Stoke City Football Club is a football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Founded in 1863, Stoke is the oldest club in the Premier League, and thought to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts County.
Stoke play their home fixtures at the Britannia Stadium, a 28,000 all-seater stadium. The stadium was opened in 1997; prior to this date Stoke had played at the Victoria Ground, which had been their home ground since 1878 (a record of 119 years currently shared with Wolverhampton Wanderers). The club's nickname is The Potters (after the pottery industry in Stoke-on-Trent) and their home kit is a red-and-white vertically striped shirt with white shorts and white socks.
Prior to their 2008 promotion, Stoke had not participated in top flight football since the 1984-85 season, in which they were relegated with a total of 17 points, a record low total for twenty-one years. Stoke's first major trophy was won in the 1972 League Cup Final, when they beat Chelsea 2-1. The club have won the Football League Trophy on two occasions, firstly in 1992 and most recently in 2000.
Stoke City F.C., considered to be the second-oldest English football league club, formed in 1863, under the name Stoke Ramblers, when pupils of Charterhouse School formed a football club while apprentices at the North Staffordshire Railway works in Stoke-on-Trent.[1] The club's first documented match was five years later, in October 1868, against an EW May XV at the Victoria Cricket Club ground. Henry Almond, the club's founder, was also captain, and scored the club's first ever goal. During this period they played at the Victoria Cricket Ground; however, they switched to a nearby ground at Sweetings Field in 1875 to cope with rising attendances.
In 1878, the club merged with Stoke Victoria Cricket Club, and became Stoke Football Club.[1] They moved from their previous ground, Sweetings Field, to the Athletic Club ground, which soon became known as the Victoria Ground.[2] It was around this time that the club adopted their traditional red-and-white striped kit. In August 1885, the club turned professional.[1]
Stoke was one of the twelve founding members of The Football League when it was introduced in 1888.[3] The club struggled in their first two seasons, 1888-89 and 1889-90, finishing bottom on both occasions.[4] In 1914, the First World War meant the league was suspended for four years, until it eventually recommenced in August 1919. During this wartime period, Stoke entered the Lancashire Primary and Secondary leagues.[5]
The Victoria Ground and Stanley Matthews
The club became owners of the Victoria Ground circa 1919. This was followed by the construction of the Butler Street stand, which increased the overall capacity of the ground to 50,000.[6] In 1925, Stoke-on-Trent was granted "city status" and this led the club to change its name to Stoke City F.C. in 1928.[7][dead link]
Stoke City winger Stanley Matthews
The 1930s saw the début of club's most celebrated player, Stanley Matthews. Matthews, who grew up in Hanley, was an apprentice at the club and made his first appearance in March 1932,[8] against Bury, at the age of 17.[9] By end of the decade, Matthews had established himself as an England international and as one of the best footballers of his generation. Stoke achieved promotion from the 2nd Division in 1932-33 - as champions - however Matthews only featured in fifteen games in this season. He did however score his first goal for the club in a 3–1 win against local rivals Port Vale.[9]
By 1934, the club's average attendance had risen to over 23,000, which in turn allowed the club to give the manager Tom Mather increased transfer funds. The club was now considered one of the top teams in the country. It was in this period that the club recorded its record league win, a 10–3 win over West Bromwich Albion in February 1937. In April of that year, the club achieved its record league crowd - 51,373 against Arsenal. Freddie Steele's 33 league goals in the 1936-37 season remains a club record.[9]
League decline
The outbreak of World War II prevented any further progress as the league was suspended during the 1939-40 season for a period of 6 years. Following the resumption of the FA Cup, tragedy struck as 33 fans died and 520 were injured during 6th round tie away against Bolton Wanderers.[10] In 1946-47, Stoke mounted a serious title challenge. The club needed a win in their final game of the season to win the First Division title, however a 2–1 defeat to Sheffield United meant the title went to Liverpool instead. Stanley Matthews left with 3 games remaining of the 1946-47 season, opting to join Blackpool at the age of 32.[10]
Stoke succumbed to relegation from the First Division in 1952-53, during the season Bob McGory resigned as the club's manager after 17 years in the role.[11][12]
The Tony Waddington years
