Stoke City

Stoke City FC
Ground: bet365 Stadium
Capacity: 30,089
Club Founded: 1863
League: EFL Championship (current level)

A founding member of the Football League, Stoke City continues to provide pride and passion to its supporters in the Potteries, without winning as many honours as clubs of a similar ilk.

History of the Potters

Early Years

Stoke City FC was formed in 1863 as Stoke Ramblers FC by pupils of Charterhouse School. The city is made up of six old towns and nearby villages, which produced a large conurbation that became Stoke. In 1878, the club merged with Stoke Victoria Cricket Club to become Stoke FC. 

They moved from their old ground at Sweetings Field to the Athletic Ground, which soon became known as the Victoria Ground. At this time, the club adopted red and white stripes as their colours for the first time, and in 1885, they turned professional, becoming a founding member of the Football League three years later.

Financial Woes

The club was relegated from the league before winning the Football Alliance and returning a year later, and then reached the FA Cup semi-finals, where they lost 3-1 under manager Horace Austerberry. After hitting financial issues, Stoke resigned from the Football League and joined the Southern and Birmingham & District Leagues

The side had mixed fortunes in non-league before being reelected to Division Two of the Football League for the 1919-20 season under the stewardship of Arthur Shallcross. Stoke had a solitary season in the top flight before the club added ‘City’ to their title in 1925, three years after Stoke-on-Trent was awarded city status. 

The Victoria Ground in the 80's - Image from an online source

Stanley Matthews

After another relegation, the Potters won Division Three South under manager Tom Mather. Around the same time, The Victoria Ground was extended to a capacity of 50,000. In 1932, a local youngster called Stanley Matthews made his debut for the club in what would become an iconic career. He debuted in the same season that the team won the Division Two title. 

Bob McGrory took over as manager in June 1935, leading his team to a fourth-place finish. City came agonisingly close to being crowned English champions in 1946-47, but they lost their final game of the season to end fourth. Matthews had left to join Blackpool two games before the disappointment, which probably cost them the title.

Promotion and Gordon Banks

The club lost its way, and the team were relegated in 1952-53 after the appointment of new manager Frank Taylor. Tony Waddington was appointed manager in 1960, enticing the forty-six-year-old Matthews back to the club, helping the team to promotion as Division Two champions three years later. 

Matthews became the first ever 'knighted' footballer in the New Year's Honours List of 1965, and a few months later, he played his final top-flight game at the age of fifty! Gordon Banks joined the club in 1967 for a British record transfer fee of £52,000. The team lost in two FA Cup semi-finals to Arsenal in the early 70s.

My drawing of the Victoria Ground, team kits and club crests.
Click on the images to enlarge them.

League Cup Winners

However, Stoke found consolation in winning the League Cup in 1972 after beating Chelsea 2-1 at Wembley with goals from Terry Conroy and George Eastham. Other stars of the time also included Jimmy Greenhoff, Denis Smith, and John Ritchie. 

Banks was forced to retire following a car crash in which he lost an eye. Peter Shilton's arrival helped to replace him. However, despite great potential, the team failed to push on, and when the Butler Street Stand roof blew off in 1976, the club needed to raise finance for the repairs. Mike Pejic, Alan Hudson, and Greenhoff were sold. 

Waddington was replaced after relegation in 1976-77. Alan Durban led the side back up before being replaced by Richie Barker. The Potters were relegated in 1984-85 after collecting just three wins. The dozen years that followed were the worst in the club’s post-war history as managers came and went. 

Stoke were relegated to Division Three in 1989-90. Lou Macari took his side to the play-offs in 1991-92, where they lost to Stockport County in the semi-finals. However, City beat the same opponents 1-0 in the Football League Trophy final a few weeks earlier with a Mark Stein goal. The Potters won the third tier title the following season. 

The Victoria Ground in its final days - Image from an online source

Move to a New Stadium

In 1995-96, Stoke went out in the semi-finals of the play-offs to Leicester City. In 1997, the club moved into the Britannia Stadium from the ageing Victoria Ground. The team was relegated in their first season in their new home. Brian Little was appointed in charge of the team for the following season before being replaced by Gary Megson. 

The club was sold to an Icelandic consortium for £6.6M, which appointed fellow countryman Guðjón Þórðarson as boss. City lifted the Football League Trophy in 1999-00 as goals from Graham Kavanagh and Peter Thorne helped the side to a 2-1 victory over Bristol City. The following season, the team lost to Walsall in the play-off semi-finals. 

FA Cup Finalists

Managers came and went before former Chairman Peter Coates bought the club back from the Icelandic owners in May 2006. He immediately re-appointed Tony Pulis to run team affairs. His side won promotion to the Premier League with the likes of Liam Lawrence, Richard Cresswell, Ricardo Fuller, Ryan Shawcross, and Steve Simonsen playing starring roles

Coates invested heavily in the club, which consolidated under Pulis' direct style. Signings such as Peter Crouch, Jonathan Woodgate, and Jermaine Pennant arrived and helped City to the 2010-11 FA Cup final, which ended in a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City.

