The 1917–18 season was Stoke's third season in the War-time 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 B. 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 1st place with 48 points whilst in the Secondary Competition they finished 3rd with 6 points. Stoke were in free scoring form this season amassing 106 goals including a 16–0 win over Blackburn Rovers this was followed up by an 8–1 win over Rovers a week later. Stoke also beat teams 9–0 (Burnley), 7–0 (Oldham), 6–0 (Port Vale). Stoke won the Primary Competition and thus competed in the championship decider against Leeds City over two legs. However Leeds won 2–1. Both matches against Leeds drew impressive crowds and gate receipts totalled £918 which went to the National Footballers' War Fund.
Final league table
Lancashire Section Primary Competition
Lancashire Section Secondary Competition Group B
Results
Stoke's score comes first
Legend WinDrawLoss
Lancashire Section Primary Competition
MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers1 1 September 1917 Bolton WanderersA5–26,000Howell (2), Bridgett, Whittingham (2)2 8 September 1917 Bolton WanderersH6–27,000Howell (2), Bridgett, Whittingham, Herbert (2)3 15 September 1917 Preston North EndA3–25,000Howell, Whittingham, Herbert4 22 September 1917 Preston North EndH4–08,000Howell, Herbert, Bridgett, Jones5 29 September 1917 Port ValeA2–010,000Herbert, Whittingham6 6 October 1917 Port ValeH4–18,000Herbert, Whittingham (2), Howell7 13 October 1917 BlackpoolA5–04,000Harrison, Herbert (2), Howell (2)8 20 October 1917 BlackpoolH3–17,000Howell, Whittingham, Parker9 27 October 1917 Manchester CityH4–39,000Herbert, Watkin (2), Turner10 3 November 1917 Manchester CityA0–120,00011 10 November 1917 Blackburn RoversH16–08,000Whittingham (4), Turner (4), Herbert (3), Parker (2), Harrison, Bridgett, Jones12 17 November 1917 Blackburn RoversA8–14,000Whittingham (2), Herbert, Howell (2), Jones, Bridgett (2)13 1 December 1917 RochdaleA0–04,00014 8 December 1917 EvertonH3–08,000Bridgett (2), Howell15 15 December 1917 EvertonA2–310,000Bridgett, Whittingham16 22 December 1917 BuryH1–05,000Howell17 29 December 1917 BuryA1–14,000P. Jones18 5 January 1918 Oldham AthleticH7–05,000Herbert (4), Howell (2), Martin19 12 January 1918 Oldham AthleticA2–23,000Herbert, Howell 20 19 January 1918 Stockport CountyH2–14,000Herbert, Howell 21 21 January 1918 Stockport CountyA3–03,000Martin, Jones, Smith22 2 February 1918 Manchester UnitedH5–16,000Bridgett, Parker, Herbert, Howell (2)23 9 February 1918 Manchester UnitedA1–210,000Harrison24 16 February 1918 Southport CentralA2–03,000Howell, Turner25 23 February 1918 Southport CentralH4–04,000Turner, Lockett, Herbert, Jones26 2 March 1918 LiverpoolA1–122,000Howell27 9 March 1918 LiverpoolH3–125,000Howell (2), Bridgett28 16 March 1918 BurnleyH9–016,000Herbert (2), Bridgett, Howell (3), Parker, Lockett, Harrison29 23 March 1918 BurnleyA2–04,000Howell, Lockett30 27 April 1918 RochdaleH1–26,000Jones
Lancashire Section Secondary Competition Group B
MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers1 29 March 1918 Port ValeA2–17,000Herbert, P. Jones2 30 March 1918 Manchester UnitedA1–211,000Jones3 1 April 1918 Port ValeH6–012,000Herbert (3), Lockett, Bassett (2)4 6 April 1918 Manchester UnitedH0–08,0005 13 April 1918 Manchester CityH1–19,000Herbert6 20 April 1918 Manchester CityA0–211,000
Championship Decider
MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers1st leg 4 May 1918 Leeds CityA0–215,0002nd leg 11 May 1918 Leeds CityH1–014,000Parker
Squad statistics Pos.NameMatchesAppsGoalsGK Richard Herron20GK A. Morns50GK Teddy Peers310DF Arthur Allman50DF Jack Maddock230DF Alec Milne40DF George Turner10DF Billy Twemlow370DF Harry Wootton10MF Joe Jones386MF Charlie Parker386MF Dick Smith321FW G. Bassett42FW J. Bridgett2410FW Billy Briscoe10FW S. Connor10FW S. Cooper10FW Thomas Greaves20FW Billy Harrison334FW Billy Herbert3832FW Harry Howell3128FW P. Jones32FW Aaron Lockett95FW James Martin93FW G. McGregor10FW Billy Tempest10FW Eli Turner139FW Arthur Watkin32FW Bob Whittingham1715
References