billc
Youth Player
Posts: 490
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Post by billc on Oct 13, 2015 8:04:36 GMT
Stoke City were in a crisis in the early months of 1991. There was a growing unease among supporters of the direction of the club as it began to falter. In February half the board resigned Maurice Nield, Mark Loftus and Ed Weetman all went. Boothen Ender Matthew Turner believed that all the board should go. “They keep saying that they have no money but week in and week out they are getting the best gates in the division”. It was not a happy club.
The national news in 1991 was dominated by Operation Desert Storm” as the Allied forces led by the Americans, after the opening bombing to liberate Kuwait from the Iraqis, were preparing the final assault. The “Desert Rats” which included the Staffordshire Regiment were moving forward . The local media was full of stories how local soldiers were coping in the harsh unforgiving climate with the prospect of an imminent clash of arms. The Sentinel, in pre internet days. allowed its pages to be turned over to families to pass messages of love and support to soldiers on the front line. Many of the soldiers used the opportunity to pledge their support to the Potters who were undergoing a period of uncertainty themselves.
I was living in Wigan at the time although I had never been to Springfield Park its reputation as a quaint and crumbling stadium went before it. After a few pints in my favourite local before the match we walked to the ground. I was walking behind the most muscle bound Stoke fan I had ever seen who seemed to be well known to other Stokies. I had seen more lithe looking Hereford Bulls and I wonder whether the pavement cracked as he walked.
We had seats in a very dilapidated looking stand. (Perhaps not the most decayed, a friend, a Blackburn Rovers supporter claimed that honour went to Hartlepool, she claimed that rust rained down on them when the ball struck the roof) To the left of where we were sitting was the famous earth bank. I had heard stories of fans sliding down the bank in heavy rain- I doubt whether that “pleasure” can be found in any modern ground today.
A high wind swirled around the ground which would have influence on the game. The match did not start too badly for Stoke, given what was to come. Alan Ball decided on a sweeper system with Beeston operating in front a five man defence where the newspaper report indicates he began brightly. The wind favoured Stoke in the first half and Fox was able to get some distance with his kicks. Such a clearance put Biggins through whose shot from 18 yards was blocked by a posse of blue shirted defenders on the Wigan goal line. Shortly afterwards Biggins went down injured and had to be carried off- perhaps this was the turning point? Ball responded by putting on the teenage substitute Devlin to play alongside Ellis. Wigan took the lead on 35 minutes when a cross from Griffiths for Daley unmarked and with plenty of time to place his header past Fox. A common theme throughout the commentary was the ramshackle nature of Stoke’s defence, even with an extra man. Ellis nearly broke through in the 3rd minute of extra time, but an infringement bought the play back.
At half time I witnessed to strange spectacle of the Wigan supporters moving en masse to the other end of the ground. Peter an old guy I knew told me that Wigan supporters did the exodus thing, but I had never seen until then.
With the wind behind them Wigan began to exert pressure and at 52 minute the combination of Griffiths and Daley paid off again as striker slotted home his second. Ware had a good chance after good approach work from Ellis, but this was a rare sortie. The Stoke defence was under increasing pressure and Wigan were attacking at will down the flanks. Morale in the Stoke team seemed visible to ebb away. A third arrived when the Wigan defender Patterson’s back header evaded Fox and dropped into the net. A brilliant save from Fox denied Rimmer on 71 minutes and another Wigan goal which was only putting off the inevitable when Page unmarked headed home a 4th with two minutes left. Under the circumstances it was a miracle it was only 4 and it would have been double figures if not for Peter Fox. It was one of the most ramshackle performances I had ever seen Stoke give.
I could see that Ball was arguing with some supporters from my vantage point and when I got home a phone call from my Dad told me that he had gone.
I always found Ball to be an enigmatic manager. All that drive and vision and spirit that he had in spades as a player seemed to leave him as a manager. His last years, I gather, were sad ones and following the death of his wife from Cancer he cut an increasingly forlorn figure. He died in April 2007 and was carried to his rest in a coffin draped with the flag of St George, on top his trademark cloth cap.
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Post by mickstupp on Oct 13, 2015 8:12:10 GMT
One of the lowest points in our history, with the occasional funny site of our fans losing their footing on the grass bank, hurtling down it on their arses and ploughing into unsuspecting groups of other Stokies.
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Post by lordb on Oct 13, 2015 8:35:05 GMT
I was flued up that day,shouldn't have got out of bed.
Fortunately I was in the seats.
Wigan were appalling but still well worth their 4.0 win
Thats how bad Stoke were.
Vale fans used to (probably still do) watch one half whilst standing at one end of the Railway Paddock & then troop off to teh other end for the second half.
Can only do that as routine in a ground thats too big for you of course.
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Post by NG4POTTERS on Oct 13, 2015 8:50:40 GMT
The moving en masse thing to the other end of the ground. I didn't go to this match but at an away game at ewood park in 1986/87 I'm sure I saw the same thing happen. A strange spectacle indeed. Nice write up.
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Post by newsteadst3 on Oct 13, 2015 8:56:24 GMT
The muscle bound stokie I assume would of been our former Mr Britain.
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Post by Pugsley on Oct 13, 2015 8:56:55 GMT
The only game I've left early. And by early I mean half time although we did have to persuade the Police and Stewards to let us out.
