1960–61 Stoke City F.C. season


The 1960–61 season was Stoke City's 54th season in the Football League and the 21st in the Second Division.
With the unsuccessful Frank Taylor now departed new manager Tony Waddington quickly began to stamp his mark on the club allowing a number of players to leave the club whilst bringing in his own replacements. It was obviously going to be a transitional season for the club but there was probably too much upheaval as performances out on the pitch were not good and despite a 9–0 win over Plymouth Argyle, Stoke finished in 18th place avoiding relegation by three points.

Season review

League

A clear-out of players was under way in the summer of 1960 with two goalkeepers Bill Robertson and Wilf Hall both departing. Also leaving the Victoria Ground was long serving defender John McCue and a number of fringe players. To replace the hole left by the departure of the 'keepers Tony Waddington made his first signing, Irish international Jimmy O'Neill from Everton for £5,000.
There were no instant improvements as Stoke searched for a sustained run of success. An attack that could not score regularly
was a major problem and it was so bad that by Christmas time centre back Bill Asprey was moved up front and he impressed scoring twice in a 9–0 win over Plymouth Argyle and got a hat trick against Charlton Athletic. That win over Plymouth is Stoke second highest league victory. Ahead of the March transfer deadline, Waddington paid £7,000 to Blackpool for their winger Jackie Mudie whose vast experience brought guile to the attack. Mudie effectively replaced Dennis Wilshaw who broke his leg in the FA Cup at Newcastle and had to retire.
Stoke took 18th place in the Second Division at the end of Waddingtons first season in charge their away form letting them down badly with just three wins recorded and 12 goals scored. And for the first time since the 1907–08 season the average home attendance was under 10,000 as Waddington realised that much work was required to turn around the fortunes of Stoke City.

FA Cup

In the FA Cup Stoke made it to the fifth round before losing to Newcastle United after beating West Ham United and a tricky three matches against Aldershot.

League Cup

The 1960–61 season was also the start of a new cup competition the Football League Cup, Stoke made an embarrassing start losing 3–1 to Fourth Division Doncaster Rovers. Stoke didn't even score as Rovers defender Tommy Hymers scored an own goal giving him the dubious honour of being Stoke's first League Cup goalscorer.

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
120 August 1960Plymouth ArgyleA1–321,138Bullock
222 August 1960SunderlandH0–014,690
327 August 1960Norwich CityH1–111,716Wilshaw
431 August 1960SunderlandA0–419,007
53 September 1960Charlton AthleticA1–38,147Ratcliffe
67 September 1960PortsmouthA0–116,497
710 September 1960Sheffield UnitedH2–011,328Wilshaw
812 September 1960PortsmouthH1–011,686King
917 September 1960Derby CountyA1–114,432Asprey
1024 September 1960Swansea TownA0–09,520
111 October 1960Luton TownH3–09,395Wilshaw, Bentley
128 October 1960Leyton OrientH1–29,149Wilshaw
1315 October 1960Scunthorpe UnitedA1–18,777Bentley
1422 October 1960Ipswich TownH2–48,056Bentley, D Ward
1529 October 1960Brighton & Hove AlbionA1–08,791Wilshaw
165 November 1960MiddlesbroughH1–19,019D Ward
1712 November 1960Leeds UnitedA1–013,535King
1819 November 1960SouthamptonH1–210,465King
1926 November 1960Rotherham UnitedA0–08,330
2010 December 1960Bristol RoversA0–113,407
2117 December 1960Plymouth ArgyleH9–06,479Asprey, King, Wilshaw, Ratcliffe, Fincham
2224 December 1960Huddersfield TownH2–210,029Wilshaw
2326 December 1960Huddersfield TownA0–013,783
2431 December 1960Norwich CityA0–120,681
2516 January 1961Charlton AthleticH5–310,988Asprey, Bentley, Wilshaw
2621 January 1961Sheffield UnitedA1–413,865King
2711 February 1961Swansea TownH1–310,517Davies
2823 February 1961Luton TownA1–412,142Bullock
294 March 1961Scunthorpe UnitedH2–012,567King, Mudie
3011 March 1961Ipswich TownA1–216,578King
3118 March 1961Bristol RoversH2–07,826Ratcliffe, Bullock
3220 March 1961Derby CountyH2–16,831Mudie, Bullock
3325 March 1961MiddlesbroughA0–18,534
3431 March 1961Lincoln CityA1–16,651Bullock
351 April 1961Rotherham UnitedH1–48,241King
363 April 1961Lincoln CityH0–06,383
378 April 1961SouthamptonA1–012,927Mudie
3810 April 1961Leyton OrientA1–38,349King
3915 April 1961Leeds UnitedH0–07,130
4022 April 1961LiverpoolA0–313,389
4129 April 1961Brighton & Hove AlbionH0–25,232
423 May 1961LiverpoolH3–14,463King, Bentley

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R37 January 1961West Ham UnitedA2–221,545Ratcliffe, Andrew
R3 Replay11 January 1961West Ham UnitedH1–028,914Wilshaw
R428 January 1961AldershotH0–018,289
R4 Replay1 February 1961AldershotA0–0 16,489
R4 2nd Replay6 February 1961AldershotN3–016,672Wilshaw, Asprey
R516 February 1961Newcastle UnitedA1–346,170King

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R218 October 1960Doncaster RoversA1–35,694Hymers

Squad statistics