1985–86 Stoke City F.C. season

After the previous season's humiliating relegation, Stoke's new manager Mick Mills had the tough task of restoring the club's pride.An early 6–2 victory over Leeds United certainly helped to boost morale but with poor crowds Stoke were never going to be involved in the race for promotion and with the squad considered too good to be relegated again a mid-table position of 10th was the final outcome in a season of recovery.[1] But the fans finally had something to cheer about in their next home match as Mark Chamberlain rediscovered his lost form and starred in a 6–2 victory over Leeds United.[1] Paul Dyson was sold to West Bromwich Albion and Tony Kelly was signed from Wigan Athletic before the March transfer deadline and with Stoke out of all three cups and no worry of a relegation or promotion race they played out the final league fixtures without any pressure and finished in 10th position.[1] With English clubs banned from UEFA competitions due to the Heysel Stadium disaster the FA set up the Full Members' Cup as a replacement.
Stoke CityMick MillsVictoria GroundFootball League Second DivisionFA CupLeague CupFull Members' CupKeith BertschinBlackburn RoversNorwich CityHome colours1984–851986–871985–86 seasonthe Football LeagueSecond DivisionLeeds UnitedSammy ChungIsle of ManSheffield UnitedMark ChamberlainSheffield WednesdayAlan HudsonJohn DevineNeil AdamsPaul DysonWest Bromwich AlbionTony KellyWigan AthleticNotts CountyWrexhamPortsmouthHeysel Stadium disasterOxford UnitedOldham AthleticMillwallBrighton & Hove AlbionBarnsley1985–86 Football LeagueBertschinChamberlainMaskeryBradford CityPainterGrimsby TownMiddlesbroughParkinCharlton AthleticCrystal PalaceHull CitySaundersFulhamWimbledonHuddersfield TownCarlisle UnitedSunderlandShrewsbury TownDonowaDevine1985–86 FA Cup1985–86 Football League Cup1985–86 Full Members' CupCoventry CityBeestonManchester CityPort ValeCrewe AlexandraNottingham ForestStafford RangersCongleton TownPeter FoxBarry SiddallCharlie BishopPhil BonnymanSteve BouldAaron CallaghanChris HemmingCarl BeestonGeorge BerryChris MaskerySteve ParkinTerry WilliamsAlan CurtisLouie DonowaPhil HeathIan PainterCarl SaundersGraham ShawDave SuttonStoke City F.C. seasons1883–841884–851885–861886–871887–881888–891889–901890–911891–921892–931893–941894–951895–961896–971897–981898–991899–19001900–011901–021902–031903–041904–051905–061906–071907–081908–091909–101910–111911–121912–131913–141914–151915–161916–171917–181918–191919–201920–211921–221922–231923–241924–251925–261926–271927–281928–291929–301930–311931–321932–331933–341934–351935–361936–371937–381938–391939–401940–411941–421942–431943–441944–451945–461946–471947–481948–491949–501950–511951–521952–531953–541954–551955–561956–571957–581958–591959–601960–611961–621962–631963–641964–651965–661966–671967–681968–691969–701970–711971–721972–731973–741974–751975–761976–771977–781978–791979–801980–811981–821982–831983–841987–881988–891989–901990–911991–921992–931993–941994–951995–961996–971997–981998–991999–20002000–012001–022002–032003–042004–052005–062006–072007–082008–092009–102010–112011–122012–132013–142014–152015–162016–172017–182018–192019–202020–212021–222022–232023–242024–251985–86 in English footballBobby RobsonRous Cup1986 FIFA World CupqualificationGroup 3Football LeagueFirst DivisionThird DivisionFourth DivisionAlliance Premier LeagueIsthmian LeagueNorthern Premier LeagueSouthern LeagueCombined Counties LeagueEastern Counties LeagueEssex Senior LeagueHellenic LeagueKent LeagueMidland Football CombinationNorth West Counties LeagueNorthern Counties East LeagueNorthern LeagueSouth Midlands LeagueSussex County LeagueUnited Counties LeagueWest Midlands (Regional) LeagueWestern LeagueQualifying roundsCharity ShieldFA TrophySuper CupAssociate Members' CupArsenalAston VillaBirmingham CityChelseaEvertonLeicester CityLiverpoolManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedQueens Park RangersSouthamptonWatfordWest Ham UnitedBlackpoolBournemouthBrentfordCardiff CityGillinghamNewport CountyReadingBurnleyChester CityColchester UnitedMansfield TownNorthampton TownRochdale