Stoke City FC Fans: October 2011

Monday, 31 October 2011

History: Stoke City F.C. (2008-2010)

Stoke played in the Premier League for the first time in 2008-09 by getting promotion on May 4 2008, to the top flight English football after 23 year absence. On 18 July 2008, the club broke their transfer record to purchase striker Dave Kitson for £5.5m. By the next weekend, the Britannia Stadium hosted its first ever top-flight game, against Aston Villa, with a home win courtesy of Mamady Sidibe's injury-time goal from a Rory Delap throw-in, giving Stoke City their first ever Premier League points. The Stoke returns in the Premier League by getting a finish at 12th place in first season.

A much cited aspect of the team's style of play has been the utilisation of Rory Delap's long throw to create goal scoring opportunities. Pulis signed Robert Huth and Tuncay Şanlı from Middlesbrough for a combined fee in the region of £10m,in a bid to establish the club in the Premier League prior to the 2009—2010 season. This feat was achieved comfortably as the club finished in 11th place, thereby securing a third season in the Premier League.

The 2010–11 season was the 148th season in Stoke City F.C.'s history, their third in the Premier League and 111th in the league system of English football. Their 11th place finish in the 2009–10 season means it is their third successive season in the Premier League. Stoke City Premier League Tickets are available at FootballTicketExchangeOnline.com at affordable price. Football fans can buy or sell Football Tickets especially Stoke City Premiership Football Tickets at FootballTicketExchangeOnline.com conveniently.

Stoke City Premiership Football Tickets

sales@footballticketexchangeonline.com

FootballTicketExchangeOnline.com

History: Stoke City F.C. (2001-2008)

Steve Cotterill the successor of Thordarson, spending a tiny tenure of four months at Stoke, quit in October 2002. The club acted swiftly and Tony Pulis was appointed as Stoke's new manager shortly afterwards. Pulis steered Stoke clear of relegation with a 1–0 victory over Reading on the final day of the season that kept the club in the Championship. The club's position in the league was consolidated in 2003–04.

Tony Pulis Stoke FC Manager

Dutch manager, Johan Boskamp was appointed as a manager on 29 June 2005, when pulis was sacked due to a disagreement between himself and the Club’s owners at the end of 2004-05 season. Boskamp broke the club's transfer record in signing Sambegou Bangoura for a fee in the region of £1m. Belgium international, Carl Hoefkens proved a significant addition, who won the Fans' Player of the Year Award for the 2005–06 season. At this stage a mid table finish was achieved. Boskamp left at the end of 2005-06 season, , amidst completely takeover by former chairman Peter Coates in 23rd May 2006.

Peter Coates Stoke's Chairman

Coates appointed Tony Pulis as a new manager in June 2006, who took Stoke close to a play-off place by finishing at the 8th place in 2006-07. June 2007, Stoke shifted to a new ground, Britannia Stadium outright from the City Council for a fee in the region of £6m.

Stoke City Premiership Football Tickets

sales@footballticketexchangeonline.com

FootballTicketExchangeOnline.com

History: Stoke City F.C. (1997-2001)

Britannia Stadium

After 119 years at the Victoria Ground, in 1997-98, Stoke shifted to new ground, 28,000 all seater Britannia Stadium. Chic Bates, Macari's assistant, was appointed manager for the club's inaugural season in the new ground. Bates struggled hard but the Stoke’s bad run reach at its highest level with a home defeat to Birmingham City. So, In January 1998, Chris Kamara replaced Bates, he also failed to improve the Club’s fortune and he left in April. Again Alan Durban took the charge as a manager and the Club finished at 23rd place, resulting in relegation from Division one

Brian Little, previously manager of Aston Villa, became manager for 1989-99 season, and Stoke won six wins. Later the team’s form tailed off resulting a little departure at the end of the season. His successor, Gary Megson, was only in the job for four months. Megan was forcibly compelled to leave following a takeover by Stoke Holding, an Icelandic consortium that purchased a 66 percent share in Stoke City F.C. for £6.6m and an Icelander Gudjon Thordarson, in November 1999.

