1975–76 Stoke City F.C. season
# 1975–76 Stoke City F.C. season

The 1975–76 season was Stoke City's 69th season in the Football League and the 45th in the First Division.

After two very successful league campaigns there was high hopes for the 1975–76 season as Stoke looked to establish themselves amongst the best in the country. Their form was good and going into the new year Stoke were in the top half of the table and looking good. But disaster struck in January 1976 as winds of hurricane force battered Stoke-on-Trent and the Victoria Ground was badly damaged. The roof of the Butler Street stand collapsed and Stoke had to play a league match against Middlesbrough at nearby Vale Park whilst repair work was carried out. Results declined thereafter and Stoke took 12th position.

## Season review

### League

There had been heavy transfer costs incurred in 1974–75 with the club recording a loss of £448,342 and therefore now in debt despite an increase in the average attendance. Geoff Hurst was sold to West Bromwich Albion for £20,000, the only outgoing transfer for cash in the summer of 1975, although two other notable departures were those of club record goalscorer John Ritchie who retired after finding the back of the net a record 176 times for the "Potters" and also goalkeeper John Farmer. Hopes were high again of a successful season, but Stoke stayed stubbornly in the middle of the division never threatening the top or bottom to the table.

After some good and bad results come January 1976 Stoke experienced perhaps their greatest misfortune. In a powerful storm which hit the Stoke-on-Trent area the Butler Street stand had its roof blown off by strong winds and the Victoria Ground was closed while repair work was carried out. Near neighbours Port Vale offered Stoke the use of Vale Park and on the one occasion they used it Middlesbrough were beaten 1–0 with Ian Moores scoring in front of 21,009. Stoke were allowed back home for their next match against Manchester City in the FA Cup on 4 February. Stoke lost the momentum they had and finished the season in 12th spot. Eric Skeels left the club at the end of the season. Skeels is Stoke's all-time record appearance holder having made 592 appearances for the club in all competitions.

### FA Cup

Stoke beat both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City before losing to Sunderland in a replay.

### League Cup

Fourth Division Lincoln City caused a shock as they beat Stoke 2–1 at Sincil Bank.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 10 | Norwich City | 42 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 58 | 58 | 1.000 | 42 |
| 11 | Everton | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 60 | 66 | 0.909 | 42 |
| 12 | Stoke City | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 48 | 50 | 0.960 | 41 |
| 13 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 46 | 45 | 1.022 | 40 |
| 14 | Coventry City | 42 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 47 | 57 | 0.825 | 40 |

