League The family atmosphere within the club was still thriving, with the directors encouraging players to pay a 'thrift scheme' which would help the club financially but they received a major jolt when
Stanley Matthews disputed the level of benefit to which he was entitled at the end of the season. Matthews did in fact refuse to re-sign for the new campaign stating that a player of his standing should receive the full £650 benefit rather than the normal £500. As a result, Stoke held him to his previous contract and Matthews was 21 days over the deadline before signing. There were no major close season transfers, either in or out of the club but like previous seasons this proved to be no bad thing as the 1937–38 season got under way and, after a fine 8–1 victory over
Derby County in mid September Stoke climbed to the top of the league. Sadly though as in the past injuries again interrupted the managers team and formation plans as both
Freddie Steele and
Charlie Scrimshaw suffered long-term injuries. In November 1937 Stoke accepted a £6,000 offer from
West Bromwich Albion for
Joe Johnson and in his place
Bob McGrory selected
Frank Baker. In October 1937 Stoke played Scottish champions
Rangers in a benefit match for the victims of the
Holditch Colliery disaster, raising £2,000 for the relief fund. A good sized crowd saw an entertaining 0–0 draw. However, in the league Stoke's form fell away and Stoke slipped down the table and their performances were of 'poor quality' according to the local paper. In February and March with relegation a distinct possibility McGrory went out and signed
Clement Smith from
Chester, brought back
Tommy Sale from
Blackburn Rovers and swapped veteran
Harry Davies for
Port Vale's
Tommy Ward. Stoke's injury jinx continued and with one game left at home to
Liverpool Stoke required victory to keep their place in the First Division. To add to the drama star striker
Freddie Steele arranged to get married on the morning of the match, he made it to the ground on time and scored a vital goal as Stoke won 2–0 to remain in the top division. However the season was dominated by the continuing frictions between Matthews and the club board and in February 1938 Matthews handed in a transfer request after a fall out with manager
Bob McGrory. Around 4,000 Stoke fans met with the directors at the King's Hall to see the board of directors come to the conclusion that Matthews must not leave. Matthews refused and reiterated his request to leave. Stoke rejected his request and Matthews wrote to the local paper thanking the fans for there support and he forged an uneasy truce with the management and board. Matthews pledged to do his best for his home town club and he did so until 1947 when he joined
Blackpool.
FA Cup Stoke exited at the fourth round this season losing at home 2–1 to
Bradford Park Avenue in a replay. ==Final league table==