1975–76 Stoke City F.C. season


The 1975–76 season was Stoke City's 69th season in the Football League and the 45th in the First Division.
After two very successful league campaigns there was high hopes for the 1975–76 season as Stoke looked to establish themselves amongst the best in the country. Their form was good and going into the new year Stoke were in the top half of the table and looking good. But disaster struck in January 1976 as winds of hurricane force battered Stoke-on-Trent and the Victoria Ground was badly damaged. The roof of the Butler Street stand collapsed and Stoke had to play a league match against Middlesbrough at nearby Vale Park whilst repair work was carried out. Results declined thereafter and Stoke took 12th position.

Season review

League

There had been heavy transfer costs incurred in 1974–75 with the club recording a loss of £448,342 and therefore now in debt despite an increase in the average attendance. Geoff Hurst was sold to West Bromwich Albion for £20,000, the only outgoing transfer for cash in the summer of 1975, although two other notable departures were those of club record goalscorer John Ritchie who retired after finding the back of the net a record 176 times for the "Potters" and also goalkeeper John Farmer. Hopes were high again of a successful season, but Stoke stayed stubbornly in the middle of the division never threatening the top or bottom to the table.
After some good and bad results come January 1976 Stoke experienced perhaps their greatest misfortune. In a powerful storm which hit the Stoke-on-Trent area the Butler Street stand had its roof blown off by strong winds and the Victoria Ground was closed while repair work was carried out. Near neighbours Port Vale offered Stoke the use of Vale Park and on the one occasion they used it Middlesbrough were beaten 1–0 with Ian Moores scoring in front of 21,009. Stoke were allowed back home for their next match against Manchester City in the FA Cup on 4 February. Stoke lost the momentum they had and finished the season in 12th spot. Eric Skeels left the club at the end of the season. Skeels is Stoke's all-time record appearance holder having made 592 appearances for the club in all competitions.

FA Cup

Stoke beat both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City before losing to Sunderland in a replay.

League Cup

Fourth Division Lincoln City caused a shock as they beat Stoke 2–1 at Sincil Bank.

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
116 August 1975West Ham UnitedH1–223,744Moores 89'
220 August 1975Wolverhampton WanderersH2–222,551Bowers 53', Conroy 57'
323 August 1975ArsenalA1–028,025Hudson 42'
427 August 1975Leicester CityA1–122,878Hudson 3'
530 August 1975Manchester UnitedH0–123,337
66 September 1975MiddlesbroughA0–320,975
713 September 1975Leeds UnitedH3–223,139Conroy 32', Pejic 40', Greenhoff 73'
820 September 1975Coventry CityA3–018,965Greenhoff 44', Moores 47', 77'
924 September 1975Manchester CityA0–128,915
1027 September 1975Derby CountyH1–025,097Greenhoff 11'
114 October 1975Norwich CityA1–022,318Haslegrave 73'
1211 October 1975Ipswich TownH0–121,978
1318 October 1975Sheffield UnitedA2–023,410Greenhoff 75', 84'
1425 October 1975Newcastle UnitedH1–124,057Greenhoff 60'
151 November 1975BurnleyA1–018,269Moores 55'
168 November 1975EvertonH3–224,651Salmons 12', Robertson 80', Moores 81'
1715 November 1975Tottenham HotspurA1–125,698Moores 71'
1822 November 1975Sheffield UnitedH2–121,959Salmons 20', 28'
1929 November 1975Queens Park RangersA2–322,328Moores 46', Bloor 55'
206 December 1975Aston VillaH1–128,492Greenhoff 22'
2113 December 1975ArsenalH2–118,628Salmons 73', Greenhoff 80'
2220 December 1975West Ham UnitedA1–321,135Bloor 34'
2326 December 1975LiverpoolH1–132,092Salmons 52'
2427 December 1975Birmingham CityA1–137,166Moores 40'
2510 January 1976Leeds UnitedA0–236,909
2617 January 1976MiddlesbroughH1–021,009Moores 87'
2731 January 1976Wolverhampton WanderersA1–224,190Conroy 72'
287 February 1976Leicester CityH1–221,001Moores 3'
2921 February 1976Tottenham HotspurH1–217,113Greenhoff 6'
303 March 1976Newcastle UnitedA1–037,459Burns 19'
316 March 1976BurnleyH4–116,062Smith 18', 30', Greenhoff 25', Mahoney 75'
3213 March 1976Ipswich TownA1–122,812Smith 83'
3320 March 1976Queens Park RangersH0–122,848
3424 March 1976Derby CountyA1–130,156Bloor 2'
3527 March 1976Aston VillaA0–032,359
362 April 1976Manchester CityH0–018,798
377 April 1976EvertonA1–216,974Greenhoff 59'
3810 April 1976Coventry CityH0–116,059
3917 April 1976LiverpoolA3–544,069Conroy 30', Moores 60', Bloor 89'
4019 April 1976Birmingham CityH1–019,918Gallagher 6'
4121 April 1976Manchester UnitedA1–053,879Bloor 87'
4224 April 1976Norwich CityH0–215,598

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R33 January 1976Tottenham HotspurA1–126,715Mahoney 31'
R3 Replay24 January 1976Tottenham HotspurH2–129,520Moores 35', Salmons 88'
R44 February 1976Manchester CityH1–038,073Greenhoff 81'
R514 February 1976SunderlandH0–041,171
R5 Replay17 February 1976SunderlandA1–247,583Smith 77'

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R210 September 1975Lincoln CityA1–213,472Greenhoff 18'

Friendlies

Squad statistics