Stoke fan here in peace...

[ORFYDUCKMAG]

Hello folks – Stoke fan here in peace. 

I work on the ‘Duck’ fanzine and I’m planning a different type of article for our next issue – out whenever something approaching normal matchdays return to our lives once more. 

I aim to ask supporters of several clubs 5 questions about their perceptions of Stoke City in order a to create a big feature article“Us and Them.”  For the following questions, feel free to answer in varied depth/ brevity but a couple of sentences at least for each is ideal: 

1. Generally how do you see Stoke City the club – a rival? Non-entity? Certain type of club? Disdain? Admiration? Pity?! As a fixture – is it of general appeal? 

2. Are there any Stoke players/ teams that have made an impression on you over the years?  

3. Are there matches between your team and Stoke you recall hating/ loving? 

4. In home / away matches, what have you made of the Stoke support? Any particular memories? 

5. The Victoria Ground/ The New One – what did/ do you make our of our home ground(s)’ the grounds? Any particular experiences or impressions? 

Given our reputation over the years, this could be a risk but then again, it would be great if I could glean a diverse range of honest/diverse/ cutting/ funny/ serious or even complimentary views.  

If you can be arsed, thanks for your time.  

Take care of yourselves, 

Lee Hawthorne @ORFYDUCKMAG 

 

 

[Woodley Ram]

1- not I do not see stoke as a rival, come to think of it apart from Port Vale who are your rivals

2- none really over the years there has been a few good teams and some good players but none that stand out, Matthews and Banks stand out but none recently 

3- I think this has to be a recent one as I would have to say the ones where Rowett was your manager

4- stoke are ok, other support such as the dirties are better other are worse we are not dissimilar to that

5- the new one, didn’t like the old one, this is difficult to ask given that I don’t see Stoke as a rival, now the Gumps I could do chapter and verse on 

[B4ev6is]

Well I think your ground needs majour work to it. Last season I went to your ground it chucked down with rain. My dad seats at the back given tickets half way down you need fix part of the ground eathier put extra mental panel down or extend the roof we got soacked.

[Mostyn6]

Given your respectful nature, i imagine you might get a few respectful responses. 
 

 

1. Generally how do you see Stoke City the club – a rival? Non-entity? Certain type of club? Disdain? Admiration? Pity?! As a fixture – is it of general appeal? 
 

I see Stoke as a rival. I dislike them more than I dislike F*rest, but slightly less than Dirty Leeds. It will be a while before you shake off the “horrible team, horrible football, horrible fans” description/feeling that I’ve built up over the last 25 years.

——————

2. Are there any Stoke players/ teams that have made an impression on you over the years?  

only the ones that ruined our best homegrown players in pre-season friendlies back in the Pulis era. Although, if you trained Rory Delap to aim his long throws, well done, for us it was all distance no direction! Ricardo Fuller always made an impression I suppose, regardless of who he played for!

—————————

3. Are there matches between your team and Stoke you recall hating/ loving? 

i recall beating you 0-3 at yours. Morris got two I think, and maybe Zavagno. Then I strolled back to Hanley and witnessed some old people being beaten up. But loved that game.

———————-

4. In home / away matches, what have you made of the Stoke support? Any particular memories? 

as supporters, i cannot fault loyalty and passion. Just don’t need to be knuckle dragging thugs to everyone! 
 

————————-

5. The Victoria Ground/ The New One – what did/ do you make our of our home ground(s)’ the grounds? Any particular experiences or impressions? 

indifferent. Could fill in that corner to block the draught!! 
 

——————

 

good luck

[IslandExile]

Will never forgive Dennis Smith for putting Charlie George out, denying us the double in 75-76.

I do like the rendition of Delilah.

Other than that, I'm quite indifferent.

Oh, I don't much like striped shirts.

[RamNut]

1. Generally how do you see Stoke City the club – a rival? Non-entity? Certain type of club? Disdain? Admiration? Pity?! As a fixture – is it of general appeal? 
back in the 70s under tony waddington, stoke were regarded as an attractive team with some good players - see below.
they became a bit dour and at times since then, they have been a decidedly dirty team.
I wish they’d go back to being a team I quite liked, but they seem to enjoy being the millwall of the midlands.

