Joe Schofield

He made a goalscoring debut at the Victoria Ground in a 3–0 league win over Burnley on 10 October and scored again in his next two matches, against Derby County and Aston Villa.

[3] Stoke improved and posted a sixth-place finish in 1895–96, with Schofield scoring nine goals in 32 games, including a hat-trick in a 6–1 home win over Small Heath on 19 October.

Schofield remained in the Potteries after leaving the Victoria Ground, and was appointed as the secretary of Port Vale in March 1920, taking over from Tom Holford.

[7] In preparation for the 1920–21 campaign, he signed full-back Bob Pursell from Liverpool, as well as inside-forward Tom Page from St Mirren, and right-half Freddy Price from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Still, their form suffered heavily with the sale of top-scorer Bobby Blood to West Bromwich Albion for a club record £4,000 in February.

[7] For the 1921–22 campaign he signed Jack Hampson from Aston Villa for £1,000; Albert Pearson from Liverpool; half-back Ernest Collinge; centre-half from Nottingham Forest Robert Firth (a future Real Madrid manager); young Scottish midfielder Bob Connelly; and forward Billy Agnew from Falkirk.

[7] At the end of the season £3,000 was trimmed from the wage bill by letting go of Bob Pursell, who had broken his leg; aged half-back Joe Brough who was said to have felt 'worn out'; 38-year-old stopper Walter Smith; forward Albert Pearson; 35-year-old Robert Firth; and 33-year-old Jack Peart.

[7] To replace these veterans, Schofield signed five noteworthy attacking players for the 1922–23 campaign: Millwall winger Patrick Donoghue; 'robust' inside-right Jack Gordon from Queen's Park; James Smith from Plymouth Argyle; Tom Reid from Ayr United; and experienced winger Billy Harrison from Manchester United.

[7] Vale's form and crowd attendances at The Old Recreation Ground over the course of the season were poor, though six away wins helped them to record a 17th-place finish, two points ahead of relegated Rotherham County.

[7] He prepared for 1923–24 by bringing in Stalybridge Celtic goalkeeper Tommy Lonsdale; Macclesfield Town 'penalty king' right-back Jack Maddock; Leeds United tough-tackling half-back Alf Dark; Bolton Wanderers winger Jack Lowe; Clyde's reliable forward Fred Howard; and Exeter City goal machine Harold Crockford.

[7] He brought in veteran Everton goalkeeper Tom Fern, young half-back Sidney Blunt, and Stoke winger Billy Tempest for the 1924–25 season.

[7] After a difficult start to the season fans became impatient, and Len Birks was sold to Sheffield United for 'a substantial sum', whilst Alfred Strange was brought in from Portsmouth.

[7] Fifteen home wins helped to propel the club into an eighth-place finish, comfortably mid-table without any prospects of relegation or promotion.

[7] Schofield added Stoke left-half Vic Rouse and Stockport County half-back George Whitcombe to the squad for the 1926–27 campaign.

[7] To boost the strike force Stewart Littlewood and Jack Simms were signed from Luton Town and Leek Alexandra respectively.

[7] Schofield added to his squad for the 1927–28 campaign by signing Alf Bennett (Nottingham Forest), David Rollo (Blackburn Rovers), Alex Trotter (South Shields), and Robert Gillespie (Luton Town).

[7] Club legend Tom Page also announced his retirement, whilst goal machine Wilf Kirkham was sold to Stoke City for £2,800.