September 4, 1897
Key note: “Liverpool commenced their League programme in a satisfactory fashion, and the result of their visit to Stoke is a gain of one point compared with last season’s game with the Potters. They were decidedly unfortunate in not capturing a couple of points, and, taking the game on the whole, Liverpool held the advantage, and fully deserved to win. The ground was soft, and had suffered heavily from the previous pluvial downpours, this being especially noticeable between the goalposts, where the custodians must have found it a very difficult matter to wade through the mud with alacrity. The Liverpool team were as usual under the charge of Mr. Tom Watson, while Mr. William Houlding and Mr. John McKenna were also among the party.” (Liverpool Daily Post: September 6, 1897)
Match: Football League, First Division, at Victoria Ground, kick-off: 15:30.
Stoke – Liverpool 2-2 (2-0).
Attendance: 8,000.
Referee: Mr. Jeffries.
Stoke (2-3-5): Freddie Johnson, Tom J. Robertson, Jack Eccles, Joe Ponsonby, Jimmy Grewer, Joe Murphy, Harry Pugh, Jimmy Hill, Tom Hill, Willie Maxwell, Joe Schofield.
Liverpool (2-3-5): Harry Storer, Archie Goldie, Billy Dunlop, John McCartney (C), Joe McQue, Thomas Cleghorn, Robert Marshall, William Walker, Daniel Cunliffe, Frank Becton, Harry Bradshaw.
The goals: 1-0 Maxwell (15 min.), 2-0 T. Hill (45 min.), 2-1 Becton (55 min., assist: Dunlop), 2-2 W. Walker (65 min., assist: Cunliffe).
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Harry Storer, Liverpool (Lloyd’s Weekly News: December 1, 1895):
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"Play Up, Liverpool" 