1989–90 Stoke City F.C. season

Stoke City
1989–90 season
Chairman Peter Coates
Manager Mick Mills,
Alan Ball
Stadium Victoria Ground
Football League Second Division 24th (37 Points)
FA Cup Third Round
League Cup Second Round
Full Members Second Round
Top goalscorer League: Wayne Biggins (10)
All: Wayne Biggins (11)
Highest home attendance 27,032 vs Port Vale (23 September 1989)
Lowest home attendance 8,139 vs Oxford United (10 April 1990)
Average home league attendance 12,499
Home colours

The 1989–90 season was Stoke City's 83rd season in the Football League and 30th in the Second Division.

The pressure was now on Mick Mills after four seasons without a serious promotion challenge and he spent big in the summer with £1 million worth of talent arriving at the Victoria Ground. However Stoke's overall performances left a lot to be desired and after failing to gain a victory until their 12th match Stoke hit the bottom of the table. With no improvement Mills paid the price and was sacked in November with former World Cup winner Alan Ball taking charge. Ball was unable to stop the slide into the third tier for only the second time in the club's history.[1]

Season review

League

After four seasons of mid-table finishes manager Mick Mills spent big to turn Stoke into a side capable of gaining promotion to the First Division.[1] He spent good money, breaking the club's record transfer of £480,000 for Sheffield Wednesday defender Ian Cranson, £75,000 on Derek Statham from West Bromwich Albion, £175,000 for Ian Scott and £250,000 for Wayne Biggins both from Manchester City.[1] All four started the first match of the season in a 1–1 draw at home to West Ham United in front of an expectant crowd of 16,058.[1] The teams's overall displays, however, left a lot to be desired and favourable results proved elusive, Stoke failing to win in their first 11 matches.[1]

Injuries, refereeing decisions and a spate of draws saw Stoke hit bottom spot in November after collecting just two wins in 19.[1] With the club heading towards the third tier for the first time since 1927 Mills paid the price for his failure and was dismissed.[1] Into Mills' place came Alan Ball, a former World Cup winner with England, whose previous job was with Portsmouth. Ball was appointed as Mills' assistant two months earlier.[1] He made an instant impact as Stoke beat Newcastle United on Boxing Day.[1] But injury to Ian Cranson against Bournemouth in March put a dent in any hopes of a revival.[1] Ball chose to wheel and deal in the transfer market in an effort to halt the club's slide.[1] He had come to the conclusion that the squad he had inherited was simply not good enough and out went Chris Kamara, Dave Bamber, Leigh Palin, Carl Saunders, Gary Hackett and Nicky Morgan.[1] Into the side came Tony Ellis, Lee Sandford, Tony Kelly, Dave Kevan, Paul Barnes and Noel Blake.[1]

It was a big gamble by Ball to change the squad around so much so quickly and it did not pay off, Stoke staying rooted to the bottom of the table and they subsequently fell through the trap door into the Third Division for the first time since 1927.[1] Stoke won only six of their 46 matches and scored just 35 goals, Biggins getting 10.[1] There were few bright spots during a dismal season which saw the Potteries derby make a return, 27,032 saw Stoke and Vale draw 1–1 on 23 September and at Vale Park 22,075 saw a dull 0–0 on 3 February.[1]

FA Cup

Former fan favourites Steve Bould and Lee Dixon returned to the Victoria Ground with Arsenal and a crowd of 23,827 saw David O'Leary score the only goal of the tie.[1]

League Cup

After beating First Division Millwall 1–0 in the first leg Stoke lost the second leg 2–0 with some controversial referring decisions going against Stoke which led to Mick Mills having to be restrained on the touchline.[1]

Full Members Cup

Stoke entered the Full Members Cup for the final time and went out in the second round losing on penalties to Leeds United.[1]

Final league table

PosClubPWDLFAGDPts
1Leeds United46241397952+2785
2Sheffield United46241397858+2085
3Newcastle United462214108055+2580
4Swindon Town462014127959+2074
5Blackburn Rovers461917107059+1474
6Sunderland462014127064+874
7West Ham United462012148057+2372
8Oldham Athletic461914137057+1371
9Ipswich Town461912156766+1669
10Wolverhampton Wanderers461813156760+1767
11Port Vale461516156257+561
12Portsmouth461615166265–361
13Leicester City461514176779–1259
14Hull City461416165865–758
15Watford461415175860–257
16Plymouth Argyle461413195863–555
17Oxford United46159225766–954
18Brighton & Hove Albion46159225672–1654
19Barnsley461315184971–2254
20West Bromwich Albion461215196771–451
21Middlesbrough461311225263–1150
22Bournemouth461212225776–1948
23Bradford City46914234468–2441
24Stoke City46619213563–2837

