# 1990–91 Stoke City F.C. season

The 1990–91 season was Stoke City's 84th season in the Football League and 2nd in the Third Division.
Stoke City entered the 1990–91 season in the Third Division for only the second time in their history and the feeling from the supporters was that a club of Stoke's size should be able to easily gain an instant return to the second tier. However Stoke experienced their worst ever season in terms of league position as they could only muster a 14th-place finish. Alan Ball was sacked in February and his assistant Graham Paddon took over for the remainder of the season.

## Season review
### League

The 1990–91 season will long be remembered by Stoke supporters as the club finished in its lowest ever league position of 14th in the third tier. Manager Alan Ball was dismissed in late February after a 4–0 defeat at Wigan Athletic with Graham Paddon filling the gap until the end of the season. The overall team performances were of a low standard with some embarrassing defeats being suffered against the likes of Shrewsbury Town, Leyton Orient, Cambridge United and Bournemouth.
It was all meant to be so different when the season started with Stoke beating Rotherham United 3–1 on the opening day which was followed by a commanding away victory at Tranmere Rovers. The club were in the top three until the start of December, but as the first half of the season came to an end Stoke's form began to suffer and after exiting the FA Cup Stoke had two awful performances against Exeter City and Preston North End and their form completely dropped off. Results briefly improved after Paddon took over, and following a victory over Mansfield Town in late March, the club were in 9th place, just three points outside the play-offs. After that win however, Stoke earned just 4 points from their last 9 matches, ending both any remaining promotion hopes and Paddon's chance of becoming permanent manager; he resigned after the season ended and returned to former club Portsmouth as a coach. Stoke had an abysmal disciplinary record this season and at times the attitude of the players on the pitch left lot to be desired. And so, despite boasting the largest supporter base and wage budget, Stoke had a season to forget in the Third Division.

### FA Cup

Stoke overcame non-league Telford United in a replay but were knocked out 2–0 at Burnley in the second round.

### League Cup

A dull two legs against Swansea City was finally ended with minutes remaining thanks to a goal from Tony Kelly. However Stoke were well beaten by West Ham United 5–1 on aggregate in the next round.

### League Trophy

Stoke's first Football League Trophy campaign saw them fail to get out of a group containing Mansfield Town and Northampton Town.

## Final league table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 12 | Birmingham City | 46 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 45 | 49 | −4 | 65 |
| 13 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 55 | 58 | −3 | 64 |
| 14 | Stoke City | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 55 | 59 | −4 | 60 |
| 15 | Reading | 46 | 17 | 8 | 21 | 53 | 66 | −13 | 59 |
| 16 | Exeter City | 46 | 16 | 9 | 21 | 58 | 52 | +6 | 57 |

