The 1941–42 season was Stoke City's seventh season in the non-competitive War League.

In 1939 World War II was declared and the Football League was cancelled. In its place were formed War Leagues and cups, based on geographical lines rather than based on previous league placement. However, none of these were considered to be competitive football, and thus their records are not recognised by the Football League and thus not included in official records.

Season review There were three separate competitions in the 1941–42 season, two series of Football League North and a Football League War Cup tournament. Stoke did well without pulling up too many trees, finishing 5th in the first phase of the league and then a rather poor 16th in the second. Attendances were quite small due to obvious restrictions imposed by the authorities but the entertainment value was high with goals in abundance, both home and away. Among the many impressive scorelines for Stoke were those of 8–3 v Everton, 7–1 v Wrexham, 9–0 & 7–2 v Tranmere Rovers and a 10–0 defeat by Northampton Town in late May. That heavy reverse against the "Cobblers" was unbelievable as Stoke fielded a strong line up. Tommy Sale was in incredible goalscoring form this season hitting 56 goals including eleven hat-tricks.

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League North 1st Phase MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers1 30 August 1941 EvertonH8–34,000Basnett (2), Sale (3), Brigham, Liddle, Blunt2 6 September 1941 EvertonH1–36,000Brigham3 13 September 1941 WrexhamA7–14,500Blunt, Bowyer (2), Basnett, Brigham, Sale (2)4 20 September 1941 WrexhamH5–23,000Blunt, Bowyer, Sale (3)5 27 September 1941 ChesterH2–54,000Blunt, Bowyer6 4 October 1941 ChesterA4–34,000Bowyer (2), Basnett, Sale7 11 October 1941 Manchester CityA3–43,000Sale (3)8 18 October 1941 Manchester CityH5–03,000Sale (3), Basnett, Peppitt9 25 October 1941 Manchester UnitedH1–15,000Liddle10 1 November 1941 Manchester UnitedA0–34,00011 8 November 1941 New BrightonA5–32,000Basnett, Hamlett, Mountford (2), Freddie Steele 12 15 November 1941 New BrightonH4–02,094Hamlett, Sale (3)13 22 November 1941 Tranmere RoversH9–01,500Sale (5), Basnett (2), Mountford, Bowyer14 29 November 1941 Tranmere RoversA7–22,000Sale (3), Basnett (3), Liddle15 6 December 1941 Stockport CountyA6–1500Sale (3), Soo (2), Basnett16 13 December 1941 Stockport CountyH3–12,000Sale, Mountford, Basnett17 20 December 1941 LiverpoolA1–14,000Bowyer18 25 December 1941 LiverpoolH4–311,000Sale (2), Basnett, Liddle

Football League North 2nd Phase MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers1 28 March 1942 BlackpoolA0–44,0002 11 April 1942 WalsallA0–11,0473 18 April 1942 WalsallH2–31,500Sale, Liddle4 25 April 1942 ChesterA4–21,500Sale, Basnett, Bowyer5 2 May 1942 ChesterH2–22,000Liddle (2)6 9 May 1942 Preston North EndA2–12,500Liddle (2)7 23 May 1942 Northampton TownA0–103,0008 30 May 1942 Northampton TownH3–21,500Liddle, Liddle, Blunt

Football League War Cup RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersQR 27 December 1941WalsallA4–13,000Clewlow, Sale (3)QR 3 January 1942WalsallH8–03,000Sale (6), Soo, BluntQR 10 January 1942West Bromwich AlbionA0–47,335QR 17 January 1942West Bromwich AlbionH2–14,573Mitchell, SaleQR 31 January 1942ChesterfieldH2–11,500Sale (2)QR 14 February 1942Bolton WanderersH3–12,000Sale (3)QR 21 February 1942Nottingham ForestA0–11,000QR 28 February 1942Nottingham ForestH1–33,480SaleQR 14 March 1942ChesterfieldA1–22,500SaleQR 21 March 1942Bolton WanderersA1–13,000BasnettR1 1st leg 4 April 1942West Bromwich AlbionH5–35,000Basnett (2), Sale (3)R1 2nd leg 6 April 1942West Bromwich AlbionH1–613,864Sale

Squad statistics Pos.NameMatchesAppsGoalsGK Dennis Herod380DF Harry Brigham333DF Roy Brown10DF Sid Clewlow21DF Neil Franklin320DF Stanley Glover340DF Harry Griffiths30DF Lol Hamlett352DF Eric Hampson10DF Eric Hayward30DF John McCue30DF Billy Mould100DF Emlyn Williams30MF Edwin Blunt206MF Stanley Harrison20MF Jock Kirton80MF Bobby Liddle3310MF Frank Soo123FW Fred Basnett3218FW Frank Bowyer3710FW Bill Caton110FW Eric Longford20FW Bert Mitchell21FW Frank Mountford84FW Alexander Ormston20FW Syd Peppitt41FW Tommy Sale3756FW Freddie Steele81FW James Westland20

References