Name of Club – Stoke City FC
Year founded – 1863
Ground Name – Victoria Ground

Stoke City FC were the founder members of the football league in the years 1888, and they enjoyed some fine moments in the FA Cup, reaching the semi finals in 1899. In 1925, when Stoke on Trent became a City, the football club added ‘city’ to its name and it was not until the mid 1930’s when Stoke City made a real name for themselves. With young promising players at their disposal, such as Stanley Mathews and Freddie Steele, Stoke City reached the top flight in 1933 and soon established them selves as a first division football team. They finished the 1935 – 1936 league season off in fourth place, repeating that success once again in 1946, and their highest placing in the history of the club to this date. Apart from the 1972 league cup final win against Chelsea, Stokes finest moment came when gaining promotion in 1963; in their final match of the season, with 48 years old Stanley Mathews scoring an incredible solo goal.
Tony Waddington enjoyed a fine 17 year reign in charge of Stoke City between 1960 and 1977, taking the side to two Wembley finals and in to the European competition. The 1980’s proved to be a debacle for the Potters, and the end of the 1989 – 1990 season ended in relegation into the third division. Over the recent years they have been hovering around the lower leagues of football and are now currently playing their football in the second tier of English football, the championship.

Past Managers
Bob McGrory: 1935 – 1952
Frank Taylor: 1952 – 1960
Tony Waddington: 1960 – 1977
Alan Durban: 1978 – 1981
Richie Barker: 1981 – 1983
Mick Mills: 1985 – 1989
Alan Ball: 1989 – 1991

Great Players

Gordon Banks – Banks performed heroics during his career most notably playing in goal for England during the 1966 world cup finals. He made arguably the greatest ever save football has ever witnessed in a match against Brazil during the 1970 world cup finals diving down to save a Pele header. He made 36 appearances for England during his career and is certainly one of Stoke’s finest ever players, his highlight during his Stoke City career was his incredible display in goal during the 1972 league cup final, a match that the Potters won, defeating Chelsea.

Ian Cranson
Freddie Steele
Eric Skeels
Stanley Mathews