2. Are there any Stoke players/ teams that have made an impression on you over the years?  
notably jimmy greenhoff, Terry conroy, Alan Hudson, Mike Pejic, Gordon banks and Peter Shilton in the 70s and
dave Watson. They provided lee Dixon and steve bould to the Arsenal invincibles; Adrian Heath, Paul bracewell, and Ian Atkins to that great Everton team assembled by howard Kendall. Right now there aren’t many Stoke players I’d want apart from Campbell. Ince looks poor. Butland has lost form. Joe Allen epitomises that shift to naffness that I now associate with stoke. Hopefully the new manager can make a difference because ultimately stoke are one the midlands teams like wba, wolves, Derby etc that are an asset to the league.

3. Are there matches between your team and Stoke you recall hating/ loving? 

the famous game is 1976 at Derby when Charlie George dislocated his shoulder. Many people think that cost us a trophy. Possibly a double. Dennis Smith takes stick for that, but I quite liked Dennis Smith.

4. In home / away matches, what have you made of the Stoke support? Any particular memories? 
I remember tales of bricks being hurled into the away end at the Victoria Ground, and watched a big scrap in the Ley Stand of all places. Most recently I seem to remember more vitriol aimed at Gary Rowett than even we could muster. I think we were generally pleased that you took him off us and paid us £2m. You didn’t seem to believe that we were actually quite happy about it.

5. The Victoria Ground/ The New One – what did/ do you make our of our home ground(s)’ the grounds? Any particular experiences or impressions? 
I’ve never actually been but I know at one time the new stadium had a reputation for a very good home support. 

[Coneheadjohn]

I like oatcakes.

Love Incey in my house...a long story.

Completely neutral on everything else Stoke wise,apart from Maclean reading his kids story’s dressed as a terrorist...nice one??.

Sorry,I generally find the Stoke support very good.

[Millenniumram]

Stoke? Is that the place down the A50? They play football there?

[BaaLocks]

1. Generally how do you see Stoke City the club – a rival? Non-entity? Certain type of club? Disdain? Admiration? Pity?! As a fixture – is it of general appeal? For somewhere that is actually quite near it is actually surprising how 'un-rivalled' we are. I feel more connection towards Sheffield clubs, Leicester even the Birmingham clubs than I do to Stoke. I think that is coz you don't seem to have fans outside the place - even as far as Uttoxeter you're not really likely to be a clay-head. You're either from Stoke and you support them or you're not and you don't.

2. Are there any Stoke players/ teams that have made an impression on you over the years?  Terry Conroy back in the day. Roger Jones, by the time he came to us I think he had been playing for about 72 years. Shaqiri was too good to have ever been with you. Generally though, if I look at Stoke and compare them to other local teams like Forest or Leicester I would say the average quality of your players over the years has been a good level below either of those.

3. Are there matches between your team and Stoke you recall hating/ loving? Nathan Ellington penalty to win the Carling Cup QF a few years back. Besides that we've somewhat missed each other over the years, when you were up we were down and visa versa - which might impact the rivalry piece.

4. In home / away matches, what have you made of the Stoke support? Any particular memories? No, not really. Very similar to Derby in size, history, potential (except you do have more money behind you if ever the Coates want to break open the biscuit tin).

5. The Victoria Ground/ The New One – what did/ do you make our of our home ground(s)’ the grounds? Any particular experiences or impressions? Your new place seems to have been done a bit on the cheap, of all the new generation stadia it looks a bit tatty and like the builders cut the mix on the muck and bagged 10%. Look forward to seeing you on an upcoming episode of Rogue Traders.

[Dimmu]

You guys took Rowett from us so you're fine in my books. 

Once again, thanks for the money!

[Greasley]

Game that I recall, tho, you probably won't like, was at the Victoria Ground. In the 1995/96 seaon, under Jim Smith. Score was 1-1, Stoke goal was from a set piece, free kick looked to be going nowhere, then a great volley by Keen(?) put Stoke 1-0, with us looking destined to lose, a last minute equaliser by Van der Laan grabbed us a point. We got filthy looks as we left the ground.... game was on ITV on Sunday, them were the days, eh?

