1994–95 Stoke City F.C. season

The 1994–95 season was Stoke City's 88th season in the Football League and 32nd in the second tier.

Stoke City

1994–95 season
Chairman	Peter Coates
Manager	Joe Jordan, Asa Hartford, Lou Macari
Stadium	Victoria Ground
Football League First Division	11th (63 points)
FA Cup	Third round
League Cup	Third round
Anglo-Italian Cup	Semi-final
Top goalscorer	League: Paul Peschisolido (13) All: Paul Peschisolido (15)
Highest home attendance	20,429 vs Port Vale (22 April 1995)
Lowest home attendance	9,111 vs Millwall (29 April 1995)
Average home league attendance	12,839
Home colours
← 1993–94 1995–96 →

In the summer of 1994 manager Joe Jordan made a number of alterations to his squad with the best being the signing of Canadian Paul Peschisolido from Birmingham City. As the season started there was no change in the fans' relationship with Jordan and it came as no surprise when he resigned in September. Asa Hartford took the caretaker role until Lou Macari made a return from Celtic. His first match back saw Stoke beat West Bromwich Albion 4–1 and there were high hopes that it could spark a promotion push. Alas just one win from 13 matches (26 December to 21 March) saw Stoke finish in a mid table position of 11th.^[1]

Season review

League

In the summer of 1994 Joe Jordan brought in Canadian Paul Peschisolido from Birmingham City in a deal which sent striker Dave Regis to St. Andrews along with £200,000.^[1] He also brought in Carl Muggleton (who was on loan last season), Keith Downing and John Dreyer.^[1] Everyone knew that the 1994–95 season was going to be a tough one and manager Jordan arranged a strenuous pre-season training camp in Scotland.^[1] The league programme started with a 1–0 victory over Tranmere Rovers but this was followed up with poor results which saw Stoke lose 4–0 back-to-back at Reading and then Bolton Wanderers.^[1] Shortly after that defeat at Bolton Jordan resigned which was unsurprising as he remained unpopular with the club's supporters.^[1]

Asa Hartford assumed the role of caretaker manager for a short time and in his four games in charge Stoke won three.^[1] On 30 September 1994 Lou Macari became the first manager to have a second spell at the club returning from Celtic.^[1] His first match back saw Stoke beat West Bromwich Albion 4–1 but a poor defeat against Luton Town in the next match saw his attentions turn to strengthening the squad.^[1] In came Kevin Keen, Ray Wallace and Lárus Sigurðsson as Stoke entered 1995 just out of the top group of teams.^[1] But just one win in 13 saw Stoke fall further behind and whilst there was no danger of dropping too greatly there was no hope of catching the promotion contenders and Stoke had to settle for a mid-table finish of 11th picking up 63 points.^[1]

FA Cup

Stoke didn't have to wait too long to come up against Joe Jordan who had returned to Bristol City and he was given a frosty reception by the supporters but his side managed to win the third round replay at the Victoria Ground 3–1.^[1]

League Cup

Stoke drew Fulham in the second round and after a 3–2 loss at Craven Cottage Stoke beat Fulham 1–0 and progressed via the away goals rule.^[1] In the next round Stoke lost to eventual winners Liverpool, 2–1 at Anfield.^[1]

Final league table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
9	Derby County	46	18	12	16	66	51	+15	66
10	Grimsby Town	46	17	14	15	62	56	+6	65
11	Stoke City	46	16	15	15	50	53	−3	63
12	Millwall	46	16	14	16	60	60	0	62
13	Southend United	46	18	8	20	54	73	−19	62

