1895–96 Stoke F.C. season


The 1895–96 season was Stoke's seventh season in the Football League.
Stoke enjoyed their best season yet under new manager Bill Rowley finishing in 6th position with 30 points. Stoke only drew one game this season and that came in the FA Cup against Burnley.

Season Review

League

In the summer of 1895 the club had become a Limited liability company and long serving goalkeeper Bill Rowley was given the position of secretary-manager. One of Rowley's best pieces of business was to bring William Maxwell to the club from Dundee. Maxwell went on to score 75 goals in 156 matches in six seasons with Stoke.
Before the start of the season, there was a mini-exodus of players to Southampton St. Mary's such as Jack Farrell, Samuel Meston, Willie Naughton and trainer Bill Dawson. Some players would later return to Stoke after their spell on the south coast.
One of Stoke's most bizarre transfer deals took place in February 1896 when they signed Alan Maxwell from Darwen. Instead of requesting a transfer fee Darwen wanted a set of wrought iron gates to be supplied by Stoke. On the pitch Stoke finished their highest position yet of sixth place, picking up 30 points in the process. No league draw was forthcoming for Stoke their only draw came in the FA Cup against Burnley.

FA Cup

For the second season running Stoke were knocked out of the FA Cup by Wolverhampton Wanderers this time 3–0 in the third round. Prior to this Stoke were in free scoring form beating Tottenham Hotspur 5–0 and Burnley 7–1.

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
12 September 1895Bolton WanderersH2–07,000Dickson, W Maxwell
27 September 1895Derby CountyH2–16,000Schofield
314 September 1895Small HeathA2–16,000Dickson, Hyslop
421 September 1895West Bromwich AlbionH3–112,000Hyslop
528 September 1895Sheffield UnitedA0–16,000
65 October 1895Wolverhampton WanderersA0–14,000
712 October 1895Derby CountyA1–28,000Wood
819 October 1895Small HeathH6–18,000Schofield, Hyslop, W Maxwell, Grewer
926 October 1895Bolton WanderersA1–34,000Hyslop
102 November 1895Sheffield UnitedH4–08,000Hyslop, Dickson, Clare
119 November 1895West Bromwich AlbionA0–13,500
1211 November 1895Preston North EndH4–07,000Hyslop, Lonie
1316 November 1895The WednesdayA1–24,000W Maxwell
1423 November 1895Wolverhampton WanderersH4–15,000Lonie, Dickson
1528 November 1895Nottingham ForestA0–44,000
1630 November 1895BuryA1–02,500Hyslop
177 December 1895BurnleyH2–11,000Lonie, Schofield
1814 December 1895EvertonA2–710,000Schofield, Sandland
1921 December 1895The WednesdayH5–04,000Hyslop, Dickson, Proctor
2025 December 1895Preston North EndA1–05,000Proctor
2126 December 1895BuryH0–24,000
224 January 1896Aston VillaH1–212,000Schofield
2322 February 1896Aston VillaA2–510,000Dickson, W Maxwell
2414 March 1896SunderlandH5–06,000W Maxwell, Heames, Hyslop, A Maxwell, McNeill
2516 March 1896BurnleyA0–23,000
2621 March 1896Nottingham ForestH1–05,000Hyslop
2728 March 1896SunderlandA1–43,000Hyslop
283 April 1896Blackburn RoversA1–33,000Turner
294 April 1896Blackburn RoversH3–03,500W Maxwell, Johnson
3011 April 1896EvertonH1–23,000Schofield

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R11 February 1896Tottenham HotspurH5–06,000W Maxwell, Dickson, A Maxwell
R215 February 1896BurnleyA1–110,000Dickson
R2 Replay20 February 1896BurnleyH7–14,000Dickson, Hyslop, A Maxwell, W Maxwell
R329 February 1896Wolverhampton WanderersA0–316,000

Squad statistics