1995–96 Stoke City F.C. season
1995–96 season | ||
---|---|---|
Chairman | Peter Coates | |
Manager | Lou Macari | |
Stadium | Victoria Ground | |
Football League First Division | 4th (73 Points) | |
Play-offs | Semi-final | |
FA Cup | Third Round | |
League Cup | Fourth Round | |
Anglo-Italian Cup | Group Stage | |
Top goalscorer | League: Mike Sheron (16) All: Mike Sheron (16) | |
Highest home attendance | 18,897 vs Southend United (5 May 1996) | |
Lowest home attendance | 8,618 vs Tranmere Rovers (16 September 1995) | |
Average home league attendance | 12,279 | |
| ||
The 1995–96 season was Stoke City's 89th season in the Football League and 33rd in the second tier.
Prior to the start of the 1995–96 season, the possibility of building a new stadium to bring Stoke up to the requirements of the Taylor Report was discussed. On the pitch Stoke enjoyed their most successful season for quite a long time as they mounted a push for promotion to the Premier League and made the end-of-season play-offs against Leicester City. However, Leicester scored the only goal in the two-legged tie and they were the team that went on to be promoted.[1]
Season review
[edit]League
[edit]There were few transactions taking place in the summer of 1995 with the main talk being about a change of home.[1] The Taylor Report had come to the conclusion that all football stadia in England should be all-seater and the best option for Stoke would be to build a new stadium rather than convert the Victoria Ground.[1] The season began slowly with one win picked up in the first eight matches and with Icelandic midfielder Toddy Orlygsson leaving for Oldham Athletic after a contract dispute.[1] But wins over Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers kick started Stoke's season and after a 5–0 win at home against Luton Town, City went on a run of six wins in seven and took the team into the play-off zone.[1] In November Stoke completed a master-stroke signing swapping Keith Scott, for Mike Sheron at Norwich City.[1] He formed a great partnership with Simon Sturridge and the pair scored 29 goals between them this season.[1]
Fielding a settled side, Stoke continued to remain in the hunt for promotion and after a 2–0 win at home to rivals Barnsley at the start of March Stoke put distance between themselves and 7th.[1] But on transfer deadline day Paul Peschisolido was controversially sold back to Birmingham City with Macari claiming not to have been aware of any deal.[1] Attention was diverted by Sheron's club record run of seven goals in seven games as five wins out the last seven cemented Stoke place in the play-offs.[1] By this time it was agreed and ratified that in two years Stoke would be moving to a new purpose-built all-seater stadium.[1] Stoke's opponents in the play-offs were Martin O'Neill's Leicester City whom Stoke had already beaten twice in the league.[1] The first leg at Filbert Street ended 0–0.[1] In the second leg, Stoke produced a poor performance and Leicester scored the only goal, Garry Parker's left-foot volley ending Stoke's hopes of promotion.[1]
FA Cup
[edit]Stoke outplayed Premier League Nottingham Forest but fell to a 2–0 defeat in a replay.[1]
League Cup
[edit]Stoke drew Chelsea in the second round and after a 0–0 draw at home Stoke produced a brilliant performance away at Stamford Bridge and came away with a memorable 1–0 victory thanks to a 75th-minute goal from Paul Peschisolido.[1] Alas Stoke couldn't match another Premiership side, Newcastle United, who eased to a 4–0 win.[1]
Final league table
[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | Derby County (P) | 46 | 21 | 16 | 9 | 71 | 51 | +20 | 79 | Promotion to the Premier League |
3 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 67 | 48 | +19 | 75 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |
4 | Stoke City | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 60 | 49 | +11 | 73 | |
