1890–91 Stoke F.C. season


The 1890–91 season was Stoke's only season in the Football Alliance.
Stoke played their only season in the Football Alliance which they won the title and were re-elected back into the Football League at the end of the season. Stoke found life much easier in the Alliance and lost just twice as they ended up with 33 points and their first league title.

Season review

League

For the 1890–91 season Stoke joined the Football Alliance which comprised 12 teams made up from the Midlands and the North. This was very much the secondary competition to the Football League and while Stoke had struggled in their two previous seasons, they quickly came to grips with life in the Alliance and finished as champions. Stoke only lost two matches all season and were re-elected back into the Football League. Both defeats came in Birmingham, 5–2 at St George's and 5–1 at Small Heath and in both games they had their goalkeeper carried off due to injury. With no reserve 'keepers available for the following fixtures Stoke resorted to utilising two outfield players, Hughie Phillips v Crewe Alexandra and Alf Underwood v Bootle in goal. Eventually Ike Brookes the Staffordshire County cricket wicket-keeper was signed for the rest of the season and played in the last 12 matches where Stoke remained unbeaten to claim the title.

FA Cup

While out of the Football League, Stoke played a major part in the formation of the penalty kick when, in February 1891 they were knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round by Notts County 1–0 after two previous 3–0 victory's over Preston North End and Aston Villa. With time running out and Stoke pressing forward for an equalizer, Notts County's defender Jack Hendry handled in the area so the referee gave a free kick to Stoke. Notts County put all eleven men on the line and Stoke failed to score. This same referee, who recognised what an unjust event had occurred later became a football legislator and it was he who introduced the penalty kick to the Football League and FA Cup competitions for the 1891–92 season.

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 Alliance

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
113 September 1890Birmingham St George'sH6–31,500Ballham, Baker, Turner
220 September 1890Grimsby TownH2–12,000Edge, Coupar
327 September 1890Newton HeathH2–12,000Edge, Dunn
43 October 1890Nottingham ForestA2–22,000Turner, Baker
54 October 1890Grimsby TownA1–12,000Baker
611 October 1890Walsall Town SwiftsH1–04,000Baker
718 October 1890Birmingham St George'sA2–52,000Edge, Turner
81 November 1890Small HeathA1–52,500Edge
98 November 1890Crewe AlexandraH2–21,000Turner, Dunn
1015 November 1890BootleH2–11,500Dunn
1122 November 1890Sunderland AlbionA1–11,500Dunn
1229 November 1890Nottingham ForestH2–12,000Dunn, Ballham
136 December 1890BootleA2–21,000Dunn, Baker
1413 December 1890The WednesdayA4–26,000Dunn, Baker, Edge
1526 December 1890DarwenH6–23,000Baker, Edge, Ballham, Turner
1627 December 1890Small HeathH4–23,000Edge, Ballham, Turner
173 January 1891Sunderland AlbionH1–12,000Naughton
185 January 1891Newton HeathA1–02,000Turner
1924 January 1891Crewe AlexandraA4–21,500Coupar, Dunn, Ballham, Clifford
207 March 1891Walsall Town SwiftsA3–14,000Edge, Turner
2121 March 1891DarwenA3–31,000Edge, Turner, Dunn
224 April 1891The WednesdayH5–11,500Edge, Naughton, Dunn, Christie, Ballham

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R117 January 1891Preston North EndH3–08,000Ballham, Coupar, Turner
R231 January 1891Aston VillaH3–07,000Ballham, Coupar
R314 February 1891Notts CountyA0–116,000

Squad statistics