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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2012 11:11:03 GMT
Because my dad took me to a game when I was 5. All my family were fans it was meant to be.
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Post by banburypotter on Dec 5, 2012 11:41:13 GMT
As a young un down here in the then sleepy market town of Banbury in the mid sixties,there were no big teams to speak of, Coventry was the nearest. However, we had relations in stoke, an aunt and uncle who were like a 2nd mum and dad, and we used to visit a couple of times a year and stay every other Christmas. Whenever we were up, and stoke were at home they would get us tickets and me and my dad and uncle would go. Imagine if you will, here in Banbury, a southern league team with ground to match, against the Victoria ground and thousands of people on match day. A scary yet exciting adventure, but one that I wanted to repeat again and again. Watching the great stoke players of the time. Years and years later I am married and have 2 lads, and when in stoke visiting my aunt, we go as a family to the Brit, our Shaun takes to it and is hooked, his brother is okay , but more into other stuff like bmx riding, and as Shaun gets to about 15 my wife decides its about father and son having bonding time while following stoke. The Stokies that we met on a regular basis home and away take Shaun under their wing and treat him like an adult, and one of their own, a special mention at this point to maninasuitcase and rambo61, 2 of the funniest people I have ever met, but great lads, also jackscfc and donk and the sarge. This season for financial and other reasons we did not renew our tickets, it makes us no less a supporter, we will always be honorary Stokies, we sing 'we support our local team' with the blessing of the aforementioned lads. We will be back paying and watching again in the future, but we are forever stoke.
We are loyal, we are proud and we are stoke.
As a footnote, I also believe that gives us the right to be critical when we feel it is warranted, as much as we will be praiseworthy when it is also warranted.
Both me and Shaun, and my dear departed dad are immortalised in brick at the Brit, with the wall of fame bricks, that was my wife's idea, when my dad died, and I actually want to thank her for that and being a soccer widow for years, while we travelled the length and breadth of the country following the mighty potters, she has put up with a lot over the years.
That's why I support stoke
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Post by GeneralFaye on Dec 5, 2012 11:58:43 GMT
Forced.
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Post by lstokie on Dec 5, 2012 12:10:15 GMT
My dad took me along when I was only young and I complained saying it was too loud, but about a year later I must have been 5ish and I decided to go again. Mum used to drop us both off outside suresave where dad would buy me millions of sweets for the game and then we would go into the loco about 12 to meet his mates and he would get me millions of appletizers. They used to let me play cards with them, join in with the laughs and everyone else in the pub was nice to each other, so it was just a fun day out for me and my dad. Made friends from the pub aswell a lad who I still see today, our day of fun was outside on the carpark where we used to stick bricks in the middle of the road to watch cars hit them, approaching taxi's always had a chewing gum stuck to it and the puddles were a great place to float the chewing gum wrappers for a battle. Worst memories.. oldham away, 1-0 down I think and I got punched when we scored by the guy infront of me in his excitement haha. Lost half me tooth at about 9, been petrified go dentist get it fixed ever since.
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Post by scfcrmagic on Dec 5, 2012 13:22:41 GMT
It's all I can remember from an early age ..might have something to do with dad playing for Stoke .....who knows All I know is it's the right thing to do ..
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Post by stokemanusa on Dec 5, 2012 20:14:29 GMT
My Dad's, Dad's, Dad's, Dad and Uncle were stokies from day 1 Ramblers... Forced and so will my children be forced
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Post by favshirt on Dec 7, 2012 13:19:14 GMT
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts everyone. A fascinating read.
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Post by chrisw1981 on Dec 7, 2012 13:25:51 GMT
My dad, I was hooked after my first game.
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Post by alanhudsonsdad on Dec 7, 2012 13:34:37 GMT
Add me to the list - Old man took me to the Vic, Early 70's when we were also successful - so I was a glory hunter and all my mates were United or Liverpool fans! Never ever thought of supporting anyone else it just felt right. My two lads are also committed to the red and white, no choice
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2012 14:00:26 GMT
Its my Dad's fault...16th November 1974 Luton Town at home. We won 4-2 and the only thing I can remember about the game itself is Huddy scoring after 3 minutes. But I remember the atmosphere, the singing, the drink with my Dad and his mates in The Old Swan before and after. I was hooked and have been ever since, although Tones brand of football has severely tested my devotion to Stoke at times. Haven't got a clue on how many games I've been but it must be several hundred by now.