Tony Waddington was appointed as the club's manager in June 1960.A book celebrating this illustrious time, was written by Alan Hudson - one of Waddington's best signings.[1] [13] He first joined the club in 1952 as a coach, before being promoted to assistant manager in 1957. Waddington pulled off a significant coup by enticing Stanley Matthews - now 46 years old - back to the club, 14 years after he had departed.[14] The return of Matthews helped Stoke to an improved 8th position in 1961-62. Promotion was achieved in the next season, with Stoke finishing as champions.[14] In their first season back in the 1st Division, 1963-64, Waddington guided Stoke to a mid-table finish. Matthews remained influential, as he helped the club to the League Cup final in 1964, although this followed by defeat to Leicester City over two legs.[14]
Waddington counted on experience; Dennis Viollet, Jackie Mudie, Roy Vernon, Maurice Setters and Jimmy McIlroy were players signed in the latter stages of their careers. Matthews was awarded a knighthood for services to football in the 1965 New Year's Honours list. This was followed by his 701st, and final, league appearance for the club against Fulham in February 1965, shortly after his 50th birthday. Gordon Banks, England's 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper, joined in 1967 for £52,000 from Leicester.[14] Regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world,[15][16] Banks proved to be a shrewd signing for Waddington as he helped the club maintain stability in the 1st Division.[14] For one season in 1967, Stoke City F.C. was imported as the Cleveland Stokers of Cleveland, Ohio playing in the United Soccer Association. The team emerged as runner-up of the Eastern Division, failing one point short of the championship final.[17]
The club won its first significant trophy on 4 March 1972 in the League Cup Final.[18] Stoke beat favourites Chelsea 2–1 in the final at Wembley Stadium in front of a crowd of 97,852 spectators.[19] Preceding this victory, Stoke had progressed through 11 games in order to reach the final. This included four games with West Ham United in the semi-final; the two-legged match was replayed twice.[20] Stoke fared well in the FA Cup; the club progressed to the semi-final stage in both the 1970-71 and 1971-72 seasons. However, on both occasions Stoke lost to Arsenal in a replay.[19] This was Stoke's best cup run for some time, as the club haven't beaten top-flight opposition in the FA Cup since 1975. Stoke City also became the first First Division side to play a match on a Sunday, when they faced Chelsea on 27 January 1974
The Butler Stand Roof was blown off in a storm, in January 1976.[21] The repair bill, in the region of £250,000, put the club in financial trouble, which was only eased by the sales of Alan Hudson, Mike Pejic and Jimmy Greenhoff for a combined sum of £440,000. With the team depleted, relegation proved inevitable in 1976-77 season. Waddington, after a spell of 17 years in charge, left the club after a 1–0 home defeat to Leicester in March 1977.[19][22]
The managerial roundabout
Waddington was replaced by George Eastham in March 1977, however he could not halt the club's slide to the Second Division in 1976-77. Eastham did not last long in the job, leaving during the 1977-78 season, in January 1978, after only 10 months in charge. Alan Durban, arriving from Shrewsbury Town, was selected as the club's new manager in February 1978. Durban achieved promotion to the First Division in his first full season in charge, 1978-79, on the last day of the season.[19] After consolidating the club's position in the First Division, Durban left for Sunderland in 1981.[23] Ritchie Barker, who was appointed for 1981-82, had a short spell in charge, but was sacked in December 1983. The club's new manager, Bill Asprey decided to bring back veteran Alan Hudson.[24] The decision paid off as an improved second-half of the season led to Stoke avoiding relegation on the final day of the 1983-84 season.[23]
The next season, commonly referred to as The Holocaust Season by fans,[25] proved to be disastrous. Stoke finished the season with only 17 points, with just 3 wins all season.[26][dead link] Mick Mills was appointed player-manager for the 1985-86 season.[23] Mills was unable to sustain a challenge for promotion however, and was sacked in November 1989 following a poor start to the 1989-90 season, after spending £1m on players. His successor, Alan Ball, Jr. became the club's 5th manager in 10 years.[23]
Ball struggled in his first season in charge, 1989-90, and his Stoke were relegated to the third tier of English football after finishing bottom of the Second Division. Ball kept his job for the start of the following season, 1990-91, but departed during February 1991, in the midst of an indifferent season that saw Stoke finish 15th in the Third Division.[27]
