# 1992–93 Stoke City F.C. season

The 1992–93 season was Stoke City's 86th season in the Football League and 4th in the third tier now known as the Second Division following the formation of the Premier League.
After a successful 1991–92 season which saw Stoke win the Football League Trophy and reach the play-offs the team went one better in 1992–93 as they claimed the Second Division title in fine style breaking the club's unbeaten record after going 25 league matches without defeat. Stoke collected 93 points from 138 on offer and racked up an impressive +39 goal difference as the club returned to the second tier.

## Season review
### League

With the formation of the Premier League in 1992 Stoke found themselves playing in the Second Division, still the third tier of English football. Following their excellent season in the previous campaign everyone was excited for the 1992–93 season to start and no more so than Lou Macari who signed Kevin Russell from Leicester. Stoke began their league season away at Hull City and things didn't go according to plan the "Tigers" winning 1–0.
But then things started to improve, Wigan Athletic were beaten and draws were gained at tricky Exeter and Plymouth. Stoke then beat traditional rivals West Bromwich Albion 4–3 which sparked a record breaking run of results. Stoke began to score goals on a regular basis and come the end of October, after 14 matches Stoke were in second position and after a 3–1 win away at Blackpool on 21 November Stoke went top and they were to remain there until the end of the season taking the league title and with it a return to the second tier. A tremendous run of 25 league games without defeat from 5 September 1992 to 20 February 1993, creating a new club record, Leyton Orient ending that with a single goal victory at Brisbane Road. The average attendance had risen by 3,000 to 16,556 and Mark Stein ran away with the goalscoring hitting 33 goals with 26 coming in the league.

### FA Cup

Stoke drew local rivals Port Vale in the first round and after a 0–0 draw at the Victoria Ground, Vale went on to win the replay 3–1 at a waterlogged Vale Park which saw a shot from Dave Regis that was heading for goal get stuck in the mud.

### League Cup

After easily beating Preston North End Stoke lost against Cambridge United.

### League Trophy

Stoke went in the League trophy as holders and but for the second time this season Port Vale knocked Stoke out of a cup competition at the semi-final stage.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Stoke City (C, P) | 46 | 27 | 12 | 7 | 73 | 34 | +39 | 93 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 2 | Bolton Wanderers (P) | 46 | 27 | 9 | 10 | 80 | 41 | +39 | 90 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 3 | Port Vale | 46 | 26 | 11 | 9 | 79 | 44 | +35 | 89 | Qualification for the Second Division play-offs |
| 4 | West Bromwich Albion (O, P) | 46 | 25 | 10 | 11 | 88 | 54 | +34 | 85 | Qualification for the Second Division play-offs |
| 5 | Swansea City | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 65 | 47 | +18 | 73 | Qualification for the Second Division play-offs |