Stoke won the Associate Member’s Cup (previously known as Autoglass Trophy) with a 2-1 victory over Bristol City in front of a crowd of 75,057, in the 1999-2000 season at Wembley. Later in a month, Stoke had to face a disappointment with a defeat in semi final against Gillingham. Stoke reached the play off again in 2000-01, with a 6th place finish. But this time Walsall stopped stoke’s progress at the semi final stage.

Thordarson the Stoke's Manager

Thordarson got promotion at the third attempt in 2001–02; another fifth place finish ensured a play-off spot. Brentford defeated Cardiff City in semi final by 2-0 at Millennium Stadium, secured promotion. Despite achieving the goal of promotion, Thordarson was sacked by Gunnar Gislason, only five days after the club won the play-off final. A campaign calling for Thordarson's reinstatement was organized by fans, but it proved unsuccessful

Stoke City Premiership Football Tickets

sales@footballticketexchangeonline.com

FootballTicketExchangeOnline.com

History: Stoke City F.C. (1989-1997)

Ball was so industrious that in his early seasons, 1989-90, Stoke relegated to the 3rd tier of English Football after finishing bottom of the Second Division. The start of the 1990–91 season in the Third Division marked the first time Stoke had played at this level in 63 years. At a very initial stage with Stoke, Ball departed in February 1991 and the club dropped to 15th place which remains the Stoke’s lowest League position till 2007.

Lou Macari the Stoke's Manager

Prior to the season 1991–92,Lou Macari be the Stoke’ s manager in May 1991 and an immediate improvement occurred in the first season, finishing fourth in the Third Division. Stoke won by 1-0 in the Associate Members' Cup against Stockport Country at Wembley, with the only goal by Mark Stein. The following season 1992-93, Stoke achieved Division two by finishing League Champions. Stein, a £100,000 purchase from Oxford United, scored 26 goals during the season as Stoke accumulated to a total of 93 points.

Macari left in October 1993 to take over as manager of Scottish side Celtic, and Stein also departed in a £1.5m move to Chelsea. After a very short, a one year tenure of Joe Jordan, Lou Macari was reappointed and only a mid table finish was attained in 1994-95 season. A poorly start of the season 1995-96, Mike Sheron turned around the club’s campaign and Stoke finished at 4th by a defeat by Leicester City in a semi final. 1996–97, saw Mark Stein return from Chelsea on loan, partnering Sheron in attack and Stoke finished at 4th place at Christmas, but a poor second half of the season saw the club drop to an eventual 12th place. And in1997, Sheron was sold out due to club record fee of £2.5m. Macari left Stoke at the end of the season; his last game was the final League game against West Bromwich Albion at Victoria Ground.

Stoke City Premiership Football Tickets

sales@footballticketexchangeonline.com

FootballTicketExchangeOnline.com

History: Stoke City F.C. (1977-1989)

In March 1977, Waddington's assistant, George Eastham became the manager to Stoke City FC. He lasted there only for 10 months and left the club in January 1978. club's misery was compounded by a defeat to non-league Blyth Spartans in the FA Cup shortly afterwards. In February 1978,Alan Durban selected as a new manager who achieved promotion to the First Division in 1978-79,a third place finish. After consolidating the club's position in the First Division, Durban left for Sunderland in 1981.

After Durban departure, Richie Barker appointed as a manager in 1981 who signed Hove Albion and Mark Chamberlain from Port Vale, and Mickey Thomas from Brighton to set about a building side for 1982–83 season. Thomas demanded £200,000 and made over 60 appearances for the club, but in 1984, was sold to Chelsea for £75,000 in 1984. Winger Chamberlain, a £135,00 signing, proved successful as he made eight appearances for England during his stay at Stoke. Barker's, after a short spell, sacked in his second season, 1983–84. Bill Asprey, the manager, was determent to bring back veteran Alan Hudson, and the decision paid off as Stoke improved during the second half of the 1983–84 season and avoided relegation on the final day.

The next season, Stoke finished with only 17 points and just three wins in top flight of English football and it was referred to as The Holocaust Season by fans, proved to be disastrous. Due to ill health conditions Asprey left the club in April 1985 and Mick Mills was appointed as his successor for the season of 1985-86. Initially he achieved with a mid table finish in the Second Division and the team reached 4th place in 1986–87, including 7-2 wins against Leeds United but they didn’t perform well at the end of the season and finished at an 8th place, became the sole reason for Mills who was sacked in November 1989. Following a poor start to the 1989–90 season after spending £1m on players. Successor, Alan Ball, became the club's fifth manager in 10 years and Peter Coates as a Stoke’s chairman in 1989.

