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Post by Cupid Stunt on May 8, 2011 11:14:22 GMT
My neighbour Vince Hilton who died last summer. He lived with his wife Ella across the road from me, and he had sky, so they used to invite me round to watch the football. He was a massive Manchester City fan, but he always supported Stoke as long as we weren't playing them. We used to sit there and watch Man Utd win everything and he told me one day it would be our day, but probably not in his life time. Sadly, he was correct. His wife Ella said the other day how he'd have absolutely loved that it was Man City vs Stoke in the final and although he'll be looking down cheering on the Mancs, he was a true gent and never had a bad word to say about Stoke. It's fitting we're playing them because if my Dad hadn't been a massive Stoke fan, I'm 99% certain I'd have been a Citeh fan. I know a lot of them and if we lose, I'll be gutted, but at least they're proper fans who will appreciate more than their Red neighbours.
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Post by stokhe on May 8, 2011 18:32:08 GMT
Please stop me reading this thread. Every time I look I end out blubbing. I'm off again now. Think I'm going soft. But seriously, next Saturday it won't be 27,000 Stokies at Wembley. The whole history of the club is there. All our past generations of Stokies will be there. How can we lose with that support? Goaaaarn Stoke. goaaaarn stoke
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Post by stokecity4life on May 8, 2011 18:35:17 GMT
My Brother - check the sig
Steve you rocked mate.
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Post by stokhe on May 9, 2011 11:54:17 GMT
after reading the posts on this thread i just know we are gonna do our missing stokies proud.
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Post by foals on May 9, 2011 12:09:58 GMT
Steven Porter....wish you were here to see it with us big man.
Frank Hodson....Grandad....taken away from me too early.
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Post by meirsquare on May 9, 2011 12:19:16 GMT
Sir Stan , Big John....... Waddo...... They'll be with us at Wembley.....
I can just see the spirit of Stan guiding Pennant to float one over and Big John helping Kenwynne to get on the end of it.....GOAL.....
R.I.P.
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Post by eddyclamp on May 9, 2011 12:29:30 GMT
To all the Old Staff of Life lads who had Stoke running through their veins that are no longer with us,Jake,Lenny. Baz Andy m and the likes,I bet you are all looking down at events and having one big party.
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Post by kentpotter on May 9, 2011 13:09:32 GMT
My brother, my Dad and my Mum...................I'm the only bugger left!!!!!
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Post by y_oh_y_delilah on May 9, 2011 13:14:47 GMT
Obviously mum, and dad who was the one who led me on my first pilgrimage to the promised land of the Victoria Ground.
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Post by BrenSCFC on May 9, 2011 13:37:48 GMT
I just spent a bit of lunchtime reading some of your brilliant dedications. Hope you like this little poem I wrote as I thought of them.
May 14 two thousand and eleven The gates are opened up in heaven God had deemed it fit and right That all passed Stokies would see this sight
The legions came and joined their kin At the Stadium of football and its history within Their Sons and Daughters they felt them there With bumps on their arms and tingles in hair
When the team ran out in their red and their white The roar was immense, lifting them up to fight The thousands in seats and more all around Carried the players on waves of their sound
The players responded and played to their best. Gave no quarter and allowed no rest. So together the dead, the team and their kin Worked hard together and the FA Cup Stoke did win
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Post by rachelf on May 9, 2011 13:46:18 GMT
Love it!
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Post by MrDBrent on May 9, 2011 14:04:35 GMT
My nan, always looked out for the stoke results. gone but never forgotten
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Post by elystokie on May 9, 2011 14:33:39 GMT
My Dad Reg 1936-2004, took me my first game to see Stan before I could walk, sat me on the wall in the Butler St Paddock, later every home game and a few away each season. Took me to 'those' semi-finals and our final day in '72 and many many more games.
Sold the lottery (or whatever the equivalent was in the '70s, I forget the name) for Stoke, was a turnstile operator and a steward at different times, he wasn't on great money in his full time job.
