1991–92 Stoke City F.C. season

Stoke City
1991–92 season
ChairmanPeter Coates
ManagerLou Macari
Football League Third Division4th (77 Points)
Play-offsSemi-final
FA CupFirst Round
League CupSecond Round
League TrophyWinners
Top goalscorerLeague: Wayne Biggins
(22)
All: Wayne Biggins
(28)
Highest home attendance23,645 vs West Bromwich Albion
(12 February 1992)
Lowest home attendance8,419 vs Wigan Athletic
(14 December 1991)
Average home league attendance13,007

The 1991–92 season was Stoke City's 85th season in the Football League and 3rd in the Third Division.

Lou Macari was appointed as Stoke City manager in June 1991 with the hope that he would be the man to bring life back into the club. He made an instant impact and Stoke were fully involved in the fight for promotion and it was very nearly achieved. Stoke reached the Football League play-offs for the first time but lost 2–1 on aggregate to Stockport County, Stoke did however beat County at Wembley in the final of the Football League Trophy. Stoke did well in terms of goalscoring with both Wayne Biggins and new signing Mark Stein scoring 20+.[1]

Season review

League

The board appointed former Birmingham City manager Lou Macari on 18 June 1991.[1] Macari had a glittering career at the highest level of the game. He was seen as a man who knew what was required to achieve results and he wasted no time in altering his squad.[1] He brought in Steve Foley (£50,000 from Swindon Town), Vince Overson (£55,000 from Birmingham City), Ronnie Sinclair (£25,000 from Bristol City) and forward Mark Stein from Oxford United for what turned out to be a bargain £100,000.[1]

From the previous season's all-time low Stoke under Macari rose to great heights in 1991–92 and reached a Wembley final for the first time since 1972.[1] In the Third Division Stoke were in the hunt for automatic promotion all season eventually having to settle for a play-off place where they came up against Stockport County.[1] The first leg at Edgeley Park saw County win 1–0 thanks to a free-kick from Lee Todd after Carl Beeston had been sent-off and in the second leg Stoke went behind in the first minute and despite Stein pulling one back Stoke went out 2–1 on aggregate.[1] Despite the obvious disappointment of missing out on promotion it was a positive season for Stoke and there was high hopes that it could be the start of the club's revival.[1]

FA Cup

Stoke again drew non-league Telford United but this time the "Bucks" gained revenge beating Stoke 2–1.[1]

League Cup

After beating Chesterfield in the first round Stoke drew Liverpool in the second and in the first leg at Anfield almost 8,000 Stoke fans made the trip to see Stoke make a great contest and come away with a 2–2 draw.[1] Stoke again put up a fight in the second leg but went out of the competition losing 3–2.[1]

League Trophy

After qualifying from their group which included Birmingham City and Walsall, Stoke then advanced past Cardiff City, Walsall (for a second time), Leyton Orient and Peterborough United with Paul Ware scoring the vital goal to send Stoke through to Wembley.[1] In the final against Stockport County a single goal from Mark Stein gave Stoke a 1–0 victory.[1]

Final league table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
2 Birmingham City 46 23 12 11 69 52 +17 81 Promoted
3 Huddersfield Town 46 22 12 12 59 38 +21 78 Participated in play-offs
4 Stoke City 46 21 14 11 69 49 +20 77
5 Stockport County 46 22 10 14 75 51 +24 76
6 Peterborough United 46 20 14 12 65 58 +7 74 Promoted through play-offs[a]
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. ^ Peterborough United won the play-offs and were promoted.