5 | Leicester City (O, P) | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 66 | 60 | +6 | 71 | |
6 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 17 | 20 | 9 | 57 | 45 | +12 | 71 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference
(O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Results
[edit]Legend
[edit]Win | Draw | Loss |
Football League First Division
[edit]Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 12 August 1995 | Reading | H | 1–1 | 11,932 | Wallace 12' |
2 | 19 August 1995 | Leicester City | A | 3–2 | 17,719 | Peschisolido (2) 9', 23', Gleghorn 33' |
3 | 27 August 1995 | Port Vale | H | 0–1 | 14,283 | |
4 | 30 August 1995 | Ipswich Town | A | 1–4 | 10,848 | Peschisolido 83' |
5 | 2 September 1995 | Oldham Athletic | H | 0–1 | 8,663 | |
6 | 9 September 1995 | Watford | A | 0–3 | 7,130 | |
7 | 12 September 1995 | Birmingham City | A | 1–1 | 19,005 | Carruthers 52' |
8 | 16 September 1995 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 0–0 | 8,618 | |
9 | 24 September 1995 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 2–1 | 9,612 | Peschisolido 14', Keen 51' |
10 | 28 September 1995 | Crystal Palace | A | 1–1 | 14,613 | Carruthers 36' |
11 | 7 October 1995 | Norwich City | H | 1–1 | 12,016 | Wallace 67' |
12 | 14 October 1995 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 4–1 | 26,486 | Gleghorn 36', Potter 41', Wallace 85', Carruthers 90' |
13 | 22 October 1995 | Derby County | H | 1–1 | 9,436 | Keen 66' |
14 | 28 October 1995 | Grimsby Town | A | 0–1 | 5,477 | |
15 | 4 November 1995 | Luton Town | H | 5–0 | 9,382 | Peschisolido 14', Sturridge (2) 73', 87', Gayle 75', Gleghorn 90' |
16 | 11 November 1995 | Southend United | A | 4–2 | 5,967 | Sturridge (3) 32', 63', 75', Gleghorn 65' |
17 | 18 November 1995 | Portsmouth | A | 3–3 | 8,030 | Gayle (2) 29', 61', Sturridge 63' |
18 | 22 November 1995 | Sunderland | H | 1–0 | 11,754 | Wallace 21' |
19 | 25 November 1995 | Millwall | H | 1–0 | 12,590 | Gleghorn 62' |
20 | 2 December 1995 | Norwich City | A | 1–0 | 15,707 | Gleghorn 53' |
21 | 9 December 1995 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 1–0 | 14,819 | Peschisolido 35' |
22 | 16 December 1995 | Crystal Palace | H | 1–2 | 12,090 | Sheron 87' |
23 | 23 December 1995 | Sheffield United | H | 2–2 | 12,265 | Gleghorn 27', Sheron 46' |
24 | 26 December 1995 | Barnsley | A | 1–3 | 9,229 | Gleghorn 68' |
25 | 30 December 1995 | Huddersfield Town | A | 1–1 | 15,669 | Sheron 57' |
26 | 13 January 1996 | Leicester City | H | 1–0 | 15,071 | Sheron 47' |
27 | 20 January 1996 | Reading | A | 0–1 | 8,082 | |
28 | 10 February 1996 | Ipswich Town | H | 3–1 | 12,239 | Sheron (2) 37', 75', Gleghorn 65' |
29 | 17 February 1996 | Birmingham City | H | 1–0 | 15,716 | Sturridge 25' |
30 | 24 February 1996 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 0–0 | 18,312 | |
31 | 28 February 1996 | Watford | H | 2–0 | 10,114 | Cranson 48', Wallace 62' |
32 | 2 March 1996 | Barnsley | H | 2–0 | 12,663 | Keen 39', Sheron 70' |
33 | 9 March 1996 | Sheffield United | A | 0–0 | 14,468 | |
34 | 12 March 1996 | Port Vale | A | 0–1 | 16,737 | |
35 | 16 March 1996 | Huddersfield Town | H | 1–1 | 13,157 | Sturridge 66' |
36 | 23 March 1996 | Charlton Athletic | A | 1–2 | 12,770 | Sheron 41' |
37 | 30 March 1996 | Derby County | A | 1–3 | 17,245 | Sheron 22' |
38 | 1 April 1996 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 2–0 | 16,361 | Sheron 3', Sturridge 58' |
39 | 6 April 1996 | Grimsby Town | H | 1–2 | 12,524 | Sheron 35' |
40 | 9 April 1996 | Luton Town | A | 2–1 | 7,689 | Sturridge 86', Sheron 90' |
41 | 13 April 1996 | Portsmouth | H | 2–1 | 11,471 | Wallace 7', Sheron 90' |
42 | 17 April 1996 | Charlton Athletic | H | 1–0 | 12,969 | Sheron 29' |
43 | 21 April 1996 | Sunderland | A | 0–0 | 21,276 | |
