1883–84 Stoke F.C. season
| 1883–84 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Walter Cox | ||
| Stadium | Victoria Ground | ||
| FA Cup | First Qualifying Round | ||
|
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The 1883–84 season was the first season Stoke took part in a major competitive competition, the FA Cup.
Since Stoke were founded in 1863 their seasons consisted of friendly matches and the Staffordshire Senior Cup. There was the FA Cup which had been competed for by amateur clubs until the Football Association's resolution that a 'Challenge Cup' be established and open to all clubs belonging to the association which had a tremendous bearing on the game. Stoke first entered the FA Cup in 1883–84 but they were defeated 2–1 by Manchester in the First Qualifying Round.Edward Johnson scoring Stoke's first competitive goal.
Prior to Stoke entering the FA Cup they competed in friendlies and in the Staffordshire Senior Cup.
Stoke were formed in 1863 as Stoke Ramblers F.C. when Railway students from the Charterhouse School in Surrey moved to Stoke-upon-Trent to work as apprentices for the North Staffordshire Railway Works. Amongst them was Henry Almond who was a keen sportsman and it is believed that he introduced football to the local workers although there is no record that matches took place. However, in 1868 it was reported in The Field newspaper that Stoke Ramblers had been formed with Almond as its captain and the club was to play under association football rules. It remains unclear as to whether Stoke played any matches from 1863 to 1868.
Stoke's first recorded match was a fifteen aside game against E.W May's XV on 17 October 1868 both sides were made up of local railway employees with Stoke Ramblers being captained by Henry Almond who played a major role in creating the club, The match finished 1–1 with both goals being scored by Almond and May. Stoke's second match was a goalless draw with D. Gordon's XI and then another draw followed against Congleton. Stoke recorded their first victory against Newcastle under-Lyme by the score of 2–0. The local papers stated that the matches were attended by a 'fashionable assembling of spectators'. Their final match of the first season saw them play Leek under Rugby football rules with Stoke winning by a goal and one try to Leeks two try's.
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