1995–96 Stoke City F.C. season


The 1995–96 season was Stoke City's 89th season in the Football League and 33rd in the second tier.
Prior to the start of the 1995–96 season, the possibility of building a new stadium to bring Stoke up to the requirements of the Taylor Report was discussed. On the pitch Stoke enjoyed their most successful season for quite a long time as they mounted a push for promotion to the Premier League and made the end-of-season play-offs against Leicester City. However, Leicester scored the only goal in the two-legged tie and they were the team that went on to be promoted.

Season review

League

There were few transactions taking place in the summer of 1995 with the main talk being about a change of home. The Taylor Report had come to the conclusion that all football stadia in England should be all-seater and the best option for Stoke would be to build a new stadium rather than convert the Victoria Ground. The season began slowly with one win picked up in the first eight matches and with Icelandic midfielder Toddy Orlygsson leaving for Oldham Athletic after a contract dispute. But wins over Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers kick started Stoke's season and after a 5–0 win at home against Luton Town, City went on a run of six wins in seven and took the team into the play-off zone. In November Stoke completed a master-stroke signing swapping Keith Scott, for Mike Sheron at Norwich City. He formed a great partnership with Simon Sturridge and the pair scored 29 goals between them this season.
Fielding a settled side, Stoke continued to remain in the hunt for promotion and after a 2–0 win at home to rivals Barnsley at the start of March Stoke put distance between themselves and 7th. But on transfer deadline day Paul Peschisolido was controversially sold back to Birmingham City with Macari claiming not to have been aware of any deal. Attention was diverted by Sheron's club record run of seven goals in seven games as five wins out the last seven cemented Stoke place in the play-offs. By this time it was agreed and ratified that in two years Stoke would be moving to a new purpose-built all-seater stadium. Stoke's opponents in the play-offs were Martin O'Neill's Leicester City whom Stoke had already beaten twice in the league. The first leg at Filbert Street ended 0–0. In the second leg, Stoke produced a poor performance and Leicester scored the only goal, Garry Parker's left-foot volley ending Stoke's hopes of promotion.

FA Cup

Stoke outplayed Premier League Nottingham Forest but fell to a 2–0 defeat in a replay.

League Cup

Stoke drew Chelsea in the second round and after a 0–0 draw at home Stoke produced a brilliant performance away at Stamford Bridge and came away with a memorable 1–0 victory thanks to a 75th-minute goal from Paul Peschisolido. Alas Stoke couldn't match another Premiership side, Newcastle United, who eased to a 4–0 win.

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

Legend

Football League First Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
112 August 1995ReadingH1–111,932Wallace 12'
219 August 1995Leicester CityA3–217,719Peschisolido 9', 23', Gleghorn 33'
327 August 1995Port ValeH0–114,283
430 August 1995Ipswich TownA1–410,848Peschisolido 83'
52 September 1995Oldham AthleticH0–18,663
69 September 1995WatfordA0–37,130
712 September 1995Birmingham CityA1–119,005Carruthers 52'
816 September 1995Tranmere RoversH0–08,618
924 September 1995West Bromwich AlbionH2–19,612Peschisolido 14', Keen 51'
1028 September 1995Crystal PalaceA1–114,613Carruthers 36'
117 October 1995Norwich CityH1–112,016Wallace 67'
1214 October 1995Wolverhampton WanderersA4–126,486Gleghorn 36', Potter 41', Wallace 85', Carruthers 90'
1322 October 1995Derby CountyH1–19,436Keen 66'
1428 October 1995Grimsby TownA0–15,477
154 November 1995Luton TownH5–09,382Peschisolido 14', Sturridge 73', 87', Gayle 75', Gleghorn 90'
1611 November 1995Southend UnitedA4–25,967Sturridge 32', 63', 75', Gleghorn 65'
1718 November 1995PortsmouthA3–38,030Gayle 29', 61', Sturridge 63'
1822 November 1995SunderlandH1–011,754Wallace 21'
1925 November 1995MillwallH1–012,590Gleghorn 62'
202 December 1995Norwich CityA1–015,707Gleghorn 53'
219 December 1995West Bromwich AlbionA1–014,819Peschisolido 35'
2216 December 1995Crystal PalaceH1–212,090Sheron 87'
2323 December 1995Sheffield UnitedH2–212,265Gleghorn 27', Sheron 46'
2426 December 1995BarnsleyA1–39,229Gleghorn 68'
2530 December 1995Huddersfield TownA1–115,669Sheron 57'
2613 January 1996Leicester CityH1–015,071Sheron 47'
2720 January 1996ReadingA0–18,082
2810 February 1996Ipswich TownH3–112,239Sheron 37', 75', Gleghorn 65'
2917 February 1996Birmingham CityH1–015,716Sturridge 25'
3024 February 1996Tranmere RoversA0–018,312
3128 February 1996WatfordH2–010,114Cranson 48', Wallace 62'
322 March 1996BarnsleyH2–012,663Keen 39', Sheron 70'
339 March 1996Sheffield UnitedA0–014,468
3412 March 1996Port ValeA0–116,737
3516 March 1996Huddersfield TownH1–113,157Sturridge 66'
3623 March 1996Charlton AthleticA1–212,770Sheron 41'
3730 March 1996Derby CountyA1–317,245Sheron 22'
381 April 1996Wolverhampton WanderersH2–016,361Sheron 3', Sturridge 58'
396 April 1996Grimsby TownH1–212,524Sheron 35'
409 April 1996Luton TownA2–17,689Sturridge 86', Sheron 90'
4113 April 1996PortsmouthH2–111,471Wallace 7', Sheron 90'
4217 April 1996Charlton AthleticH1–012,969Sheron 29'
4321 April 1996SunderlandA0–021,276
4427 April 1996MillwallA3–210,105Sheron 28', Sturridge 32', 70
4530 April 1996Oldham AthleticA0–210,271
465 May 1996Southend UnitedH1–018,897Sheron 12'

First Division play-offs

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
Semi-final 1st Leg12 May 1996Leicester CityA0–020,325
Semi-final 2nd Leg15 May 1996Leicester CityH0–121,037

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R36 January 1996Nottingham ForestH1–117,947Sturridge 27'
R3 Replay17 January 1996Nottingham ForestA0–217,372

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R2 1st Leg20 September 1995ChelseaH0–015,574
R2 2nd Leg4 October 1995ChelseaA1–016,272Peschisolido 75'
R325 October 1995Newcastle UnitedH0–423,000

Anglo-Italian Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
Group Match 15 September 1995FoggiaA1–14,200Peschisolido 65'
Group Match 211 October 1995SalernitanaH2–25,071Peschisolido 3', Wallace 47'
Group Match 38 November 1995BresciaH1–14,193Dreyer 90'
Group Match 413 December 1995ReggianaA0–0

Squad statistics