11th position in the Second Division. Wins of 5–0 v Swansea Town and 4–0 over Oldham Athletic were the best results at home whilst a 7–3 hammering away at relegated Reading a day to forget for Stoke supporters. Stoke also conceded five at Everton, Preston North End and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The campaign ended with record gate receipts being taken from the final home league fixture against FA Cup winners West Bromwich Albion. A crowd of 26,064 amounting to £1,540 saw Albion win 1–0 to clinch promotion. Three debutants in 1930–31 who were later to have a big impact on the club's fortunes, were Tommy Sale, Arthur Turner and Harry Ware whilst Tom Williamson left for Norwich City in January.

FA Cup

Stoke were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first attempt after an epic cup tie against Manchester United. After a 3–3 draw at the Victoria Ground and a goalless one at Old Trafford Stoke lost 4–2 in the 2nd replay at Anfield.

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

Football League Second Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
130 August 1930MillwallA3–120,337Kirkham, Sellars
21 September 1930Bradford Park AvenueH1–113,000Cull
36 September 1930Oldham AthleticH4–015,055Kirkham, Liddle
48 September 1930Wolverhampton WanderersA1–516,000Kirkham
513 September 1930Nottingham ForestA0–39,986
615 September 1930Wolverhampton WanderersH1–214,000Liddle
720 September 1930Tottenham HotspurH2–110,254Taylor, Armitage
827 September 1930Preston North EndA1–512,036Taylor
94 October 1930BurnleyH1–113,124Archibald
1011 October 1930SouthamptonA1–210,000Mawson
1118 October 1930BarnsleyH0–09,353
1225 October 1930Charlton AthleticA2–110,047Mawson, Wilson
131 November 1930Swansea TownH5–07,224Bussey, Wilson, Mawson
148 November 1930Plymouth ArgyleA2–115,000Bussey, Mawson
1515 November 1930Cardiff CityH1–08,900Liddle
1622 November 1930EvertonA0–520,120
1729 November 1930BuryH3–17,505Wilson, Chester
186 December 1930Bristol CityA1–110,000Liddle
1913 December 1930Port ValeH1–026,649Robertson
2020 December 1930West Bromwich AlbionA0–415,629
2125 December 1930Bradford CityA2–28,000Wilson, Liddle
2226 December 1930Bradford CityH1–115,727Wilson
2327 December 1930MillwallH2–310,196Wilson, Armitage
243 January 1931Oldham AthleticA1–311,305Kirkham
2517 January 1931Nottingham ForestH1–06,194Williamson
2626 January 1931Tottenham HotspurA0–310,346
272 February 1931Preston North EndH3–16,340Burns, Liddle
287 February 1931BurnleyA2–17,072Liddle
2914 February 1931SouthamptonH1–310,095Bussey
3021 February 1931BarnsleyA2–44,903Wilson
3128 February 1931Charlton AthleticH0–02,405
327 March 1931Swansea TownA2–18,000Liddle, Archibald
3314 March 1931Plymouth ArgyleH0–08,490
3421 March 1931Cardiff CityA2–34,500Liddle, Kirkham
3528 March 1931EvertonH2–012,300Liddle, Bussey
363 April 1931ReadingA3–74,600Armitage, Kirkham
374 April 1931BuryA3–03,000Liddle, Kirkham
386 April 1931ReadingH2–110,939Sale, Archibald
3911 April 1931Bristol CityH3–17,626Kirkham, Liddle
4018 April 1931Port ValeA0–013,190
4130 April 1931West Bromwich AlbionH0–126,064
422 May 1931Bradford Park AvenueA2–26,767Sale, Liddle

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R310 January 1931Manchester UnitedH3–323,415Wilson, Sale
R3 Replay14 January 1931Manchester UnitedA0–0 22,013
R3 2nd Replay19 January 1931Manchester UnitedN2–411,788Archibald, Liddle

Squad statistics