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

Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
1 19 August 1989 West Ham UnitedH1–116,058Biggins 81'
2 26 August 1989 PortsmouthA0–07,433
3 2 September 1989 Leeds UnitedH1–114,570Cranson 29'
4 5 September 1989 BarnsleyA2–38,584Berry 19' (pen), Morgan 58'
5 9 September 1989 Wolverhampton WanderersA0–015,659
6 16 September 1989 Oldham AthleticH1–210,673Bamber 65'
7 23 September 1989 Port ValeH1–127,037Palin 66'
8 26 September 1989 Bradford CityH1–19,346Cranson 55'
9 30 September 1989 Ipswich TownA2–210,389Palin 47' (pen), Saunders 50'
10 7 October 1989 Plymouth ArgyleA0–36,940
11 14 October 1989 Hull CityH1–19,955Biggins 3'
12 17 October 1989 West Bromwich AlbionH2–111,911Hackett 8', Biggins 32'
13 21 October 1989 Sheffield UnitedA1–216,873Palin 67' (pen)
14 28 October 1989 SunderlandH0–212,480
15 1 November 1989 Oxford UnitedA0–34,375
16 4 November 1989 Swindon TownA0–67,825
17 11 November 1989 Brighton & Hove AlbionH3–210,346Beeston 1', Bamber 25', Kamara 30'
18 18 November 1989 BournemouthA1–26,412Hilarie 84'
19 25 November 1989 Leicester CityH0–112,261
20 2 December 1989 West Ham UnitedA0–017,704
21 9 December 1989 BarnsleyH0–110,163
22 26 December 1989 Newcastle UnitedH2–114,878Biggins 78', Beeston 90'
23 30 December 1989 WatfordH2–212,228Biggins (2) 23', 26' (1 pen)
24 1 January 1990 MiddlesbroughA1–016,238Ellis 61'
25 13 January 1990 PortsmouthH1–212,051Sandford 70'
26 20 January 1990 Leeds UnitedA0–229,318
27 27 January 1990 Blackburn RoversA0–39,132
28 3 February 1990 Port ValeA0–022,075
29 10 February 1990 Oldham AthleticA0–210,028
30 17 February 1990 Wolverhampton WanderersH2–017,870Biggins 64', Hackett 75'
31 22 February 1990 Leicester CityA1–212,242Biggins 41'
32 3 March 1990 BournemouthH0–010,998
33 6 March 1990 Ipswich TownH0–010,815
34 10 March 1990 Bradford CityA0–19,269
35 17 March 1990 Plymouth ArgyleH0–09,452
36 20 March 1990 Hull CityA0–06,456
37 24 March 1990 West Bromwich AlbionA1–112,771Ellis 78'
38 31 March 1990 Sheffield UnitedH0–114,898
39 7 April 1990 SunderlandA1–217,119Ellis 63'
40 10 April 1990 Oxford UnitedH1–28,139Sandford 42'
41 14 April 1990 MiddlesbroughH0–08,636
42 16 April 1990 Newcastle UnitedA0–326,190
43 21 April 1990 Blackburn RoversH0–19,305
44 24 April 1990 WatfordA1–18,073Biggins 30'
45 28 April 1990 Brighton & Hove AlbionA4–19,614Ellis (2) 51', 76', Biggins 70', Scott 80'
46 5 May 1990 Swindon TownH1–111,386Ellis 12'

FA Cup

Main article: 1989–90 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R36 January 1990 ArsenalH0–123,827

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R2 1st Leg19 September 1989 MillwallH1–08,030Morgan 32'
R2 2nd Leg3 October 1989 MillwallA0–28,637

Full Members Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R128 November 1989 Bradford CityH2–14,616Berry, Bamber
R219 December 1989 Leeds UnitedH2–2 (4–5 pens)5,792Kamara, Biggins

Friendlies

MatchOpponentVenueResult
1Västra Frölunda IFA9–0
2Alnö IFA3–1
3Frösö IFA4–0
4Anundsjö IFA1–0
5Hamrånge GIFA7–0
6Västerhaninge IFA8–0
7Newcastle TownA2–0
8Derby CountyH1–2
9EvertonH2–4
10WalsallH2–0
11RocesterA1–2
12Stafford RangersA3–0
13Jersey WanderersA7–0

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup Full Members Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland Scott Barrett 7000000070
GKEngland Peter Fox 380102020430
GKEngland Dan Noble 1000000010
DFJamaica Noel Blake 180000000180
DFEngland John Butler 440102020490
DFEngland Cliff Carr 220100020250
DFEngland Ian Cranson 172002000192
DFEngland Lee Fowler 13(2)010001015(2)0
DFEngland Tony Gallimore 0(1)00000000(1)0
DFEngland Andy Holmes 5(1)01000107(1)0
DFEngland Chris Kamara 22(1)110202127(1)2
DFEngland Lee Sandford 232100000242
DFEngland Derek Statham 190002000210
DFEngland Ian Wright 1000000010
MFWales George Berry 15(1)100001116(1)2
MFEngland Carl Beeston 38(2)210101041(2)2
MFEngland Garry Brooke 6(2)00000006(2)0
MFScotland Stephen Farrell 0(2)00000000(2)0
MFEngland Mark Higgins 4(2)00020107(2)0
MFScotland Dave Kevan 170000000170
MFEngland Leigh Palin 17(2)300202021(2)3
MFEngland Ian Scott 14(5)100000(1)014(6)1
MFWales Mickey Thomas 8000000080
MFEngland Paul Ware 9(7)010101012(7)0
FWEngland Dave Bamber 202002011233
FWEngland Paul Barnes 4(1)00000004(1)0
FWEngland Peter Beagrie 130002000150
FWEngland Wayne Biggins 35101000213811
FWEngland Darren Boughey 4(3)00000004(3)0
FWEngland Tony Ellis 246000000246
FWEngland Gary Hackett 18(8)20(1)01(1)02020(10)2
FWEngland Vince Hilaire 5100000051
FWEngland Tony Kelly 5(4)00000005(4)0
FWEngland Nicky Morgan 6(7)100110(1)07(8)2
FWEngland Mark Sale 0(2)00000000(2)0
FWEngland Carl Saunders 12(10)1100(1)01(1)014(12)1
FWScotland Mark Smith 2000000020

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
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