WHO ARE YOU SINGING ABIDE WITH ME FOR

[stokhe]

my uncle tony took me to my 1st game at the vic in 1970,after that i was like a leech stuck to his side on match day until i was old enough to leave him behind and join my elder brother and cousin in the boothen end.sadly tony is no longer with us and i never did thank him properly for introducing me to life as a stokie.so come next saturday il be belting out the cup final hymn in tribute to the bloke who i know will be bursting with pride while looking down on the stoke masses in wembley .."CHEERS UNCLE TONE"

[madeinstoke]

My mum.

She was the biggest influence on my life and she passed away in 2004.

We used to watch the Cup Final every year together and she would sing along to Abide With Me and we had it played at her funeral, so come 2.45pm next saturday i will stand with hand on heart and try my very best to get through it for her, but i doubt i'll get past the 1st sentence.

Miss ya Mum, you're still my angel.xxxxx

[ruts66]

Dad 1935-1999 RIP

Choked just typing it...

Without you, I'd never have been taken down The Vic in '73 and I wouldn't be at Wembley with my 11yr old lad in 2011

Go on Stoke, just do eet, please...

[brumpotter]

Dad RIP 2001. I remember my first match with him sat in the Butler Street Stand as a kid amazed at the size of the place. We lost 1-0 at home to Everton (Feb 1977). Back then every match I went to we lost. Almost every night after his tea reading the Sentinel, he'd be moaning about the state of things down Stoke. The old man died about the time of the final whistle when we drew 1-1 against Northampton in Feb 2001. I cursed the traffic that day as I tried to get to his bedside at the Douggie Mac through the match traffic. Would do anything to have him with us at Wembley.

[606Stokie]

Definatly me Gran! Died 3 years! She came from stoke and suported the potters and without her she wouldent have made me dad a Stokie! Even in her later years she allways wanted to know how we were doing and allways said "one day will get there" about the cup and top knowing what her and me dad had gone through in the 70's and thought yeah right and here we are now!

RIP Gran at least you were around to hear about us going up even though you were seriously ill for about a year and a half and thanks for beliving!

[banburypotter]

my dad, always have a look at his wall brick when i go to the brit. i know he will be in the heavenly boothen with all the other dear departed stokies, looking down on wembley, willing us on to victory

[choppercherry]

My Grandad, the nicest bloke along with my Dad who i have ever had the pleasure of knowing. My Grandad died in 2001 and would have been so proud of what Stoke had achieved over the years since. My Dad had a heart attack a few years ago and doesn't fancy making another trip down to London so will be watching it on the tele. He has ordered me to go to the final and to take my Girlfriend along with me. And i shall also be giving a shout and sing along for my mate Mark Fowles who i worked with and was a popular figure among plenty of Stokies on here until he was taken from us in 2009.

[robinredcoat]

For Stokies everywhere, dead or alive, who would loved to have been there.

[togger 'N' son]

I will be singing for all absent stokies, all of those who are no longer with us,and who would have loved to be at wembley next week, we sung with them when they were here, lets sing for them, and sing that loud they here us in Stoke- On Trent!
I am with you choppercherry about Fowlesy, and also my mates Father in Law, Barry Leech, I will be taking Bazzers coat with me again, as a lucky charm,

[superpot]

My Mum, Dad, Every Lost Relative, Friend, And Everyone Else Who Has Lost A Loved One.
COME ON YOU MIGHTY POTTER RAISE THE ROOF AND DO US ALL PROUD.

(@_@)

[spunkbubble]

My grandad - Died some years ago and I wasn't allowed to go to the funeral as I was too young at the time. I know they played it at his funeral so it's my chance to pay my respects the same as the rest of the family. Still always look at his brick at the ground, and know he'll be up there watching.

My nan - died last year after a long fight with cancer. Again, this was played at the funeral and had everyone shedding a tear or two.

Beautiful song to be played before the game to remind us of ones we've loved and lost. Does anyone know why it is sung before the final?

[jediorder]

My Dad

I like most Stokies my age (32) grew up being told what a great side Stoke had in the 70’s. I would listen for hours to my dad about how Stoke is in my blood, he would even play the (LP) record of the commentary of the 1972 cup final as it was the only way at that time he could relive that day. (I did buy him the DVD but sadly we never watched it)

My dear dad never got to see Stoke in the Prem; he passed away 3 weeks before we got the draw at Leicester to send us up, after a short battle with Cancer. The only ever regret he had was not watching Stoke get to the FA Cup Final. As with most Stokies his age he was still bitter about what happened against Arsenal!
Standing there with my fellow Stokies at Wembley on the 17th April brought all the chats home that I had with my mucka, tears streaming down my face, and hairs on the back of neck standing on end I joined in with rousing “Oh when the Reds........” song before the game started, it was the most unbelievable feeling in the world, I was shaking inside and out.............
...............and the game got underway and the feelings just got better and better.

