1935–36 Stoke City F.C. season


The 1935–36 season was Stoke City's 36th season in the Football League and the 22nd in the First Division.
In June 1935 long-serving defender Bob McGrory replaced Tom Mather as first-team manager and in his first season in charge Stoke went on to record their finest season up to this point finishing in 4th position in the First Division. They were never out of the top four for the last three months of the season and whilst they never really threatened runaway leaders Sunderland, Stoke were considered to be one of the best teams in the country. The 1935–36 season finish of 4th is only matched by the performance by the Stoke team of the 1946–47 season.

Season review

League

After last season Stoke went on a tour of Denmark winning all three matches against local opposition. On their return to England in June 1935, Bob McGrory replaced Tom Mather as manager. Mather had been at the helm for over eleven years and did well in taking Stoke from Third Division football to the First. It also spelt the end of McGrory's playing career in which he made 510 appearances for the club, a total not to be surpassed for 24 years.
The first signing McGrory made was that of Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Norman Wilkinson he would prove to be a sound addition. Despite this McGrory gave the squad a vote of confidence and indeed few clubs in the country showed little alteration to their squads than Stoke City. Whilst it was 'as you were' on the playing side, Stoke appointed a host of new backroom staff and Arthur Turner was made club captain. The supporters were disappointed that despite there being money available no new players arrived and their concerns were increased when the reserves beat the first team in a public friendly match.
The supporters need not have worried as McGrory's first season turned out to be one of the finest in the club's history as they achieved fourth place in the First Division. They were never out of the top four for the last three months of the season and were generally accepted as one of the countries most impressive sides. With more players being promoted from the youth ranks Stoke looked set for a bright future.

FA Cup

Stoke required replays to beat lower league Millwall and Manchester United but Barnsley knocked Stoke out 2–1 in the fifth 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

Football League First Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
131 August 1935Leeds UnitedH3–122,549Johnson, Davies
24 September 1935ChelseaA5–327,000Johnson, Davies, Sale, Matthews
37 September 1935West Bromwich AlbionA0–225,000
49 September 1935ChelseaH3–021,306Sale, Steele, Turner
514 September 1935SunderlandH0–234,509
618 September 1935LiverpoolA0–235,000
721 September 1935BirminghamA5–012,000Matthews, Johnson
828 September 1935ArsenalH0–345,470
95 October 1935Manchester CityA2–140,000Sale, Westland
1012 October 1935Preston North EndH2–121,876Sale, Turner
1119 October 1935BrentfordA0–030,000
1226 October 1935Derby CountyH0–027,384
132 November 1935EvertonA1–534,000Johnson
149 November 1935Bolton WanderersH1–221,668Sale
1516 November 1935Huddersfield TownA1–212,000Johnson
1623 November 1935PortsmouthH2–016,470Sale
1730 November 1935Aston VillaA0–425,000
187 December 1935Wolverhampton WanderersH4–116,000Sale, Liddle
1914 December 1935Sheffield WednesdayA1–014,000Sale
2021 December 1935MiddlesbroughH1–18,374Matthews
2125 December 1935Blackburn RoversA1–021,976Matthews
2226 December 1935Blackburn RoversH2–023,000Sale
2328 December 1935Leeds UnitedA1–412,000Steele
244 January 1936West Bromwich AlbionH3–220,188Steele, Matthews, Liddle
2518 January 1936SunderlandA0–114,000
261 February 1936ArsenalA0–147,000
276 February 1936BirminghamH3–111,485Davies, Westland
288 February 1936Manchester CityH1–027,386Westland
2919 February 1936Preston North EndA1–110,000Turner
3022 February 1936BrentfordH2–215,000Sale, Liddle
3129 February 1936Bolton WanderersA2–110,204Steele, Matthews
327 March 1936Aston VillaH2–318,344Steele
3314 March 1936Derby CountyA1–020,000Steele
3421 March 1936Huddersfield TownH1–022,000Matthews
3528 March 1936PortsmouthA0–217,000
364 April 1936EvertonH2–118,717Turner, Matthews
3710 April 1936Grimsby TownA0–39,000
3811 April 1936Wolverhampton WanderersA1–120,000Steele
3913 April 1936Grimsby TownH1–022,770Hodgson
4018 April 1936Sheffield WednesdayH0–316,362
4125 April 1936MiddlesbroughA0–010,000
422 May 1936LiverpoolH2–113,231Westland, Bradshaw

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R311 January 1936MillwallA0–025,000
R3 Replay15 January 1936MillwallH4–018,000Steele, Liddle
R425 January 1936Manchester UnitedH0–025,000
R4 Replay28 January 1936Manchester UnitedA2–035,000Sale, Robson
R515 February 1936BarnsleyA1–240,245Davies

Squad statistics