Ball's successor, Lou Macari, was appointed in May 1991, prior to the start of the 1991-92 season. He clinched silverware for the club; the Football League Trophy was won with a 1–0 victory against Stockport County at Wembley, with Mark Stein scoring the only goal of the game. The following season, 1992-93, promotion was achieved from the third tier - now known as Division Two[28] with Stoke finishing as league champions. Macari left in October 1993; Stein also departed, in a club record £1.5m move to Chelsea[27]
Joe Jordan's tenure in charge was short; as he departed the club less than a year after joining. Following Jordan's departure, Stoke opted to reappoint Lou Macari only 12 months after he had left. Stoke finished 4th in 1995-96 but were defeated in the play-off semi-final by Leicester City. Macari left the club at the end of the season, his last game in charge was the final league game at the Victoria Ground.[27] Mike Sheron, who was signed two years previously from Norwich City, was sold for a club record fee of £2.5m in 1997.[29]
The Britannia Stadium and the Icelandic Takeover
1997-98 saw Stoke move to its new ground, the Britannia Stadium,[30][31] after 119 years at the Victoria Ground. Chic Bates, Macari's assistant, was appointed manager for the club's first season in the new ground. He did not last long though, and was replaced by Chris Kamara in January 1998. Kamara could not improve the club's fortunes either, and he too left in April. Alan Durban, previously Stoke's manager two decades earlier, took charge for the remainder of season. Despite his best efforts, Durban was unable to keep the club up, as defeat on the final day of the season consigned Stoke to relegation from Division One.[27] Brian Little, formerly manager of Aston Villa,[32] took charge for the 1998-99 season.[33] Despite an impressive start, the team's form tailed off dramatically in the latter stages of the season, which led to Little leaving the club at the end of the season. His successor, Gary Megson, was only in the job for four months. Megson was forced to depart following a takeover by Stoke Holding, an Icelandic consortium, who purchased a 66% share in Stoke City F.C. for the sum of £6.6m.[34] Stoke became the first Icelandic owned football club outside of Iceland,[citation needed]. The new owners moved to appoint the club's first foreign manager, Icelander Gudjon Thordarson, in November 1999.[27][35] Thordarson had, in fact, been the primus motor in getting the consortium together.
The Auto Windscreens Shield was won in the 1999-2000 season, in April 2000, with a win over Bristol City in front of a crowd of 85,057 at Wembley.[7][36] Thordarson achieved promotion at the third time of asking in 2001-02.[37] A second successive 5th-place finish ensured a play-off spot. Cardiff City were defeated in the semi-final before a 2–0 win against Brentford at the Millennium Stadium secured promotion. Despite achieving the goal of promotion, Thordarson was sacked by Gunnar Gislason only days after the club won promotion.[37]
Steve Cotterill was drafted in as Thordarson's replacement prior to the start of the 2002-03 season.[37] Cotterill quit in October 2002, after only 4 months in charge. Tony Pulis was appointed as Stoke's new manager shortly after.[7][38] Pulis steered Stoke clear of relegation,[37] with a 1-0 win over Reading on the final day of the season keeping the club in the division.[39] Pulis was sacked at the end of the 2004-05 season, following disagreement between himself and the club's owners.[40]
Dutch manager Johan Boskamp was named as Pulis' successor on 29 June 2005, only a day after Pulis was sacked.[41] Boskamp broke the club's transfer record in signing Sambégou Bangoura for a fee in the region of £1m.[42] Despite his spending on new players, Boskamp's side was inconsistent and only a mid-table finish was achieved.[43] Boskamp left at the end of the 2005-06 season, amidst a takeover bid by former-chairman Peter Coates.[44] On 23 May 2006, Coates completed his takeover of Stoke City, marking the end of Gunnar Gislason's chairmanship of the club.[45] Coates is a former shareholder of the catering company which supplies to the majority of Northern England's football grounds, Stadia Catering, as well as being the chairman of Bet365,[46] the betting company which provides services in many sporting venues, albeit not including the Britannia Stadium. Coates chose former-manager Tony Pulis as Boskamp's successor in June 2006.[47] Pulis took Stoke close to a play-off place, however an eventual 8th-place finish was achieved in the 2006-07 season.[48]
Return to top flight football
Stoke City fans celebrate following promotion to the Premier League, May 4, 2008
Stoke won promotion to the Premier League after a goalless draw with Leicester City on the last day of the 2007–08 season, putting them in 2nd place of The Championship, thus earning automatic promotion. The promotion earned Stoke £35 million for the 2008–09 season, and a minimum of £60 million over the space of three seasons[49].