Results

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division

Main article: 1991–92 Football League
Match Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
1 17 August 1991 Bradford City A 0–1 7,556
2 24 August 1991 Bournemouth H 1–1 10,011 Biggins 17' (pen)
3 31 August 1991 Peterborough United A 1–1 7,174 Biggins 1'
4 4 September 1991 Shrewsbury Town H 1–0 10,182 Biggins 53'
5 7 September 1991 Darlington A 1–0 4,230 Ellis 57'
6 14 September 1991 Fulham H 2–2 10,567 Biggins 25', Cranson 53'
7 17 September 1991 Hartlepool United H 3–2 9,394 Biggins (2) 37', 39', Butler 75'
8 21 September 1991 Preston North End A 2–2 6,345 Biggins (2) 41', 59'
9 28 September 1991 Stockport County H 2–2 6,345 Biggins (2) 14', 28' (1 pen)
10 5 October 1991 Chester City A 0–0 4,212
11 12 October 1991 Bolton Wanderers H 2–0 12,420 Biggins 16', Scott 80'
12 19 October 1991 Swansea City A 1–2 3,365 Ellis 88'
13 26 October 1991 Leyton Orient H 2–0 9,555 Biggins 36', Cranson 71'
14 2 November 1991 Huddersfield Town H 0–2 10,116
15 5 November 1991 Bury A 3–1 3,245 Ellis (2) 3', 78', Overson 83'
16 19 November 1991 Exeter City A 0–0 5,309
17 23 November 1991 Torquay United H 3–0 9,124 Biggins 2', Stein (2) 34', 60'
18 30 November 1991 West Bromwich Albion A 2–2 17,207 Overson (2) 40', 52'
19 14 December 1991 Wigan Athletic H 3–0 8,419 Stein 17', Kelly 43', Biggins 81'
20 21 December 1991 Bournemouth A 2–1 5,436 Biggins 10', Kelly 76'
21 26 December 1991 Peterborough United H 3–3 14,733 Kevan 7', Stein 30', Biggins 70'
22 28 December 1991 Bradford City H 0–0 12,208
23 1 January 1992 Shrewsbury Town A 0–1 8,557
24 4 January 1992 Birmingham City H 2–1 18,914 Ware 52', Biggins 77'
25 11 January 1992 Brentford A 0–2 9,004
26 18 January 1992 Reading H 3–0 10,835 Jones 24' (o.g.), Butler 54', Stein 71'
27 25 January 1992 Hull City A 1–0 4,996 Russell 20'
28 1 February 1992 Swansea City H 2–1 11,299 Ware 41', Beeston 90'
29 8 February 1992 Leyton Orient A 1–0 7,153 Beeston 4'
30 12 February 1992 West Bromwich Albion H 1–0 23,645 Stein 28'
31 15 February 1992 Wigan Athletic A 0–1 5,695
32 22 February 1992 Brentford H 2–1 16,417 Butler 10', Stein 65'
33 29 February 1992 Birmingham City A 1–1 22,162 Barnes 89'
34 4 March 1992 Reading A 4–3 4,362 Stein 28', Foley 30', Ware 60', McPherson 66' (o.g.)
35 7 March 1992 Hull City H 2–3 13,563 Barnes 52', Stein 73'
36 11 March 1992 Bury H 1–2 12,385 Barnes 85'
37 14 March 1992 Huddersfield Town A 2–1 10,156 Biggins 27', Stein 28'
38 21 March 1992 Exeter City H 5–2 13,634 Biggins 16', Stein 33', Beeston 42', Grimes 61', Steele 90'
39 28 March 1992 Torquay United A 0–1 3,260
40 31 March 1992 Fulham A 1–1 5,779 Stein 72'
41 3 April 1992 Darlington H 3–0 13,579 Biggins (2) 10', 20' (1 pen), Stein 69'
42 11 April 1992 Hartlepool United A 1–1 4,360 Stein 44'
43 18 April 1992 Preston North End H 2–1 16,151 Stein 44', Biggins 50' (pen)
44 20 April 1992 Stockport County A 0–0 8,129
45 25 April 1992 Chester City H 0–1 18,474
46 2 May 1992 Bolton Wanderers A 1–3 9,997 Stein 7'

Third Division play-offs

Main article: 1992 Football League play-offs
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
Semi-final 1st Leg 10 May 1992 Stockport County A 0–1 7,537
Semi-final 2nd Leg 13 May 1992 Stockport County H 1–1 16,170 Stein 81'

FA Cup

Main article: 1991–92 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
R1 15 November 1991 Telford United H 0–0 9,974
R1 Replay 26 November 1991 Telford United A 1–2 4,032 Biggins 81'

League Cup

Main article: 1991–92 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
R1 1st Leg 23 August 1991 Chesterfield H 1–0 7,815 Ellis 20'
R1 2nd Leg 27 August 1991 Chesterfield A 2–1 5,391 Kelly 22', Beeston 68'
R2 1st Leg 25 September 1991 Liverpool A 2–2 18,389 Cranson 28', Kelly 88'
R2 2nd Leg 10 October 1991 Liverpool H 2–3 22,355 Biggins (2) 75', 88' (1 pen)