Source:^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference

Results

Legend

Win

Draw

Loss

Football League First Division

Main article: 1994–95 Football League

Match	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
1	13 August 1994	Tranmere Rovers	H	1–0	15,915	Gleghorn 49'
2	20 August 1994	Burnley	A	1–1	15,331	Dreyer 90'
3	27 August 1994	Sunderland	H	0–1	13,159
4	30 August 1994	Reading	A	0–4	7,103
5	3 September 1994	Bolton Wanderers	A	0–4	11,515
6	10 September 1994	Southend United	H	4–1	11,808	Örlygsson 10', Edwards 13' (o.g.), Dreyer 47', Biggins 62'
7	14 September 1994	Charlton Athletic	H	3–2	10,643	Gleghorn 17', Örlygsson 22', Peschisolido 55'
8	17 September 1994	Notts County	A	2–0	8,281	Peschisolido (2) 31', 70'
9	25 September 1994	Derby County	A	0–3	11,782
10	2 October 1994	West Bromwich Albion	H	4–1	14,203	Carruthers (2) 24', 87', Wallace 35', Peschisolido 68'
11	9 October 1994	Luton Town	H	1–2	11,712	Carruthers 80'
12	15 October 1994	Millwall	A	1–1	7,856	Peschisolido 55'
13	22 October 1994	Oldham Athletic	A	0–0	8,954
14	30 October 1994	Wolverhampton Wanderers	H	1–1	15,928	Keen 17'
15	2 November 1994	Sheffield United	H	1–1	11,556	Gleghorn 77'
16	5 November 1994	Barnsley	A	0–2	5,117
17	19 November 1994	Grimsby Town	H	3–0	21,055	Peschisolido (2) 23', 44', Carruthers 60'
18	26 November 1994	Watford	A	0–0	9,126
19	30 November 1994	Portsmouth	A	1–0	5,272	Beeston 74'
20	4 December 1994	Oldham Athletic	H	0–1	12,558
21	10 December 1994	Burnley	H	2–0	13,040	Örlygsson (2) 68' 83' (1 pen)
22	17 December 1994	Tranmere Rovers	A	1–0	7,601	Carruthers 81'
23	26 December 1994	Swindon Town	H	0–0	17,662
24	28 December 1994	Bristol City	A	1–3	8,500	Cranson 83'
25	31 December 1994	Middlesbrough	H	1–1	15,914	Gleghorn 20'
26	14 January 1995	Wolverhampton Wanderers	A	0–2	28,298
27	4 February 1995	Portsmouth	H	0–2	9,704
28	11 February 1995	Sheffield United	A	1–1	13,900	Peschisolido 18'
29	21 February 1995	Grimsby Town	A	0–0	6,384
30	25 February 1995	West Bromwich Albion	A	3–1	16,591	Scott 34', Peschisolido (2) 65', 80'
31	4 March 1995	Derby County	H	0–0	13,462
32	11 March 1995	Sunderland	A	0–1	12,282
33	14 March 1995	Port Vale	A	1–1	19,510	Sandford 33'
34	18 March 1995	Reading	H	0–1	14,121
35	21 March 1995	Southend United	A	2–4	4,240	Allen 48', Biggins 59' (pen)
36	25 March 1995	Notts County	H	2–1	10,204	Gleghorn 13', Sturridge 77'
37	1 April 1995	Charlton Athletic	A	0–0	10,008
38	4 April 1995	Watford	H	1–0	9,578	Sigurðsson 43'
39	8 April 1995	Middlesbrough	A	1–2	20,867	Peschisolido 30'
40	12 April 1995	Barnsley	H	0–0	10,752
41	15 April 1995	Bristol City	H	2–1	10,172	Andrade 27', Peschisolido 89'
42	17 April 1995	Swindon Town	A	1–0	10,549	Örlygsson 35'
43	22 April 1995	Port Vale	H	0–1	20,429
44	29 April 1995	Millwall	H	4–3	9,111	Scott 15', Gleghorn (2) 39', 65' Keen 90'
45	3 May 1995	Bolton Wanderers	H	1–1	15,557	Örlygsson 12' (pen)
46	7 May 1995	Luton Town	A	3–2	8,252	Örlygsson 52', Peschisolido 79', Scott 87'

FA Cup

Main article: 1994–95 FA Cup

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
R3	7 January 1995	Bristol City	A	0–0	9,683
R3 Replay	18 January 1995	Bristol City	H	1–3	11,579	Scott 17'

