1991–92 Stoke City F.C. season
# 1991–92 Stoke City F.C. season

The 1991–92 season was Stoke City's 85th season in the Football League and 3rd in the Third Division.

Lou Macari was appointed as Stoke City manager in June 1991 with the hope that he would be the man to bring life back into the club. He made an instant impact and Stoke were fully involved in the fight for promotion and it was very nearly achieved. Stoke reached the Football League play-offs for the first time but lost 2–1 on aggregate to Stockport County, Stoke did however beat County at Wembley in the final of the Football League Trophy. Stoke did well in terms of goalscoring with both Wayne Biggins and new signing Mark Stein scoring 20+.

## Season review

### League

The board appointed former Birmingham City manager Lou Macari on 18 June 1991. Macari had a glittering career at the highest level of the game. He was seen as a man who knew what was required to achieve results and he wasted no time in altering his squad. He brought in Steve Foley (£50,000 from Swindon Town), Vince Overson (£55,000 from Birmingham City), Ronnie Sinclair (£25,000 from Bristol City) and forward Mark Stein from Oxford United for what turned out to be a bargain £100,000.

From the previous season's all-time low Stoke under Macari rose to great heights in 1991–92 and reached a Wembley final for the first time since 1972. In the Third Division Stoke were in the hunt for automatic promotion all season eventually having to settle for a play-off place where they came up against Stockport County. The first leg at Edgeley Park saw County win 1–0 thanks to a free-kick from Lee Todd after Carl Beeston had been sent-off and in the second leg Stoke went behind in the first minute and despite Stein pulling one back Stoke went out 2–1 on aggregate. Despite the obvious disappointment of missing out on promotion it was a positive season for Stoke and there was high hopes that it could be the start of the club's revival.

### FA Cup

Stoke again drew non-league Telford United but this time the "Bucks" gained revenge beating Stoke 2–1.

### League Cup

After beating Chesterfield in the first round Stoke drew Liverpool in the second and in the first leg at Anfield almost 8,000 Stoke fans made the trip to see Stoke make a great contest and come away with a 2–2 draw. Stoke again put up a fight in the second leg but went out of the competition losing 3–2.

### League Trophy

After qualifying from their group which included Birmingham City and Walsall, Stoke then advanced past Cardiff City, Walsall (for a second time), Leyton Orient and Peterborough United with Paul Ware scoring the vital goal to send Stoke through to Wembley. In the final against Stockport County a single goal from Mark Stein gave Stoke a 1–0 victory.

## Final league table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 | Birmingham City | 46 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 69 | 52 | +17 | 81 | Promoted |
| 3 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 59 | 38 | +21 | 78 | Participated in play-offs |
| 4 | Stoke City | 46 | 21 | 14 | 11 | 69 | 49 | +20 | 77 | Participated in play-offs |
| 5 | Stockport County | 46 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 75 | 51 | +24 | 76 | Participated in play-offs |
| 6 | Peterborough United | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 65 | 58 | +7 | 74 | Promoted through play-offs |

* ↑ Peterborough United won the play-offs and were promoted.

