1955–56 Stoke City F.C. season


The 1955–56 season was Stoke City's 49th season in the Football League and the 16th in the Second Division.
It was a season of what might have been for Stoke as they often looked capable of challenging for promotion but then played badly the next match. In the end Stoke had to settle for a final position of 13th after picking up a modest 44 points in what was a frustrating season.

Season review

League

Manager Frank Taylor now backed by his namesake Mr G. Taylor made only minor adjustments to his squad for the start of the 1955–56 season. However, after a decent start to the season with Stoke looking capable of challenging for promotion the Stoke board showed their ambition. In November Stoke made an ambitious approach for Blackpool legend Stan Mortensen and it seemed that Stoke had signed a forward with some reasonable credentials, however much to the disappointment of the board Mortensen instead joined Hull City. So Stoke instead went and paid £11,000 to Lincoln City for their prolific forward Andy Graver. However, despite the new arrival being met by approval by the fans Graver would have an unsuccessful spell at the Victoria Ground.
It was a season of what might have been as Stoke failed to impress after their good start, and slid down the table finally ending up in a rather poor position of 13th. They were often found wanting and their home form was very poor, a 3–2 win against Liverpool was the best of the season in what was a 'thrilling' contest.

FA Cup

Stoke beat Exeter City and Leicester City both in replays before losing 2–1 at Newcastle United in the fifth round.

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 Second Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
120 August 1955Doncaster RoversA4–213,087King, Malkin
222 August 1955Bristol RoversA2–421,240Bowyer, Lowell
327 August 1955Sheffield WednesdayH2–024,529Bowyer, Lowell
429 August 1955Bristol RoversH1–218,875Lowell
53 September 1955Nottingham ForestA3–216,620Bowyer, Oscroft
65 September 1955Plymouth ArgyleA1–018,240Oscroft
710 September 1955Hull CityH4–119,971Bowyer, Malkin, Lawton
812 September 1955Plymouth ArgyleH4–117,179King, Oscroft, Lawton
917 September 1955Blackburn RoversA0–323,445
1024 September 1955Lincoln CityH3–020,533Emery, Lawton, King
111 October 1955Leicester CityA1–326,831Bowyer
128 October 1955Port ValeA0–136,271
1315 October 1955Rotherham UnitedH1–017,421King
1422 October 1955MiddlesbroughA3–118,217King, Oscroft
1529 October 1955Notts CountyH0–215,737
165 November 1955Leeds UnitedA0–121,138
1712 November 1955FulhamH1–218,972Cairns
1819 November 1955BuryA0–19,030
1926 November 1955BarnsleyH2–117,729King
203 December 1955Swansea TownA0–018,457
2110 December 1955Bristol CityH4–217,039King, Bowyer, Oscroft, Graver
2217 December 1955Doncaster RoversH5–215,336King, Bowyer, Graver, Coleman
2324 December 1955Sheffield WednesdayA0–423,579
2426 December 1955LiverpoolA2–249,604King, Oscroft
2527 December 1955LiverpoolH3–229,108Graver, Bowyer, Coleman
2631 December 1955Nottingham ForestH1–122,381Bowyer
2721 January 1956Blackburn RoversH1–218,731King
2811 February 1956Leicester CityH2–021,091Coleman
293 March 1956MiddlesbroughH2–520,134Bowyer, Oscroft
3010 March 1956Bristol CityA1–028,046Oscroft
3117 March 1956Leeds UnitedH2–116,007Bowyer, Graver
3224 March 1956FulhamA0–220,325
3330 March 1956West Ham UnitedA0–216,231
3431 March 1956Port ValeH1–136,362Oscroft
352 April 1956West Ham UnitedH3–019,949Graver, King, Coleman
367 April 1956BarnsleyA0–19,590
3714 April 1956Swansea TownH5–012,770Bowyer, Oscroft, King, Graver
3816 April 1956BuryH0–211,227
3921 April 1956Notts CountyA3–111,355Graver, Oscroft, Cairns
4025 April 1956Lincoln CityA1–212,015Oscroft
4128 April 1956Rotherham UnitedA1–06,375Oscroft
421 May 1956Hull CityA2–35,232Bowyer, Ward

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R37 January 1956Exeter CityA0–016,860
R3 Replay9 January 1956Exeter CityH3–014,513Oscroft, Bowyer, Coleman
R428 January 1956Leicester CityA3–335,877Bowyer, King, Graver
R4 Replay30 January 1956Leicester CityH2–134,120Graver, Oscroft
R515 February 1956Newcastle UnitedA1–261,540King

Squad statistics