# 1995–96 Stoke City F.C. season

The 1995–96 season was Stoke City's 89th season in the Football League and 33rd in the second tier.
Prior to the start of the 1995–96 season, the possibility of building a new stadium to bring Stoke up to the requirements of the Taylor Report was discussed. On the pitch Stoke enjoyed their most successful season for quite a long time as they mounted a push for promotion to the Premier League and made the end-of-season play-offs against Leicester City. However, Leicester scored the only goal in the two-legged tie and they were the team that went on to be promoted.

## Season review
### League

There were few transactions taking place in the summer of 1995 with the main talk being about a change of home. The Taylor Report had come to the conclusion that all football stadia in England should be all-seater and the best option for Stoke would be to build a new stadium rather than convert the Victoria Ground. The season began slowly with one win picked up in the first eight matches and with Icelandic midfielder Toddy Orlygsson leaving for Oldham Athletic after a contract dispute. But wins over Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers kick started Stoke's season and after a 5–0 win at home against Luton Town, City went on a run of six wins in seven and took the team into the play-off zone. In November Stoke completed a master-stroke signing swapping Keith Scott, for Mike Sheron at Norwich City. He formed a great partnership with Simon Sturridge and the pair scored 29 goals between them this season.
Fielding a settled side, Stoke continued to remain in the hunt for promotion and after a 2–0 win at home to rivals Barnsley at the start of March Stoke put distance between themselves and 7th. But on transfer deadline day Paul Peschisolido was controversially sold back to Birmingham City with Macari claiming not to have been aware of any deal. Attention was diverted by Sheron's club record run of seven goals in seven games as five wins out the last seven cemented Stoke place in the play-offs. By this time it was agreed and ratified that in two years Stoke would be moving to a new purpose-built all-seater stadium. Stoke's opponents in the play-offs were Martin O'Neill's Leicester City whom Stoke had already beaten twice in the league. The first leg at Filbert Street ended 0–0. In the second leg, Stoke produced a poor performance and Leicester scored the only goal, Garry Parker's left-foot volley ending Stoke's hopes of promotion.

### FA Cup

Stoke outplayed Premier League Nottingham Forest but fell to a 2–0 defeat in a replay.

### League Cup

Stoke drew Chelsea in the second round and after a 0–0 draw at home Stoke produced a brilliant performance away at Stamford Bridge and came away with a memorable 1–0 victory thanks to a 75th-minute goal from Paul Peschisolido. Alas Stoke couldn't match another Premiership side, Newcastle United, who eased to a 4–0 win.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 2 | Derby County (P) | 46 | 21 | 16 | 9 | 71 | 51 | +20 | 79 | Promotion to the Premier League |
| 3 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 67 | 48 | +19 | 75 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |
| 4 | Stoke City | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 60 | 49 | +11 | 73 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |
| 5 | Leicester City (O, P) | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 66 | 60 | +6 | 71 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |
| 6 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 17 | 20 | 9 | 57 | 45 | +12 | 71 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |

## Results
### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League First Division

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 1 | 12 August 1995 | Reading | H | 1–1 | 11,932 | Wallace 12' |
| 2 | 19 August 1995 | Leicester City | A | 3–2 | 17,719 | Peschisolido (2) 9', 23', Gleghorn 33' |
| 3 | 27 August 1995 | Port Vale | H | 0–1 | 14,283 | |
| 4 | 30 August 1995 | Ipswich Town | A | 1–4 | 10,848 | Peschisolido 83' |
| 5 | 2 September 1995 | Oldham Athletic | H | 0–1 | 8,663 | |
| 6 | 9 September 1995 | Watford | A | 0–3 | 7,130 | |
| 7 | 12 September 1995 | Birmingham City | A | 1–1 | 19,005 | Carruthers 52' |
| 8 | 16 September 1995 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 0–0 | 8,618 | |
| 9 | 24 September 1995 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 2–1 | 9,612 | Peschisolido 14', Keen 51' |
| 10 | 28 September 1995 | Crystal Palace | A | 1–1 | 14,613 | Carruthers 36' |
| 11 | 7 October 1995 | Norwich City | H | 1–1 | 12,016 | Wallace 67' |
| 12 | 14 October 1995 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 4–1 | 26,486 | Gleghorn 36', Potter 41', Wallace 85', Carruthers 90' |
| 13 | 22 October 1995 | Derby County | H | 1–1 | 9,436 | Keen 66' |
| 14 | 28 October 1995 | Grimsby Town | A | 0–1 | 5,477 | |
| 15 | 4 November 1995 | Luton Town | H | 5–0 | 9,382 | Peschisolido 14', Sturridge (2) 73', 87', Gayle 75', Gleghorn 90' |
| 16 | 11 November 1995 | Southend United | A | 4–2 | 5,967 | Sturridge (3) 32', 63', 75', Gleghorn 65' |
| 17 | 18 November 1995 | Portsmouth | A | 3–3 | 8,030 | Gayle (2) 29', 61', Sturridge 63' |
| 18 | 22 November 1995 | Sunderland | H | 1–0 | 11,754 | Wallace 21' |
| 19 | 25 November 1995 | Millwall | H | 1–0 | 12,590 | Gleghorn 62' |
| 20 | 2 December 1995 | Norwich City | A | 1–0 | 15,707 | Gleghorn 53' |
| 21 | 9 December 1995 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 1–0 | 14,819 | Peschisolido 35' |
| 22 | 16 December 1995 | Crystal Palace | H | 1–2 | 12,090 | Sheron 87' |
| 23 | 23 December 1995 | Sheffield United | H | 2–2 | 12,265 | Gleghorn 27', Sheron 46' |
| 24 | 26 December 1995 | Barnsley | A | 1–3 | 9,229 | Gleghorn 68' |
| 25 | 30 December 1995 | Huddersfield Town | A | 1–1 | 15,669 | Sheron 57' |
| 26 | 13 January 1996 | Leicester City | H | 1–0 | 15,071 | Sheron 47' |
| 27 | 20 January 1996 | Reading | A | 0–1 | 8,082 | |
| 28 | 10 February 1996 | Ipswich Town | H | 3–1 | 12,239 | Sheron (2) 37', 75', Gleghorn 65' |
| 29 | 17 February 1996 | Birmingham City | H | 1–0 | 15,716 | Sturridge 25' |
| 30 | 24 February 1996 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 0–0 | 18,312 | |
| 31 | 28 February 1996 | Watford | H | 2–0 | 10,114 | Cranson 48', Wallace 62' |
| 32 | 2 March 1996 | Barnsley | H | 2–0 | 12,663 | Keen 39', Sheron 70' |
| 33 | 9 March 1996 | Sheffield United | A | 0–0 | 14,468 | |
| 34 | 12 March 1996 | Port Vale | A | 0–1 | 16,737 | |
| 35 | 16 March 1996 | Huddersfield Town | H | 1–1 | 13,157 | Sturridge 66' |
| 36 | 23 March 1996 | Charlton Athletic | A | 1–2 | 12,770 | Sheron 41' |
| 37 | 30 March 1996 | Derby County | A | 1–3 | 17,245 | Sheron 22' |
| 38 | 1 April 1996 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 2–0 | 16,361 | Sheron 3', Sturridge 58' |
| 39 | 6 April 1996 | Grimsby Town | H | 1–2 | 12,524 | Sheron 35' |
| 40 | 9 April 1996 | Luton Town | A | 2–1 | 7,689 | Sturridge 86', Sheron 90' |
| 41 | 13 April 1996 | Portsmouth | H | 2–1 | 11,471 | Wallace 7', Sheron 90' |
| 42 | 17 April 1996 | Charlton Athletic | H | 1–0 | 12,969 | Sheron 29' |
| 43 | 21 April 1996 | Sunderland | A | 0–0 | 21,276 | |
| 44 | 27 April 1996 | Millwall | A | 3–2 | 10,105 | Sheron 28', Sturridge (2) 32', 70 (pen) |
| 45 | 30 April 1996 | Oldham Athletic | A | 0–2 | 10,271 | |
| 46 | 5 May 1996 | Southend United | H | 1–0 | 18,897 | Sheron 12' |