## Results
### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Second Division

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 1 | 15 August 1992 | Hull City | A | 0–1 | 9,088 | |
| 2 | 22 August 1992 | Wigan Athletic | H | 2–1 | 12,902 | Biggins 7', Foley 70' |
| 3 | 29 August 1992 | Exeter City | A | 2–2 | 4,106 | Stein (2) 23', 25' |
| 4 | 2 September 1992 | Bradford City | A | 1–3 | 5,959 | Stein 18' |
| 5 | 5 September 1992 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 0–0 | 14,252 | |
| 6 | 12 September 1992 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1–1 | 8,208 | Stein 34' |
| 7 | 16 September 1992 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 1–1 | 10,867 | Sandford 1' |
| 8 | 19 September 1992 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 4–3 | 18,674 | Foley 45', Russell (2) 46', 76', Cranson 83' |
| 9 | 26 September 1992 | Mansfield Town | A | 4–0 | 6,820 | Stein (2) 33', 45', Ware 41', Biggins 61' |
| 10 | 3 October 1992 | Chester City | A | 1–1 | 5,237 | Beeston 61' |
| 11 | 10 October 1992 | Leyton Orient | H | 2–1 | 12,640 | Stein (2) 87', 89' |
| 12 | 17 October 1992 | Preston North End | A | 2–1 | 8,138 | Butler 13', Sandford 40' |
| 13 | 24 October 1992 | Port Vale | H | 2–1 | 24,459 | Cranson 69', Stein 86' (pen) |
| 14 | 31 October 1992 | Burnley | A | 2–0 | 16,667 | Shaw (2) 21', 37' |
| 15 | 3 November 1992 | Fulham | A | 0–0 | 5,903 | |
| 16 | 7 November 1992 | Bournemouth | H | 2–0 | 15,146 | Stein (2) 47', 52' (1 pen) |
| 17 | 21 November 1992 | Blackpool | A | 3–1 | 8,028 | Russell (2) 19', 46', Stein 28' |
| 18 | 28 November 1992 | Swansea City | H | 2–1 | 13,867 | Shaw 47', Stein 80' (pen) |
| 19 | 12 December 1992 | Huddersfield Town | H | 3–0 | 13,377 | Ware (2) 75', 83', Cranson 87' |
| 20 | 19 December 1992 | Hartlepool United | A | 2–1 | 4,021 | Regis 7', Gleghorn 90' |
| 21 | 26 December 1992 | Reading | A | 1–0 | 7,269 | Regis 37' |
| 22 | 28 December 1992 | Rotherham United | H | 2–0 | 21,714 | Beeston 40, Foley 81' |
| 23 | 9 January 1993 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 2–2 | 8,622 | Stein 48', Foley 89' |
| 24 | 16 January 1993 | Mansfield Town | H | 4–0 | 14,643 | Russell 14', Gray 40' (o.g.), Regis 64', Overson 70' |
| 25 | 23 January 1993 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 2–1 | 29,341 | Gleghorn 11', Stein 69' |
| 26 | 27 January 1993 | Exeter City | H | 1–1 | 14,181 | Regis 38' |
| 27 | 30 January 1993 | Wigan Athletic | A | 1–1 | 4,775 | Beeston 36' |
| 28 | 6 February 1993 | Hull City | H | 3–0 | 15,341 | Ware 5', Foley 43', Stein 86' |
| 29 | 20 February 1993 | Bradford City | H | 1–0 | 16,494 | Kevan 89' |
| 30 | 27 February 1993 | Leyton Orient | A | 0–1 | 10,798 | |
| 31 | 6 March 1993 | Chester City | H | 4–0 | 14,534 | Stein (2) 23', 63', Shaw 41', Foley 66' |
| 32 | 9 March 1993 | Stockport County | H | 2–1 | 17,484 | Stein 47', Gleghorn 77' |
| 33 | 13 March 1993 | Bournemouth | A | 1–1 | 7,129 | Stein 68' (pen) |
| 34 | 20 March 1993 | Fulham | H | 1–0 | 17,935 | Stein 72' (pen) |
| 35 | 23 March 1993 | Swansea City | A | 2–1 | 8,366 | Gleghorn 51', Foley 74' |
| 36 | 27 March 1993 | Blackpool | H | 0–1 | 17,918 | |
| 37 | 31 March 1993 | Port Vale | A | 2–0 | 20,373 | Stein 4', Gleghorn 84' |
| 38 | 3 April 1993 | Stockport County | A | 1–1 | 9,402 | Regis 40' |
| 39 | 7 April 1993 | Huddersfield Town | A | 0–1 | 11,089 | |
| 40 | 10 April 1993 | Reading | H | 2–0 | 16,919 | Shaw 35, Gleghorn 69' |
| 41 | 12 April 1993 | Rotherham United | A | 2–0 | 9,021 | Stein (2) 2', 54' |
| 42 | 17 April 1993 | Hartlepool United | H | 0–1 | 17,363 | |
| 43 | 24 April 1993 | Preston North End | H | 1–0 | 18,334 | Stein 55' |
| 44 | 28 April 1993 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 1–0 | 19,718 | Gleghorn 4' |
| 45 | 4 May 1993 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 0–1 | 19,238 | |
| 46 | 8 May 1993 | Burnley | H | 1–1 | 21,840 | Stein 64' |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| R1 | 16 November 1992 | Port Vale | H | 0–0 | 24,490 | |
| R1 Replay | 24 November 1992 | Port Vale | A | 1–3 | 19,810 | Sandford 24' |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| R1 1st Leg | 8 August 1992 | Preston North End | A | 1–2 | 5,581 | Stein 8' |
| R1 2nd Leg | 26 August 1992 | Preston North End | H | 4–0 (aet) | 9,745 | Stein 91', Overson 95', Biggins (2) 102', 105' |
| R2 1st Leg | 22 September 1992 | Cambridge United | A | 2–2 | 3,426 | Stein (2) 34', 63' |
| R2 2nd Leg | 7 October 1992 | Cambridge United | H | 1–2 | 10,732 | Shaw 68' |