Despite poor-runs in both the FA and Carling Cups, the club exceeded expectations in terms of 2008–09 League performance. A defeat to Bolton Wanderers[50] on the opening day of the season did not bode well, with a bookmaker paying out on Stoke to be relegated[51], but fortunes quickly changed. In Stoke’s first game of the season at the Britannia Stadium, the team managed to pick up all three points against Aston Villa, following a 3-2 win[52], and notably, on 20 September, held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw at Anfield[53]. Wins also came against Tottenham Hotspur[54], Arsenal[55], Sunderland[56] and West Bromwich Albion[57], all before the end of November, however on 15 November, league-champions Manchester United gave Stoke their largest defeat of the season, with a full-time score of 5-0[58].
In the following months, Stoke’s quest for silverware came to an end after being knocked out of the Carling Cup by Derby County in the quarter-finals[59], and the FA Cup by Hartlepool United in the third-round[60]. The New Year brought further points in the league though, with draws against Portsmouth[61] and Aston Villa[62], and a 2-0 win against Bolton Wanderers[63]. From the 21st March, Stoke scored points in four consecutive games, only dropping points to Newcastle United[64] in this time. After a 2-1 win at Hull City[65], Stoke confirmed their place in the Premier League 2009–10, and reached a league high of 11th place after defeating Wigan Athletic, 2-0. A defeat to Arsenal away meant that the Potters finished 12th in their return to the top flight..
Supporters
Stoke have always enjoyed passionate, popular and loyal support. 51,000 turned out to watch Stoke play Arsenal in 1937 at the old Victoria Ground. A capacity 28,000 regularly turn out to see them in the Premier League].
However, through Stoke's hooligan firm] the Naughty Forty they also have a history of Football hooliganism and general hooliganism along with Cardiff City and Millwall. In 2003 the BBC described Stoke City as having "one of the most active and organised football hooligan firms in England". During the late 1980s and 90s trouble was automatically expected when visiting fans with any history met. In response to these criticisms, the club introduced an Away Travel ID scheme, however this was subsequently suspended in 2008 as a result of improved behaviour and an enhanced reputation. Major incidents have occurred with Port Vale, Birmingham City Leicester City, QPR, Wolves, Everton and Cardiff City.
However, Stoke City's fans and their stadium have also, more recently, been seen as loud, friendly, passionate and modern, welcoming as guests Sugar Ray Leonard and Maradona. There is in the media now "genuine admiration for the volume and volatility of the club's loyal support". The Britannia Stadium is often described as a cauldron. Stoke are fans of "one of the country's most unfashionable football teams, perhaps explaining their feelings that the world is against them. Their reputation now, rather than racist and nationalistic, is die-hard fans who are amongst the best in the country. Crowds in the 2008-9 season have been consistently full with Stoke high in attendance figures for the league in 13th place after 25 games, even though having one of the smaller stadiums in the league. Various other bloggers, journalists and fanzine websites have noted the transformation of their reputation since the return of Peter Coates as chairman.
Nevertheless, most Stoke City fans have to consistenly fight their past, and many journalists have agreed that "It is to the great credit of the Stoke supporters that they did not react to this provocation". One Manchester police inspector was clear in seeing Stoke fans as barbarians, advising a female fan that "should know better than to mix with Stoke scum." This same police service that used extraordinary powers to remove fans back to Stoke from the city centre. Liberty (pressure group), have taken up the case of these fans for whom anti-terror powers were used. Indeed, Manchester police eventually had to apologize for their own behaviour which was based on historical perception of the fans, not present reality.
Stoke fans mainly consider their biggest rivals to be Port Vale, also based in Stoke-on-Trent, as part of the Potteries derby. Although in the past they have stated Wolverhampton Wanderers to be key rivals. With Stoke City's rise to the Premier League coinciding with traditional rival Port Vale's relegation to League 2, and a hard-fought promotion battle with another West Midlands outfit West Bromwich Albion, rivalry with West Brom fans has increased.
Research undertaken by Sky+HD during August,September and October of the 2008-09 season, showed that Stoke fans are the loudest in the Premier League, topping the chart with an average of 101.8 decibels. They were followed by Tottenham Hotspur in second place and Liverpool in third.