### First Division play-offs

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| Semi-final 1st Leg | 12 May 1996 | Leicester City | A | 0–0 | 20,325 | |
| Semi-final 2nd Leg | 15 May 1996 | Leicester City | H | 0–1 | 21,037 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| R3 | 6 January 1996 | Nottingham Forest | H | 1–1 | 17,947 | Sturridge 27' |
| R3 Replay | 17 January 1996 | Nottingham Forest | A | 0–2 | 17,372 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| R2 1st Leg | 20 September 1995 | Chelsea | H | 0–0 | 15,574 | |
| R2 2nd Leg | 4 October 1995 | Chelsea | A | 1–0 | 16,272 | Peschisolido 75' |
| R3 | 25 October 1995 | Newcastle United | H | 0–4 | 23,000 | |

### Anglo-Italian Cup

* Note: The final group match against Reggiana was postponed and never replayed the result defaulted at 0–0.
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| Group Match 1 | 5 September 1995 | Foggia | A | 1–1 | 4,200 | Peschisolido 65' |
| Group Match 2 | 11 October 1995 | Salernitana | H | 2–2 | 5,071 | Peschisolido 3', Wallace 47' |
| Group Match 3 | 8 November 1995 | Brescia | H | 1–1 | 4,193 | Dreyer 90' |
| Group Match 4 | 13 December 1995 | Reggiana | A | 0–0 | | |

## Squad statistics

| Pos. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Anglo-Italian Cup | Anglo-Italian Cup | Play-offs | Play-offs | Total | Total |
| Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | Phil Morgan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| GK | Carl Muggleton | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| GK | Mark Prudhoe | 39 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| GK | Ronnie Sinclair | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| DF | Mark Birch | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DF | David Brightwell | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 |
| DF | Ian Clarkson | 43 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 52 | 0 |
| DF | Ian Cranson | 23(1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25(2) | 1 |
| DF | John Dreyer | 4(15) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6(16) | 1 |
| DF | Graham Potter | 38(3) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 48(3) | 1 |
| DF | Lee Sandford | 46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 55 | 0 |
| DF | Lárus Sigurðsson | 46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 55 | 0 |
| DF | Ray Wallace | 44 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 7 |
| DF | Justin Whittle | 7(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9(1) | 0 |
| MF | Carl Beeston | 13(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13(3) | 0 |
| MF | Mark Devlin | 5(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7(7) | 0 |
| MF | Nigel Gleghorn | 46 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 56 | 9 |
| MF | Kevin Keen | 27(6) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33(6) | 3 |
| MF | Chris McDonald | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MF | Toddy Orlygsson | 6(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8(1) | 0 |
| MF | Vince Overson | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| FW | Martin Carruthers | 10(14) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 16(15) | 3 |
| FW | John Gayle | 5(5) | 3 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6(7) | 3 |
| FW | Paul Peschisolido | 20(6) | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 26(6) | 9 |
| FW | Keith Scott | 6(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 6(2) | 0 |
| FW | Mike Sheron | 23(5) | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 25(5) | 16 |
| FW | Simon Sturridge | 30(11) | 12 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37(11) | 13 |