Well, who saw that coming? Congratulations to everyone, including our very own TLG Editor, who braved the cold conditions on Tuesday night and were rewarded with a fantastic performance by the lads and a 3-1 win, at
We are now in the top ten for form over the last six games, 7th, and have dragged a number of clubs into the relegation mix. Luton and QPR are in a desperate run while Norwich and Coventry, even with a much needed win on Tuesday, still need to look over there shoulder. The world looks a more exciting place for Shrimpers at the moment.
Welcome to new signing Richie Foran who I see starting on the subs bench, but Gower, great goal or not, should be looking over his shoulder, and Sodje will probably cover for the suspended Barratt. It looks as if Tilly sees Hunt stepping into midfield as the Mac and Maher double act are suspensions waiting to happen with Francis going to right back. I hope the Gods are smiling on them, (Mac and Maher), and letting Gutteridge go will not hurt us in the long run.
(Flahaven is now the best ever goalkeeper to play for Southend United. Discuss.)
However, we have to keep up the promotion for a while yet, er, May maybe, and a fixture away to
Subs Not Used: Eustace, Pericard, Wilkinson, Hill.
Southend have played Stoke 13 times and it's looking all square with 6 wins each and one draw, all to play for on Saturday. The first was a league cup tie on Sep. 13 when we lost 0-1. A 0-4 defeat was suffered on Sep. 22 1990, a certain Mickey Thomas setting things off there, but we also scored four in a 4-2 win on March 21 1995 at Roots Hall, Gary Jones, Thompson, Eagle and a Sussex penalty completing our biggest win against the club. It seems a while ago now that on a sunny August 5 last year we started our championship campaign with a deserved 1-0 win in front of 8,971 happy home supporters. Freddie slotting home a deserved win when Bradbury was brought down in the box by Simonsen. I must admit after that I saw us being at opposite ends of the table but who know, a lot can happen in 3 months!
Stoke play at the Britannia Stadium which has a capacity of 28,218 (all seated). The stadium opened in 1997, looks imposing from afar, as it is perched on a hill with hardly any buildings around it. It looks good when lit up at night. A vast improvement on the old Victoria Ground which has now sadly been demolished. It is a fair sized stadium comprising three separate stands, one of which extends half way around the ground. I'm a great fan of grounds which are totally enclosed, so it is a shame that this new ground has three open corners. Internally, I found the stadium a bit lacking in character, however I'm sure this will develop in time. In one corner of the ground next to the away end is a large electric scoreboard. Behind the Boothen End there are three statues of the legendary former player Sir Stanley Matthews, which were unveiled by Kevin Keegan. The club also have an unusual looking blue coloured mascot by the name of 'Pottermus', obviously this is what happens to a hippo that visits the
Away fans are housed in the separate Big AM (South) Stand at one end of the ground, where up to 4,800 supporters can be accommodated. The facilities and view of the action from this stand are good. I was personally quite disappointed with the inside of the ground, it has this kind of 'McStadium' feel i.e. I could have been in Middlesbrough's stadium of a few years back and not really noticed much difference. Listen out though for the Stoke anthem 'Delilah' being sung by the home fans, they can still give a great rendition of that Tom Jones classic song. It is worth bearing mind though that the Stoke fans are passionate about their club and this can make for an intimidating atmosphere, so it is best to keep colours covered around the ground.
There are a distinct lack of pubs near to the ground as it is built away from other buildings. Therefore I would recommend that you grab a drink on the way into Stoke if only for your own safety! However you are usually welcome at the Staffordshire Knott in Handford (from Junction 15 of the M6, take the A500 towards Stoke and the pub is near to the junction with the A34). Otherwise there is a bar at the back of the away end, but this can get very busy.
There is a Holiday Inn and Harvester Pub next to the ground. Car parking in the Harvester car park costs £3. Also close to the stadium is a Power League complex that also has a bar, which also allows in away fans, shows SKY television and you can even park in their car park for £4.50.
Finally the Potters Bar in
Leave the M6 at Junction 15 and then go straight across the roundabout onto the A500 towards Stoke. As you see the stadium over on your right and some wasteland over on your left (where the old Victoria Ground used to be) turn right onto the A50 towards Uttoxeter. You will then pass the stadium on your right and then at the next island go around and comeback on yourself for the stadium entrance. Visitors can purchase car park tickets for the stadium car parks from their own club at a cost of £4 per car. Please note though that these tickets must be purchased in advance.
Alternatively there are still some parking spaces at various commercial sites between the old Michelin Car park and the site of the old Victoria Ground. Bear in mind though that if you do park by the
Stoke station is just under three miles from the stadium and really is too far to walk, so it is probably best to hire a taxi. There are some shuttle buses than run from
There are still some five pound return National Express coach fares at decent times for anybody who can make their own way to Victoria Coach Station.