Stoke City Premiership Football Tickets

sales@footballticketexchangeonline.com

FootballTicketExchangeOnline.com

Saturday, 29 October 2011

History: Stoke City F.C. (1970-1977)

It was March 4 1972, Stoke City gained first important victory by winning League Cup Final beating Chelsea 2-1 at Wembley stadium before a crowd of 97,852. Before this wonderful victory, Stoke had progressed through 11 games to reach the final, including matches with West Ham United in the semi-final, -legged match was played twice,well performance in FA Cup, Stoke also progressed to the semi-final stage,but unfortunately, they had to face a defeat against Arsenlas in a replay, in both the 1970–71 and 1971–72 seasons.

Waddington had to face a dilemma as both George Eastham and Peter Dobing retired not long after the club's League Cup win. Waddington responded by paying £240,000 to Chelsea for the services of Alan Hudson in early 1974. So the Geoff Salmons arrived from Sheffield United for £160,000 in same year. Later,Waddington paid £325,000, which is a world record fee for a goalkeeper, to sign Peter Shilton from Leicester City. The coming of Peter Shilton added impetus to Waddington's side and it was due to his presence that stoke were absolutely close to a winning position in the League title in 1974–75,but a hard luck was waiting for Stoke that season slump led to a fifth-place finish, four points off the champions, at Derby.

First time in Stoke’s history, that the year 1970 saw them competing European League and qualifying the UEFA Cup in 1972–73 as a result of their League Cup victory. In the first round, Stoke won with 3-1 over Kaiserslautern of Germany at the Victoria Ground, with a crowd of over 22,000. the club lost the second leg 4–0, therefore losing 5–3 on aggregate. Stoke qualified for the UEFA Cup two years later, due to their fifth place finish in the First Division in the 1973–74 season. With a great bad luck, Stoke were again knocked out in early round and they drew both legs against Dutch side Ajax,1-1 and 0-0 respectively,a good luck again went against them due to the away goals rule.

Due to the Butler Stand roof was blown off in a storm in January 1976,Stoke had to manage their next game against at Vale Park, , the home of local rivals Port Vale.The repair bill reach to £250,000, put the club in financial problem,which was eased by the sale of Alan Hudson, Mike Pejic and Jimmy Greenhoff for a combined sum of £440,000. With the team depleted, relegation proved inevitable in the 1976–77 season. Waddington left the club spending a 17 years tenure, after a home defeat 1-0 in March 1977.

Stoke City Premiership Football Tickets

sales@footballticketexchangeonline.com

FootballTicketExchangeOnline.com

History: Stoke City F.C. (1960-1970)

In 1960, Tony Waddington was appointed as a manager to Stoke, who earlier joined as a coach in 1952 and the club was trying to attract their supporters to the Victoria Ground because their no of fans decreased below 10,000, for the first time in 40 years. During his reign in 1960–61, Stoke finished 18th in the Second Division. Crowds were still low, a match against Preston North End attracted 8,409 in 1961. However, Waddington pulled off a significant coup by enticing Stanley Matthews—now 46 years old—back to the club, 14 years after he had left.


Waddington Stoke City Manager

A crowd of 35,974 fans attended Mathew’s return to the club, only a fortnight after the poor crowd against Preston. The return of Mathew promoted Stoke City to eighth position in 1961-62 and in next season stoke finished as champions. In their first season back in the First Division, 1963–64, Waddington guided Stoke to a mid-table finish. Mathews worked hard for the club in Football League Cup final in 1964, although this ended in defeat to Leicester over two legs.

Waddington believed in experience therefore he signed players like Dennis Viollet, Jackie Mudie, Roy Vernon, Maurice Setters and Jimmy McIlroy. 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. It ended a career spanning 33 years, including 19 years' service to his home town club.In 1967, Gordon Banks, England’s 1966 World Cup Winning goalkeeper, joined Stoke from Leicester for £52,000 but unfortunately, he was forced to quit top-level football in 1972,after losing an eye in a road accident.

