1994–95 Stoke City F.C. season

Stoke City
1994–95 season
ChairmanPeter Coates
ManagerJoe Jordan,
Asa Hartford,
Lou Macari
StadiumVictoria Ground
Football League First Division11th (63 points)
FA CupThird round
League CupThird round
Anglo-Italian CupSemi-final
Top goalscorerLeague: Paul Peschisolido
(13)
All: Paul Peschisolido
(15)
Highest home attendance20,429 vs Port Vale
(22 April 1995)
Lowest home attendance9,111 vs Millwall
(29 April 1995)
Average home league attendance12,839

The 1994–95 season was Stoke City's 88th season in the Football League and 32nd in the second tier.

In the summer of 1994 manager Joe Jordan made a number of alterations to his squad with the best being the signing of Canadian Paul Peschisolido from Birmingham City. As the season started there was no change in the fans' relationship with Jordan and it came as no surprise when he resigned in September. Asa Hartford took the caretaker role until Lou Macari made a return from Celtic. His first match back saw Stoke beat West Bromwich Albion 4–1 and there were high hopes that it could spark a promotion push. Alas just one win from 13 matches (26 December to 21 March) saw Stoke finish in a mid table position of 11th.[1]

Season review

League

In the summer of 1994 Joe Jordan brought in Canadian Paul Peschisolido from Birmingham City in a deal which sent striker Dave Regis to St. Andrews along with £200,000.[1] He also brought in Carl Muggleton (who was on loan last season), Keith Downing and John Dreyer.[1] Everyone knew that the 1994–95 season was going to be a tough one and manager Jordan arranged a strenuous pre-season training camp in Scotland.[1] The league programme started with a 1–0 victory over Tranmere Rovers but this was followed up with poor results which saw Stoke lose 4–0 back-to-back at Reading and then Bolton Wanderers.[1] Shortly after that defeat at Bolton Jordan resigned which was unsurprising as he remained unpopular with the club's supporters.[1]

Asa Hartford assumed the role of caretaker manager for a short time and in his four games in charge Stoke won three.[1] On 30 September 1994 Lou Macari became the first manager to have a second spell at the club returning from Celtic.[1] His first match back saw Stoke beat West Bromwich Albion 4–1 but a poor defeat against Luton Town in the next match saw his attentions turn to strengthening the squad.[1] In came Kevin Keen, Ray Wallace and Lárus Sigurðsson as Stoke entered 1995 just out of the top group of teams.[1] But just one win in 13 saw Stoke fall further behind and whilst there was no danger of dropping too greatly there was no hope of catching the promotion contenders and Stoke had to settle for a mid-table finish of 11th picking up 63 points.[1]

FA Cup

Stoke didn't have to wait too long to come up against Joe Jordan who had returned to Bristol City and he was given a frosty reception by the supporters but his side managed to win the third round replay at the Victoria Ground 3–1.[1]

League Cup

Stoke drew Fulham in the second round and after a 3–2 loss at Craven Cottage Stoke beat Fulham 1–0 and progressed via the away goals rule.[1] In the next round Stoke lost to eventual winners Liverpool, 2–1 at Anfield.[1]

Final league table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
9 Derby County 46 18 12 16 66 51 +15 66
10 Grimsby Town 46 17 14 15 62 56 +6 65
11 Stoke City 46 16 15 15 50 53 −3 63
12 Millwall 46 16 14 16 60 60 0 62
13 Southend United 46 18 8 20 54 73 −19 62
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference

