The 1890–91 season was Stoke's only season in the Football Alliance.
Stoke played their only season in the Football Alliance which they won the title and were re-elected back into the Football League at the end of the season. Stoke found life much easier in the Alliance and lost just twice as they ended up with 33 points and their first league title.
Season review
League For the 1890–91 season Stoke joined the Football Alliance which comprised 12 teams made up from the Midlands and the North. This was very much the secondary competition to the Football League and while Stoke had struggled in their two previous seasons, they quickly came to grips with life in the Alliance and finished as champions. Stoke only lost two matches all season and were re-elected back into the Football League. Both defeats came in Birmingham, 5–2 at St George's and 5–1 at Small Heath and in both games they had their goalkeeper (Bill Rowley and Wilf Merritt respectively) carried off due to injury. With no reserve 'keepers available for the following fixtures Stoke resorted to utilising two outfield players, Hughie Phillips v Crewe Alexandra and Alf Underwood v Bootle in goal. Eventually Ike Brookes the Staffordshire County cricket wicket-keeper was signed for the rest of the season and played in the last 12 matches where Stoke remained unbeaten to claim the title.
FA Cup While out of the Football League, Stoke played a major part in the formation of the penalty kick when, in February 1891 they were knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round by Notts County 1–0 after two previous 3–0 victory's over Preston North End and Aston Villa. With time running out and Stoke pressing forward for an equalizer, Notts County's defender Jack Hendry handled in the area so the referee gave a free kick to Stoke. Notts County put all eleven men on the line and Stoke failed to score. This same referee, who recognised what an unjust event had occurred later became a football legislator and it was he who introduced the penalty kick to the Football League and FA Cup competitions for the 1891–92 season.
Final league table
Results
Stoke's score comes first
Legend WinDrawLoss
Football Alliance
MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers113 September 1890Birmingham St George'sH6–31,500Ballham, Baker (4), Turner220 September 1890Grimsby TownH2–12,000Edge, Coupar327 September 1890 Newton HeathH2–12,000 Edge, Dunn43 October 1890 Nottingham ForestA2–22,000Turner, Baker54 October 1890 Grimsby TownA1–12,000Baker611 October 1890 Walsall Town SwiftsH1–04,000Baker718 October 1890 Birmingham St George'sA2–52,000Edge, Turner8 1 November 1890 Small HeathA1–52,500Edge98 November 1890 Crewe AlexandraH2–21,000Turner, Dunn10 15 November 1890 BootleH2–11,500Dunn (2)11 22 November 1890 Sunderland AlbionA1–11,500Dunn12 29 November 1890 Nottingham ForestH2–12,000Dunn, Ballham136 December 1890 BootleA2–21,000Dunn, Baker1413 December 1890 The WednesdayA4–26,000Dunn, Baker (2), Edge1526 December 1890 DarwenH6–23,000Baker, Edge (2), Ballham, Turner (2)1627 December 1890 Small HeathH4–23,000Edge, Ballham, Turner (2)173 January 1891 Sunderland AlbionH1–12,000Naughton185 January 1891 Newton HeathA1–02,000Turner1924 January 1891 Crewe AlexandraA4–21,500 Coupar, Dunn, Ballham, Clifford207 March 1891 Walsall Town SwiftsA3–14,000Edge (2), Turner2121 March 1891 DarwenA3–31,000Edge, Turner, Dunn224 April 1891 The WednesdayH5–11,500 Edge, Naughton, Dunn, Christie, Ballham
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersR117 January 1891 Preston North EndH3–08,000Ballham, Coupar, TurnerR231 January 1891Aston VillaH3–07,000Ballham (2), CouparR314 February 1891Notts CountyA0–116,000
Squad statistics Pos.NameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGK Ike Brookes12030150GK Wilf Merritt200020GK Bill Rowley600060FB George Bateman100010FB Tommy Clare22030250FB Jack Eccles100010FB Alf Underwood21030240HB Davy Brodie22030250HB Davy Christie22130251HB Hughie Clifford17130201HB Hughie Phillips700070FW Charlie Baker1711001711FW Lewis Ballham20633239FW Peter Coupar323264FW Billy Dunn2111302411FW Alf Edge2212302512FW Willie Naughton620062FW Wilmot Turner2011312312
References