[Boycie]

I’m not taking the bait.

how do you pronounce “cooker”

[Philmycock]

Delilah from the far end at Victoria Ground was deafening, I'm sure Geraint Williams scored the winner though. God knows what year that was probs around 86? Rough arse town and fans. No real rivalry, unless I suppose if you're from Ashbourne/Uttoxeter way, hey @uttoxram75??

[uttoxram75]

7 hours ago, ORFYDUCKMAG said:

Hello folks – Stoke fan here in peace. 

I work on the ‘Duck’ fanzine and I’m planning a different type of article for our next issue – out whenever something approaching normal matchdays return to our lives once more. 

I aim to ask supporters of several clubs 5 questions about their perceptions of Stoke City in order a to create a big feature article“Us and Them.”  For the following questions, feel free to answer in varied depth/ brevity but a couple of sentences at least for each is ideal: 

1. Generally how do you see Stoke City the club – a rival? Non-entity? Certain type of club? Disdain? Admiration? Pity?! As a fixture – is it of general appeal? 

2. Are there any Stoke players/ teams that have made an impression on you over the years?  

3. Are there matches between your team and Stoke you recall hating/ loving? 

4. In home / away matches, what have you made of the Stoke support? Any particular memories? 

5. The Victoria Ground/ The New One – what did/ do you make our of our home ground(s)’ the grounds? Any particular experiences or impressions? 

Given our reputation over the years, this could be a risk but then again, it would be great if I could glean a diverse range of honest/diverse/ cutting/ funny/ serious or even complimentary views.  

If you can be arsed, thanks for your time.  

Take care of yourselves, 

Lee Hawthorne @ORFYDUCKMAG 

 

 

1. No real appeal, never been a big game for Derby. Leeds, Forest, Sheffield, Leicester and the Brummie clubs probably seen as bigger games to most Derby folk.

2. Always had a soft spot for Gordon Banks, and Stanley Matthews was me dad's favourite player. Mike Pejic is by far the ugliest footballer of all time.

3. Gordon Hill scored for us back in 77/78 ish late on and a bus load of us were in the Butler Street terrace at the Victoria Ground, we celebrated like salmon up a waterfall and laughed as the Boothen End emptied....it was less funny when they started coming in the back of the stand to attack us. You lot were a bit mardy that day.

4. Loud occasionally but very arsey and mardy at times. You once turned up with a mob from Dundee to help you and attacked a pub with 8 people in and claimed it as a result in one of your laughable hoolie books.

5. Victoria Ground was a proper old stadium like the Baseball Ground. I remember the old open end (City End was it called?) a huge open terrace that could be a bit dodgy back in the day. The new ground always gives the impression it wasn't quite finished. I remember some Derby fans taking lego bricks for one game and chucking them at the stewards telling then to build the corners up.

Back in the 70's it was always a challenge to get past the graveyard to the station. Plenty of fights on the trains at Longton and Blyth Bridge stations but certainly no worse than the Sheffield, Brummies or east Midland clubs for us Derby lads.

Living in utcheter I probably had more interaction with you chip eaters than most Derby lads and always thought you lot had a sort of Millwall attitude. Respect for your 70's football team but your fans were never seen as big a rival as the Yorkshire or Notts  lot.

[Philmycock]

1 hour ago, uttoxram75 said:

1. No real appeal, never been a big game for Derby. Leeds, Forest, Sheffield, Leicester and the Brummie clubs probably seen as bigger games to most Derby folk.

2. Always had a soft spot for Gordon Banks, and Stanley Matthews was me dad's favourite player. Mike Pejic is by far the ugliest footballer of all time.

3. Gordon Hill scored for us back in 77/78 ish late on and a bus load of us were in the Butler Street terrace at the Victoria Ground, we celebrated like salmon up a waterfall and laughed as the Boothen End emptied....it was less funny when they started coming in the back of the stand to attack us. You lot were a bit mardy that day.

4. Loud occasionally but very arsey and mardy at times. You once turned up with a mob from Dundee to help you and attacked a pub with 8 people in and claimed it as a result in one of your laughable hoolie books.

5. Victoria Ground was a proper old stadium like the Baseball Ground. I remember the old open end (City End was it called?) a huge open terrace that could be a bit dodgy back in the day. The new ground always gives the impression it wasn't quite finished. I remember some Derby fans taking lego bricks for one game and chucking them at the stewards telling then to build the corners up.