One Saturday it will be HIS day as much as mine. Miss you Dad.
WE ARE STOKE!

[robinredcoat]

May 6, 2011 18:09:11 GMT spunkbubble said:

Beautiful song to be played before the game to remind us of ones we've loved and lost. Does anyone know why it is sung before the final?

From what I can tell, it was introduced in 1929, the first time they had "community singing" in the pre-match programme. The final was attended by King George V and Queen Mary and it was known to be a favourite hymn of their, so it was sung. It then stuck and has been sung every year since.

[Linx]

Practically every dead relative I have known - since it was played at all their funerals .

But most of all, my grandfather. He took me to my first Stoke games when I was only 6 years old. He died when I was 17; I was completely devastated and still miss him over 30 years later.

RIP Jim Tomkinson 1903-1979.

[meirsquare]

May 6, 2011 16:26:18 GMT stokhe said:

my uncle tony took me to my 1st game at the vic in 1970,after that i was like a leech stuck to his side on match day until i was old enough to leave him behind and join my elder brother and cousin in the boothen end.sadly tony is no longer with us and i never did thank him properly for introducing me to life as a stokie.so come next saturday il be belting out the cup final hymn in tribute to the bloke who i know will be bursting with pride while looking down on the stoke masses in wembley .."CHEERS UNCLE TONE"

Here , Here....Bro

[offthewall]

Both my Mum and Dad.

My Dad has Alzheimers and could die at any point, I have spent the last 2 weeks traveling up and down the motorway to hospital and he has been released back to his care home this afternoon, it's a matter of time. My wonderful Dad took me from an early age and for many years after we stood side by side in the paddock until I was old enough to look after myself in the Boothen. A metaphor for life if ever there was one.

My Mum died a year ago after looking after him and us until it was all too much for her. We have never told my Dad this. She was so proud of where she came from. When I come down to Stoke matches I can still her her in every accent.

I will be taking my son next week in the hope that I can be half as good a parent as i had.

XXXXX Go on Stoke.

[frogs_carer]

Definitely my Grandad God bless him

[doctorbaker]

Kenneth John Elliott

[seddonstandviewer]

My Nan and Grandad, who sadly left us within the space of a month (August) back in 1997.

They played the hymn at her funeral.

[Targaryen Stokie]

My Grandad, top bloke and a lifelong Stokie. My dad will be wearing his "Wembley 2000" hat in his honour on the day.

RIP Grandad.

[tubbytony]

Reg and Nan.

My grandad introduced all the lads in my family to Stoke City and almost all of us will be at the F.A. Cup final sharing a block of Galaxy in his honour.

[Squeekster]

I don't know the words.

[rachelf]

My Granddad Ken <3 He was there in '72. My mum and I will be taking a framed pic of him with us.

xxxx

[taxi4fuller]

my grandad who was stoke through and through and always told me about the day at school when he marked sir stan. he always said he would pay for his family if stoke got to the fa cup final sadly he passed away last year so when we beat man city i know he will be be looking down smiling as he always said it would happen one day, but having been my first game in 84 and putting up with the 20 plus years since i did"nt believe him. more fool me as he always kept faith.

[binthelplates]

Does this win 'Thread of the Season' ?
Emotional just reading everyone's posts.

I'll be shedding a tear for my Dad, George Copeland.
Probably a few more when we win.

[chattyladypotter]

loved ones passed away, smiling in heaven for the mighty potters being in the FA CUP FINAL x god bless you my brothers x

[frontbottomcurly]

my old man

he's still healthy but he couldn't get a ticket. paid for me for every home match in the same spot in the boothen end from1985 to 1997

[Deleted]

My dear old nan, and my Father-in-Law who passed away before I ever met him. Everyone who knew him says he was a top man, and my wife misses him dearly some 15 years on.

Sadly I will get as far as - abide with - and then emotion will take over. Trying to explain now to my 10 year old son will be a blubbering wreck, but he just looks at me and shrugs his shoulders. I hope he has the same "opportunity" in the years to come.

[knype]

Lewis Barlow and David Goold.....plus Grandad Ben...

[bringbackbrammer]

My Nan, a big Stokie, who passed down all her old memorabilia to me, including an unused ticket stub for the last time we made a cup final.

I'll be singing proudly for her!