1970–71 Stoke City F.C. season


The 1970–71 season was Stoke City's 64th season in the Football League and the 40th in the First Division.
Stoke had a successful season making it to the semi-final of the FA Cup for only the second time in their history. Stoke made it through seven matches before facing Arsenal, where after building a 2–0 lead at Hillsborough Stoke let slip in the final few minutes and Arsenal levelled at 2–2. In the replay the "Gunners" won 2–0 at Villa Park. In the league Stoke finished in a mid-table position of 13th with 37 points, Stoke did record a famous win over Arsenal beating the eventual league champions 5–0 in September.

Season review

League

Stoke had a good opening spell to the 1970–71 season, losing just three of their first 12 matches one of which was a crushing 5–2 defeat at Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion. But generally the defence looked strong and solid and indeed six clean sheets were kept during that period. Stoke's sixth home game of the season on 26 September was against Bertie Mee's impressive Arsenal side at the Victoria Ground. Because of local travel difficulties just over 18,000 fans saw the match and those lucky enough to be there watch one of the best performances by a Stoke City side.
Arsenal, who would go on to become First Division and FA Cup winners were well beaten 5–0 by Stoke in front of the Match of the Day cameras. As the season wore on Stoke found it difficult to maintain a consistent run of form in the First Division and their attentions soon turned towards the FA Cup. With the cup a distraction Stoke did well to finish in a mid table position of 13th.

FA Cup

After Christmas Stoke became heavily involved in the FA Cup and they came very close to making it to their first final. Revenge was gained over Millwall in the third round and then Huddersfield Town proved to be difficult to get the better of, the tie finally being decided in a second replay at Old Trafford, Stoke winning 1–0 thanks to a goal from Jimmy Greenhoff. In the fifth round Stoke met Ipswich Town and after a goalless draw, Denis Smith scoring the only goal at Portman Road to send Stoke through to face Hull City in the quarter final. The tie at Boothferry Park was a cracking encounter with Stoke winning 3–2 to claim a place in the semi final for the first time since 1899, 75 years ago.
Their opponents in the semi final were Arsenal with the tie played at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield. Stoke produced an outstanding first half display and went into the half time break 2–0 up, with Smith and Ritchie scoring sending the Stoke supporters ecstatic. Alas it was not to be as Arsenal clawed their way back into the match and thanks to two very late goals from Peter Storey with the last being a penalty to earn the "Gunners" a replay they hardly deserved. Villa Park was the venue for 'part two' of the contest and in front of 62,356, Arsenal won 2–0 and went on to lift the trophy. On the eve of the final, Stoke won the third place play off against Everton 3–2.

League Cup

knocked Stoke out of the League Cup 2–1 in the second 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
115 August 1970Ipswich TownH0–017,099
219 August 1970Newcastle UnitedH3–015,197Burrows 22', Ritchie 38', 89'
322 August 1970Derby CountyA0–235,461
426 August 1970West Bromwich AlbionA2–522,607Ritchie 12', Conroy 55'
529 August 1970Crystal PalaceH0–013,469
62 September 1970Nottingham ForestH0–013,951
75 September 1970Wolverhampton WanderersA1–121,056Greenhoff 25'
812 September 1970Leeds UnitedH3–022,592Ritchie 20', 90', Burrows 47'
919 September 1970Manchester CityA1–435,473Bernard 80'
1026 September 1970ArsenalH5–018,153Ritchie 28', 43', Conroy 62', Greenhoff 64', Bloor 84'
113 October 1970BlackpoolA1–125,324Dobing 56'
1210 October 1970West Ham UnitedH2–123,033Greenhoff 36', Dobing 89'
1317 October 1970Ipswich TownA0–218,159
1424 October 1970Tottenham HotspurA0–336,238
1531 October 1970Huddersfield TownH3–117,625Greenhoff 5', Conroy 54', 75'
167 November 1970Manchester UnitedA2–247,451Conroy 1', Ritchie 72'
1714 November 1970EvertonH1–126,240Ritchie 42'
1818 November 1970Leeds UnitedA1–425,004Conroy 15'
1921 November 1970ChelseaA1–236,227T Smith 30'
2028 November 1970SouthamptonH0–016,848
215 December 1970Coventry CityA0–123,775
2212 December 1970BurnleyH0–013,299
2319 December 1970Derby CountyH1–021,906Burrows 60'
2426 December 1970LiverpoolA0–047,103
259 January 1971Newcastle UnitedA2–025,680Greenhoff 1', Burrows 62'
2616 January 1971West Bromwich AlbionH2–020,882Conroy 23', 78'
2730 January 1971SouthamptonA1–219,500Greenhoff 20'
286 February 1971Coventry CityH2–117,208Mortimer 45', Greenhoff 50'
2920 February 1971ChelseaH1–226,592Conroy 47'
3023 February 1971BurnleyA1–112,209Conroy 12'
3127 February 1971Huddersfield TownA1–015,626Conroy 78'
3213 March 1971EvertonA0–238,924
3320 March 1971Manchester UnitedH1–239,889Ritchie 77'
343 April 1971Crystal PalaceA2–316,963Ritchie 81', 90'
357 April 1971Wolverhampton WanderersH1–022,808Burrows 61'
3610 April 1971LiverpoolH0–128,810
3713 April 1971BlackpoolH1–113,916Jump 16'
3817 April 1971West Ham UnitedA0–126,269
3924 April 1971Manchester CityH2–013,358Bernard 20', Ritchie 52'
4027 April 1971Nottingham ForestA0–013,502
411 May 1971ArsenalA0–155,011
425 May 1971Tottenham HotspurH0–114,019

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R32 January 1971MillwallH2–121,398Ritchie 31', Greenhoff 77'
R423 January 1971Huddersfield TownH3–334,231Greenhoff 3', Burrows 65', Conroy 75'
R4 Replay26 January 1971Huddersfield TownA0–0 40,231
R4 2nd Replay8 February 1971Huddersfield TownN1–039,302Greenhoff 68'
R513 February 1971Ipswich TownH0–036,809
R5 Replay16 February 1971Ipswich TownA1–030,232Smith 74'
Quarter Final6 March 1971Hull CityA3–241,452Conroy 45', Ritchie 70', 81'
Semi Final27 March 1971ArsenalN2–254,770Smith 22', Ritchie 31'
Semi Final Replay31 March 1971ArsenalN0–262,356
3rd Place play-off7 May 1971EvertonN3–25,031Bernard 27', Ritchie 47' 80'

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R29 September 1970MillwallH0–010,230
R2 Replay16 September 1970MillwallA1–212,789Conroy 57'

[Texaco Cup]

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R1 1st Leg14 September 1970MotherwellA0–114,450
R1 2nd Leg30 September 1970MotherwellH2–1 15,779Bloor, Burrows

[Anglo-Italian Cup]

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
Group match 126 May 1971RomaH2–211,520Greenhoff 13', Smith 58'
Group match 229 May 1971Hellas VeronaH2–010,252Ritchie 53', Jump 78'
Group match 31 June 1971RomaA1–037,450Ritchie 56'
Group match 44 June 1971Hellas VeronaA1–28,000Ritchie 88'

Friendlies

Squad statistics