1979–80 Stoke City F.C. season


The 1979–80 season was Stoke City's 73rd season in the Football League and the 47th in the First Division.
With Stoke now back in the First Division after a two-year absence the main aim of 1979–80 was to remain there. It was a difficult season for Stoke but they managed to achieve their aim finishing in a safe position of 18th five points away from relegation.

Season review

League

Durban recognised the need to strengthen his squad for the challenges of top-flight football and with veteran Denis Smith skippering the side he added to it Ray Evans a former Tottenham Hotspur right back, and goalkeeper Eric McManus. It was around his time that the introduction of foreign players from across Europe began to influence English football. And in keeping with the times Stoke signed their first player from the continent, Dutch midfielder Loek Ursem from AZ '67 for the equivalent of £85,000 in Dutch guilders. The players Durban brought to the Victoria Ground were respected more for their work rate than their flair but Ursem was something of an inspiration. Whilst he never fully commanded a regular place in the side he was a very popular player with the fans but at times lacked that extra bit of class to make him a top player.
Stoke also unveiled the new Stoke End stand in the summer of 1979, capable of seating 4,250 it was built from the proceeds of the club's successful commercial department whose lotteries were key to their success. After a good start to the season with two home wins the tough task of First Division football began to cause Stoke problems and they remained in the bottom six all season. They avoided an instant return to the Second Division with little to spare finishing in 18th position with 36 points.

FA Cup

Stoke had two men controversially sent-off as Burnley won 1–0 at Turf Moor. With the match seemingly destined for a replay referee Kevin McNally caused controversy as he sent off Denis Smith for time-wasting as he was going off injured. He then awarded Burnley a penalty after Billy Hamilton was fouled by Ray Evans, Martin Dobson scoring from the spot. Stoke were then reduced to nine men as Evans was then sent-off for dissent.

League Cup

This season saw the introduction of two legged matches in the early rounds of the League Cup, Stoke beating Swansea City but then losing to Swindon Town.

Final league table

Key: P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend

Football League First Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
118 August 1979Coventry CityH3–223,151Busby 34', Crooks 50', 55'
222 August 1979Nottingham ForestA0–126,147
325 August 1979Tottenham HotspurH3–122,832Crooks 35', 41', O'Callaghan 60'
41 September 1979Ipswich TownA1–317,539Butcher 20'
58 September 1979EvertonH2–323,460O'Callaghan 17', Smith 35'
615 September 1979Bristol CityA0–016,662
722 September 1979Crystal PalaceH1–219,225Smith 7'
829 September 1979Manchester UnitedA0–452,327
96 October 1979Norwich CityA2–217,060Irvine 13', Richardson 73'
1010 October 1979Nottingham ForestH1–128,514O'Callaghan 63'
1113 October 1979MiddlesbroughH0–018,406
1220 October 1979ArsenalA0–031,501
1327 October 1979Derby CountyH3–218,530Richardson 11', Heath 31', Crooks 67'
143 November 1979Coventry CityA3–116,761Jones 24', Heath 26', Crooks 75'
1510 November 1979Wolverhampton WanderersH0–126,061
1617 November 1979Aston VillaA1–227,056Scott 10'
1724 November 1979Bolton WanderersH1–014,435O'Callaghan 44'
181 December 1979SouthamptonA1–320,095Irvine 67'
198 December 1979West Bromwich AlbionH3–219,865Crooks 11', 14', 78'
2015 December 1979Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–018,392
2121 December 1979Leeds UnitedH0–216,878
2226 December 1979Manchester CityA1–136,286Dodd 5'
2329 December 1979Tottenham HotspurA0–128,810
2412 January 1980Ipswich TownH0–115,253
252 February 1980Bristol CityH1–014,510Rodgers 55'
269 February 1980Crystal PalaceA1–021,181Chapman 70'
2716 February 1980Manchester UnitedH1–128,068Irvine 48'
2823 February 1980MiddlesbroughA3–115,953Cook 4', Crooks 28', 87'
291 March 1980ArsenalH2–319,752Cook 12', Chapman 74'
308 March 1980Derby CountyA2–222,695Cook 12', 24'
3115 March 1980Norwich CityH2–114,333Heath 22', Bond 35'
3218 March 1980EvertonA0–223,848
3322 March 1980Wolverhampton WanderersA0–327,968
3429 March 1980Aston VillaH2–016,234Evans 16', Chapman 65'
351 April 1980LiverpoolA0–136,475
365 April 1980Manchester CityH0–020,451
378 April 1980Leeds UnitedA0–315,451
3812 April 1980SouthamptonH1–215,030O'Callaghan 12'
3919 April 1980Bolton WanderersA1–211,304Crooks 44'
4023 April 1980LiverpoolH0–231,996
4126 April 1980Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–014,422Heath 35'
423 May 1980West Bromwich AlbionA1–018,470Heath 57'

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R35 January 1980BurnleyA0–113,478

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R2 1st Leg29 August 1979Swansea CityH1–118,004Smith 90'
R2 2nd Leg4 September 1979Swansea CityA3–1 20,030Crooks 55', 120', Randall 93'
R3 1st Leg26 September 1979Swindon TownH2–215,255Irvine 6', O'Callaghan 40'
R3 2nd Leg2 October 1979Swindon TownA1–215,823Chapman 68'

Friendlies

Squad statistics