The 1916–17 season was Stoke's second season in the non-competitive War League.

With the start of World War I, all Football League football was cancelled. In its place were formed War Leagues, based on geographical lines rather than based on previous league placement. Stoke contested the Lancashire Section in the Principal Tournament, and the Lancashire Section Secondary Competition Group D. However, none of these were considered to be competitive football, and thus their records are not recognised by the Football League.

Season review In the Primary Competition of the Lancashire League Stoke finished in 3rd place with 39 points whilst in the Secondary Competition they finished 2nd with 6 points. During this season the lowest ever attendance was recorded for a Stoke first team match when 394 people saw Stoke play Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park in October 1916. Stoke's best victory in the 1916–17 season was a 7–0 over Bolton Wanderers which was sweet revenge after they had beaten Stoke 9–2 earlier in the season.

Final league table Lancashire Section Primary Competition

Lancashire Section Secondary Competition Group D

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Lancashire Section Primary Competition

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers1 2 September 1916 Manchester CityH1–06,000Ellis2 9 September 1916 EvertonA1–114,000Bridgett3 16 September 1916 RochdaleH1–15,000Turner4 23 September 1916 Bolton WanderersA2–910,000Bridgett (2)5 30 September 1916 Port ValeH0–010,0006 7 October 1916 Oldham AthleticA1–1394Herbert7 14 October 1916 Preston North EndH2–03,000Herbert (2)8 21 October 1916 BurnleyA1–43,00Herbert9 28 October 1916 Manchester UnitedH3–05,000Herbert, Bridgett, Jones10 4 November 1916 LiverpoolA1–312,000Turner11 11 November 1916 Stockport CountyH2–03,000Bridgett, Humphries12 18 November 1916 BuryA3–02,000Jones, Herbert, Howell13 25 November 1916 BlackpoolA1–13,000Humphries14 2 December 1916 Southport CentralH2–12,000Herbert, Bridgett15 9 December 1916 Blackburn RoversA1–13,000Howell16 23 December 1916 EvertonH0–25,00017 25 December 1916 Manchester CityA0–112,00018 30 December 1916 RochdaleA1–02,000Bridgett19 6 January 1917 Bolton WanderersH7–02,500Whittingham (2), Howell (2), Herbert (2), Parker20 13 January 1917 Port ValeA2–110,000Whittingham, Harrison21 20 January 1917 Oldham AthleticH4–02,000Whittingham (2), Bridgett, Own Goal22 27 January 1917 Preston North EndA1–13,000Limer23 3 February 1917 BurnleyH6–05,000Whittingham (4), Herbert, Harrison24 10 February 1917 Manchester UnitedA2–47,000Howell (2)25 17 February 1917 LiverpoolH1–012,000Whittingham26 24 February 1917 Stockport CountyA1–24,500Own Goal27 3 March 1917 BuryH5–25,000Whittingham (2), Bridgett (2), Howell28 10 March 1917 BlackpoolH6–06,000Whittingham (2), Howell (2), Herbert, Harrison29 17 March 1917 Southport CentralA2–02,500Whittingham (2)30 24 March 1917 Blackburn RoversH4–14,000Whittingham (2), Harrison (2)

Lancashire Section Secondary Competition Group D

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers1 31 March 1917 Manchester UnitedH2–17,000Whittingham, Howell2 6 April 1917 Manchester CityA0–112,0003 7 April 1917 Port ValeA2–312,000Whittingham (2)4 9 April 1917 Manchester CityH5–08,000Whittingham, Bridgett, Howell (3)5 14 April 1917 Manchester UnitedA0–19,0006 21 April 1917 Port ValeH2–014,000Herbert, Howell

Squad statistics Pos.NameMatchesAppsGoalsGK Richard Herron360DF Arthur Allman250DF Alec Milne50DF Jack Maddock30DF George Turner352DF Billy Twemlow60MF Sammy Brooks30MF George Dobson230MF Joe Jones342MF Tom Kinson20MF George Limer171MF R. McCarthy40MF A. Morris10MF Charlie Parker321FW J. Bridgett2511FW Albert Ellis61FW Thomas Greaves20FW Billy Harrison315FW Billy Herbert2512FW Harry Howell2614FW Howard Humphries62FW Dick Smith50FW Billy Tempest10FW Eli Turner60FW Arthur Watkin10FW Bob Whittingham1822

References