His passing away was mentioned in the matchday programme, he'd have been chuffed but embarrassed at that.
His mum died when he was 8 and he was put into care so he had no-one to take him the games as a kid, thank god he took me!
I'll be wearing his old green replica goalies top again on Saturday same as I did for the Semi.
He'd be absolutely loving this and so very proud that his 2 grandsons both follow the club he loved and will both be there on Saturday.
Still miss him so much.
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Post by stokhe on May 10, 2011 6:46:26 GMT
I just spent a bit of lunchtime reading some of your brilliant dedications. Hope you like this little poem I wrote as I thought of them. May 14 two thousand and eleven The gates are opened up in heaven God had deemed it fit and right That all passed Stokies would see this sight The legions came and joined their kin At the Stadium of football and its history within Their Sons and Daughters they felt them there With bumps on their arms and tingles in hair When the team ran out in their red and their white The roar was immense, lifting them up to fight The thousands in seats and more all around Carried the players on waves of their sound The players responded and played to their best. Gave no quarter and allowed no rest. So together the dead, the team and their kin Worked hard together and the FA Cup Stoke did win like it !!!!
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Post by cartwright4 on May 10, 2011 20:11:38 GMT
William 'Bibb Pepper 1896 -1986
Died when I was 5, but I have vivid memories of my grandad and he loved Stoke.
Fought in the Great War and we have a photo of him at home marching out of Stoke in 1918 or so with countless others Stoke soldiers to go to France. He was already an ardent Stoke fan by this time and we have a programme from the 1905 season at home. Was almost killed in war when a grenade landed at his feet, but dived out of the way at the last moment - but was left with a permanent limp that remained with him for the rest of his days and a permanent memory of the horrors he witnessed.
He became an Alderman of Stoke in later life, when Stoke City council was actually a force for good filled with good men of the City, rather than the corrupt entity it is today. Loved to serve the City, and his football club, and offered help to both in any capacity he was able to.
Became good pals with former Stoke players Dennis Herod (who he bought a Dalmation puppy off), Stan Matthews (who once babysat my Dad) and a few of the club Directors of the day. He once visited Stan in his days at Blackpool, staying at the Stanley Matthews Hotel. We still have a treasured postcard at home written on the hotel's headed paper from Sir Stan to Bibb.
Stoke was his great love, and he would attend every home game. This was in the days when there weren't many cars on the roads, and driving after a drink was practically encouraged, rather than frowned upon! He'd often have several ales before driving home again after the game, fortunately he never hit anyone.
He was invited to Stoke's centenary match v. "Royal" Madrid in 1963, which included a pre-match dinner at the North Stafford Hotel, and received a complimentary programme. I was fortunate enough to meet Sir Stan many years later, and he signed the programme, 'To my pal Scott, from Stan Matthews'. We had gone full circle.
His health declined in later years, but he still had a mischievous sense of humour. He once came home from a pint in the Marquis of Granby in Penkhull, as my Mum had put some dinner on for him. As a youngster, of 4 years or so, I asked him what the yellow pot on the table marked 'English Mustard' was? 'Try some' he said, offering me a tablespoonfull! Hilarity ensued...
I remember playing with him at the bottom of our drive in Kirkland Lane, Penkhull on a Sunday, and he collapsed onto the hard ground. Looking back, it was a bit like that scene from The Godfather, where Don Corleone collapses. Here was this seemingly invincible man, at his most vulnerable. I quickly ran to my mother and crisis was averted, but his health never recovered after that.
I never attended a Stoke game with him, but because of him I think it became inevitable that I would become a Stoke fan eventually one day.
Anyway, when the song sounds upon Saturday, I'll be thinking of you Bibb.
