1985–86 Stoke City F.C. season


The 1985–86 season was Stoke City's 79th season in the Football League and 26th in the Second Division.
After the previous season's humiliating relegation Stoke's new manager Mick Mills had the tough task of restoring the club's pride. An early 6–2 victory over Leeds United certainly helped to boost morale but with poor crowds Stoke were never going to be involved in the race for promotion and with the squad considered too good to be relegated again a mid-table position of 10th was the final outcome in a season of recovery.

Season review

League

Following last season's debacle, Stoke had the chance to rebuild with their new manager Mick Mills and his assistant Sammy Chung. The Victoria Ground was in a state of depression as there was no money available whatsoever and the fans had deserted the team in their droves. The average attendance had dropped to below 10,000 and there was a genuine concern that the side could fall all the way to the Third Division and there was no doubt that Mills had an enormous task on his hands.
Stoke had a surprisingly good pre-season reaching the final of the Isle of Man Trophy, losing to Blackburn Rovers. But they suffered a 3–1 defeat at home to Sheffield United on the opening day in their first Second Division fixture for six years. But the fans finally had something to cheer about in their next home match as Mark Chamberlain rediscovered his lost form and starred in a 6–2 victory over Leeds United. Money was still a major problem and Sheffield Wednesday moved in to sign Chamberlain for £300,000.
The board hoped that this money would be available for Mills to spend on new players but instead it had to be used to reduce the club's overdraft. Alan Hudson, struggling with injury, decided to retire in November and Mills quickly brought in John Devine from Norwich City; he also promoted youth team player Neil Adams to the first team and he did well as results slowly started to improve. Paul Dyson was sold to West Bromwich Albion and Tony Kelly was signed from Wigan Athletic before the March transfer deadline and with Stoke out of all three cups and no worry of a relegation or promotion race they played out the final league fixtures without any pressure and finished in 10th position.

FA Cup

For the third season running Stoke failed to make it past the third round losing to Notts County.

League Cup

Stoke beat Fourth Division Welsh side Wrexham before losing away at Portsmouth.

Full Members' Cup

With English clubs banned from UEFA competitions due to the Heysel Stadium disaster the FA set up the Full Members' Cup as a replacement. Stoke lost to Oxford United at the semi-final stage.

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 Second Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
117 August 1985Sheffield UnitedH1–311,679Heath 44'
224 August 1985BarnsleyA0–06,598
326 August 1985Leeds UnitedH6–27,047Berry 15', Bertschin 55', 83', Chamberlain 77', 88', Maskery 75'
41 September 1985Bradford CityA1–36,999Painter 18'
54 September 1985Grimsby TownH1–17,362Chamberlain 89'
67 September 1985MillwallH0–07,187
710 September 1985MiddlesbroughA1–14,255Parkin 80'
814 September 1985PortsmouthA0–313,720
921 September 1985Charlton AthleticA0–28,858
1028 September 1985Crystal PalaceH0–07,130
115 October 1985Hull CityA2–06,890Bertschin 10', Saunders 73'
1212 October 1985Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–17,662Maskery 64'
1319 October 1985FulhamA0–14,007
1425 October 1985WimbledonH0–06,708
152 November 1985Huddersfield TownH3–07,291Heath 12', Shaw 43', Bertschin 66'
169 November 1985Carlisle UnitedA0–32,813
1716 November 1985Norwich CityH1–16,469Bertschin 53'
1823 November 1985Oldham AthleticA4–24,817Bertschin 35', 60', Heath 44', Maskery 49'
1930 November 1985SunderlandH1–09,034Bertschin 80'
207 December 1985MiddlesbroughH3–27,646Berry 25', Adams 33', Bertschin 55'
2114 December 1985Sheffield UnitedA2–112,370Adams 7', Shaw 46'
2221 December 1985BarnsleyH0–09,856
2326 December 1985Shrewsbury TownA0–19,565
241 January 1986Blackburn RoversH2–211,875Bertschin 33', Adams 36'
2511 January 1986MillwallA3–24,611Donowa 15', Painter 17', Bertschin 71'
2618 January 1986Bradford CityH3–18,808Shaw 41', Bertschin 48', 82'
2725 January 1986Grimsby TownA3–34,523Shaw 10', Bertschin 22', Adams 44'
281 February 1986Leeds UnitedA0–410,425
2918 February 1986FulhamH1–06,449Devine 9'
3022 February 1986Charlton AthleticH0–09,297
318 March 1986Hull CityH0–19,112
3215 March 1986Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–28,783
3318 March 1986Crystal PalaceA1–04,501Bertschin 36'
3429 March 1986Blackburn RoversA1–05,408Saunders 76'
3531 March 1986Shrewsbury TownH2–28,988Bertschin 13', 63'
365 April 1986Huddersfield TownA0–25,750
3712 April 1986Carlisle UnitedH0–07,159
3819 April 1986Norwich CityA1–117,757Bertschin 65'
3922 April 1986PortsmouthH2–08,529Berry 17', Heath 45'
4026 April 1986Oldham AthleticH2–08,585Shaw 40', Bertschin 47'
4129 April 1986WimbledonA0–15,959
423 May 1986SunderlandA0–120,631

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R313 January 1986Notts CountyH0–212,219

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R2 1st Leg24 September 1985WrexhamA1–05,241Bertschin 49'
R2 2nd Leg9 October 1985WrexhamH1–06,784Bertschin 80'
R329 October 1985PortsmouthA0–213,319

Full Members' Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
Group match 118 September 1985Coventry CityH3–03,516Bertschin 44', Saunders 49', Beeston 56'
Group match 22 October 1985MillwallA2–21,741Bertschin 54', Maskery 82'
Area semi final6 November 1985Oxford UnitedH0–15,820

Isle of Man Trophy

RoundOpponentResult
Group match 1Wigan Athletic3–0
Group match 2Manchester City2–1
Group match 3Isle of Man5–0
Semi FinalCarlisle United1–0
FinalBlackburn Rovers0–1

Friendlies

Squad statistics