The 1972 Football League Cup Final took place on 4 March 1972 at Wembley Stadium and was contested by Chelsea and Stoke City.

Chelsea went into the match as strong favourites having won the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in the previous two seasons, whereas Stoke City were attempting to win our first major trophy. 

Terry Conroy put Stoke into the lead early on, but Chelsea hit back through Peter Osgood just before half time. Stoke got the decisive final goal from veteran George Eastham to end our long 109-year wait for a major honour. 

It remains Stoke City’s only major trophy victory, the closest they have come since then to beating this achievement was in 2011 when they lost to Manchester City in the 2011 FA Cup Final.

The Stoke City Squad

Tony Waddington – Manager

Gordon Banks
Jackie Marsh
Mike Pejic
Mike Bernard
Denis Smith
Alan Bloor
Terry Conroy
Jimmy Greenhoff
John Ritchie
Peter Dobing (Captain)
George Eastham
John Mahoney (Sub)