## Results

Stoke's score comes first

### Legend

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

### Football League First Division

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 16 August 1975 | West Ham United | H | 1–2 | 23,744 | Moores 89' |
| 2 | 20 August 1975 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 2–2 | 22,551 | Bowers 53', Conroy 57' (pen) |
| 3 | 23 August 1975 | Arsenal | A | 1–0 | 28,025 | Hudson 42' |
| 4 | 27 August 1975 | Leicester City | A | 1–1 | 22,878 | Hudson 3' |
| 5 | 30 August 1975 | Manchester United | H | 0–1 | 23,337 | |
| 6 | 6 September 1975 | Middlesbrough | A | 0–3 | 20,975 | |
| 7 | 13 September 1975 | Leeds United | H | 3–2 | 23,139 | Conroy 32', Pejic 40', Greenhoff 73' |
| 8 | 20 September 1975 | Coventry City | A | 3–0 | 18,965 | Greenhoff 44', Moores (2) 47', 77' |
| 9 | 24 September 1975 | Manchester City | A | 0–1 | 28,915 | |
| 10 | 27 September 1975 | Derby County | H | 1–0 | 25,097 | Greenhoff 11' |
| 11 | 4 October 1975 | Norwich City | A | 1–0 | 22,318 | Haslegrave 73' |
| 12 | 11 October 1975 | Ipswich Town | H | 0–1 | 21,978 | |
| 13 | 18 October 1975 | Sheffield United | A | 2–0 | 23,410 | Greenhoff (2) 75', 84' |
| 14 | 25 October 1975 | Newcastle United | H | 1–1 | 24,057 | Greenhoff 60' |
| 15 | 1 November 1975 | Burnley | A | 1–0 | 18,269 | Moores 55' |
| 16 | 8 November 1975 | Everton | H | 3–2 | 24,651 | Salmons 12', Robertson 80', Moores 81' |
| 17 | 15 November 1975 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 1–1 | 25,698 | Moores 71' |
| 18 | 22 November 1975 | Sheffield United | H | 2–1 | 21,959 | Salmons (2) 20', 28' (1 pen) |
| 19 | 29 November 1975 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 2–3 | 22,328 | Moores 46', Bloor 55' |
| 20 | 6 December 1975 | Aston Villa | H | 1–1 | 28,492 | Greenhoff 22' |
| 21 | 13 December 1975 | Arsenal | H | 2–1 | 18,628 | Salmons 73', Greenhoff 80' |
| 22 | 20 December 1975 | West Ham United | A | 1–3 | 21,135 | Bloor 34' |
| 23 | 26 December 1975 | Liverpool | H | 1–1 | 32,092 | Salmons 52' |
| 24 | 27 December 1975 | Birmingham City | A | 1–1 | 37,166 | Moores 40' |
| 25 | 10 January 1976 | Leeds United | A | 0–2 | 36,909 | |
| 26 | 17 January 1976 | Middlesbrough | H | 1–0 | 21,009 | Moores 87' |
| 27 | 31 January 1976 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–2 | 24,190 | Conroy 72' |
| 28 | 7 February 1976 | Leicester City | H | 1–2 | 21,001 | Moores 3' |
| 29 | 21 February 1976 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 1–2 | 17,113 | Greenhoff 6' |
| 30 | 3 March 1976 | Newcastle United | A | 1–0 | 37,459 | Burns (o.g.) 19' |
| 31 | 6 March 1976 | Burnley | H | 4–1 | 16,062 | Smith (2) 18', 30', Greenhoff 25', Mahoney 75' |
| 32 | 13 March 1976 | Ipswich Town | A | 1–1 | 22,812 | Smith 83' |
| 33 | 20 March 1976 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 0–1 | 22,848 | |
| 34 | 24 March 1976 | Derby County | A | 1–1 | 30,156 | Bloor 2' |
| 35 | 27 March 1976 | Aston Villa | A | 0–0 | 32,359 | |
| 36 | 2 April 1976 | Manchester City | H | 0–0 | 18,798 | |
| 37 | 7 April 1976 | Everton | A | 1–2 | 16,974 | Greenhoff 59' (pen) |
| 38 | 10 April 1976 | Coventry City | H | 0–1 | 16,059 | |
| 39 | 17 April 1976 | Liverpool | A | 3–5 | 44,069 | Conroy 30', Moores 60', Bloor 89' |
| 40 | 19 April 1976 | Birmingham City | H | 1–0 | 19,918 | Gallagher 6' (o.g.) |
| 41 | 21 April 1976 | Manchester United | A | 1–0 | 53,879 | Bloor 87' |
| 42 | 24 April 1976 | Norwich City | H | 0–2 | 15,598 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| R3 | 3 January 1976 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 1–1 | 26,715 | Mahoney 31' |
| R3 Replay | 24 January 1976 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 2–1 | 29,520 | Moores 35', Salmons 88' (pen) |
| R4 | 4 February 1976 | Manchester City | H | 1–0 | 38,073 | Greenhoff 81' |
| R5 | 14 February 1976 | Sunderland | H | 0–0 | 41,171 | |
| R5 Replay | 17 February 1976 | Sunderland | A | 1–2 | 47,583 | Smith 77' |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| R2 | 10 September 1975 | Lincoln City | A | 1–2 | 13,472 | Greenhoff 18' |

### Friendlies

| Game | Opponent | Venue | Result |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Pwllheli & District | A | 7–1 |
| 2 | Olympique de Marseille | A | 0–0 |
| 3 | AS Monaco | A | 1–0 |
| 4 | Cruzeiro | A | 0–3 |
| 5 | Atlético Madrid | A | 0–0 |
| 6 | Buxton | A | 3–2 |
| 7 | Stafford Rangers | A | 2–0 |
| 8 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 1–1 |
| 9 | Stockport County | A | 2–2 |
| 10 | Port Vale | A | 1–1 |
| 11 | RCD Espanyol | A | 2–1 |

## Squad statistics

| Pos. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | Peter Shilton | 42 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| DF | Alan Bloor | 32 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 5 |
| DF | Danny Bowers | 6(1) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8(1) | 1 |
| DF | Alan Dodd | 39(1) | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45(1) | 0 |
| DF | Kevin Lewis | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| DF | John Lumsdon | 9(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9(1) | 0 |
| DF | Jackie Marsh | 25(1) | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30(1) | 0 |
| DF | Mike Pejic | 39 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 1 |
| DF | Eric Skeels | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| DF | Denis Smith | 19 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 4 |
| MF | Terry Conroy | 16 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 4 |
| MF | Sean Haslegrave | 23(5) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24(5) | 1 |
| MF | Alan Hudson | 34 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 2 |
| MF | John Mahoney | 38 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 2 |
| MF | Kevin Sheldon | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| MF | Jimmy Robertson | 12(6) | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17(6) | 1 |
| FW | Garth Crooks | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | Dave Goodwin | 2(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(2) | 0 |
| FW | Jimmy Greenhoff | 40 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 46 | 13 |
| FW | Ian Moores | 29(3) | 11 | 4(1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 34(4) | 12 |
| FW | Geoff Salmons | 39(1) | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 44(1) | 6 |
| – | Own goals | – | 2 | – | 0 | – | 0 | – | 2 |