Back in the 70's it was always a challenge to get past the graveyard to the station. Plenty of fights on the trains at Longton and Blyth Bridge stations but certainly no worse than the Sheffield, Brummies or east Midland clubs for us Derby lads.

Living in utcheter I probably had more interaction with you chip eaters than most Derby lads and always thought you lot had a sort of Millwall attitude. Respect for your 70's football team but your fans were never seen as big a rival as the Yorkshire or Notts  lot.

Ouch, was expecting a rivalry. No sh1ts given by the Uttoxeter massive!

[ossieram]

19 hours ago, ORFYDUCKMAG said:

1. Generally how do you see Stoke City the club – a rival? Non-entity? Certain type of club? Disdain? Admiration? Pity?! As a fixture – is it of general appeal? 

It has been lively over the years between the fans, but you lot seem to make more of it than ours. That's probably down to the fact that you have Vale and Crewe within spitting distance and we have more clubs of a similar size near to us.

Are there any Stoke players/ teams that have made an impression on you over the years?

During the Pulis years you had too many that seemed to thrive on making the wrong impression, but I think most people liked Crouch. 

3. Are there matches between your team and Stoke you recall hating/ loving? 

Because we don't see you as rivals, most games between us are just seen as another game and don't really linger long in the memory bank. The game where Ellington scored from the spot probably stand out because of timing of the goal and snowball fight after the game.

4. In home / away matches, what have you made of the Stoke support? Any particular memories? 

You've built up a bit of a reputation over the years, but you're no better or worse than plenty of other midlands clubs. It was always pretty lively leaving the Victoria ground in the 80's, but it was like that at most grounds back then. The Delilah song is pretty impressive when everybody joins in, but nothing else stounds out.

5. The Victoria Ground/ The New One – what did/ do you make our of our home ground(s)’ the grounds? Any particular experiences or impressions? 

The Victoria Ground was a proper old school ground with a good atmosphere when things were going right for you (as the BBG was for us) But just like the BBG, it was past its best and needed rebuilding of demolishing.

The new one is in the wrong place and looks like it was built on the cheap, I thought with the money you made during the prem years, you would have filled the corners in and finished the job.

 

 

[Jourdan]

1. View of the club?

I have no real feeling towards Stoke and that is probably true of most clubs in the league. Unless you are rivals to us - Forest - or a club who stir up ill feeling for the masses - United, Liverpool, Leeds, and to a lesser extent Chelsea and Man City - I do not and will not take any particular satisfaction from your struggles or getting one over you.

Similarly, when you got promoted to the Premier League, I didn’t feel very invested in your rise either. You did well, of course, but I would never find myself rooting for you, the one exception being when you were 5-0 up v Liverpool!

My current view of the club is that it is one that has been incredibly mismanaged and there are very few signs of that changing. The club will need 2-3 years to recalibrate.

2. Memorable players or teams?

Ricardo Fuller always seemed to save his best games for when Derby were the opposition.

3. Memorable matches?

One in 2003-04 - you beat us 3-0 at home in August and we just knew off the bat we were in for a really tough season.

One in 2006-07 - you beat us pretty comfortably (2-0 at the Britannia) and the coach ride back was so glum and again we were sure we were in for a very tough season. But things actually picked up this time.

4. The fans?

It’s difficult to say. I don’t know any Stoke fans personally. I’ve never met one. But I’ve always had the perception that you were a passionate and committed bunch.

5. The stadium?

I only went to the new stadium once - back in 2006 when it was still called the Britannia. For a relatively new stadium, I was surprised that there were very few if any impressive or redeeming features.

But to be honest, with the exception of the Dragão in Porto, I am not a huge fan of modern stadiums and that includes our very own Pride Park.

[LeedsCityRam]

On 10/04/2020 at 15:24, ORFYDUCKMAG said:

Hello folks – Stoke fan here in peace. 

I work on the ‘Duck’ fanzine and I’m planning a different type of article for our next issue – out whenever something approaching normal matchdays return to our lives once more. 