Edit:It was 15 pence to get in the old Stoke End.
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Post by edinburghstoke on Dec 7, 2012 14:50:29 GMT
Never lived in Stoke but my mum was born there and my grandparents lived in Fenton for 60 years and we went as a family during holidays.
Seems weird thinking my mum stood on the Boothen but at least it means she forgave me when I nearly destroyed my living room when Chelsea scored their ridiculous late winner a couple of years back ("...don't worry, i've heard it all in the past from your grandad..." she said)
Don't get down as often as I would like but I love the people and you know when you just feel like you belong........well that's how I feel because I have Stoke blood and will never be embarrassed by it - the team represents that.
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Post by bash62 on Dec 7, 2012 15:11:16 GMT
My mate took me to a stoke city game in 19 89 I thought the fans were brilliant never seen my mate since owe him a massive thank you, Dave the Lincoln stokie and debs.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2012 15:12:37 GMT
My dad made me. Its ok though my boys have to as well.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2012 16:41:07 GMT
My elder brother was a Stanley Matthews and football fan in general
He had all the league tables pinned to the back of our bedroom door with all the tables kept right up to date with those little tabs tucked in the chart accurately and carefully placed after every saturday's set of games
He loved football pure and simple
He went watching sir Stan all over and, when he returned to stoke city in the sixties he started travelling down from Warrington (by train - change at Crewe) to watch Stoke and Sir Stan ( by now the legend was in his late 40's)
I never got to see the 'wizard of dribble' but,
In 1970 I was aged 12 and taken to my first home game at the Victoria ground - it was a 3:1 victory against Leciester City one evening - Ritchie, Dobing, Banks, Conroy, Skeels, Smith, Bloor, Marsh Pejic and the truly 'Godllike' Jimmy Greenhoff were alll there abouts playing (as I recall)
over 1000 + , 1200 maybe ? games later - the rest is history
and it was hell of a football side in those days - we could thrash anybody at home
So I suppose, you could call me one of the original 'glory hunters'
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Post by dozintheseventees on Dec 7, 2012 17:05:24 GMT
Easy answer for me. As a kid I loved football and just wanted to play it or watch it at every given opportunity. I was, first and foremost, a football fan who enjoyed watching each and every game that I could on the telly. That usually involved sneaking down the stairs and my dad taking pity on me and letting me watch despite my mum's protestations that I should be fast asleep in bed. My dad followed Stoke although hadn't been a 'regular' for some years but, seeing my obsession with football, he started to take me when I was about 5 or 6. I'm 56 now so I guess I'll be there until/unless it becomes a physical impossibility. The fact that I got to see so many great players (particularly in my teens) and to see my club in the top division competing with the very best has always been a great source of pride to me and I thought that my kids would never get to REALLY understand what I'd told them for all those years since they had only known (and loved) Stoke as a pretty crap team in the lower reaches. I am just so grateful (and surprised) that my sons have managed to see just a little of what I did back then in terms of seeing Stoke back in the 'Big' League. It really can't be over-stated and I find it so very sad that there are some that seem intent on not enjoying it. In a whisper, it could be gone again forever.
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Post by Bagwash on Dec 7, 2012 20:35:55 GMT
Same as majority of posters,Dad took me in the late 60's and used to lift me over the turnstiles of the Stoke End at The Vic. As each year passes I seem to be getting more passionate(and more stupid) where Stoke are concerned.
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Post by kiwistokie on Dec 8, 2012 19:34:39 GMT
1973 visited and walked around the Vic with me Dad. And the stories of him watching Sir Stan and me uncle still being owed a 10 tenner by him. That was the real connection, but always was a supporter as well as one could only seeing results in the paper. Went to me 1st game in '83 when I came and lived in Dresden, and worked in Cobridge at Kays trucks
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Post by cotswoldstokie on Dec 8, 2012 22:03:07 GMT
I'm a glory hunting b***stard!
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