## Results

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| - | - | - |

### Football League Third Division

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 17 August 1991 | Bradford City | A | 0–1 | 7,556 | |
| 2 | 24 August 1991 | Bournemouth | H | 1–1 | 10,011 | Biggins 17' (pen) |
| 3 | 31 August 1991 | Peterborough United | A | 1–1 | 7,174 | Biggins 1' |
| 4 | 4 September 1991 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 1–0 | 10,182 | Biggins 53' |
| 5 | 7 September 1991 | Darlington | A | 1–0 | 4,230 | Ellis 57' |
| 6 | 14 September 1991 | Fulham | H | 2–2 | 10,567 | Biggins 25', Cranson 53' |
| 7 | 17 September 1991 | Hartlepool United | H | 3–2 | 9,394 | Biggins (2) 37', 39', Butler 75' |
| 8 | 21 September 1991 | Preston North End | A | 2–2 | 6,345 | Biggins (2) 41', 59' |
| 9 | 28 September 1991 | Stockport County | H | 2–2 | 6,345 | Biggins (2) 14', 28' (1 pen) |
| 10 | 5 October 1991 | Chester City | A | 0–0 | 4,212 | |
| 11 | 12 October 1991 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 2–0 | 12,420 | Biggins 16', Scott 80' |
| 12 | 19 October 1991 | Swansea City | A | 1–2 | 3,365 | Ellis 88' |
| 13 | 26 October 1991 | Leyton Orient | H | 2–0 | 9,555 | Biggins 36', Cranson 71' |
| 14 | 2 November 1991 | Huddersfield Town | H | 0–2 | 10,116 | |
| 15 | 5 November 1991 | Bury | A | 3–1 | 3,245 | Ellis (2) 3', 78', Overson 83' |
| 16 | 19 November 1991 | Exeter City | A | 0–0 | 5,309 | |
| 17 | 23 November 1991 | Torquay United | H | 3–0 | 9,124 | Biggins 2', Stein (2) 34', 60' |
| 18 | 30 November 1991 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 2–2 | 17,207 | Overson (2) 40', 52' |
| 19 | 14 December 1991 | Wigan Athletic | H | 3–0 | 8,419 | Stein 17', Kelly 43', Biggins 81' |
| 20 | 21 December 1991 | Bournemouth | A | 2–1 | 5,436 | Biggins 10', Kelly 76' |
| 21 | 26 December 1991 | Peterborough United | H | 3–3 | 14,733 | Kevan 7', Stein 30', Biggins 70' |
| 22 | 28 December 1991 | Bradford City | H | 0–0 | 12,208 | |
| 23 | 1 January 1992 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 0–1 | 8,557 | |
| 24 | 4 January 1992 | Birmingham City | H | 2–1 | 18,914 | Ware 52', Biggins 77' |
| 25 | 11 January 1992 | Brentford | A | 0–2 | 9,004 | |
| 26 | 18 January 1992 | Reading | H | 3–0 | 10,835 | Jones 24' (o.g.), Butler 54', Stein 71' |
| 27 | 25 January 1992 | Hull City | A | 1–0 | 4,996 | Russell 20' |
| 28 | 1 February 1992 | Swansea City | H | 2–1 | 11,299 | Ware 41', Beeston 90' |
| 29 | 8 February 1992 | Leyton Orient | A | 1–0 | 7,153 | Beeston 4' |
| 30 | 12 February 1992 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 1–0 | 23,645 | Stein 28' |
| 31 | 15 February 1992 | Wigan Athletic | A | 0–1 | 5,695 | |
| 32 | 22 February 1992 | Brentford | H | 2–1 | 16,417 | Butler 10', Stein 65' |
| 33 | 29 February 1992 | Birmingham City | A | 1–1 | 22,162 | Barnes 89' |
| 34 | 4 March 1992 | Reading | A | 4–3 | 4,362 | Stein 28', Foley 30', Ware 60', McPherson 66' (o.g.) |
| 35 | 7 March 1992 | Hull City | H | 2–3 | 13,563 | Barnes 52', Stein 73' |
| 36 | 11 March 1992 | Bury | H | 1–2 | 12,385 | Barnes 85' |
| 37 | 14 March 1992 | Huddersfield Town | A | 2–1 | 10,156 | Biggins 27', Stein 28' |
| 38 | 21 March 1992 | Exeter City | H | 5–2 | 13,634 | Biggins 16', Stein 33', Beeston 42', Grimes 61', Steele 90' |
| 39 | 28 March 1992 | Torquay United | A | 0–1 | 3,260 | |
| 40 | 31 March 1992 | Fulham | A | 1–1 | 5,779 | Stein 72' |
| 41 | 3 April 1992 | Darlington | H | 3–0 | 13,579 | Biggins (2) 10', 20' (1 pen), Stein 69' |
| 42 | 11 April 1992 | Hartlepool United | A | 1–1 | 4,360 | Stein 44' |
| 43 | 18 April 1992 | Preston North End | H | 2–1 | 16,151 | Stein 44', Biggins 50' (pen) |
| 44 | 20 April 1992 | Stockport County | A | 0–0 | 8,129 | |
| 45 | 25 April 1992 | Chester City | H | 0–1 | 18,474 | |
| 46 | 2 May 1992 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 1–3 | 9,997 | Stein 7' |

