1937–38 Stoke City F.C. season


The 1937–38 season was Stoke City's 38th season in the Football League and the 24th in the First Division.
It was a very up and down season for Stoke as they began well beating Derby County 8–1 in September to take them to the top of the table. However the season was dominated by a contract dispute between the board of directors and that of Stanley Matthews. Stoke's form dropped and they ended up being in a relegation fight which was won thanks to a 2–0 victory over Liverpool on the final day of the season.

Season review

League

The family atmosphere within the club was still thriving, with the directors encouraging players to pay a 'thrift scheme' which would help the club financially but they received a major jolt when Stanley Matthews disputed the level of benefit to which he was entitled at the end of the season. Matthews did in fact refuse to re-sign for the new campaign stating that a player of his standing should receive the full £650 benefit rather than the normal £500. As a result Stoke held him to his previous contract and Matthews was 21 days over the deadline before signing.
There were no major close season transfers, either in or out of the club but like previous seasons this proved to be no bad thing as the 1937–38 season got under way and, after a fine 8–1 victory over Derby County in mid September Stoke climbed to the top of the league. Sadly though as in the past injuries again interrupted the managers team and formation plans as both Freddie Steele and Charlie Scrimshaw suffered long term injuries. In November 1937 Stoke accepted a £6,000 offer from West Bromwich Albion for Joe Johnson and in his place Bob McGrory selected Frank Baker. In October 1937 Stoke played Scottish champions Rangers in a benefit match for the victims of the Holditch Colliery disaster, raising £2,000 for the relief fund. A good sized crowd saw an entertaining 0–0 draw.
However in the league Stoke's form fell away and Stoke slipped down the table and their performances were of 'poor quality' according to the local paper. In February and March with relegation a distinct possibility McGrory went out and signed Clement Smith from Chester, brought back Tommy Sale from Blackburn Rovers and swapped veteran Harry Davies for Port Vale's Tommy Ward. Stoke's injury jinx continued and with one game left at home to Liverpool Stoke required victory to keep their place in the First Division. To add to the drama star striker Freddie Steele arranged to get married on the morning of the match, he made it to the ground on time and scored a vital goal as Stoke won 2–0 to remain in the top division.
However the season was dominated by the continuing frictions between Matthews and the club board and in February 1938 Matthews handed in a transfer request after a fall out with manager Bob McGrory. Around 4,000 Stoke fans met with the directors at the King's Hall to see the board of directors come to the conclusion that Matthews must not leave. Matthews refused and reiterated his request to leave. Stoke rejected his request and Matthews wrote to the local paper thanking the fans for there support and he forged an uneasy truce with the management and board. Matthews pledged to do his best for his home town club and he did so until 1947 when he joined Blackpool.

FA Cup

Stoke exited at the fourth round this season losing at home 2–1 to Bradford Park Avenue in a replay.

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
128 August 1937BirminghamH2–227,475Matthews, Steele
230 August 1937West Bromwich AlbionA1–022,113Tutin
34 September 1937MiddlesbroughA1–228,000Soo
46 September 1937West Bromwich AlbionH4–020,320Steele, Shaw
511 September 1937Derby CountyH8–132,954Steele, Westland
615 September 1937LiverpoolA0–330,000
718 September 1937PortsmouthH3–122,580Steele, Baker
825 September 1937ChelseaA1–230,000Westland
92 October 1937Charlton AthleticH2–032,835Steele, Baker
109 October 1937Preston North EndA1–220,000Matthews
1116 October 1937Manchester CityA0–041,207
1223 October 1937ArsenalH1–140,000Liddle
1330 October 1937BlackpoolA1–013,000Baker
146 November 1937Wolverhampton WanderersH1–137,930Baker
1513 November 1937Bolton WanderersA0–125,000
1620 November 1937SunderlandH0–031,813
1727 November 1937EvertonA0–320,000
184 December 1937BrentfordH3–011,787Matthews, Steele
1911 December 1937Leicester CityA0–212,000
2018 December 1937Huddersfield TownH0–116,302
2125 December 1937Grimsby TownA5–120,000Baker, Westland, Antonio, Peppitt
2227 December 1937Grimsby TownH1–133,918Baker
231 January 1938BirminghamA1–125,000Steele
2415 January 1938MiddlesbroughH3–013,825Baker, Matthews, Westland
2529 January 1938PortsmouthA0–215,000
262 February 1938Derby CountyA1–46,000Westland
275 February 1938ChelseaH2–122,509Baker, Ward
2819 February 1938Preston North EndH1–130,455Ward
2926 February 1938Manchester CityH3–220,000Ward, Matthews
302 March 1938Charlton AthleticA0–316,000
315 March 1938ArsenalA0–435,000
3212 March 1938BlackpoolH1–324,778Baker
3319 March 1938Wolverhampton WanderersA2–235,000Sale, Smith
3426 March 1938Bolton WanderersH3–219,249Sale
352 April 1938SunderlandA1–128,000Sale
369 April 1938EvertonH1–115,003Peppitt
3716 April 1938BrentfordA0–035,000
3818 April 1938Leeds UnitedH0–124,933
3919 April 1938Leeds UnitedA1–220,000Peppitt
4023 April 1938Leicester CityH1–216,355Soo
412 May 1938Huddersfield TownA0–317,000
427 May 1938LiverpoolH2–021,408Baker, Steele

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R38 January 1938Derby CountyA2–128,768Baker, Bell
R422 January 1938Bradford Park AvenueA1–131,347Soo
R4 Replay26 January 1938Bradford Park AvenueH1–27,000Soo

Squad statistics