League Trophy

Main articles: 1991–92 Associate Members' Cup and 1992 Associate Members' Cup Final
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
Preliminary Round 1 22 October 1991 Walsall A 2–0 3,758 Sandford (2) 51', 70'
Preliminary Round 2 18 December 1991 Birmingham City H 3–1 5,982 Barnes 15', Stein 29' (pen), Ware 73'
Southern Round 1 14 January 1992 Cardiff City H 3–0 4,851 Biggins (2) 31', 80', Stein 76'
Southern Quarter Final 2 February 1992 Walsall H 3–1 7,381 Ware 18', Beeston 24', Stein 32'
Southern Semi Final 17 March 1992 Leyton Orient A 1–0 3,792 Stein 24'
Southern Final 1st Leg 6 April 1992 Peterborough United H 3–3 14,355 Biggins (2) 3', 5', Sandford 66'
Southern Final 2nd Leg 15 April 1992 Peterborough United A 1–0 12,214 Ware 51'
Final 16 May 1992 Stockport County N 1–0 48,339 Stein 65'

Isle of Man Trophy

Round Opponent Result
Quarter Final Isle of Man XI 7–0
Semi Final SC Cambuur 2–0
Final Sunderland 2–0

Friendlies

Match Opponent Venue Result
1 Witton Albion A 2–2
2 Worcester City A 3–1
3 Newcastle Town A 1–0
4 Aldershot A 4–1
5 Rocester A 2–1
6 Newcastle Town A 1–0
7 Kidsgrove Athletic A 2–1
8 Leek Town A 5–0
9 Munster XI A 5–0

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Play-offs Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Peter Fox 0 0 2 0 4 0 5 0 0 0 11 0
GK Australia Jason Kearton 16 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 17 0
GK England Kevin Pressman 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 6 0
GK Scotland Ronnie Sinclair 26 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 28 0
DF Jamaica Noel Blake 12(1) 0 0(1) 0 2 0 1(1) 0 2 0 17(3) 0
DF England John Butler 42 3 1 0 4 0 7 0 2 0 56 3
DF England Ian Cranson 41 2 2 0 4 1 8 0 2 0 57 3
DF England Lee Fowler 15(1) 0 1 0 4 0 1 0 2 0 23(1) 0
DF England Tony Gallimore 2(1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2(1) 0
DF England Vince Overson 34(1) 3 2 0 2 0 7 0 0 0 45(1) 3
DF England Paul Rennie 1 0 0 0 0 0 0(1) 0 0 0 1(1) 0
DF England Lee Sandford 37(1) 0 2 0 3 0 8 3 2 0 52(1) 3
DF England Ian Wright 3 0 0 0 0(1) 0 0 0 0 0 3(1) 0
MF England Carl Beeston 42(1) 3 2 1 4 1 7 1 1 0 56(1) 6
MF Republic of Ireland Ashley Grimes 4(6) 1 0 0 0 0 1(2) 0 2 0 7(8) 1
MF Republic of Ireland Mick Kennedy 19(1) 0 2 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 25(1) 0
MF Scotland Dave Kevan 43 1 2 0 2(1) 0 8 0 2 0 57(1) 1
MF England Ian Scott 6(3) 1 1 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 11(3) 1
MF England Paul Ware 22(2) 3 1 0 0 0 4(1) 3 0 0 27(3) 6
FW England Paul Barnes 3(10) 3 0 0 1(1) 0 2(1) 1 0 0 6(12) 4
FW England Junior Bent 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FW England Wayne Biggins 41 22 2 0 4 2 5 4 2 0 54 28
FW England Tony Ellis 9(6) 4 0(2) 0 2(1) 1 1(2) 0 0 0 12(11) 5
FW England Steve Foley 20 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 1 0 26 1
FW England Adrian Heath 5(1) 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0(1) 0 8(2) 0
FW England Tony Kelly 10(3) 2 0 0 3(1) 2 3 0 0(1) 0 16(5) 4
FW England Jason Percival 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW England Kevin Russell 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1
FW England Tim Steele 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 1
FW England Mark Stein 36 16 2 0 0 0 7 5 2 1 47 22
– Own goals – 2 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 2

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.