1902–03 Stoke F.C. season


The 1902–03 season was Stoke's 14th season in the Football League.
After two seasons of narrow escapes the 1902–03 season provided Stoke fans a welcome relief as they finished in sixth place and could have won the league but failed to win their last four fixtures.

Season review

League

After a couple of desolate campaigns it did seem that the 1902–03 season would, bring some progress as the club attempted to build on a somewhat poor defence. A fine half-back was now taking shape with Tom Holford flanked by local players George Baddeley and James Bradley. This trio played together 74 times for Stoke at senior level and became a formidable midfield three. But perhaps the most significant signing at this time was that of 27-year-old inside-left Arthur Capes signed from Nottingham Forest. He became captain of the side and provided a useful number of goals for Stoke in his two seasons with the club. The directors also visited Scotland, again to sign Jack Forrest from Motherwell but after scoring twice on his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers he was unable to settle in the Potteries and left for Bradford.
An ultimate sixth-place finish in the table does not exaggerate the work put in by both Cowlishaw and Austerberry for this was Stoke's best season so far in League football. In fact after a hard fought 0–0 away at Sunderland on Good Friday, Stoke were lying fourth and had a mathematical chance of taking the title. But they only won one of their remaining four games allowing Sheffield Wednesday to win the league.

FA Cup

In the FA Cup Stoke accounted for Glossop and Nottingham Forest before bowing out 3–0 to Derby County.

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
16 September 1902Newcastle UnitedA0–515,000
213 September 1902Wolverhampton WanderersH3–010,000Forrest, Higginson
315 September 1902Notts CountyH0–28,000
420 September 1902LiverpoolA1–110,000Forrest
527 September 1902Sheffield UnitedH0–110,000
64 October 1902Grimsby TownA2–25,000Watkins, Capes
711 October 1902Aston VillaH1–010,000Watkins
818 October 1902Nottingham ForestA3–18,000Watkins, Capes, Whitehouse
925 October 1902BuryH1–012,000Watkins
101 November 1902Blackburn RoversA1–13,000Holford
118 November 1902SunderlandH1–17,000Baddeley
1215 November 1902Derby CountyH2–07,000Watkins
1322 November 1902EvertonA1–018,000Whitehouse
1429 November 1902The WednesdayH4–015,000Whitehouse, Bradley, Watkins, Johnson
156 December 1902West Bromwich AlbionA1–211,235Bradley
1620 December 1902Bolton WanderersA3–25,000Whitehouse
1725 December 1902BuryA1–24,000Watkins
1826 December 1902Blackburn RoversH0–210,000
1927 December 1902MiddlesbroughH0–26,000
203 January 1903Newcastle UnitedH5–08,000Watkins, Capes, Lockett, Baddeley
2110 January 1903Wolverhampton WanderersA0–16,000
2217 January 1903LiverpoolH1–07,000Johnson
2324 January 1903Sheffield UnitedA3–112,000Watkins, Capes, Whitehouse
2431 January 1903Grimsby TownH1–110,000Capes
2514 February 1903Nottingham ForestH3–28,000Capes, Watkins, Higginson
2614 March 1903Derby CountyA0–26,000
2721 March 1903EvertonH2–06,000Higginson, Holford
2828 March 1903The WednesdayA0–17,000
294 April 1903West Bromwich AlbionH3–05,500Higginson, Watkins, Whitehouse
3010 April 1903SunderlandA0–020,000
3111 April 1903Notts CountyA0–37,000
3213 April 1903Aston VillaA0–210,000
3318 April 1903Bolton WanderersH2–05,000Capes, Harris
3425 April 1903MiddlesbroughA1–110,000Harris

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R17 February 1903GlossopA3–22,000Watkins, Whitehouse, Capes
R221 February 1903Nottingham ForestH0–025,000
R2 Replay26 February 1903Nottingham ForestA2–024,850Capes, Baddeley
R37 March 1903Derby CountyA0–316,00

Squad statistics