# 1970–71 Stoke City F.C. season

The 1970–71 season was Stoke City's 64th season in the Football League and the 40th in the First Division.
Stoke had a successful season making it to the semi-final of the FA Cup for only the second time in their history. Stoke made it through seven matches before facing Arsenal, where after building a 2–0 lead at Hillsborough Stoke let slip in the final few minutes and Arsenal levelled at 2–2. In the replay the "Gunners" won 2–0 at Villa Park. In the league Stoke finished in a mid-table position of 13th with 37 points, Stoke did record a famous win over Arsenal beating the eventual league champions 5–0 in September.

## Season review
### League

Stoke had a good opening spell to the 1970–71 season, losing just three of their first 12 matches one of which was a crushing 5–2 defeat at Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion. But generally the defence looked strong and solid and indeed six clean sheets were kept during that period. Stoke's sixth home game of the season on 26 September was against Bertie Mee's impressive Arsenal side at the Victoria Ground. Because of local travel difficulties (bus driver strike) just over 18,000 fans saw the match and those lucky enough to be there watch one of the best performances by a Stoke City side.
Arsenal, who would go on to become First Division and FA Cup winners were well beaten 5–0 by Stoke in front of the Match of the Day cameras. As the season wore on Stoke found it difficult to maintain a consistent run of form in the First Division and their attentions soon turned towards the FA Cup. With the cup a distraction Stoke did well to finish in a mid table position of 13th.

### FA Cup

After Christmas Stoke became heavily involved in the FA Cup and they came very close to making it to their first final. Revenge was gained over Millwall in the third round and then Huddersfield Town proved to be difficult to get the better of, the tie finally being decided in a second replay at Old Trafford, Stoke winning 1–0 thanks to a goal from Jimmy Greenhoff. In the fifth round Stoke met Ipswich Town and after a goalless draw, Denis Smith scoring the only goal at Portman Road to send Stoke through to face Hull City in the quarter-final. The tie at Boothferry Park was a cracking encounter with Stoke winning 3–2 to claim a place in the semi-final for the first time since 1899, 75 years ago.
Their opponents in the semi-final were Arsenal with the tie played at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield. Stoke produced a dominant first half display and went into the half time break 2–0 up, with Smith and Ritchie scoring the goals that sent Stoke supporters ecstatic. Alas it was not to be as Arsenal clawed their way back into the match thanks to two second half goals from Peter Storey with the last being a penalty in the last minute of the game. Stoke were left to rue only scoring two goals in their first half dominance as the "Gunners" earned a replay they hardly deserved. Villa Park was the venue for 'part two' of the contest and in front of 62,356, Arsenal comfortably won 2–0 and went on to lift the trophy and complete a domestic double alongside their First Division league title. On the eve of the final, Stoke won the third place play off against Everton 3–2.

### League Cup

Millwall knocked Stoke out of the League Cup 2–1 in the second round.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
| 11 | Manchester City | 42 | 12 | 17 | 13 | 47 | 42 | 1.119 | 41 |
| 12 | Newcastle United | 42 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 44 | 46 | 0.957 | 41 |
| 13 | Stoke City | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 44 | 48 | 0.917 | 37 |
| 14 | Everton | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 54 | 60 | 0.900 | 37 |
| 15 | Huddersfield Town | 42 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 40 | 49 | 0.816 | 36 |

## Results

Stoke's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League First Division