Stoke City Premiership Football Tickets

sales@footballticketexchangeonline.com

FootballTicketExchangeOnline.com

History: Stoke City F.C. (1940-1960)

League was suspended for six years as the outbreak of the Second World War prevented further progress for the Club. After resumption of the FA Cup, 33 fans died and 520 were injured during a sixth round away game against Bolton Wanderers when the crush barriers gave way on the terraces.

Even at this time, the squad contained local players including Matthews, Sale, Steele and John McCue, all in their prime and Neil Franklin as the best centre-half player. In 1946-47, Stoke City FC had to face a little challenge, a necessary win needed in final game of the season for the First Division title, but fate had to face a 2–1 defeat to Sheffield United gave the title to Liverpool. Stanley Matthews left the club three games before the end of the 1946–47 season to join Blackpool at the age of 32 for a fee of £11,500. The team failed to plan a tittle challenge in the coming two seasons, , 1947–48 and 1948–49, finishing 15th and 11th respectively.

The 1950s did not give them a good start, having avoided a demotion in the 1950–51 and 1951–52 seasons, Stoke succumbed in 1952–53, finishing second from bottom. After spending 17 years in the club, in February 1952, the manager, Bob McGrory resigned.

Frank Taylor became the next manager and he strengthen Stoke’s position in the Second Division, but was unable to mount a sustained challenge for promotion. Although, in the 1954–55 season, Stoke came close missing by two points. Taylor failed to get promotion for Stoke and was dismissed in June 1960.When he left the club was at 17th place in 1959-60 season.

Stoke City Premiership Football Tickets

sales@footballticketexchangeonline.com

FootballTicketExchangeOnline.com

History: Stoke City F.C. (1930–1940)

The 1930s saw the debut of the club's most celebrated player, Stanley Matthews, just 17 year old from Hanley, give his first appearance in March 1932 against Bury and had established himself as an England international and one of the best footballers of his generation. He won his first England cap in 1934. Stoke promoted from the Second Division in the 1932–33 as champions, and Matthews played in only 15 games, he did score his first goal for the club in a 3–1 win against local rivals Port Vale.

In 1934,the number of Stoke’s fans increased to 23,000,which seemed a good sign for Tom Mather, more transfer funds. The team squad comprised at local players such as Matthews, Tommy Sale and Freddie Steele. After twelve year, Mather resigned in May 1935,as he became the manager of Newcastle United and Bob McGrory filled his place. In the 1935–36 seasons, the club finished fourth in the Football League First Division, nine points adrift of champions Sunderland. This was followed by two successive mid-table finishes, in 1936–37 and 1937–38. February 1937, Steele scored five goals against West Bromwich Albion and Stoke got a historical victory with a win of 10–3. In April 1937, the club reached to a heavy crowd of 51,373 against Arsenal.

Stanley Mathews The Manger Stoke City

Steele's 33 league goals in the 1936–37 season remains a club record in 2007.In 1938, rumours purported in fans that Stanley Matthews wanted to leave Stoke City to further his career. At King Hall, a meeting was helded and attended by 3000 fans with a further 1000 outside. Mathew decided to stay with Stoke City and Club finish in seventh place in the 1938–39 seasons.

Stoke City Premiership Football Tickets

sales@footballticketexchangeonline.com

FootballTicketExchangeOnline.com

Friday, 28 October 2011

History: Stoke City F.C. (1900–1929)

Stoke has to face the financial problems in 1900, resulting a loss of the club’s Football League status in 1908. "Historical Football Kits" says that, "In 1908, having finished in mid-table, Stoke went into liquidation and resigned from the League. Ironically this galvanized local businessmen, the clergy (the Victoria Ground was owned by the Church of England) and supporters to form a new limited company and purchase the old club's assets." After moving to the Birmingham & District League after demotion, Stoke has been selected to field two teams, one in the Birmingham & District League and the other in the Southern League and won the latter in their first year in the competition In August 1919, Stoke entered the Lancashire Primary and Secondary leagues and in the same year the club became owners of the Victoria Ground

Afterwards, when the restarts of the Football League, Stoke promoted from the Second Division in the 1921–22 seasons under the stewardship of Arthur Shallcross, but soon were followed by relegation in the 1922–23 seasons. Shallcross was replaced by Mather as a manager, due to the bad performance of the team, in March 1923.They were instead relegated from the Second Division four years later in the 1925–26 season. The club's stay in Third Division North was brief, as Stoke won the championship during their first season in that league. In 1925, Stoke-on-Trent was granted city status, and this led the club to change its name to Stoke City Football Club in 1928.

