Stoke fan here in peace...

[Connor]

May come off as pretty harsh but alas

• 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?\

The one Goodison fixture I year I couldn't wait to be done with. Just a painful experience each and every year. Burnley have since taken that spot.

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

Always thought Ryan Shawcross did a raw deal. Seemed servicable at CB until he played in that England game. Is he still cutting about?

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

There was one at Goodison where Huth scored from a corner and youse won 1-0. Was on ESPN when they had the BT contract years back. Just a disgusting game to attend.

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

I had a teacher who was Stoke through and through. One of the nicest fellas you could meet but as a genuine one, how can you celebrate winning a throw in? Come on.

• 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 Britannia is horrid. Each time I've gone the weather just doesn't play ball and I'd rather be at home. Like the Reebok but worse.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

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?

Non-threatening to be honest. I'm good mates with a few stoke season ticket holders and they loved being in the Prem - no expectations to be a challenger for silverware bar the odd cup run.

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

The Pulis years were gold in terms of trolling other team's fans. Mark Hughes and the Stoke-a-lona period was just cringe so stands out. Could see it going to tits with so many big name cast offs and egos.

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

The 3-2 in 2008 at the Britannia was lovely. I was sat in the home end silently giggling at locals screaming "YOU DON'T DESERVE THAT EVERTON". The Delefeou inspired smashing at Goodison was great too. The Martinez era embarrassment at home, an utter suckerpunching, where Shaqiri netted a sublime goal was hideous.

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

Good fun. The early Prem years the Brit was rocking. Courtesy of aforementioned chums I've been to a fair few Stoke games as a neutral. Arsenal brought out the comedians to say the least.

1. 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 had the pleasure of the Vic, but my Dad assured me it was intimidating back in the day.

 

[Zezti]

All I really have to say about Stoke is that it exists.

Its like asking me 'what do I think about paving slabs'. It exists.

That's all.

 

[roydo]

Is Nick Hancock still about on telly ?
He was a Stoke fan wasn't he ?

For some inexplicable reason he packed in TV a while back to become a mortgage adviser.

He still pops up as a talking head here and there, so I assume the mortgage job isnt all that.

Or I could be talking wham.

 

[No8Bally]

 

[AndyC]

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?

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

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

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

1. 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

My abiding memory of the old Victoria Ground was the rather quaint way the police used to deal with visiting fans... for some reason (that actually doesn't defeat me), I always managed to get ejected but in their defence, they just used to throw me out and didn't seem to bother if I went to another turnstile and paid to get back in again.

One memorable early season midweek game in the 70's with the end opposite the Boothen packed with Blues, I got hauled out for rather too enthusiastically abusing Terry Conroy, the rather large policeman kicked me up the backside, threw me out and laughed when I appeared on the terraces again five minutes later.

 

[chrismpw]

It might hearten you to hear of my subbuteo stoke, which transitioned into my PES stoke in the league I've run since being a kid - 36 seasons I think. I put them into my league because my mate's dad was a stoke fan.
During the mid 90s to 2012 seasons while man u were tearing it up in real life, my stoke team were doing the same. They were unbeatable and have boasted players like Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, in their pomp, on the way to being the most successful national and european team in my league (other than everton who had more success pre mid 90s). Stoke have faded a little recently having done an everton with some high priced underperforming players.

 

[dow1978]

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?

Not bothered.

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

Not when playing for Stoke.

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

No.

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

I've always wanted to ask them what Bowie put down his trousers before they danced for him.

1. 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 the old one. The new one is just another one of them lego stadiums. See also Sunderland, Southampton and Doncaster.

 

[roydo]

Not bothered.

Not when playing for Stoke.

No.

lol

 

[paulbefc]

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?

Championship level club with whose only real claim to fame is being a founder league member (which is still a pretty great thing in my eyes). Besides that, Stoke are a bit of a non-entity to me.

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

I'm relatively young, so in a positive sense, absolutely not, no. In a negative sense, I can say that I thought the Pulis' Stoke were horrible and although I respected the results they'd get, I wanted them relegated as soon as possible. Later-Hughes' Stoke were more pleasing on the eye, but I was still pleased and relieved when Stoke's relegation was confirmed.

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

So many horrendous games. So much anti-football. The games were rarely enjoyable. I think we might have spanked you 4-0 in Martinez' first season, so that would have been the best. Worst would be the 4-3 game, which I'm sure Stoke fans look back on fondly.

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

Small away following, but that's fair as it's a small club. Sang a lot. Unfortunately Stoke belong to the Leicester City Football Club School of Cringe when it comes to what they actually sing though. 4/10 for support, both home and away.

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?

Went twice in a couple of years a while back and vowed never again (the two 1-1 draws, Jones and Baines equalisers). Not a great stadium to watch football in.

 

[royalblue66]

My abiding memory of the old Victoria Ground was the rather quaint way the police used to deal with visiting fans... for some reason, I always managed to get ejected but in their defence, they just used to throw me out and didn't seem to bother if I went to another turnstile and paid to get back in again.

One memorable early season midweek game in the 70's with the end opposite the Boothen packed with Blues, I got hauled out for rather too enthusiastically abusing Terry Conroy, the rather large policeman kicked me up the backside, threw me out and laughed when I appeared on the terraces again five minutes later.

They used to have a pair of Stanley Mathews boots in a glass display in a pub by the Vic Ground,mate was thrown out for trying to pinch them.

 

[paulbefc]

You are just like other clubs of your size. You are a welcome novelty at first, then you start giving it the big one because you manage to finish 9th once or twice, and then you inevitably get relegated and spend the next couple of seasons fighting relegation to League One.

I shouldn't have bothered. This is pretty much it in a nutshell.

 

[Armaghtoffee]

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?

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

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

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

1. 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)Disdain unfortunately mate and that is based on taunting your own player James McClean.

2) Super Jon Walters, proud Evertonian who scored 3 against the RS.

3) 4-0 Deulofeu masterclass at Goodison in 2016 I think.

4) See answer number 1. ‘Neanderthal’ was the word McClean used I think.

5) Never attended either I’m afraid.

 

[4737carlin]

Stoke was the first match for me, November 84, we won 4 0, good memories.
Never went the old ground, the present one, hate them open corners. One thing I do like about the new place is the walk to it, I know this spot not far off the motorway, you have to walk across a few fields and over the canal, it's nice.

I recall a few years back, FA Cup game, I got the train down, after the match the police got a load of crap buses and buses everyone to crewe, was a bit mad, quite a few buses got bricked!!!

 

[riddick]

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?

Not admiration or disdain but Im glad they are back down. A bit odd too as the fans clamored for "better football" which they got and relegated them. Actually like Stoke more than Burnley.

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

Obviously, for me, its Delap. Lad was about as skilled as a stroke victim but lordy could he throw the ball.

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

The first one when they came up...8 years ago or whatever it was. I called it then, there was no way they would go down because Delap's throws were impossible to defend against. It was hard and flat and on point. It was better than any corner kick or free kick.

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

Im in the States so can't comment

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

see previous response.
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