44 | 27 April 1996 | Millwall | A | 3–2 | 10,105 | Sheron 28', Sturridge (2) 32', 70 (pen) |
45 | 30 April 1996 | Oldham Athletic | A | 0–2 | 10,271 | |
46 | 5 May 1996 | Southend United | H | 1–0 | 18,897 | Sheron 12' |
First Division play-offs
[edit]Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Semi-final 1st Leg | 12 May 1996 | Leicester City | A | 0–0 | 20,325 | |
Semi-final 2nd Leg | 15 May 1996 | Leicester City | H | 0–1 | 21,037 |
FA Cup
[edit]Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R3 | 6 January 1996 | Nottingham Forest | H | 1–1 | 17,947 | Sturridge 27' |
R3 Replay | 17 January 1996 | Nottingham Forest | A | 0–2 | 17,372 |
League Cup
[edit]Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R2 1st Leg | 20 September 1995 | Chelsea | H | 0–0 | 15,574 | |
R2 2nd Leg | 4 October 1995 | Chelsea | A | 1–0 | 16,272 | Peschisolido 75' |
R3 | 25 October 1995 | Newcastle United | H | 0–4 | 23,000 |
Anglo-Italian Cup
[edit]- Note: The final group match against Reggiana was postponed and never replayed the result defaulted at 0–0.
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Group Match 1 | 5 September 1995 | Foggia | A | 1–1 | 4,200 | Peschisolido 65' |
Group Match 2 | 11 October 1995 | Salernitana | H | 2–2 | 5,071 | Peschisolido 3', Wallace 47' |
Group Match 3 | 8 November 1995 | Brescia | H | 1–1 | 4,193 | Dreyer 90' |
Group Match 4 | 13 December 1995 | Reggiana | A | 0–0 |
Squad statistics
[edit]Pos. | Name | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Anglo-Italian Cup | Play-offs | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
GK | Phil Morgan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
GK | Carl Muggleton | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
GK | Mark Prudhoe | 39 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
GK | Ronnie Sinclair | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
DF | Mark Birch | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
DF | David Brightwell | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 |
DF | Ian Clarkson | 43 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 52 | 0 |
DF | Ian Cranson | 23(1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25(2) | 1 |
DF | John Dreyer | 4(15) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6(16) | 1 |
DF | Graham Potter | 38(3) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 48(3) | 1 |
DF | Lee Sandford | 46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 55 | 0 |
DF | Lárus Sigurðsson | 46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 55 | 0 |
DF | Ray Wallace | 44 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 7 |
DF | Justin Whittle | 7(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9(1) | 0 |
MF | Carl Beeston | 13(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13(3) | 0 |
MF | Mark Devlin | 5(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7(7) | 0 |
MF | Nigel Gleghorn | 46 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 56 | 9 |
MF | Kevin Keen | 27(6) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33(6) | 3 |
MF | Chris McDonald | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MF | Toddy Orlygsson | 6(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8(1) | 0 |
MF | Vince Overson | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
FW | Martin Carruthers | 10(14) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 16(15) | 3 |
FW | John Gayle | 5(5) | 3 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6(7) | 3 |
FW | Paul Peschisolido | 20(6) | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 26(6) | 9 |
FW | Keith Scott | 6(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 6(2) | 0 |
FW | Mike Sheron | 23(5) | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 25(5) | 16 |
FW | Simon Sturridge | 30(11) | 12 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37(11) | 13 |