1992–93 Stoke City F.C. season


The 1992–93 season was Stoke City's 86th season in the Football League and 4th in the third tier now known as the Second Division following the formation of the Premier League.
After a successful 1991–92 season which saw Stoke win the Football League Trophy and reach the play-offs the team went one better in 1992–93 as they claimed the Second Division title in fine style breaking the club's unbeaten record after going 25 league matches without defeat. Stoke collected 93 points from 138 on offer and racked up an impressive +39 goal difference as the club returned to the second tier.

Season review

League

With the formation of the Premier League in 1992 Stoke found themselves playing in the Second Division, still the third tier of English football. Following their excellent season in the previous campaign everyone was excited for the 1992–93 season to start and no more so than Lou Macari who signed Kevin Russell from Leicester. Stoke began their league season away at Hull City and things didn't go according to plan the "Tigers" winning 1–0.
But then things started to improve, Wigan Athletic were beaten and draws were gained at tricky Exeter and Plymouth. Stoke then beat traditional rivals West Bromwich Albion 4–3 which sparked a record breaking run of results. Stoke began to score goals on a regular basis and come the end of October, after 14 matches Stoke were in second position and after a 3–1 win away at Blackpool on 21 November Stoke went top and they were to remain there until the end of the season taking the league title and with it a return to the second tier. A tremendous run of 25 league games without defeat from 5 September 1992 to 20 February 1993, creating a new club record, Leyton Orient ending that with a single goal victory at Brisbane Road. The average attendance had risen by 3,000 to 16,556 and Mark Stein ran away with the goalscoring hitting 33 goals with 26 coming in the league.

FA Cup

Stoke drew local rivals Port Vale in the first round and after a 0–0 draw at the Victoria Ground, Vale went on to win the replay 3–1 at a waterlogged Vale Park which saw a shot from Dave Regis that was heading for goal get stuck in the mud.

League Cup

After easily beating Preston North End Stoke lost against Cambridge United.

League Trophy

Stoke went in the League trophy as holders and but for the second time this season Port Vale knocked Stoke out of a cup competition at the semi final stage.

Final league table

Key: P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Results

Legend

Football League Second Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
115 August 1992Hull CityA0–19,088
222 August 1992Wigan AthleticH2–112,902Biggins 7', Foley 70'
329 August 1992Exeter CityA2–24,106Stein 23', 25'
42 September 1992Bradford CityA1–35,959Stein 18'
55 September 1992Bolton WanderersH0–014,252
612 September 1992Plymouth ArgyleA1–18,208Stein 34'
716 September 1992Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–110,867Sandford 1'
819 September 1992West Bromwich AlbionH4–318,674Foley 45', Russell 46', 76', Cranson 83'
926 September 1992Mansfield TownA4–03,426Stein 33', 45', Ware 41', Biggins 61'
103 October 1992Chester CityA1–15,237Beeston 61'
1110 October 1992Leyton OrientH2–112,640Stein 87', 89'
1217 October 1992Preston North EndA2–18,138Butler 13', Sandford 40'
1324 October 1992Port ValeH2–124,459Cranson 69', Stein 86'
1431 October 1992BurnleyA2–016,667Shaw 21', 37'
153 November 1992FulhamA0–05,903
167 November 1992BournemouthH2–015,146Stein 47', 52'
1721 November 1992BlackpoolA3–18,028Russell 19', 46', Stein 28'
1828 November 1992Swansea CityH2–113,867Shaw 47', Stein 80'
1912 December 1992Huddersfield TownH3–013,377Ware 75', 83', Cranson 87'
2019 December 1992Hartlepool UnitedA2–14,021Regis 7', Gleghorn 90'
2126 December 1992ReadingA1–07,269Regis 37'
2228 December 1992Rotherham UnitedH2–021,714Beeston 40, Foley 81'
239 January 1993Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–28,622Stein 48', Foley 89'
2416 January 1993Mansfield TownH4–014,643Russell 14', Gray 40', Regis 64', Overson 70'
2523 January 1993West Bromwich AlbionA2–129,341Gleghorn 11', Stein 69'
2627 January 1993Exeter CityH1–114,181Regis 38'
2730 January 1993Wigan AthleticA1–14,775Beeston 36'
286 February 1993Hull CityH3–015,341Ware 5', Foley 43', Stein 86'
2920 February 1993Bradford CityH1–016,494Kevan 89'
3027 February 1993Leyton OrientA0–110,798
316 March 1993Chester CityH4–014,534Stein 23', 63', Shaw 41', Foley 66'
329 March 1993Stockport CountyH2–117,484Stein 47', Gleghorn 77'
3313 March 1993BournemouthA1–17,129Stein 68'
3420 March 1993FulhamH1–017,935Stein 72'
3523 March 1993Swansea CityA2–18,366Gleghorn 51', Foley 74'
3627 March 1993BlackpoolH0–117,918
3731 March 1993Port ValeA2–020,373Stein 4', Gleghorn 84'
383 April 1993Stockport CountyA1–19,402Regis 40'
397 April 1993Huddersfield TownA0–111,089
4010 April 1993ReadingH2–016,919Shaw 35, Gleghorn 69'
4112 April 1993Rotherham UnitedA2–09,021Stein 2', 54'
4217 April 1993Hartlepool UnitedH0–117,363
4324 April 1993Preston North EndH1–018,334Stein 55'
4428 April 1993Plymouth ArgyleH1–019,718Gleghorn 4'
454 May 1993Bolton WanderersA0–119,238
468 May 1993BurnleyH1–121,840Stein 64'

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R116 November 1992Port ValeH0–024,490
R1 Replay24 November 1992Port ValeA1–319,810Sandford 24'

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R1 1st Leg8 August 1992Preston North EndA1–25,581Stein 8'
R1 2nd Leg26 August 1992Preston North EndH4–0 9,745Stein 91', Overson 95', Biggins 102', 105'
R2 1st Leg22 September 1992Cambridge UnitedA2–23,426Stein 34', 63'
R2 2nd Leg7 October 1992Cambridge UnitedH1–210,732Shaw 68'

League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
Preliminary Round 115 December 1992WrexhamA2–03,974Russell 17', Ware 26'
Preliminary Round 26 January 1993Crewe AlexandraH2–29,714Stein 33', Regis 35'
Southern Round 220 January 1993BarnetH4–18,892Foley 14', 72', 82', Gleghorn 66'
Southern Quarter Final16 February 1993West Bromwich AlbionH2–117,568Stein 78', 90'
Southern Semi Final3 March 1993Port ValeH0–122,267

Isle of Man Trophy

Friendlies

Squad statistics