## Results
### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Third Division

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 1 | 25 August 1990 | Rotherham United | H | 3–1 | 12,748 | Blake 15', Kennedy 44' (pen), Thomas 49' |
| 2 | 31 August 1990 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 2–1 | 10,327 | Ellis 36', Kennedy 43' (pen) |
| 3 | 8 September 1990 | Birmingham City | H | 0–1 | 16,009 | |
| 4 | 15 September 1990 | Bournemouth | A | 1–1 | 6,374 | Statham 84' |
| 5 | 18 September 1990 | Chester City | A | 1–1 | 3,759 | Thomas 7' |
| 6 | 22 September 1990 | Southend United | H | 4–0 | 11,901 | Ware 38', Biggins (2) 41', 49', Cornwell 68' (o.g.) |
| 7 | 29 September 1990 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 1–3 | 12,672 | Sandford 26' |
| 8 | 2 October 1990 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 2–1 | 7,200 | Biggins 42', Ware 77' |
| 9 | 6 October 1990 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 1–0 | 8,521 | Evans 61' |
| 10 | 13 October 1990 | Fulham | H | 2–1 | 12,394 | Ellis (2) 26', 68' |
| 11 | 20 October 1990 | Cambridge United | H | 1–1 | 12,673 | Biggins 54' |
| 12 | 24 October 1990 | Bradford City | A | 2–1 | 8,068 | Kelly 58', Thomas 88' |
| 13 | 27 October 1990 | Grimsby Town | A | 0–2 | 10,799 | |
| 14 | 3 November 1990 | Reading | H | 0–1 | 12,245 | |
| 15 | 10 November 1990 | Wigan Athletic | H | 2–0 | 12,756 | Biggins 20', Kennedy 68' |
| 16 | 24 November 1990 | Bury | A | 1–1 | 5,118 | Thomas 47' |
| 17 | 1 December 1990 | Exeter City | A | 0–2 | 5,377 | |
| 18 | 16 December 1990 | Brentford | H | 2–2 | 10,995 | Hilaire 10', Sandford 65' |
| 19 | 22 December 1990 | Preston North End | A | 0–2 | 7,532 | |
| 20 | 26 December 1990 | Swansea City | H | 2–2 | 12,534 | Biggins 44', Thomas 70' |
| 21 | 29 December 1990 | Huddersfield Town | H | 2–0 | 11,869 | Ellis (2) 15', 48' |
| 22 | 1 January 1991 | Leyton Orient | A | 2–0 | 6,371 | Ellis 9', Thomas 59' |
| 23 | 12 January 1991 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 1–1 | 13,461 | Butler 77' |
| 24 | 19 January 1991 | Rotherham United | A | 0–0 | 6,236 | |
| 25 | 2 February 1991 | Chester City | H | 2–3 | 11,037 | Kelly 60', Hilaire 68' |
| 26 | 5 February 1991 | Southend United | A | 0–1 | 5,164 | |
| 27 | 16 February 1991 | Bury | H | 2–2 | 9,885 | Biggins (2) 45', 65' |
| 28 | 23 February 1991 | Wigan Athletic | A | 0–4 | 3,728 | |
| 29 | 27 February 1991 | Bournemouth | H | 1–3 | 7,797 | Biggins 50' |
| 30 | 2 March 1991 | Exeter City | H | 2–1 | 8,536 | Biggins (2) 27', 85' |
| 31 | 5 March 1991 | Mansfield Town | A | 0–0 | 2,941 | |
| 32 | 9 March 1991 | Brentford | A | 4–0 | 7,249 | Thomas 64', Blake 69', Beeston 86', Clarke 90' |
| 33 | 13 March 1991 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 1–0 | 15,455 | Devlin 90' |
| 34 | 16 March 1991 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 0–2 | 6,210 | |
| 35 | 19 March 1991 | Fulham | A | 1–0 | 3,131 | Biggins 61' |
| 36 | 23 March 1991 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 2–2 | 13,869 | Devlin 47', Kelly 55' |
| 37 | 26 March 1991 | Mansfield Town | H | 3–1 | 9,113 | Clarke (2) 30', 60', Blake 53' |
| 38 | 30 March 1991 | Swansea City | A | 1–2 | 4,418 | Ellis 88' |
| 39 | 1 April 1991 | Preston North End | H | 0–1 | 11,524 | |
| 40 | 6 April 1991 | Huddersfield Town | A | 0–3 | 6,520 | |
| 41 | 13 April 1991 | Leyton Orient | H | 1–2 | 7,957 | Beeston 27' |
| 42 | 16 April 1991 | Birmingham City | A | 1–2 | 6,726 | Ellis 45' |
| 43 | 20 April 1991 | Cambridge United | A | 0–3 | 5,726 | |
| 44 | 27 April 1991 | Bradford City | H | 2–1 | 6,943 | Ellis 17', Butler 45' |
| 45 | 4 May 1991 | Grimsby Town | H | 0–0 | 11,832 | |
| 46 | 11 May 1991 | Reading | A | 0–1 | 4,101 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| R1 | 17 November 1990 | Telford United | A | 0–0 | 3,709 | |
| R1 Replay | 21 November 1990 | Telford United | H | 1–0 | 11,880 | Sandford 14' |
| R2 | 12 December 1990 | Burnley | A | 0–2 | 12,949 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| R1 1st Leg | 29 August 1990 | Swansea City | H | 0–0 | 7,806 | |
| R1 2nd Leg | 4 September 1990 | Swansea City | A | 1–0 | 4,464 | Kelly 86' |
| R2 1st Leg | 26 September 1990 | West Ham United | A | 0–3 | 15,870 | |
| R2 2nd Leg | 10 October 1990 | West Ham United | H | 1–2 | 8,411 | Evans 37' |

### League Trophy

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| PR1 | 16 November 1990 | Northampton Town | H | 1–1 | 4,339 | Barnes 60' |
| PR2 | 8 January 1990 | Mansfield Town | A | 0–3 | 1,600 | |

### Friendlies

| Match | Opponent | Venue | Result |
| 1 | Port Vale | H | 1–0 |
| 2 | Burton Albion | A | 5–1 |
| 3 | Fleetwood Town | A | 2–0 |
| 4 | Congleton Town | A | 2–1 |
| 5 | Worcester City | A | 4–0 |
| 6 | Rocester | A | 2–0 |
| 7 | Newcastle Town | A | 2–1 |
| 8 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 1–1 |

## 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 | 44 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 53 | 0 |
| GK | Dan Noble | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| DF | Noel Blake | 44 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 3 |
| DF | John Butler | 31 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 2 |
| DF | Cliff Carr | 15(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17(5) | 0 |
| DF | Ian Cranson | 7(2) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11(2) | 0 |
| DF | Lee Fowler | 14(3) | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16(6) | 0 |
| DF | Tony Gallimore | 4(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4(3) | 0 |
| DF | Paul Rennie | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| DF | Derek Statham | 22 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 1 |
| DF | Lee Sandford | 32 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 3 |
| DF | Ian Wright | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | Carl Beeston | 37 | 2 | 2(1) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43(1) | 2 |
| MF | Mark Devlin | 18(3) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18(3) | 2 |
| MF | Mick Kennedy | 32 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 3 |
| MF | Dave Kevan | 4(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 6(2) | 0 |
| MF | Chris Male | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 |
| MF | Brian Rice | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| MF | Ian Scott | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3(1) | 0 |
| MF | Mickey Thomas | 32(6) | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38(7) | 7 |
| MF | Paul Ware | 29(5) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35(5) | 2 |
| FW | Paul Baines | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 |
| FW | Paul Barnes | 3(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4(3) | 1 |
| FW | Wayne Biggins | 36(2) | 12 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 44(2) | 12 |
| FW | Darren Boughey | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1(2) | 0 |
| FW | David Bright | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 |
| FW | Wayne Clarke | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 |
| FW | Tony Ellis | 33(5) | 9 | 1(2) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 39(7) | 9 |
| FW | Gareth Evans | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| FW | Vince Hilaire | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 2 |
| FW | Tony Kelly | 16(13) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2(1) | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 18(15) | 4 |
| FW | Billy Whitehurst | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| – | Own goals | – | 1 | – | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | – | 1 |