League Cup

Main article: 1994–95 Football League Cup

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
R2 1st Leg	20 September 1994	Fulham	A	2–3	3,721	Örlygsson 69' (pen), Gleghorn 70'
R2 2nd Leg	29 September 1994	Fulham	H	1–0	7,440	Peschisolido 2'
R3	25 October 1994	Liverpool	A	1–2	32,060	Peschisolido 41'

Anglo-Italian Cup

Main article: 1994–95 Anglo-Italian Cup

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
Group Match 1	24 August 1994	Cesena	A	2–0	1,139	Clark 38', Carruthers 76'
Group Match 2	6 September 1994	Ancona	H	1–1	3,380	Biggins 50'
Group Match 3	5 October 1994	Udinese	A	3–1	1,200	Downing 69', Biggins 73', Butler 74'
Group Match 4	15 November 1994	Piacenza	H	4–0	7,240	Butler 12', Carruthers (2) 37', 50', Gleghorn 85'
Semi Final 1st leg	24 January 1995	Notts County	A	0–0	5,134
Semi Final 2nd leg	31 January 1995	Notts County	H	0–0 (2–3 pens)	10,741

Friendlies

Match	Opponent	Venue	Result
1	Clevedon Town	A	2–0
2	Newcastle Town	A	4–0
3	FC Xanthi	H	2–3
4	Brechin City	A	4–0
5	Dundee United	A	1–4

Squad statistics

Pos.	Name	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Anglo-Italian Cup		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Carl Muggleton	24	0	0	0	3	0	4	0	31	0
GK	Ronnie Sinclair	22(2)	0	2	0	0	0	2	0	26(2)	0
DF	Mark Bailey	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
DF	John Butler	38(3)	0	2	0	3	0	4(1)	2	47(4)	2
DF	John Clark	5	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	6	1
DF	Ian Clarkson	15(3)	0	2	0	1	0	3(1)	0	21(4)	0
DF	Ian Cranson	37	1	2	0	3	0	5	0	47	1
DF	John Dreyer	16(2)	2	0	0	2	0	3	0	21(2)	2
DF	Graham Potter	1	0	0	0	0(1)	0	0	0	1(1)	0
DF	Lee Sandford	34(1)	1	2	0	3	0	6	0	45(1)	1
DF	Lárus Sigurðsson	22(1)	1	0(1)	0	0	0	0	0	22(2)	1
DF	Ray Wallace	16(4)	1	1	0	1	0	6	0	24(4)	1
MF	Paul Allen	17	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	19	1
MF	José Andrade	2(2)	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2(2)	1
MF	Carl Beeston	15(1)	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	17(1)	1
MF	Keith Downing	16	0	1	0	2	0	3(2)	1	22(2)	1
MF	Nigel Gleghorn	44(2)	7	2	0	3	1	6	1	55(2)	9
MF	Gary Holt	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
MF	Kevin Keen	15(6)	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	15(6)	2
MF	Steve Leslie	0(1)	0	0	0	0	0	0(1)	0	0(2)	0
MF	Toddy Orlygsson	38	7	2	0	3	1	1	0	44	8
MF	Vince Overson	33(2)	0	2	0	1	0	5	0	41(2)	0
FW	Jason Beckford	2(2)	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	3(2)	0
FW	Wayne Biggins	8(9)	2	0	0	1(1)	0	3(1)	2	12(11)	4
FW	Martin Carruthers	26(6)	5	0(1)	0	3	0	4(2)	3	33(9)	8
FW	John Gayle	1(3)	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	3(3)	0
FW	Paul Peschisolido	39(1)	13	2	0	3	2	3(1)	0	47(2)	15
FW	Keith Scott	16(2)	3	2	1	0	0	0	0	18(2)	4
FW	Graham Shaw	1(2)	0	0	0	0	0	0(1)	0	1(3)	0
FW	Simon Sturridge	2(6)	1	0(1)	0	0	0	1(1)	0	3(8)	1
FW	Shaun Wade	0(1)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0(1)	0
FW	John Williams	1(3)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1(3)	0
–	Own goals	–	1	–	0	–	0	–	0	–	1

References

1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.