The 1904–05 season was Stoke's 16th season in the Football League.
There was no relegation worries for Stoke this season due to the First Division being expanded to 20 clubs for the 1905–06 campaign. Stoke struggled for consistency and finished in a mid-table position of 12th after picking up 30 points.
Season review
League The summer of 1904 saw a further exodus of players, including Arthur Capes who left for Bristol City and Leigh Richmond Roose who went to Everton. There was now a distinct lack of quality players available within the club and with these two major departures, the now despondent Stoke supporters saw very little hope of improvement out on the pitch. Tom Holford took over captaincy whilst Jack Whitley arrived as first choice 'keeper from Everton.
James Sheridan an Irish International forward also came in from Everton, but never fitted in at the Victoria Ground although he did win an Ireland cap whilst at Stoke becoming the clubs first capped Irishman. Jack Hall another recruit signed from Newark, in October 1904 and his seven goals were only exceeded by Fred Rouse who was top scorer with 12. Not being able to field a settled forward line was a major problem for manager Horace Austerberry and 12th place in the division was the final outcome in an inconsistent season.
FA Cup Stoke went out of this season FA Cup in the second round after being well beaten 4–0 at home to Everton.
Final league table
Results Stoke's score comes first
Legend WinDrawLoss
Football League First Division
MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers1 1 September 1904 Derby CountyH1–210,000Haworth2 3 September 1904 Aston VillaA0–325,0003 10 September 1904 Manchester CityH1–013,000Rouse4 17 September 1904 Blackburn RoversA0–410,0005 24 September 1904 Notts CountyH0–28,0006 1 October 1904 Nottingham ForestA1–010,000Whitehouse7 8 October 1904 Sheffield UnitedH2–110,000Groves (o.g.), Hall8 15 October 1904 The WednesdayA0–315,0009 22 October 1904 Newcastle UnitedH1–012,000Hall10 29 October 1904 SunderlandA1–312,000Rouse11 5 November 1904 Preston North EndH1–16,000Rouse12 12 November 1904 Woolwich ArsenalA1–220,000Whitehouse13 19 November 1904 MiddlesbroughH3–16,000Rouse (2), Hall14 26 November 1904 Derby CountyA0–36,00015 3 December 1904 Wolverhampton WanderersH2–18,000Sheridan, Betteley (o.g.)16 10 December 1904 EvertonA1–49,000Hall17 17 December 1904 BuryA1–37,000Pitt18 26 December 1904 Sheffield UnitedA2–58,000Groves (o.g.), Hesham19 31 December 1904 Aston VillaH1–49,000Hall20 7 January 1905 Manchester CityA0–114,00021 14 January 1905 Blackburn RoversH4–06,000Holford, Rouse, Usherwood, Gallimore22 21 January 1905 Notts CountyA0–08,00023 28 January 1905 Nottingham ForestH0–08,00024 11 February 1905 The WednesdayH2–17,500Fielding (2)25 25 February 1905 SunderlandH1–35,000Hall26 11 March 1905 Woolwich ArsenalH2–06,000Hall, Rouse27 18 March 1905 MiddlesbroughA1–28,000 Rouse28 1 April 1905 Wolverhampton WanderersA3–14,000 Rouse (2), Holdcroft29 8 April 1905 EvertonH2–24,000Holdcroft, Balmer (o.g.)30 10 April 1905 Preston North EndA1–28,000Fielding31 15 April 1905 BuryH2–08,000Fielding, Holdcroft32 21 April 1905 Newcastle UnitedA1–410,000Hall33 22 April 1905 Small HeathA1–012,000Holford (pen)34 29 April 1905 Small HeathH1–04,000Haines
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersR14 February 1905 Grimsby TownH2–011,000Godley, BaddeleyR218 February 1905 EvertonH0–425,700
Squad statistics Pos.NameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGK Jack Benton200020GK Jack Whitley32020340FB Harry Benson25020270FB Charlie Burgess15000150FB Arthur Hartshorne23020250FB Sam Meredith500050HB George Baddeley34021361HB James Bradley25020270HB Tom Holford34220362HB Albert Sturgess900090FW Horace Brindley400040FW George Brown800080FW Tom Coxon400040FW Ross Fielding11320133FW Edwin Freeman000000FW George Gallimore9120111FW Bill Godley201131FW Wilf Haines310031FW Jack Hall25700257FW Jack Haworth210021FW Frank Hesham17100171FW Ted Holdcroft14310153FW Arthur Leonard400040FW Albert Pitt310031FW Fred Rouse3012203212FW James Sheridan12100121FW Arthur Usherwood610061FW Frank Whitehouse16220182FW Bob Whittingham000000–Own goals–4–0–4
References