I aim to ask supporters of several clubs 5 questions about their perceptions of Stoke City in order a to create a big feature article“Us and Them.”  For the following questions, feel free to answer in varied depth/ brevity but a couple of sentences at least for each is ideal: 

1. Generally how do you see Stoke City the club – a rival? Non-entity? Certain type of club? Disdain? Admiration? Pity?! As a fixture – is it of general appeal? 

Bit more needle/feeling than any other game..about on a par with the Sheffield clubs I'd say. As a club, always seen Stoke as a mini-Leeds - loud support when times are good, very large variance in crowd numbers depending on how well team is doing & a noted hooligan element

2. Are there any Stoke players/ teams that have made an impression on you over the years?  

Pulis team was excellent..unsettled the big boys, played to your strengths. No other teams since late 80s made any impression on me.

3. Are there matches between your team and Stoke you recall hating/ loving? 

Ellington's winner in League Cup QF

4. In home / away matches, what have you made of the Stoke support? Any particular memories? 

Very loud when you're doing well. On the flip side, once went to see Stoke play my mate's team, Gillingham about 15 years ago. Both were Championship at the time. Was about 10k there at the Britannia, it was August I think and the place was absolutely silent. 

5. The Victoria Ground/ The New One – what did/ do you make our of our home ground(s)’ the grounds? Any particular experiences or impressions? 

Never went to Victoria Ground. Britannia is a smaller version of PP and one of the coldest stadiums I've ever been to

Given our reputation over the years, this could be a risk but then again, it would be great if I could glean a diverse range of honest/diverse/ cutting/ funny/ serious or even complimentary views.  

If you can be arsed, thanks for your time.  

Take care of yourselves, 

Lee Hawthorne @ORFYDUCKMAG 

 

 

 

[europia]

1. Generally how do you see Stoke City the club – a rival? Non-entity? Certain type of club? Disdain? Admiration? Pity?! As a fixture – is it of general appeal?     

Stoke are a rival club, in terms of geography and current league position. Quite an appealing fixture to look forward to.

2. Are there any Stoke players/ teams that have made an impression on you over the years?  

They were quite a decent team under Pulis, with the Delap long throw. Crouch was a good player at Stoke, seemed a good fit.

3. Are there matches between your team and Stoke you recall hating/ loving? 

Quite enjoyed the 2-2 draw at Britannia where both clubs claim they should have won. 

4. In home / away matches, what have you made of the Stoke support? Any particular memories? 

Stoke have a decent following compared to many in the championship. 

5. The Victoria Ground/ The New One – what did/ do you make our of our home ground(s)’ the grounds? Any particular experiences or impressions? 

Britannia looks tidy when you drive past. Probably just the right type of ground for the club at present.

[bigbadbob]

22 hours ago, uttoxram75 said:

1. No real appeal, never been a big game for Derby. Leeds, Forest, Sheffield, Leicester and the Brummie clubs probably seen as bigger games to most Derby folk.

2. Always had a soft spot for Gordon Banks, and Stanley Matthews was me dad's favourite player. Mike Pejic is by far the ugliest footballer of all time.

3. Gordon Hill scored for us back in 77/78 ish late on and a bus load of us were in the Butler Street terrace at the Victoria Ground, we celebrated like salmon up a waterfall and laughed as the Boothen End emptied....it was less funny when they started coming in the back of the stand to attack us. You lot were a bit mardy that day.

4. Loud occasionally but very arsey and mardy at times. You once turned up with a mob from Dundee to help you and attacked a pub with 8 people in and claimed it as a result in one of your laughable hoolie books.

5. Victoria Ground was a proper old stadium like the Baseball Ground. I remember the old open end (City End was it called?) a huge open terrace that could be a bit dodgy back in the day. The new ground always gives the impression it wasn't quite finished. I remember some Derby fans taking lego bricks for one game and chucking them at the stewards telling then to build the corners up.

Back in the 70's it was always a challenge to get past the graveyard to the station. Plenty of fights on the trains at Longton and Blyth Bridge stations but certainly no worse than the Sheffield, Brummies or east Midland clubs for us Derby lads.

Living in utcheter I probably had more interaction with you chip eaters than most Derby lads and always thought you lot had a sort of Millwall attitude. Respect for your 70's football team but your fans were never seen as big a rival as the Yorkshire or Notts  lot.

And your town, in general, is a bit of a shithole