 After finishing bottom of the league last season Stoke failed to improve a great deal in the 1889–90 season and again took the wooden spoon.They were humiliated 10–0 in the second match of the season away at Preston North End where all the goals were scored by Scottish internationals as Stoke suffered their worst league defeat.Stoke also lost 8–0 away to both Everton and Blackburn Rovers and they also suffered a 6–1 reverse against Aston Villa.