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Post by offthewall on May 10, 2011 20:24:23 GMT
I just spent a bit of lunchtime reading some of your brilliant dedications. Hope you like this little poem I wrote as I thought of them. May 14 two thousand and eleven The gates are opened up in heaven God had deemed it fit and right That all passed Stokies would see this sight The legions came and joined their kin At the Stadium of football and its history within Their Sons and Daughters they felt them there With bumps on their arms and tingles in hair When the team ran out in their red and their white The roar was immense, lifting them up to fight The thousands in seats and more all around Carried the players on waves of their sound The players responded and played to their best. Gave no quarter and allowed no rest. So together the dead, the team and their kin Worked hard together and the FA Cup Stoke did win Good work youth
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pegleg
Youth Player
Posts: 327
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Post by pegleg on May 10, 2011 20:25:48 GMT
For my dear Mum who sadly passed away in January.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2011 20:32:51 GMT
tony pulis : his mum and dad who passed away recently
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Post by cmonstoke1983 on May 10, 2011 20:50:43 GMT
My grandad. He died the season we moved to the Brit. He used to take me to the Victoria Ground with him and we'd sit in the seats because my dad wouldn't let me go in the Boothen because of all the swearing. He said i was too young to listen to it. RIP Grandad, i know you'll be with us on Saturday at Wembley, and i'm sure Stoke will do you proud
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Post by wevewonit2times on May 10, 2011 21:24:12 GMT
my Dad Bernard, took me and Paddy to 1st game against Leicester in 1969. F.A.Cup Final day was always special, from pop and crisps when we were younger to beer later he always treated us and we werent even there! Wish he was here now to see this.RIP dadxxx
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Post by wevewonit2times on May 10, 2011 21:26:51 GMT
I wont get past Abide...
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Post by OldStokie on May 10, 2011 21:48:59 GMT
For my old mate, Boothen Ender Bill, and for Big Ade, a regular poster on this board who passed away recently. And for Mick Ruane... a lovely guy.
OS.
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Post by stokhe on May 11, 2011 12:08:09 GMT
you wont be alone mate .
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Post by wearestoke10 on May 11, 2011 12:10:51 GMT
My father in law whose funeral was last week where we sang it there as well will be an emotional start to the game and probably an emotional end aswell
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Post by falirakipotter on May 11, 2011 12:27:37 GMT
My dad Colin 1934 - 1994. He had to leave the room every cup final day when Abide was played as it reminded him of his brothers funeral many years before.
He took me my first game in 1967, then to all the cup semi finals against the Arsenal in 71 and 72, remember how disappointed he was with those 2 defeats, he was absolutely choked.
"Well Be With You" Dad.
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Post by bossthemidfield on May 11, 2011 12:30:55 GMT
A very close friend who passed away in February.
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Post by falirakipotter on May 11, 2011 12:31:50 GMT
Hey Clampy, if them great lads from the staff were still alive today, the coach to the match would just have been leaving Hill street now packed with cans, scheduled to arrive at Wembley at 2.45pm on Saturday.
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Post by AlliG on May 11, 2011 20:06:52 GMT
My Dad. He watched Stoke from 1936 to 2008 and took me to my first game in 1961. He was chuffed to be able to attend the first 2 home games of our first Premier League season. He would be gobsmacked and thrilled about the progress of his beloved Stoke City since. My mate Graham. His last Stoke game was Steino's masterclass against Manchester Utd in September 1993. Even 10 years later it still seemed like he had left at the zenith of our post 70s history. This thread has got me thinking of all the others I have stood or sat with over the last 50 years who are no longer around, most of whose names had faded from memory. My "hayfever" has been causing me problems for a few days now. My singing normally makes grown men cry, but on Saturday I don't think anyone will object to my Lee Marvin/ Telly Savalas impression.
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Post by stokhe on May 12, 2011 6:44:24 GMT
i think there will be an "hayfever" epidemic on saturday afternoon,
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iamchaz
Spectator
Whoring my arse designing websites in Scouseland
Posts: 23
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Post by iamchaz on May 12, 2011 6:51:54 GMT
My Granddads...
Charlie, who took me to my first ever football match Port Vale v Bury, from that day knew I wouldn't be a Vale fan. The highlight of the match was half time and chocolate.
Douglas, the Radio Stoke Stoke Fan, he'd listen but never go
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