History of the club
The club is reputedly the second-oldest football league club in the world, after Notts County F.C., and claims to have been formed in 1863 (disputed by some, who claim it to be 1868).
The club's nickname is The Potters (after the pottery industry in
The club was led to a 13th placed finish by Dutch manager Johan Boskamp in 2005/06. However, after a series of arguments with the club's owners he departed at the end of the season, leaving the club's manager's position vacant.
The club was owned by Stoke Holding, which was in turn owned by a consortium of Icelandic businessmen. When he became chairman in 1999, Gunnar Gislason was the youngest chairman in the Football League. The club logo was re-designed shortly after the Icelanders' arrival in the City.
Stoke Holding has since agreed to sell their 66% share in Stoke City Football Club to Peter Coates. The takeover by Peter Coates happened on May 22 2006. The new regime re-appointed former manager Tony Pulis on June 14th 2006.
Stoke were relegated from the First Division with just 3 wins and 17 points from 42 games in 1985 and have not played at the highest level since. The closest they have come to regaining their top flight status was an appearance in the Division One playoffs in 1996.
Famous former managers of Stoke City include Alan Ball, Alan Durban, Tony Waddington, Lou Macari, Joe Jordan, Brian Little and Gary Megson. Famous former players include Stanley Matthews, Gordon Banks, Peter Shilton, Neil Franklin and Alan Hudson.
Nick Hancock is a famous City supporter as is Stephen Fleming, er, New Zealand Cricket captain!
Stoke City's only major trophy to date is the League Cup, which they won in 1972 under the management of Tony Waddington. Until the 1980s they were regulars in the First Division, but were relegated at the end of the 1984-85 season with just three wins and 17 points from 42 fixtures, and have not been in the top division since. The 17 points gained in that season set the record for the lowest tally of points ever in English football under the 3 points for a win system introduced in 1981. However, this record was beaten at the end of the 2005/2006 season by Sunderland, who finished with 15 points from 38 fixtures in the English (Barclaycard) Premiership.
They went down to the Third Division at the end of the 1989-90 season, won the new Division Two title in 1992-93 season - only to slip back down in 1997-98 - their first season at the new 28,000-seat Britannia Stadium. Stoke's relegation was confirmed on the final day of the league season by a 5-2 home defeat against Manchester City, who were also relegated.
They were promoted again in 2001-02 thanks to a 2-0 victory in the Division Two playoff final against Brentford F.C. Stoke's only serious challenge for a return to the top flight came in 1995-96 when they finished fourth in Division One and lost to eventual winners Leicester City in the playoff semi-final.
Despite having a relative lack of success for a club who played top-flight football for many years, the club has seen some famous names play for the club over the years, which can be seen below, including Sir Stanley Matthews, who played for the club in two terms from a youth player to his retirement at 50 years of age.
Stoke have a history of management casualties, few British clubs have seen a higher turnover of managers from the mid 80's till the mid 2000's. Leeds United are a notable exception.
It is rumored in local circles that the Britannia Stadium is built on old mine shafts and the Main Stand is drifiting away from the stadium at the rate of 1/2 centimetre per annum. These reports are unconfirmed and likely to be false, although the ground is built over mineshafts.
Stoke's record purchase is Sambegou Bangoura who cost the Potters £900,000. Their record sale was Mike Sheron to Queen's Park Rangers for the sum of £2.5m in 1997.
Peter Coates, chairman, is also 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 Bet 365, the betting company which provides services in many sporting venues, however, not the Britannia Stadium.
Stoke became the first Icelandic owned football club outside of Iceland in 2000, with a consortium purchasing the majority share of the club from Keith Humphries and Peter Coates.
Stan Clarke of horse racing and property development fame sat on the board of directors for a brief period, his highlight being the supervision of the move from the Victoria Ground to the Britannia Stadium.
Stoke have an unfortunate history of hooliganism, along with Cardiff City, Millwall and Leeds United, trouble is automatically expected when visiting fans with any history meet. This has, however, been significantly reduced since the introduction of an Away Travel ID scheme.
For the first time in a long time, it is now considered that Stoke City has a united boardroom with its directors determined to achieve success.
Attendance records:
51,380 (Victoria Ground) vs. Arsenal F.C. 29 March 1937
Estimated 52,000 at the Centenary Game against Real Madrid 1963
28,218 (Britannia Stadium) vs. Everton F.C. 5 January 2002
Highest league position and record results:
Highest league position at the end of season: 4th in Division 1 (1947)
Record league victory: 10-3 v. West Bromwich Albion F.C. (1937)
Record league defeat: 0-10 v. Preston North End F.C. (1889)