Welcome to the world of Stoke City FC

After 23 years, we've made it. We're back to the top-flight of English football and for the very first time, into the Barclays Premier League. Watch out Wigan, Fulham and Blackburn, Stoke City are coming!

If you were to walk the streets of The Potteries and approach any Stoke City supporter, you would be forgiven for thinking that they had just won the National Lottery. The city has been in a party mood since full-time on that fateful day in May. It is a mood which has been personified by the now-famous gentleman caught dressed as a rabbit and dancing upon the dugout after the full-time whistle, gleefully waving up to our chairman, bet365 owner Peter Coates.

Twelve months ago, no-one could have imagined that being able to watch their team on ‘Match of the Day’ every week would make people so happy, but it does. Promotion has brought a much needed injection of hope and aspiration to the city of Stoke-on-Trent. If you were to ask a group of ten supporters what they thought of the fact that we had been away from the top-flight for 23 years, nine of them would probably tell you that such a period of time was too long for a club of “our stature” and that most importantly, we have a right to be where we now are.

The fact is that we now face the arduous task of staying there, with several million pounds and several thousand hearts on the line. We're one of the favourites to go down, and we understand that. After the performance of newly-promoted clubs in recent years, we expected nothing else. But do we accept it? No chance. Just ask bet365 themselves. For an economically depressed city such as Stoke-on-Trent, the amount of money being wagered on Stoke City to stay up is frightening.

The man charged with this task is Tony Pulis, who was our manager for three years from 2002 after we were deserted by the now unemployed Steve Cotterill. Pulis returned in 2006 after a season at Plymouth Argyle, a hiatus enforced by our previous Icelandic board when they notoriously sacked him for "failing to exploit the foreign transfer market" in 2005. This break was short-lived, however, and Pulis' return was one half of a dream ticket for Stoke, the other part being the return of a previous owner who shared Pulis' aim of achieving promotion.

With that objective now secure, the man who picked up his trade from the legendary Harry Redknapp has got to pull off the wheeling and dealing of his life to get players in who are good enough to grind out those 1-0 wins that for once we all so desperately crave. A highly divisive character, Pulis gaining promotion last season has gone some way to healing the split in the stands, but he still has some way to go.

This season will be exciting, stressful and full of despair and numerous missed chances... and that's just the groundsman!   Welcome to the rollercoaster that is Stoke City Football Club. This ride is not suitable for the faint-hearted.

Comments

[Kevin]

For about 10 years we would get choruses of "You're not famous anymore" from opposition fans, then it got worse and they stopped singing it.
After 10 more years of them not singing it at us and a 2nd stint in div 3 (old old names), I wouldn't say a gave up but, I certainly gave up kidding myself.
I am surprised and delighted for Stoke City to be in the premier league, regardless of what happens next season.

[Geoff]

If Stoke are to have any chance of staying in the top flight they will need to sign at least another 6 premier rated players...and quckly!

[M Ho]

I lived in Stoke due to work for the last few years and just left early this year due to work again. The city is in great need of economic stimulus and the promotion in a way helps. In some ways, I miss Stoke as it was where my son was born. So for the city and fans sake, Stoke ought to fight tooth and nail to stay in top flight. Just do it duck!

[Tony Ford]

I was at the Brittania Stadium as a Manchester City fan when both clubs dropped in to Div 3 (let's give it it's real title) in 1998, so it's nice to see Stoke back in the top flight with the Blues.
I was also at Wembley in 1999 to see City beat Tony Pulis' Gillingham to gain promotion after benefitting from five minutes of added time when no one really knew where it all came from. Pulis, though disappointed was generous in defeat and I have admired him ever since for that. Good luck to both Stoke and Pulis, although I think both will need plenty of luck. It will probably be a scramble for 17th place.