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 1 | 15 August 1970 | Ipswich Town | H | 0–0 | 17,099 | |
| 2 | 19 August 1970 | Newcastle United | H | 3–0 | 15,197 | Burrows 22', Ritchie (2) 38', 89' |
| 3 | 22 August 1970 | Derby County | A | 0–2 | 35,461 | |
| 4 | 26 August 1970 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 2–5 | 22,607 | Ritchie 12', Conroy 55' |
| 5 | 29 August 1970 | Crystal Palace | H | 0–0 | 13,469 | |
| 6 | 2 September 1970 | Nottingham Forest | H | 0–0 | 13,951 | |
| 7 | 5 September 1970 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–1 | 21,056 | Greenhoff 25' |
| 8 | 12 September 1970 | Leeds United | H | 3–0 | 22,592 | Ritchie (2) 20', 90', Burrows 47' |
| 9 | 19 September 1970 | Manchester City | A | 1–4 | 35,473 | Bernard 80' |
| 10 | 26 September 1970 | Arsenal | H | 5–0 | 18,153 | Ritchie (2) 28', 43', Conroy 62', Greenhoff 64', Bloor 84' |
| 11 | 3 October 1970 | Blackpool | A | 1–1 | 25,324 | Dobing 56' |
| 12 | 10 October 1970 | West Ham United | H | 2–1 | 23,033 | Greenhoff 36', Dobing 89' |
| 13 | 17 October 1970 | Ipswich Town | A | 0–2 | 18,159 | |
| 14 | 24 October 1970 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 0–3 | 36,238 | |
| 15 | 31 October 1970 | Huddersfield Town | H | 3–1 | 17,625 | Greenhoff 5', Conroy (2) 54', 75' |
| 16 | 7 November 1970 | Manchester United | A | 2–2 | 47,451 | Conroy 1', Ritchie 72' |
| 17 | 14 November 1970 | Everton | H | 1–1 | 26,240 | Ritchie 42' |
| 18 | 18 November 1970 | Leeds United | A | 1–4 | 25,004 | Conroy 15' |
| 19 | 21 November 1970 | Chelsea | A | 1–2 | 36,227 | T Smith 30' |
| 20 | 28 November 1970 | Southampton | H | 0–0 | 16,848 | |
| 21 | 5 December 1970 | Coventry City | A | 0–1 | 23,775 | |
| 22 | 12 December 1970 | Burnley | H | 0–0 | 13,299 | |
| 23 | 19 December 1970 | Derby County | H | 1–0 | 21,906 | Burrows 60' |
| 24 | 26 December 1970 | Liverpool | A | 0–0 | 47,103 | |
| 25 | 9 January 1971 | Newcastle United | A | 2–0 | 25,680 | Greenhoff 1', Burrows 62' |
| 26 | 16 January 1971 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 2–0 | 20,882 | Conroy 23', 78' |
| 27 | 30 January 1971 | Southampton | A | 1–2 | 19,500 | Greenhoff 20' |
| 28 | 6 February 1971 | Coventry City | H | 2–1 | 17,208 | Mortimer (o.g.) 45', Greenhoff 50' |
| 29 | 20 February 1971 | Chelsea | H | 1–2 | 26,592 | Conroy 47' |
| 30 | 23 February 1971 | Burnley | A | 1–1 | 12,209 | Conroy 12' |
| 31 | 27 February 1971 | Huddersfield Town | A | 1–0 | 15,626 | Conroy 78' (pen) |
| 32 | 13 March 1971 | Everton | A | 0–2 | 38,924 | |
| 33 | 20 March 1971 | Manchester United | H | 1–2 | 39,889 | Ritchie 77' |
| 34 | 3 April 1971 | Crystal Palace | A | 2–3 | 16,963 | Ritchie (2) 81', 90' |
| 35 | 7 April 1971 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 1–0 | 22,808 | Burrows 61' (pen) |
| 36 | 10 April 1971 | Liverpool | H | 0–1 | 28,810 | |
| 37 | 13 April 1971 | Blackpool | H | 1–1 | 13,916 | Jump 16' |
| 38 | 17 April 1971 | West Ham United | A | 0–1 | 26,269 | |
| 39 | 24 April 1971 | Manchester City | H | 2–0 | 13,358 | Bernard 20', Ritchie 52' |
| 40 | 27 April 1971 | Nottingham Forest | A | 0–0 | 13,502 | |
| 41 | 1 May 1971 | Arsenal | A | 0–1 | 55,011 | |
| 42 | 5 May 1971 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 0–1 | 14,019 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| R3 | 2 January 1971 | Millwall | H | 2–1 | 21,398 | Ritchie 31', Greenhoff 77' |
| R4 | 23 January 1971 | Huddersfield Town | H | 3–3 | 34,231 | Greenhoff 3', Burrows 65', Conroy 75' |
| R4 Replay | 26 January 1971 | Huddersfield Town | A | 0–0 (aet) | 40,231 | |
| R4 2nd Replay | 8 February 1971 | Huddersfield Town | N | 1–0 | 39,302 | Greenhoff 68' |
| R5 | 13 February 1971 | Ipswich Town | H | 0–0 | 36,809 | |
| R5 Replay | 16 February 1971 | Ipswich Town | A | 1–0 | 30,232 | Smith 74' |
| Quarter-final | 6 March 1971 | Hull City | A | 3–2 | 41,452 | Conroy 45', Ritchie (2) 70', 81' |
| Semi-final | 27 March 1971 | Arsenal | N | 2–2 | 54,770 | Smith 22', Ritchie 31' |
| Semi-final Replay | 31 March 1971 | Arsenal | N | 0–2 | 62,356 | |
| 3rd Place play-off | 7 May 1971 | Everton | N | 3–2 | 5,031 | Bernard 27', Ritchie (2) 47' 80' |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| R2 | 9 September 1970 | Millwall | H | 0–0 | 10,230 | |
| R2 Replay | 16 September 1970 | Millwall | A | 1–2 | 12,789 | Conroy 57' |