### League Trophy

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| Preliminary Round 1 | 15 December 1992 | Wrexham | A | 2–0 | 3,974 | Russell 17', Ware 26' |
| Preliminary Round 2 | 6 January 1993 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 2–2 | 9,714 | Stein 33', Regis 35' |
| Southern Round 2 | 20 January 1993 | Barnet | H | 4–1 | 8,892 | Foley (3) 14', 72', 82', Gleghorn 66' |
| Southern Quarter-final | 16 February 1993 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 2–1 | 17,568 | Stein (2) 78', 90' |
| Southern Semi-final | 3 March 1993 | Port Vale | H | 0–1 | 22,267 | |

### Isle of Man Trophy

| Round | Opponent | Result |
| Quarter-final | Isle of Man XI | 4–1 |
| Semi-final | Wigan Athletic | 2–0 |
| Final | Wrexham | 5–0 |

### Friendlies

| Match | Opponent | Venue | Result |
| 1 | Newcastle Town | A | 5–0 |
| 2 | Derby County | H | 1–1 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | A | 1–4 |
| 4 | Weston St. Johns | A | 5–3 |

## Squad statistics

| Pos. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | League Trophy | Total | Total |
| Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | Peter Fox | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| GK | Bruce Grobbelaar | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| GK | Brian Horne | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| GK | Tony Parks | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| GK | Ronnie Sinclair | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| DF | John Butler | 44 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 55 | 1 |
| DF | Ian Cranson | 45 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 55 | 3 |
| DF | Graham Harbey | 16(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2(1) | 0 | 22(2) | 0 |
| DF | Marcus Jones | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DF | Vince Overson | 43 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 52 | 2 |
| DF | Lee Sandford | 42 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 52 | 3 |
| DF | Ian Wright | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| MF | Carl Beeston | 25(2) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 30(2) | 3 |
| MF | Mark Devlin | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4(1) | 0 |
| MF | Nigel Gleghorn | 34 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 41 | 8 |
| MF | Dave Hockaday | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| MF | Dave Kevan | 13(2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14(2) | 1 |
| MF | Gary Pick | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MF | Ernie Tapai | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 |
| MF | Paul Ware | 21(7) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 28(7) | 5 |
| FW | Wayne Biggins | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 |
| FW | Steve Foley | 44 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 54 | 10 |
| FW | Tony Kelly | 2(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(7) | 0 |
| FW | Jimmy Mulligan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FW | Dave Regis | 16(9) | 5 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3(1) | 1 | 19(11) | 6 |
| FW | Kevin Russell | 30(10) | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4(1) | 1 | 39(11) | 6 |
| FW | Graham Shaw | 20(9) | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2(1) | 1 | 2(2) | 0 | 26(12) | 6 |
| FW | Mark Stein | 46 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 57 | 33 |
| – | Own goals | – | 1 | – | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | – | 1 |