″The Britannia is a raw and exciting footballing experience, unwelcoming temperatures and hostile home fans, with the action all played out in a noisy, bearpit atmosphere that is a real throwback. And yes, it is absolutely fantastic.“
Stoke play their home fixtures at the Britannia Stadium, a 28,000 all-seater stadium. The stadium was opened in 1997; prior to this date Stoke had played at the Victoria Ground, which had been their home ground since 1878 (a record of 119 years currently shared with Wolverhampton Wanderers). The club's nickname is The Potters (after the pottery industry in Stoke-on-Trent) and their home kit is a red-and-white vertically striped shirt with white shorts and white socks.
Prior to their 2008 promotion, Stoke had not participated in top flight football since the 1984-85 season, in which they were relegated with a total of 17 points, a record low total for twenty-one years. Stoke's first major trophy was won in the 1972 League Cup Final, when they beat Chelsea 2-1. The club have won the Football League Trophy on two occasions, firstly in 1992 and most recently in 2000.
Stoke City F.C., considered to be the second-oldest English football league club, formed in 1863, under the name Stoke Ramblers, when pupils of Charterhouse School formed a football club while apprentices at the North Staffordshire Railway works in Stoke-on-Trent.[1] The club's first documented match was five years later, in October 1868, against an EW May XV at the Victoria Cricket Club ground. Henry Almond, the club's founder, was also captain, and scored the club's first ever goal. During this period they played at the Victoria Cricket Ground; however, they switched to a nearby ground at Sweetings Field in 1875 to cope with rising attendances.
In 1878, the club merged with Stoke Victoria Cricket Club, and became Stoke Football Club.[1] They moved from their previous ground, Sweetings Field, to the Athletic Club ground, which soon became known as the Victoria Ground.[2] It was around this time that the club adopted their traditional red-and-white striped kit. In August 1885, the club turned professional.[1]
Stoke was one of the twelve founding members of The Football League when it was introduced in 1888.[3] The club struggled in their first two seasons, 1888-89 and 1889-90, finishing bottom on both occasions.[4] In 1914, the First World War meant the league was suspended for four years, until it eventually recommenced in August 1919. During this wartime period, Stoke entered the Lancashire Primary and Secondary leagues.[5]
The Victoria Ground and Stanley Matthews
The club became owners of the Victoria Ground circa 1919. This was followed by the construction of the Butler Street stand, which increased the overall capacity of the ground to 50,000.[6] In 1925, Stoke-on-Trent was granted "city status" and this led the club to change its name to Stoke City F.C. in 1928.[7][dead link]
Stoke City winger Stanley Matthews
The 1930s saw the début of club's most celebrated player, Stanley Matthews. Matthews, who grew up in Hanley, was an apprentice at the club and made his first appearance in March 1932,[8] against Bury, at the age of 17.[9] By end of the decade, Matthews had established himself as an England international and as one of the best footballers of his generation. Stoke achieved promotion from the 2nd Division in 1932-33 - as champions - however Matthews only featured in fifteen games in this season. He did however score his first goal for the club in a 3–1 win against local rivals Port Vale.[9]
By 1934, the club's average attendance had risen to over 23,000, which in turn allowed the club to give the manager Tom Mather increased transfer funds. The club was now considered one of the top teams in the country. It was in this period that the club recorded its record league win, a 10–3 win over West Bromwich Albion in February 1937. In April of that year, the club achieved its record league crowd - 51,373 against Arsenal. Freddie Steele's 33 league goals in the 1936-37 season remains a club record.[9]
League decline
The outbreak of World War II prevented any further progress as the league was suspended during the 1939-40 season for a period of 6 years. Following the resumption of the FA Cup, tragedy struck as 33 fans died and 520 were injured during 6th round tie away against Bolton Wanderers.[10] In 1946-47, Stoke mounted a serious title challenge. The club needed a win in their final game of the season to win the First Division title, however a 2–1 defeat to Sheffield United meant the title went to Liverpool instead. Stanley Matthews left with 3 games remaining of the 1946-47 season, opting to join Blackpool at the age of 32.[10]
Stoke succumbed to relegation from the First Division in 1952-53, during the season Bob McGory resigned as the club's manager after 17 years in the role.[11][12]
The Tony Waddington years