Stoke City Premiership Football Tickets

sales@footballticketexchangeonline.com

FootballTicketExchangeOnline.com

History: Stoke City F.C. (1863–1899)

In 1863, former pupils of Charterhouse School formed a football club while an apprentice at the North Staffordshire Railway works in Stoke-on-Trent. However, on 17 October 1868, Stoke Ramblers' first documented match was played against an E.W. May XV club, the 15-a-side match ended in a 1–1 draw, at their home ground , the Victoria Cricket Club. The club's first goal was scored by Henry Almond, Stoke's founder and captain. Stoke played four further matches in1868 and they made their first victory with 2-0 against Newcastle-under-Lyme.In 1875, to cope with rising attendances, the club switched to a ground at Sweetings Field, not far from the Victoria Cricket Ground and they played some friendly matches. In 1877, Staffordshire Football Association was formed and helded a competition, the County Cup, and Stoke won in the inaugural season, beating Talke Rangers 1–0 in the final. Stoke had a forever win record of 26-0 against Mow Cop. In the following season, Stoke regain the Country Cup title, with a 2–1 win over Cowbridge

Stoke Team Squad in 1870s

After merging with Stoke Victoria Athletic Club, in 1878,the club now recognized by Stoke Football Club. After moving to Victoria Ground, Stoke Club adopted their red and white striped kit. Stoke played Birmingham Association Cup in 1881 and were beaten 3-2, by West Bromwich Albion. Firstly played FA Cup in 1883–84.Stoke became professionals in August 1885. The club was defeated again in the FA Cup in 1885–86 after a replay defeat to Crewe Alexandra. Stoke retained their first victory in 1886–87, with a 10–0 win over Caernarfon Wanderers at the Victoria Ground. In 1888,Stock became member of Football League and in two consecutive League seasons, 1888–89 and 1889–90,finished at last place, but in 1890–91 season, they were the champions of Football AllianceStoke started 1890–91 in the Football Alliance; they finished the season as champions. In 1899, Stoke appointed Horace Austerberry, as a manager to lead the club to the semi-final of the FA Cup.

Stoke City Premiership Football Tickets

sales@footballticketexchangeonline.com

FootballTicketExchangeOnline.com

Stoke City FC is second oldest in the world, an English Premier League football club, founded in 1863, situated in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

Stoke City is playing Premier League since their winning in 2008, before this they had not participated in top flight football for twenty-three years. They got their major trophy by winning Football League Cup Final over Chelsea by 2-1, in 1972. Stoke City club has won the Football League Trophy on two occasions, firstly in 1992 and most recently in 2000. Their highest league finish in the top division is 4th, which they achieved in the 1935–36 and 1946–47 seasons. Stoke has competed in European football twice, in 1972 and 1974, and will face in Europe for the third time in 2011. Stoke City Fc played in their first FA Cup Final in 2011 , lasting runners-up to Manchester City.they have also reached three FA Cup semi-finals, firstly in 1899 then consecutively in 1971 and 1972.

Stoke's home ground, 27,598, seater Stadium, is based in the Britannia. they previously played at the Victoria Ground,which was their home ground since 1878. The club's nickname is The Potters, named after the pottery industry in Stoke-on-Trent and their traditional home kit is a red and white vertically striped shirt with white shorts and white stockings.

The 2010–11 season was the 148th season in Stoke City F.C.'s history, their third in the Premier League and 111th in the league system of English football. Their 11th place finish in the 2009–10 season means it is their third successive season in the Premier League.Stoke City Premier League Tickets are available at FootballTicketExchangeOnline.com at affordable price. Football fans can buy or sell Football Tickets especially Stoke City Premiersjavascript:void(0)hip Football Tickets at FootballTicketExchangeOnline.com conveniently.

Stoke City Premiership Football Tickets

sales@footballticketexchangeonline.com

FootballTicketExchangeOnline.com

Blog Directory
Blog Collector