Results

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

Main article: 1994–95 Football League
Match Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
1 13 August 1994 Tranmere Rovers H 1–0 15,915 Gleghorn 49'
2 20 August 1994 Burnley A 1–1 15,331 Dreyer 90'
3 27 August 1994 Sunderland H 0–1 13,159
4 30 August 1994 Reading A 0–4 7,103
5 3 September 1994 Bolton Wanderers A 0–4 11,515
6 10 September 1994 Southend United H 4–1 11,808 Örlygsson 10', Edwards 13' (o.g.), Dreyer 47', Biggins 62'
7 14 September 1994 Charlton Athletic H 3–2 10,643 Gleghorn 17', Örlygsson 22', Peschisolido 55'
8 17 September 1994 Notts County A 2–0 8,281 Peschisolido (2) 31', 70'
9 25 September 1994 Derby County A 0–3 11,782
10 2 October 1994 West Bromwich Albion H 4–1 14,203 Carruthers (2) 24', 87', Wallace 35', Peschisolido 68'
11 9 October 1994 Luton Town H 1–2 11,712 Carruthers 80'
12 15 October 1994 Millwall A 1–1 7,856 Peschisolido 55'
13 22 October 1994 Oldham Athletic A 0–0 8,954
14 30 October 1994 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 1–1 15,928 Keen 17'
15 2 November 1994 Sheffield United H 1–1 11,556 Gleghorn 77'
16 5 November 1994 Barnsley A 0–2 5,117
17 19 November 1994 Grimsby Town H 3–0 21,055 Peschisolido (2) 23', 44', Carruthers 60'
18 26 November 1994 Watford A 0–0 9,126
19 30 November 1994 Portsmouth A 1–0 5,272 Beeston 74'
20 4 December 1994 Oldham Athletic H 0–1 12,558
21 10 December 1994 Burnley H 2–0 13,040 Örlygsson (2) 68' 83' (1 pen)
22 17 December 1994 Tranmere Rovers A 1–0 7,601 Carruthers 81'
23 26 December 1994 Swindon Town H 0–0 17,662
24 28 December 1994 Bristol City A 1–3 8,500 Cranson 83'
25 31 December 1994 Middlesbrough H 1–1 15,914 Gleghorn 20'
26 14 January 1995 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 0–2 28,298
27 4 February 1995 Portsmouth H 0–2 9,704
28 11 February 1995 Sheffield United A 1–1 13,900 Peschisolido 18'
29 21 February 1995 Grimsby Town A 0–0 6,384
30 25 February 1995 West Bromwich Albion A 3–1 16,591 Scott 34', Peschisolido (2) 65', 80'
31 4 March 1995 Derby County H 0–0 13,462
32 11 March 1995 Sunderland A 0–1 12,282
33 14 March 1995 Port Vale A 1–1 19,510 Sandford 33'
34 18 March 1995 Reading H 0–1 14,121
35 21 March 1995 Southend United A 2–4 4,240 Allen 48', Biggins 59' (pen)
36 25 March 1995 Notts County H 2–1 10,204 Gleghorn 13', Sturridge 77'
37 1 April 1995 Charlton Athletic A 0–0 10,008
38 4 April 1995 Watford H 1–0 9,578 Sigurðsson 43'
39 8 April 1995 Middlesbrough A 1–2 20,867 Peschisolido 30'
40 12 April 1995 Barnsley H 0–0 10,752
41 15 April 1995 Bristol City H 2–1 10,172 Andrade 27', Peschisolido 89'
42 17 April 1995 Swindon Town A 1–0 10,549 Örlygsson 35'
43 22 April 1995 Port Vale H 0–1 20,429
44 29 April 1995 Millwall H 4–3 9,111 Scott 15', Gleghorn (2) 39', 65' Keen 90'
45 3 May 1995 Bolton Wanderers H 1–1 15,557 Örlygsson 12' (pen)
46 7 May 1995 Luton Town A 3–2 8,252 Örlygsson 52', Peschisolido 79', Scott 87'

FA Cup

Main article: 1994–95 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
R3 7 January 1995 Bristol City A 0–0 9,683
R3 Replay 18 January 1995 Bristol City H 1–3 11,579 Scott 17'