Tony Waddington was appointed as the club's manager in June 1960.A book celebrating this illustrious time, was written by Alan Hudson - one of Waddington's best signings.[1] [13] He first joined the club in 1952 as a coach, before being promoted to assistant manager in 1957. Waddington pulled off a significant coup by enticing Stanley Matthews - now 46 years old - back to the club, 14 years after he had departed.[14] The return of Matthews helped Stoke to an improved 8th position in 1961-62. Promotion was achieved in the next season, with Stoke finishing as champions.[14] In their first season back in the 1st Division, 1963-64, Waddington guided Stoke to a mid-table finish. Matthews remained influential, as he helped the club to the League Cup final in 1964, although this followed by defeat to Leicester City over two legs.[14]
Waddington counted on experience; Dennis Viollet, Jackie Mudie, Roy Vernon, Maurice Setters and Jimmy McIlroy were players signed in the latter stages of their careers. Matthews was awarded a knighthood for services to football in the 1965 New Year's Honours list. This was followed by his 701st, and final, league appearance for the club against Fulham in February 1965, shortly after his 50th birthday. Gordon Banks, England's 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper, joined in 1967 for £52,000 from Leicester.[14] Regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world,[15][16] Banks proved to be a shrewd signing for Waddington as he helped the club maintain stability in the 1st Division.[14] For one season in 1967, Stoke City F.C. was imported as the Cleveland Stokers of Cleveland, Ohio playing in the United Soccer Association. The team emerged as runner-up of the Eastern Division, failing one point short of the championship final.[17]
The club won its first significant trophy on 4 March 1972 in the League Cup Final.[18] Stoke beat favourites Chelsea 2–1 in the final at Wembley Stadium in front of a crowd of 97,852 spectators.[19] Preceding this victory, Stoke had progressed through 11 games in order to reach the final. This included four games with West Ham United in the semi-final; the two-legged match was replayed twice.[20] Stoke fared well in the FA Cup; the club progressed to the semi-final stage in both the 1970-71 and 1971-72 seasons. However, on both occasions Stoke lost to Arsenal in a replay.[19] This was Stoke's best cup run for some time, as the club haven't beaten top-flight opposition in the FA Cup since 1975. Stoke City also became the first First Division side to play a match on a Sunday, when they faced Chelsea on 27 January 1974
The Butler Stand Roof was blown off in a storm, in January 1976.[21] The repair bill, in the region of £250,000, put the club in financial trouble, which was only eased by the sales of Alan Hudson, Mike Pejic and Jimmy Greenhoff for a combined sum of £440,000. With the team depleted, relegation proved inevitable in 1976-77 season. Waddington, after a spell of 17 years in charge, left the club after a 1–0 home defeat to Leicester in March 1977.[19][22]
The managerial roundabout
Waddington was replaced by George Eastham in March 1977, however he could not halt the club's slide to the Second Division in 1976-77. Eastham did not last long in the job, leaving during the 1977-78 season, in January 1978, after only 10 months in charge. Alan Durban, arriving from Shrewsbury Town, was selected as the club's new manager in February 1978. Durban achieved promotion to the First Division in his first full season in charge, 1978-79, on the last day of the season.[19] After consolidating the club's position in the First Division, Durban left for Sunderland in 1981.[23] Ritchie Barker, who was appointed for 1981-82, had a short spell in charge, but was sacked in December 1983. The club's new manager, Bill Asprey decided to bring back veteran Alan Hudson.[24] The decision paid off as an improved second-half of the season led to Stoke avoiding relegation on the final day of the 1983-84 season.[23]
The next season, commonly referred to as The Holocaust Season by fans,[25] proved to be disastrous. Stoke finished the season with only 17 points, with just 3 wins all season.[26][dead link] Mick Mills was appointed player-manager for the 1985-86 season.[23] Mills was unable to sustain a challenge for promotion however, and was sacked in November 1989 following a poor start to the 1989-90 season, after spending £1m on players. His successor, Alan Ball, Jr. became the club's 5th manager in 10 years.[23]
Ball struggled in his first season in charge, 1989-90, and his Stoke were relegated to the third tier of English football after finishing bottom of the Second Division. Ball kept his job for the start of the following season, 1990-91, but departed during February 1991, in the midst of an indifferent season that saw Stoke finish 15th in the Third Division.[27]