Be Careful What You Wish For

The club continued to build, but it was not enough for some fans, who were becoming disgruntled by the style of football offered up by Pulis' teams. After several weeks of murmuring, Pulis left the club by mutual consent in May 2013, to be replaced by Mark Hughes. 

Hughes gradually changed the squad and style of play, receiving plenty of plaudits with Marko Arnautović starring up front. In 2015-16, the side lost in the League Cup semi-finals on penalties to Liverpool. Hughes departed after Christmas in the 2017-18 season. His replacement, Paul Lambert, couldn't save the team from relegation.

Recent Years

Gary Rowett arrived for six months before being replaced by Nathan Jones, who in turn was succeeded by Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill in November 2019. Alex Neil replaced O'Neill after a mid-table finish in 2021-22, as another moderate campaign ensued. The Scotsman was replaced by Steven Schumacher in December 2023.

Narcís Pèlach had a short spell as manager before being jettisoned in favour of Mark Robins.

My visits

Stoke City 0 Hull City 1

Division Two - Saturday 8th March 1986

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My only visit to the Victoria Ground, although in truth I should never have made the match. I worked for Wallace Arnold at the time, who ran buses to every home match, calling at Filey and Bridlington on the way. Popular away trips were added, at least for local matches. However, for the Stoke trip, just six of us boarded the bus in Scarborough.

Our regular driver, the very rural Derek, was a top lad, and I reasoned that there were more supporters to get on at the other stops. However, we left Brid with just the eight of us aboard. We should have turned back, but I was young and foolish, and Derek fancied the day out. There was plenty of room to stretch out!

We arrived very early on a lovely afternoon and parked up in the huge area near the ground. Some lads were having impromptu kickabouts, but we headed for the away end. Stoke had a very rough reputation at the time, so finding a pub was certainly out of the question. We were the first ones inside our section! The Victoria Ground was ageing, but it was a traditional old ground. 

We were placed in the Stoke End. This stand had a terrace at the front with covered seats behind. Opposite, behind the far goal, was the large covered all-terraced Boothen End. Finally, to our right stood the Main Stand. This had a steep tier of seating with a small, terraced paddock at the front.

The Victoria Ground in the early 70s - Image from The Football League Review

In the feisty atmosphere, home fans in the Main Stand paddock tried to intimidate the Tigers fans, who weren't shy to advance. The regular, larger-than-life Hull lad, Wally, pushed his luck too far. Derek said he had a good laugh with him outside by the coaches while he should have been watching the match. 

Stan McEwan scored the only goal with a bullet-like diving header in front of us from a set piece. The 'Stokies' behind us were less than impressed. It led to an interesting time of watching our backs and the game at the same time, but there was at least an atmosphere. God, I miss days like that so much.

We got away easily enough in the customary police escort out of town and got back to Scarborough for 8.30pm. The following Monday morning was interesting for Derek and me as we explained to our boss what had happened to our supposed customers!

Stoke City 0 Valencia 1

Europa League Round of 32 - Thursday 16th February 2012

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As ever, I was always on the lookout to visit a new ground when my work shift allowed. I was due to finish for the weekend on Thursday lunchtime, and then meet my pals and travel to Düsseldorf on Friday afternoon. The Europa League draw offered an opportunity, and I knew I'd see at least one team trying to play quality football!

I arrived at Euston with enough time for a beer in The Doric Arch to help me doze on my journey before boarding a London Midland Trains service. It was slower with many stops, but the price reflected it. I wasn't in a huge rush, so I sat back and relaxed. I was to spend the evening at the Crown Hotel in Longton, a few miles from both Stoke town centre and the Britannia Stadium. 

I read mixed online reviews, but again, it was cheap, and I wasn't going to spend hours there. I caught a connecting train, and then headed to the bus interchange over the road from the station. I asked a driver if there was a service to the stadium, but there wasn't. I needed to go into Stoke and then catch one of the special buses to and from the ground.

Longton really showed signs of neglect and the recession. It was an ugly place with a large indoor market and a depressing shopping precinct. Lots of shops were shut down. The remaining distinctive-shaped chimneys from the pottery works stood on the horizon. Youths sheltered in the interchange, smoking weed and messing around on their BMX bikes, with a sense of submission. I checked out the bus timetable, and it was obvious that they could spot a stranger.

I checked in at The Crown, which was friendly and warm, if basic. The floorboards all seemed to creak very loudly. I was used as digs for travelling drivers, at least judging by the clientele. After a short rest, I decided to go to a decent pub. I went back over the road where the youths were showing each other their bike stunts and waited for a bus into town. This is where I had to be careful about where I was going.

