Stoke were
one of the twelve clubs to participate in the first ever Football
League season, however had a season to forget, finishing bottom
of the table on goal difference to fellow strugglers Notts County.
Penalty kicks
were introduced to the game in 1891, after a clear goal line handball
by a Notts County player against Stoke in an FA Cup Quarter Final.
Infact, Stoke have never had it easy with the rules - soon after
that incident they were losing 1-0 to Aston Villa with two minutes
remaining. The Aston Villa goalkeeper simply hoofed the ball out
of the stadium, and by the time the ball was found time was up
and the game was over. This incident led to the implementation
of stoppage time at the end of matches!
Stoke legend
Stanley Matthews returned to the Potteries in the 1961-62 when
they paid Blackpool £3,500 for a winger who was now 46 years old!
Mind you, the deal made obvious financial sense - their previous
home attendance before the signing had been 8,000, but Matthews'
return drew an incredible 35,000 to the Victoria Ground. Much
of the extra revenue was used to further build the team, and they
were promoted to the First Division in 1963.
Stoke obviously
had a thing for ground breaking transfer in their earlier years;
in the 1974-75 season they broke the world record transfer fee
for a goalkeeper when they bought a certain Peter Shilton from
Leicester for a fee of £325,000.
On a less
glamorous note, Stoke set an all together less flattering record
in 1985 when they were relegated from the First Division, scoring
a record low of only 24 goals in their 42 games.
England goalkeeping
legend Gordon Banks, famous amongst other things for 'that save'
from Pele in the 1970 World Cup, was still playing at the age of
35 for Stoke City when he had to announcement his retirement on
the BBC. Still regarded as the best goalkeeper in England, Banks
was involved in a car crash which saw shards of glass badly damage
his right eye, spelling the end of his career.
As
ever, the Supporters Club are offering coach travel to Stoke
City.
Coaches
depart from Park Place at
To book your place please contact Mary or Glen Bowes on (01325)
243 911.
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