Ball's successor, Lou Macari, was appointed in May 1991, prior to the start of the 1991-92 season. He clinched silverware for the club; the Football League Trophy was won with a 1–0 victory against Stockport County at Wembley, with Mark Stein scoring the only goal of the game. The following season, 1992-93, promotion was achieved from the third tier - now known as Division Two[28] with Stoke finishing as league champions. Macari left in October 1993; Stein also departed, in a club record £1.5m move to Chelsea[27]
Joe Jordan's tenure in charge was short; as he departed the club less than a year after joining. Following Jordan's departure, Stoke opted to reappoint Lou Macari only 12 months after he had left. Stoke finished 4th in 1995-96 but were defeated in the play-off semi-final by Leicester City. Macari left the club at the end of the season, his last game in charge was the final league game at the Victoria Ground.[27] Mike Sheron, who was signed two years previously from Norwich City, was sold for a club record fee of £2.5m in 1997.[29]
The Britannia Stadium and the Icelandic Takeover
1997-98 saw Stoke move to its new ground, the Britannia Stadium,[30][31] after 119 years at the Victoria Ground. Chic Bates, Macari's assistant, was appointed manager for the club's first season in the new ground. He did not last long though, and was replaced by Chris Kamara in January 1998. Kamara could not improve the club's fortunes either, and he too left in April. Alan Durban, previously Stoke's manager two decades earlier, took charge for the remainder of season. Despite his best efforts, Durban was unable to keep the club up, as defeat on the final day of the season consigned Stoke to relegation from Division One.[27] Brian Little, formerly manager of Aston Villa,[32] took charge for the 1998-99 season.[33] Despite an impressive start, the team's form tailed off dramatically in the latter stages of the season, which led to Little leaving the club at the end of the season. His successor, Gary Megson, was only in the job for four months. Megson was forced to depart following a takeover by Stoke Holding, an Icelandic consortium, who purchased a 66% share in Stoke City F.C. for the sum of £6.6m.[34] Stoke became the first Icelandic owned football club outside of Iceland,[citation needed]. The new owners moved to appoint the club's first foreign manager, Icelander Gudjon Thordarson, in November 1999.[27][35] Thordarson had, in fact, been the primus motor in getting the consortium together.
The Auto Windscreens Shield was won in the 1999-2000 season, in April 2000, with a win over Bristol City in front of a crowd of 85,057 at Wembley.[7][36] Thordarson achieved promotion at the third time of asking in 2001-02.[37] A second successive 5th-place finish ensured a play-off spot. Cardiff City were defeated in the semi-final before a 2–0 win against Brentford at the Millennium Stadium secured promotion. Despite achieving the goal of promotion, Thordarson was sacked by Gunnar Gislason only days after the club won promotion.[37]
Steve Cotterill was drafted in as Thordarson's replacement prior to the start of the 2002-03 season.[37] Cotterill quit in October 2002, after only 4 months in charge. Tony Pulis was appointed as Stoke's new manager shortly after.[7][38] Pulis steered Stoke clear of relegation,[37] with a 1-0 win over Reading on the final day of the season keeping the club in the division.[39] Pulis was sacked at the end of the 2004-05 season, following disagreement between himself and the club's owners.[40]
Dutch manager Johan Boskamp was named as Pulis' successor on 29 June 2005, only a day after Pulis was sacked.[41] Boskamp broke the club's transfer record in signing Sambégou Bangoura for a fee in the region of £1m.[42] Despite his spending on new players, Boskamp's side was inconsistent and only a mid-table finish was achieved.[43] Boskamp left at the end of the 2005-06 season, amidst a takeover bid by former-chairman Peter Coates.[44] On 23 May 2006, Coates completed his takeover of Stoke City, marking the end of Gunnar Gislason's chairmanship of the club.[45] Coates is a former shareholder of the catering company which supplies to the majority of Northern England's football grounds, Stadia Catering, as well as being the chairman of Bet365,[46] the betting company which provides services in many sporting venues, albeit not including the Britannia Stadium. Coates chose former-manager Tony Pulis as Boskamp's successor in June 2006.[47] Pulis took Stoke close to a play-off place, however an eventual 8th-place finish was achieved in the 2006-07 season.[48]
Return to top flight football
Stoke City fans celebrate following promotion to the Premier League, May 4, 2008
Stoke won promotion to the Premier League after a goalless draw with Leicester City on the last day of the 2007–08 season, putting them in 2nd place of The Championship, thus earning automatic promotion. The promotion earned Stoke £35 million for the 2008–09 season, and a minimum of £60 million over the space of three seasons[49].
