1903–04 Stoke F.C. season


The 1903–04 season was Stoke's 15th season in the Football League.
Any hopes Stoke fans had that last season's achievement of finishing sixth would signal a change in the club's fortunes were short-lived as the 1903–04 season was another poor one for Stoke. The team was in a hard relegation battle again and for the third time in four seasons Stoke required a final day escape and again they survived. Stoke drew the final match 1–1 with Derby County giving Stoke one more point than relegated Liverpool.

Season review

League

Off the pitch, Stoke's financial problems continued after spending £2000 on a roof for the Butler Street Stand meaning that the season's budget was spent before a ball was kicked. Stoke did receive some support from the church who agreed to provide a 21-year lease on the Victoria Ground enabling Stoke to continue improving their ground. Hopes for similar improvements on the pitch however were short-lived as the 1903–04 season was another poor one for Stoke and their supporters. The team were in deep relegation trouble from Christmas onwards. Arthur Lockett such a key figure in the side last season signed for Aston Villa, and although one or two other players were drafted in few looked to have any real class. Stoke's best signing was that of Fred Rouse from Grimsby Town who would eventually be sold for a profit.
By January 1904 Mart Watkins had followed Lockett to Villa and at Easter time there was certainly an element of déjà vu about the position the club were in. West Bromwich Albion were sitting bottom of the table with 21 points from 30 games whilst Stoke were above them with the same number of points and matches played, while Liverpool had 22 points and Derby 23. Again it all came down to the final match of the season and yet again Stoke survived, a point against Derby was enough to keep Stoke up.

FA Cup

Stoke lost 3–2 at home to Aston Villa in the first round in front of 15,000 spectators with Stoke's goals coming from George Baddeley and Sam Higginson.

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
11 September 1903BuryH4–116,000Davies, Higginson, Watkins, Capes
25 September 1903Manchester CityH1–215,000Whitehouse
312 September 1903Notts CountyA0–112,000
419 September 1903Sheffield UnitedH3–412,000Whitehouse, Higginson, Bradley
526 September 1903Newcastle UnitedA0–115,000
63 October 1903Aston VillaH2–014,000Watkins, Whitehouse
710 October 1903MiddlesbroughA0–215,000
817 October 1903LiverpoolH5–210,000Whitehouse, Capes, Holford, Holdcroft
924 October 1903BuryA2–25,000Holford, Coxon
1031 October 1903Blackburn RoversH6–210,000Holford, Coxon, Watkins, Whitehouse, Capes, Eastham
1114 November 1903The WednesdayH3–112,000Coxon, Watkins, Capes
1221 November 1903SunderlandA0–310,000
1325 November 1903Nottingham ForestA2–41,500Baddeley, Capes
1428 November 1903West Bromwich AlbionH5–04,000Watkins, Whitehouse, Davies, Higginson
155 December 1903Small HeathA0–15,000
1612 December 1903EvertonH2–37,000Watkins, Coxon
1719 December 1903Wolverhampton WanderersH5–16,000Watkins, Capes
1825 December 1903Blackburn RoversA0–225,000
1926 December 1903Derby CountyA0–518,000
2028 December 1903MiddlesbroughH0–010,000
212 January 1904Manchester CityA2–216,000Capes, Whitehouse
229 January 1904Notts CountyH0–28,000
2316 January 1904Sheffield UnitedA1–112,000Gallimore
2423 January 1904Newcastle UnitedH2–36,000Capes, Holford
2530 January 1904Aston VillaA1–310,000Capes
2613 February 1904LiverpoolA0–013,000
275 March 1904Nottingham ForestH2–37,000Leonard
2812 March 1904The WednesdayA0–115,000
2919 March 1904SunderlandH3–110,000Leonard, Bradley, Haworth
3026 March 1904West Bromwich AlbionA0–38,107
312 April 1904Small HeathH1–05,000Coxon
324 April 1904Wolverhampton WanderersA0–06,000
339 April 1904EvertonA1–012,000Whitehouse
3423 April 1904Derby CountyH1–15,000Whitehouse

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R16 February 1904Aston VillaH2–315,000Higginson, Baddeley

Squad statistics