If I'd got on a bus for the city centre, I'd have ended up in Hanley and not Stoke. Even though the railway station is called Stoke-on-Trent and the football club is named Stoke City, it isn't where the city centre is located! A bloke in a football hat got on board clutching a half-bottle of whisky. 

At least I'd have a guide to where to get off. The helpful driver found out when I could get a return bus after the game. I got off near Stoke town centre and then walked to Glebe Street. Club stewards in fluorescent jackets were handing out information on where to catch buses to The Brit. I continued up the road and into The Glebe pub. This was an inspired choice. The pub was a tied house for Joules Brewery of nearby Market Drayton. 

Their beers were lovely, as was the pub. There was a good atmosphere inside. My only regret was not ordering one of the homemade pork pies that came out on the table next to me just as I was about to leave. Instead, I thought I'd get to the ground for a look around and then have a beer once I'd found my bearings.

The bus was to cost £3 return. I was impressed that there were lots of them lined up, and they left at regular intervals, rather than waiting until each one was full. I was outside The Brit at 7pm, still an hour before kick-off. Badge and souvenir sellers were selling their goods, some at steep prices. 

I walked down the bank buying a £4 programme and the long-lasting fanzine The Oatcake for £1.80. I then saw the shutters for Delilah's Bar were down, and it dawned on me that no beer would be available because it was a UEFA-controlled game. I continued around the outside of the stadium. The map app on my iPhone pointed me towards a sports centre I'd read about. 

I was soon joining the queue to get inside. The bouncers were only letting anyone in once someone left. Within ten minutes, I was in and at the bar. It was busy inside, but they were well organised. Areas had been converted into bottle bars, with draught available at the usual bar, where plenty of staff were serving.

I got a pint of Tetley Smoothflow and watched the Ajax v Manchester United clash on one of the many screens. I knew Stoke fans' reputations, but I found them to be warm and friendly. That said, I was one of them for the evening! It was certainly easier than my previous visit. I walked back the same way I'd originally gone and found my turnstile. 

The concourse inside was busy, with less room than newer, built stadiums. I bought a pie, chips, and a Bovril and went upstairs to my seat. I was located right at the end of the Boothen End. This continued around to the East Stand in one large tier of seating. The far South Stand was a separate structure. 

The dressing room clock was in the corner, next to the East Stand. This was the main stand, housing most of the offices and facilities. It had a lower section, a block of corporate boxes, and then an upper tier of seats. I quickly noticed that there wasn't much space between the seats, and the legroom wasn't as large as I expected for a recently built arena.

Stoke were forced to enlarge the pitch to meet UEFA requirements.
It was made smaller for domestic games to enhance the advantage of long throws.

The atmosphere when the teams came out was electrifying. They were greeted by the song, We'll Be with You, released for the 1972 League Cup Final. My Dad bought it for me at the time, and it sounded just as good all those years later. At least I knew the words! This was followed by a rousing rendition of Delilah, which nearly took the roof off the place. The locals certainly knew how to get behind their team.

The Potters went at the Spanish opponents from the start but couldn't carve out many clear chances. Peter Crouch had a chance, but he fluffed his lines, and Rory Delap's long throws caused plenty of concern in the Valencia box. They held out and gradually took control of possession. 

Their class began to tell. City's defence had some extremely nervous moments, and in the thirty-fifth minute, Turkish centre-back Mehmet Topal strolled unchallenged and then let loose a thirty-yard thunderbolt into the top corner of the Stoke net. It was a brilliant goal, and I was pleased that many home fans applauded it. The few away fans were happy as well.

Stoke bounced back and could have had a penalty when Crouch was pushed in the area, but the Danish ref waved away their claims. The interval came and went, and the game continued with the same pattern. Valencia had most of the ball, playing at a controlled pace. Stoke played at ninety miles an hour, trying to pressure the visitors into errors. Valencia's keeper, Vicente Guaita, didn't really have to make any real saves.

I left when the board went up, showing the amount of additional time, popping back into the East Stand to take photos. I ran up the slope and was soon on the bus. We were on our way as the final whistle blew, and I was back in Stoke with five minutes to spare before a bus to Longton that I'd given up on when I saw the times. I thought I'd have time for a pint while waiting for the last service.

The bus took me back to Longton. I had a whisky nightcap in the extremely basic hotel bar and went upstairs. I was in bed and asleep by a quarter to eleven. After a good night's sleep, I was showered, dressed, and on the bus to Stoke at 6.20am the following morning. I walked round to the station where I took up the rarest of offers, a good deal at the railway station buffet. A coffee and bacon sarnie set me back just £2.50!

I settled back in style on the way home. I'd bought a first-class seat for a few quid more as I knew I would need some rest before my German adventure later in the day. By alighting at Watford Junction and using a local train and then a bus, I was home a lot earlier.

It had been a great trip, and I really warmed to the people of Stoke. I just wish their team would reward them by playing football in the fashion it was meant to be.