The Year We (Nearly) Won the League: Stoke City and the 1974/75 Season

The Year We (Nearly) Won the League is a book that chronicles one of the closest ever top-flight title battles in English football in 1974/75. It follows Stoke City, fielding the best team they had ever had, as they rise to the top spot but fall at the final hurdle. The book explores the unorthodox methods of manager Tony Waddington and the legendary players such as Banks, Hurst, Hudson, and Shilton who made up the team. The campaign was the final glorious hurrah of that team before the club met near bankruptcy and relegation. Half a century on, the players themselves recall a time when hearts and legs were broken, and the football flowed and the drink did too.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 07 February 2022
Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd

The Year We (Nearly) Won the League is a captivating account of one of the closest ever top-flight title battles in English football. Set in the 1974/75 season, with just four games remaining, a staggering ten clubs had a realistic chance of claiming the championship. Among them was Stoke City, fielding the best team they had ever assembled. This book delves into the remarkable journey of Stoke as they ascend to the top spot, only to fall at the final hurdle.

Manager Tony Waddington, known for his talent scouts and penchant for sensational signings, assembled a team of legendary players such as Banks, Hurst, Hudson, and Shilton. This campaign marked the final glorious hurrah for that remarkable team, as they faced near bankruptcy and relegation shortly after.

Over half a century later, the players themselves reflect on a time when hearts were broken, legs were tired, and the football flowed as freely as the drinks. While the focus is on one club, Stoke's nearly men story resonates with every fan who has witnessed their team promise much but fall short of the ultimate prize. The passion, determination, and resilience displayed by these players and their club are a testament to the enduring spirit of football and the dreams that it can inspire.

Weight: 546g
Dimension: 225 x 140 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781801500548