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Stoke fan here in peace...

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I can barely remember us having an interesting or exciting game versus Stoke. Two games spring to mind - the 3-2 game at their place live on Sky. Craig Gordon was weak as piss and the game where we beat them at home straight after the 5-1 loss to the Mags where Cattermole got away with two blatant handballs on the goal line

Oh aye, and I think Kevin Phillips got his 30th goal of the season past them in 1998. Pretty sure they had Neville Southall in goal
 
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?
Stoke are a non entity for me but I dont mean that in a disrespectful way, it's just not a club I'm arsed about. I see yous as a typical championship side with decent support
  1. Are there any Stoke players/ teams that have made an impression on you over the years?
There was a spell when you seemed to be buying our rejects and that was the only time I remember any of your players making an impression.
  1. Are there matches between your team and Stoke you recall hating/ loving?
I went to the Brittania in the late 90's. I eas right at the front and Lee Clark scored an absolute screamer. Two of my mates jumped the barrier to celebrate only to be arrested. A third made then got arrested for arguing with the stewards about the other two being lifted. If you put the goals on you can see me celebrating with an inflatable sheep.
  1. In home / away matches, what have you made of the Stoke support? Any particular memories?
Decent numbers but cant recall any great atmospheres.
  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 to the Victoria Ground but I remember it from various books about grounds and it always reminded me a bit like Roker Park. The Britannia for a new stadium is pretty shit but could have been much better had you filled the corners in. It seemed there was a few grounds that were built around that time and I wasnt a big fan of any of them but i do think yours was the worst of the new builds at the time.


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
Click to expand...

Done
 
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
Click to expand...
1) My Grandad was from around that way growing up. He wasn't really a fan but had a soft spot for yous. Would talk about Stanley Mathews a lot. He died that first season you got promoted to the Premier League so we never really got a chance to watch any of your games together when they became more readily available on the telly.

2) Ricardo Fuller. Not really an impression but if you asked me a player I could only picture in a Stoke shirt it would be him. Every team has that one player who you just identify solely with one club. For me, yours is Ricardo Fuller......... or Aaron Ramsey.

3) Not really. There was that one game where you beat us (I think) after Kevin Friend sent off Wes Brown for a perfect challenge. It was such a bad decision that if we had appealed at half time he would have been out for the second half. I have a strong and long-standing hatred of Kevin Friend after that, but there has been no game that I loved or hated.

4) Nothing either way really.

5) Been to the new ground once and didn't even go inside. Its whilst I was at Uni in Manchester. I lived with a lad who was a big Derby fan. They were playing Forest on the Sunday, he got me a ticket for that game and I said I'd drive us over. Driving from Manchester to Derby I think you literally have to pass your stadium. Figured out we were playing you on that Saturday and things were alining for a decent weekend of football. Either because I was a lazy student or because I didn't figure it out in time I didn't get a ticket. Thought fuck it will still stop off on the way and see what's happening, maybe pick up a ticket on the door or something. Can't remember if we woke up to a snowstorm or if it kicked in en route, anyhow traffic was terrible. Got to the stadium about 15 minutes after kick-off. Stood shivering in the snow and a bloke walks past with his kid and says "too cold for us" and hands us his tickets. He said they'd already been in and one ticket was a junior but it would be worth a try to get back in.

-In fact, there you go, that's your answer for #4. The only out-and-out Stoke fan I've ever met was a nice bloke. He gave me a ticket.-

Anyway my mate and I weighted it up for about 5 minutes. But stood there in probably nothing but a cardigan for warmth and a pair of Primark plimsolls soaking up snowmelt, we decided to head for the comfort of the car. We won 1-0. Ironically a James McClean goal the difference, back when this place was saying they wouldn't sell him for 20m quid, far from the public enemy number 1 status he enjoys today. If you watch the highlights of that game you can barely see the goal the weather was that bad. Probably for the best we got a two-hour head start on the journey.

Oh and the Derby/Forrest game got cancelled so a wasted trip all round.
 
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
Click to expand...

1. Bit of a non entity. I grew up just down the road and have only ever met one fan. I remember them mostly as a championship or league one club.

2. The pulis team. They were what they were and got results beyond their station.

3. Not really hated. The one with the Lee cattermole handball was a bit embarrassing. I enjoyed mcclean in the snow and Lee Clark double at tour place though.

4. At away matches, across the bridge it seemed like marching into mordor.

5. I remember the rumour that is was sinking.
 
All our games against each other were usually poor encounters from what I can remember. I also seem to remember at one point Sunderland had the largest London branch, followed by Stoke. I use to love Denis Smith & Paul Bracewell. I liked the old ground but aside from that not a lot sticks out to be honest.
 
MagicRat said:
Wes Browns sending off in 2013 (I think) was one of the most furious moments I’ve ever had in a football ground. . . it still pisses me off now tbh :)
Click to expand...

That's the first thing that springs to mind. And the day we lost 3-2 I think (Richardson scored in the first minute) not sure if it was the wes brown sending off game, but that 3-2 match will always be the worst, most biased referee performance I have ever seen. If someone from the FA cared to look at it he should have been in front of a judge at court for match fixing. My head nearly blew off my shoulders, I think it was Kevin friend, and he walked off at full time right past the away end and was smirking, I hadn't even had a drink and wanted to smash his f***ing face in and I still do. Cheating corrupt bastsrd there is no way that he didn't fix that match, one of his mates must have had a few grand on Sunderland not to win. I drove home and I'm sure it was the day the mags come back from 4-0 down to draw with arsenal as I remember listening to it on the way home. Think I've been 4 or 5 times to the new ground with Sunderland and can remember fuck all of any of the games other than that bastard referee that day
 
I'd definitely suggest it's the worst away day experience i've encountered. Not in isolation but generally the experience from a good few decades over many visits olg ground or new.
 
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
Click to expand...

1. These days a bit of a non-entity much like ourselves and indeed 95% of clubs in England. When we were both in the Prem around the start of the last decade Stoke were a team I took a lot of satisfaction in beating mostly because you tended to sign a lot of players from us around that time.

2. I used to perhaps unfairly take a dim view of Stoke in the Pulis years but around 2014 or 2015 when Hughes was in charge I used to enjoy watching Stoke as they played a more entertaining brand of football at the time and regularly upset the big boys, especially at home. I recall watching you give United a bloody nose one Christmas time with Arnautovic and Shaquiri (may have spelt the latter wrong) in outstanding form.

3. 1/2/2010 is a date I’ll never forget as it was the worst football game I’ve ever seen. A 0-0 draw on a bitterly cold Monday night.

4. Vocal home and away support but poor numbers wise most of the time.

5. The current ground is a hostile place, have they filled the corners in yet? I think it would look better as a bowl rather than having corners missing.
 
Daffy said:
Got a relative in Trentham - he was part of it & is mentioned in the book , knows Jasper well
Click to expand...
Yeh spot on. There were a lot of FH books that told a few porkies. Not with the N40 book. Them lads were nails. Wolves always had trouble with them. Even remember being at a boozer pre match and the Coppers stopping a train with N40 on there heading our way. We wasn't even playing them!
 
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