The 1930–31 season was Stoke City's 31st season in the Football League and the 11th in the Second Division.
Stoke experienced an average season as they finished in the same position as last season, 11th. The season was notable for the debuts of future star players Arthur Turner and Tommy Sale.
Season review
League Stoke's overall form in the 1930–31 season improved only marginally as they again took 11th position in the Second Division. Wins of 5–0 v Swansea Town and 4–0 over Oldham Athletic were the best results at home whilst a 7–3 hammering away at relegated Reading a day to forget for Stoke supporters. Stoke also conceded five at Everton, Preston North End and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The campaign ended with record gate receipts being taken from the final home league fixture against FA Cup winners West Bromwich Albion. A crowd of 26,064 amounting to £1,540 saw Albion win 1–0 to clinch promotion. Three debutants in 1930–31 who were later to have a big impact on the club's fortunes, were Tommy Sale, Arthur Turner and Harry Ware whilst Tom Williamson left for Norwich City in January.
FA Cup Stoke were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first attempt after an epic cup tie against Manchester United. After a 3–3 draw at the Victoria Ground and a goalless one at Old Trafford Stoke lost 4–2 in the 2nd replay at Anfield.
Final league table
Results Stoke's score comes first
Legend WinDrawLoss
Football League Second Division
MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers130 August 1930MillwallA3–120,337Kirkham (2), Sellars21 September 1930Bradford Park AvenueH1–113,000Cull36 September 1930Oldham AthleticH4–015,055Kirkham (3), Liddle48 September 1930Wolverhampton WanderersA1–516,000Kirkham513 September 1930Nottingham ForestA0–39,986615 September 1930Wolverhampton WanderersH1–214,000Liddle720 September 1930Tottenham HotspurH2–110,254Taylor, Armitage827 September 1930Preston North EndA1–512,036Taylor94 October 1930BurnleyH1–113,124Archibald1011 October 1930SouthamptonA1–210,000Mawson1118 October 1930BarnsleyH0–09,3531225 October 1930Charlton AthleticA2–110,047Mawson, Wilson131 November 1930Swansea TownH5–07,224Bussey (2), Wilson (2), Mawson (pen)148 November 1930Plymouth ArgyleA2–115,000Bussey, Mawson1515 November 1930Cardiff CityH1–08,900Liddle1622 November 1930EvertonA0–520,1201729 November 1930BuryH3–17,505Wilson (2), Chester (o.g.)186 December 1930Bristol CityA1–110,000Liddle1913 December 1930Port ValeH1–026,649Robertson2020 December 1930West Bromwich AlbionA0–415,6292125 December 1930Bradford CityA2–28,000Wilson, Liddle2226 December 1930Bradford CityH1–115,727Wilson2327 December 1930MillwallH2–310,196Wilson, Armitage (pen)243 January 1931Oldham AthleticA1–311,305Kirkham2517 January 1931Nottingham ForestH1–06,194Williamson2626 January 1931Tottenham HotspurA0–310,346272 February 1931Preston North EndH3–16,340Burns (2), Liddle287 February 1931BurnleyA2–17,072Liddle (2)2914 February 1931SouthamptonH1–310,095Bussey3021 February 1931BarnsleyA2–44,903Wilson (2)3128 February 1931Charlton AthleticH0–02,405327 March 1931Swansea TownA2–18,000Liddle, Archibald3314 March 1931Plymouth ArgyleH0–08,4903421 March 1931Cardiff CityA2–34,500Liddle, Kirkham3528 March 1931EvertonH2–012,300Liddle, Bussey363 April 1931ReadingA3–74,600Armitage (pen), Kirkham (2)374 April 1931BuryA3–03,000Liddle, Kirkham (2)386 April 1931ReadingH2–110,939Sale, Archibald3911 April 1931Bristol CityH3–17,626Kirkham (2), Liddle4018 April 1931Port ValeA0–013,1904130 April 1931West Bromwich AlbionH0–126,064422 May 1931Bradford Park AvenueA2–26,767Sale, Liddle
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersR310 January 1931Manchester UnitedH3–323,415Wilson (pen), Sale (2)R3 Replay14 January 1931Manchester UnitedA0–0 (aet)22,013R3 2nd Replay19 January 1931Manchester UnitedN2–411,788Archibald, Liddle
Squad statistics Pos.NameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGK Dave Beswick600060GK Norman Lewis36030390DF Arthur Beachill500050DF Bob McGrory39030420DF Charlie Scrimshaw200020DF Billy Spencer39030420DF Jack Tennant100010MF Len Armitage27300273MF Peter Jackson21010220MF John McDaid100010MF William Robertson20130231MF Harry Sellars33130361MF Paddy Turley300030MF Arthur Turner700070MF Tom Williamson14120161FW John Alderson000000FW Bobby Archibald40331434FW Billy Burns320032FW Walter Bussey39530425FW William Cook000000FW John Cull13100131FW Bert Hales100010FW Wilf Kirkham2314002314FW Bobby Liddle4114314415FW Joe Mawson11400114FW Tommy Sale17232204FW Harold Taylor320032FW Harry Ware100010FW Charlie Wilson1610311911–Own goals–1–0–1
References