League Cup

Main article: 1994–95 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
R2 1st Leg 20 September 1994 Fulham A 2–3 3,721 Örlygsson 69' (pen), Gleghorn 70'
R2 2nd Leg 29 September 1994 Fulham H 1–0 7,440 Peschisolido 2'
R3 25 October 1994 Liverpool A 1–2 32,060 Peschisolido 41'

Anglo-Italian Cup

Main article: 1994–95 Anglo-Italian Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
Group Match 1 24 August 1994 Cesena A 2–0 1,139 Clark 38', Carruthers 76'
Group Match 2 6 September 1994 Ancona H 1–1 3,380 Biggins 50'
Group Match 3 5 October 1994 Udinese A 3–1 1,200 Downing 69', Biggins 73', Butler 74'
Group Match 4 15 November 1994 Piacenza H 4–0 7,240 Butler 12', Carruthers (2) 37', 50', Gleghorn 85'
Semi Final 1st leg 24 January 1995 Notts County A 0–0 5,134
Semi Final 2nd leg 31 January 1995 Notts County H 0–0 (2–3 pens) 10,741

Friendlies

Match Opponent Venue Result
1 Clevedon Town A 2–0
2 Newcastle Town A 4–0
3 FC Xanthi H 2–3
4 Brechin City A 4–0
5 Dundee United A 1–4

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup Anglo-Italian Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Carl Muggleton 24 0 0 0 3 0 4 0 31 0
GK Scotland Ronnie Sinclair 22(2) 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 26(2) 0
DF England Mark Bailey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF England John Butler 38(3) 0 2 0 3 0 4(1) 2 47(4) 2
DF Scotland John Clark 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 6 1
DF England Ian Clarkson 15(3) 0 2 0 1 0 3(1) 0 21(4) 0
DF England Ian Cranson 37 1 2 0 3 0 5 0 47 1
DF England John Dreyer 16(2) 2 0 0 2 0 3 0 21(2) 2
DF England Graham Potter 1 0 0 0 0(1) 0 0 0 1(1) 0
DF England Lee Sandford 34(1) 1 2 0 3 0 6 0 45(1) 1
DF Iceland Lárus Sigurðsson 22(1) 1 0(1) 0 0 0 0 0 22(2) 1
DF England Ray Wallace 16(4) 1 1 0 1 0 6 0 24(4) 1
MF England Paul Allen 17 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 19 1
MF Cape Verde José Andrade 2(2) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2(2) 1
MF England Carl Beeston 15(1) 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 17(1) 1
MF England Keith Downing 16 0 1 0 2 0 3(2) 1 22(2) 1
MF England Nigel Gleghorn 44(2) 7 2 0 3 1 6 1 55(2) 9
MF Scotland Gary Holt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF England Kevin Keen 15(6) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 15(6) 2
MF Scotland Steve Leslie 0(1) 0 0 0 0 0 0(1) 0 0(2) 0
MF Iceland Toddy Orlygsson 38 7 2 0 3 1 1 0 44 8
MF England Vince Overson 33(2) 0 2 0 1 0 5 0 41(2) 0
FW England Jason Beckford 2(2) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3(2) 0
FW England Wayne Biggins 8(9) 2 0 0 1(1) 0 3(1) 2 12(11) 4
FW England Martin Carruthers 26(6) 5 0(1) 0 3 0 4(2) 3 33(9) 8
FW England John Gayle 1(3) 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3(3) 0
FW Canada Paul Peschisolido 39(1) 13 2 0 3 2 3(1) 0 47(2) 15
FW England Keith Scott 16(2) 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 18(2) 4
FW England Graham Shaw 1(2) 0 0 0 0 0 0(1) 0 1(3) 0
FW England Simon Sturridge 2(6) 1 0(1) 0 0 0 1(1) 0 3(8) 1
FW England Shaun Wade 0(1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0(1) 0
FW England John Williams 1(3) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1(3) 0
– Own goals – 1 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 1

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.