### Texaco Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| R1 1st Leg | 14 September 1970 | Motherwell | A | 0–1 | 14,450 | |
| R1 2nd Leg | 30 September 1970 | Motherwell | H | 2–1 (3–4 pens) | 15,779 | Bloor, Burrows |

### Anglo-Italian Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| Group match 1 | 26 May 1971 | Roma | H | 2–2 | 11,520 | Greenhoff 13', Smith 58' |
| Group match 2 | 29 May 1971 | Hellas Verona | H | 2–0 | 10,252 | Ritchie 53', Jump 78' |
| Group match 3 | 1 June 1971 | Roma | A | 1–0 | 37,450 | Ritchie 56' |
| Group match 4 | 4 June 1971 | Hellas Verona | A | 1–2 | 8,000 | Ritchie 88' |

### Friendlies

| Match | Opponent | Venue | Result |
| 1 | Ards | A | 1–0 |
| 2 | Portadown | A | 5–0 |
| 3 | Glentoran | A | 1–1 |
| 4 | Finn Harps | A | 3–0 |
| 5 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 3–1 |
| 6 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 2–2 |
| 7 | East Fife | A | 1–0 |
| 8 | Marseille | A | 1–2 |
| 9 | RCD Mallorca | A | 0–3 |

## Squad statistics

| Pos. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Texaco Cup | Texaco Cup | Anglo-Italian Cup | Anglo-Italian Cup | Total | Total |
| Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | Gordon Banks | 39 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 55 | 0 |
| GK | John Farmer | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 5(1) | 0 |
| DF | Alan Bloor | 36 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 52 | 2 |
| DF | Alex Elder | 3(2) | 0 | 0(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4(5) | 0 |
| DF | Jackie Marsh | 34(2) | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 49(2) | 0 |
| DF | Mike Pejic | 42 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 60 | 0 |
| DF | Eric Skeels | 27(2) | 0 | 9(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 4 | 0 | 42(4) | 0 |
| DF | Denis Smith | 36 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 52 | 3 |
| MF | Mike Bernard | 40 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 55 | 3 |
| MF | Terry Conroy | 34 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 14 |
| MF | George Eastham | 16(3) | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24(4) | 0 |
| MF | Sean Haslegrave | 15 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| MF | Stewart Jump | 10(1) | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 12(2) | 2 |
| MF | Terry Lees | 4(3) | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5(4) | 0 |
| MF | John Mahoney | 15(3) | 0 | 3(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 22(4) | 0 |
| MF | Willie Stevenson | 3(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4(2) | 0 |
| FW | Harry Burrows | 33(1) | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 43(2) | 7 |
| FW | Peter Dobing | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 |
| FW | Jimmy Greenhoff | 33 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 48 | 11 |
| FW | John Ritchie | 26(1) | 13 | 5 | 6 | 1(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 38(2) | 22 |
| FW | Terry Smith | 2(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(1) | 1 |
| – | Own goals | – | 1 | – | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | – | 1 |