Despite poor-runs in both the FA and Carling Cups, the club exceeded expectations in terms of 2008–09 League performance. A defeat to Bolton Wanderers[50] on the opening day of the season did not bode well, with a bookmaker paying out on Stoke to be relegated[51], but fortunes quickly changed. In Stoke’s first game of the season at the Britannia Stadium, the team managed to pick up all three points against Aston Villa, following a 3-2 win[52], and notably, on 20 September, held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw at Anfield[53]. Wins also came against Tottenham Hotspur[54], Arsenal[55], Sunderland[56] and West Bromwich Albion[57], all before the end of November, however on 15 November, league-champions Manchester United gave Stoke their largest defeat of the season, with a full-time score of 5-0[58].
In the following months, Stoke’s quest for silverware came to an end after being knocked out of the Carling Cup by Derby County in the quarter-finals[59], and the FA Cup by Hartlepool United in the third-round[60]. The New Year brought further points in the league though, with draws against Portsmouth[61] and Aston Villa[62], and a 2-0 win against Bolton Wanderers[63]. From the 21st March, Stoke scored points in four consecutive games, only dropping points to Newcastle United[64] in this time. After a 2-1 win at Hull City[65], Stoke confirmed their place in the Premier League 2009–10, and reached a league high of 11th place after defeating Wigan Athletic, 2-0. A defeat to Arsenal away meant that the Potters finished 12th in their return to the top flight..
Supporters
Stoke have always enjoyed passionate, popular and loyal support. 51,000 turned out to watch Stoke play Arsenal in 1937 at the old Victoria Ground. A capacity 28,000 regularly turn out to see them in the Premier League].
However, through Stoke's hooligan firm] the Naughty Forty they also have a history of Football hooliganism and general hooliganism along with Cardiff City and Millwall. In 2003 the BBC described Stoke City as having "one of the most active and organised football hooligan firms in England". During the late 1980s and 90s trouble was automatically expected when visiting fans with any history met. In response to these criticisms, the club introduced an Away Travel ID scheme, however this was subsequently suspended in 2008 as a result of improved behaviour and an enhanced reputation. Major incidents have occurred with Port Vale, Birmingham City Leicester City, QPR, Wolves, Everton and Cardiff City.
However, Stoke City's fans and their stadium have also, more recently, been seen as loud, friendly, passionate and modern, welcoming as guests Sugar Ray Leonard and Maradona. There is in the media now "genuine admiration for the volume and volatility of the club's loyal support". The Britannia Stadium is often described as a cauldron. Stoke are fans of "one of the country's most unfashionable football teams, perhaps explaining their feelings that the world is against them. Their reputation now, rather than racist and nationalistic, is die-hard fans who are amongst the best in the country. Crowds in the 2008-9 season have been consistently full with Stoke high in attendance figures for the league in 13th place after 25 games, even though having one of the smaller stadiums in the league. Various other bloggers, journalists and fanzine websites have noted the transformation of their reputation since the return of Peter Coates as chairman.
Nevertheless, most Stoke City fans have to consistenly fight their past, and many journalists have agreed that "It is to the great credit of the Stoke supporters that they did not react to this provocation". One Manchester police inspector was clear in seeing Stoke fans as barbarians, advising a female fan that "should know better than to mix with Stoke scum." This same police service that used extraordinary powers to remove fans back to Stoke from the city centre. Liberty (pressure group), have taken up the case of these fans for whom anti-terror powers were used. Indeed, Manchester police eventually had to apologize for their own behaviour which was based on historical perception of the fans, not present reality.
Stoke fans mainly consider their biggest rivals to be Port Vale, also based in Stoke-on-Trent, as part of the Potteries derby. Although in the past they have stated Wolverhampton Wanderers to be key rivals. With Stoke City's rise to the Premier League coinciding with traditional rival Port Vale's relegation to League 2, and a hard-fought promotion battle with another West Midlands outfit West Bromwich Albion, rivalry with West Brom fans has increased.
Research undertaken by Sky+HD during August,September and October of the 2008-09 season, showed that Stoke fans are the loudest in the Premier League, topping the chart with an average of 101.8 decibels. They were followed by Tottenham Hotspur in second place and Liverpool in third.
″The Britannia is a raw and exciting footballing experience, unwelcoming temperatures and hostile home fans, with the action all played out in a noisy, bearpit atmosphere that is a real throwback. And yes, it is absolutely fantastic.“