### Third Division play-offs

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Semi-final 1st Leg | 10 May 1992 | Stockport County | A | 0–1 | 7,537 | |
| Semi-final 2nd Leg | 13 May 1992 | Stockport County | H | 1–1 | 16,170 | Stein 81' |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| R1 | 15 November 1991 | Telford United | H | 0–0 | 9,974 | |
| R1 Replay | 26 November 1991 | Telford United | A | 1–2 | 4,032 | Biggins 81' |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| R1 1st Leg | 23 August 1991 | Chesterfield | H | 1–0 | 7,815 | Ellis 20' |
| R1 2nd Leg | 27 August 1991 | Chesterfield | A | 2–1 | 5,391 | Kelly 22', Beeston 68' |
| R2 1st Leg | 25 September 1991 | Liverpool | A | 2–2 | 18,389 | Cranson 28', Kelly 88' |
| R2 2nd Leg | 10 October 1991 | Liverpool | H | 2–3 | 22,355 | Biggins (2) 75', 88' (1 pen) |

### League Trophy

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Preliminary Round 1 | 22 October 1991 | Walsall | A | 2–0 | 3,758 | Sandford (2) 51', 70' |
| Preliminary Round 2 | 18 December 1991 | Birmingham City | H | 3–1 | 5,982 | Barnes 15', Stein 29' (pen), Ware 73' |
| Southern Round 1 | 14 January 1992 | Cardiff City | H | 3–0 | 4,851 | Biggins (2) 31', 80', Stein 76' |
| Southern Quarter Final | 2 February 1992 | Walsall | H | 3–1 | 7,381 | Ware 18', Beeston 24', Stein 32' |
| Southern Semi Final | 17 March 1992 | Leyton Orient | A | 1–0 | 3,792 | Stein 24' |
| Southern Final 1st Leg | 6 April 1992 | Peterborough United | H | 3–3 | 14,355 | Biggins (2) 3', 5', Sandford 66' |
| Southern Final 2nd Leg | 15 April 1992 | Peterborough United | A | 1–0 | 12,214 | Ware 51' |
| Final | 16 May 1992 | Stockport County | N | 1–0 | 48,339 | Stein 65' |

### Isle of Man Trophy

| Round | Opponent | Result |
| - | - | - |
| Quarter Final | Isle of Man XI | 7–0 |
| Semi Final | SC Cambuur | 2–0 |
| Final | Sunderland | 2–0 |

### Friendlies

| Match | Opponent | Venue | Result |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Witton Albion | A | 2–2 |
| 2 | Worcester City | A | 3–1 |
| 3 | Newcastle Town | A | 1–0 |
| 4 | Aldershot | A | 4–1 |
| 5 | Rocester | A | 2–1 |
| 6 | Newcastle Town | A | 1–0 |
| 7 | Kidsgrove Athletic | A | 2–1 |
| 8 | Leek Town | A | 5–0 |
| 9 | Munster XI | A | 5–0 |

## Squad statistics

| Pos. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | League Trophy | Play-offs | Play-offs | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | Peter Fox | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| GK | Jason Kearton | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| GK | Kevin Pressman | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| GK | Ronnie Sinclair | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| DF | Noel Blake | 12(1) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17(3) | 0 |
| DF | John Butler | 42 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 56 | 3 |
| DF | Ian Cranson | 41 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 57 | 3 |
| DF | Lee Fowler | 15(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 23(1) | 0 |
| DF | Tony Gallimore | 2(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(1) | 0 |
| DF | Vince Overson | 34(1) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45(1) | 3 |
| DF | Paul Rennie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 |
| DF | Lee Sandford | 37(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 52(1) | 3 |
| DF | Ian Wright | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3(1) | 0 |
| MF | Carl Beeston | 42(1) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 56(1) | 6 |
| MF | Ashley Grimes | 4(6) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(2) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7(8) | 1 |
| MF | Mick Kennedy | 19(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25(1) | 0 |
| MF | Dave Kevan | 43 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2(1) | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 57(1) | 1 |
| MF | Ian Scott | 6(3) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11(3) | 1 |
| MF | Paul Ware | 22(2) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4(1) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 27(3) | 6 |
| FW | Paul Barnes | 3(10) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 2(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6(12) | 4 |
| FW | Junior Bent | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | Wayne Biggins | 41 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 28 |
| FW | Tony Ellis | 9(6) | 4 | 0(2) | 0 | 2(1) | 1 | 1(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12(11) | 5 |
| FW | Steve Foley | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 1 |
| FW | Adrian Heath | 5(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 8(2) | 0 |
| FW | Tony Kelly | 10(3) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3(1) | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 16(5) | 4 |
| FW | Jason Percival | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FW | Kevin Russell | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| FW | Tim Steele | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| FW | Mark Stein | 36 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 47 | 22 |
| – | Own goals | – | 2 | – | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | – | 2 |
