1986–87 Stoke City F.C. season


The 1986–87 season was Stoke City's 80th season in the Football League and 27th in the Second Division.
Peter Coates became Stoke's new chairman in September 1986 which helped Mills to make a number of useful signings. After a slow start to the season Stoke hit form in November and went on an eleven-match unbeaten run which lasted until the start of February. During this run Stoke beat Leeds United 7–2 and Sheffield United 5–2 which lifted Stoke up the table and in to contention for a place in newly formed Football League play-offs. However, Stoke could not keep up the good results, winning only four of their last 16 matches, finishing in 8th position.

Season review

League

With Mills wanting to bring in new players for the 1986–87 season he had to sell before he could buy, with Ian Painter joining Coventry City for £75,000 and youth team product Neil Adams joined Everton for £150,000, a move which angered the Stoke fans. Into the camp came right back Lee Dixon from Bury for £50,000 and winger Tony Ford from Grimsby Town for £35,000. Stoke again participated in the annual Isle of Man Trophy, but they failed to make it out of the group stage. There was a familiar problem as the season got under way - a lack of goals.
In September 1986 local businessman Peter Coates assumed the role of chairman and a full-strength board backed manager Mills with money for players. In came Mills' former Ipswich Town teammate Brian Talbot from Watford. After 10 matches Stoke were bottom of the table with performances leaving a lot to be desired but the arrival of ex-England international Talbot boosted morale and after striker Nicky Morgan arrived from Portsmouth a remarkable transformation took place. Stoke began to climb the table, going eleven matches without defeat which included a famous 7–2 victory over Leeds United and a 5–2 victory over Sheffield United. As well as Morgan, youngster Carl Saunders started to hit form as Stoke leapt into 4th place and there was great excitement that Stoke could make a return to the First Division. Alas it turned out to be a false dawn as just four wins and five draws in a row in their remaining 16 matches meant Stoke finished the season in 8th spot with 58 points, six away from a play-off spot.

FA Cup

Stoke beat Grimsby Town 6–0 in a second replay and then a victory over Cardiff City saw Stoke drawn against Coventry City in the fifth round. A near full house of 31,255 saw the "Sky Blues" narrowly beat Stoke 1–0 and they went on to lift the cup.

League Cup

who were becoming something of a bogey side for Stoke were able to grind out a 2–1 victory.

Full Members' Cup

Stoke made a quick exit in this season's Full Members' Cup losing at home to Sheffield United 2–1.

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
123 August 1986Birmingham CityH0–211,548
225 August 1986Leeds UnitedA1–213,334Saunders 1'
330 August 1986Crystal PalaceA0–16,864
42 September 1986West Bromwich AlbionH1–18,668Berry 29'
56 September 1986MillwallH2–07,100Berry 34', Shaw 37'
613 September 1986Oldham AthleticA0–26,513
720 September 1986PortsmouthH1–18,440Kelly 58'
827 September 1986SunderlandA0–214,394
94 October 1986Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–18,341
1011 October 1986Huddersfield TownH2–07,543Berry 24', Bertschin 29'
1118 October 1986Blackburn RoversH1–07,715Shaw 49'
1225 October 1986Ipswich TownA0–211,054
131 November 1986Derby CountyH0–212,358
148 November 1986Hull CityA4–05,252Ford 16', McEwan 37', Morgan 41', Bertschin 64'
1515 November 1986Sheffield UnitedA1–311,177Bertschin 19'
1622 November 1986ReadingH3–07,465Bertschin 12', 58', 79'
1729 November 1986Bradford CityA4–16,191Saunders 17', 65', Ford 35', Berry 60'
186 December 1986Plymouth ArgyleH1–010,043Berry 64'
1913 December 1986Grimsby TownA1–14,642Saunders 88'
2021 December 1986Leeds UnitedH7–212,358Morgan 5', 35', 72', Saunders 11', Dixon 21', Kelly 44', Ford 62'
2126 December 1986BarnsleyA2–07,436Saunders 30', Kelly 87'
2227 December 1986Sheffield UnitedH5–217,320Bould 5', Saunders 17', 55', 82', Morgan 77'
231 January 1987Shrewsbury TownH1–019,382Saunders 1'
243 January 1987MillwallA1–16,134Heath 32'
2524 January 1987Birmingham CityA0–010,643
267 February 1987Crystal PalaceH3–113,154Ford 2', Dixon 64', Berry 73'
2714 February 1987West Bromwich AlbionA1–412,366Bertschin 80'
2828 February 1987PortsmouthA0–314,607
2914 March 1987Blackburn RoversA1–210,075Morgan 83'
3017 March 1987SunderlandH3–09,420Berry 21', Dixon 60', Morgan 89'
3121 March 1987Huddersfield TownA2–27,222Ford 67', Bertschin 87'
3225 March 1987Ipswich TownH0–011,805
3328 March 1987Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–110,216Morgan 47'
344 April 1987Hull CityH1–18,146Talbot 15'
3511 April 1987Derby CountyA0–019,038
3618 April 1987Shrewsbury TownA1–46,777Saunders 88'
3720 April 1987BarnsleyH1–27,260Morgan 52'
3825 April 1987ReadingA1–05,927Morgan 12'
3928 April 1987Oldham AthleticH0–27,228
402 May 1987Bradford CityH2–36,229Gayle 81', 86'
414 May 1987Plymouth ArgyleA3–113,774Saunders 35', 38', Talbot 46'
429 May 1987Grimsby TownH5–16,406Kelly 6', Talbot 14', Berry 40', Saunders 57', Ford 76'

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R310 January 1987Grimsby TownA1–17,367Saunders 38'
R3 Replay26 January 1987Grimsby TownH1–1 14,340Saunders 71'
R3 2nd Replay28 January 1987Grimsby TownH6–012,087Morgan 10', 48', Talbot 17', Heath 22', Saunders 41', 81'
R431 January 1987Cardiff CityH2–120,423Saunders 33', Heath 70'
R521 February 1987Coventry CityH0–131,255

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R2 1st Leg23 September 1986Shrewsbury TownA1–25,343Maskery 17'
R2 2nd Leg8 October 1986Shrewsbury TownH0–06,468

Full Members' Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R130 September 1986Sheffield UnitedH1–23,987Ford 40'

Isle of Man Trophy

RoundOpponentResult
Group match 1Heart of Midlothian1–0
Group match 2Manchester City0–0
Group match 3Wigan Athletic0–1

Friendlies

Squad statistics