Spent the rest of the afternoon in a pub with some Rugby League mentalists.
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Post by Sven on Oct 13, 2015 9:17:13 GMT
went this game, must of been a few hundred stokies after the match demonstrating outside the main stand (if you could call it that) for ball to go. That grass bank was an absolute nightmare  |
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Post by bigcashprizes on Oct 13, 2015 9:22:08 GMT
Went with Junior Potters. Can barely remember the game (probably for the best), but do remember playing against the Junior Latics on a mucky, windswept red ash pitch with tiny crap goals.
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Post by waddosnavy on Oct 13, 2015 10:15:43 GMT
Ball was never a great manager. I was stationed at HMS MERCURY, the Royal Navy's School of Communications, set in the rolling country side of Hampshire between 1983 and 1985. It was a former country estate and had extensive grounds. Portsmouth FC with Ball as Manager based themselves there for pre-season training. Ball let the RN Physical Training staff put them through their paces, however, most of the players were lazy. I instructed classes in Radio Communications and there were sessions when I had no classes. I was also the cross country champion and we had a very testing course and took the Portsmouth squad for a run, their fitness levels were not impressive. Portsmouth were also granted membership to the Chiefs Mess for lunch and the players acted in a disrespectful manner, (feet on furniture in lounge and taking the newspapers from the reading room which were there for everyone to read). At the end of their two week pre-season, the highlight was a match against the RN youth team. However, instead of showing off their talents, Portsmouth just demonstrated how thuggish and brutal they could be against a team of amateur under 18's. I was so glad we never had or would have a manager like Ball. I was utterly devastated when he was appointed and just knew how it would all end.
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Post by mickstupp on Oct 13, 2015 10:36:20 GMT
Ball was never a great manager. I was stationed at HMS MERCURY, the Royal Navy's School of Communications, set in the rolling country side of Hampshire between 1983 and 1985. It was a former country estate and had extensive grounds. Portsmouth FC with Ball as Manager based themselves there for pre-season training. Ball let the RN Physical Training staff put them through their paces, however, most of the players were lazy. I instructed classes in Radio Communications and there were sessions when I had no classes. I was also the cross country champion and we had a very testing course and took the Portsmouth squad for a run, their fitness levels were not impressive. Portsmouth were also granted membership to the Chiefs Mess for lunch and the players acted in a disrespectful manner, (feet on furniture in lounge and taking the newspapers from the reading room which were there for everyone to read). At the end of their two week pre-season, the highlight was a match against the RN youth team. However, instead of showing off their talents, Portsmouth just demonstrated how thuggish and brutal they could be against a team of amateur under 18's. I was so glad we never had or would have a manager like Ball. I was utterly devastated when he was appointed and just knew how it would all end. Interesting insight that. Your totally correct that Ball was a woeful manager, but it's worth noting that he did get that Pompey team promoted to the top flight in 86/87. |
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Post by stokesaint1 on Oct 13, 2015 11:33:38 GMT
I was living in Lancashire at this time and convinced my Liverpool mad son that he should come and see the mighty potters. We also sat silently in the crappy stand and my lasting memory was my son asking me, why on earth I supported that load of sh*t. Have to say my love of Stoke was hard to justify that day but I'm glad I stuck with it. My son lost interest in football (could it have been that match?) and became a rugby league addict and has followed St Helens, home and away ever since and I too watch Saints at every opportunity, when it doesn't clash with Stoke games, despite me moving back to Stoke. Hence my username.
My lasting memory of Alan Ball however has to be from Deepdale, where he kicked a hole in the advertising hoarding, alongside the dugout and got his foot stuck. Can't exactly remember the date but, all the same, happy days, sort of.
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Post by doctortheopolis on Oct 13, 2015 12:27:34 GMT
I was living in Lancashire at this time and convinced my Liverpool mad son that he should come and see the mighty potters. We also sat silently in the crappy stand and my lasting memory was my son asking me, why on earth I supported that load of sh*t. Have to say my love of Stoke was hard to justify that day but I'm glad I stuck with it. My son lost interest in football (could it have been that match?) and became a rugby league addict and has followed St Helens, home and away ever since and I too watch Saints at every opportunity, when it doesn't clash with Stoke games, despite me moving back to Stoke. Hence my username. My lasting memory of Alan Ball however has to be from Deepdale, where he kicked a hole in the advertising hoarding, alongside the dugout and got his foot stuck. Can't exactly remember the date but, all the same, happy days, sort of. I too remember Bally's fit at Deepdale - I think it was in response to Mick Kennedy and John Butler completely ballsing up a short corner routine at our end that was quite possibly the worst example of association football I had seen up until that point. Unfortunately, I was also at Springfield Park and remember people pleading with the stewards to let them out early. I also remember some stoke fans throwing worms from the grass bank at each other! |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2015 14:42:38 GMT
Looking at his wikipedia I see he died of a heart attack aged just 61 and his wife had passed away a few years previously of cancer at just 57. Extremely tragic and, I know how this might sound but, you can't help but suspect that his heart was weakened by his wife's untimely passing.
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Post by bristolpotter on Oct 13, 2015 15:27:47 GMT
Musclebound lad a certain Mr tansy or ph no doubt
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Post by lancashirelad on Oct 13, 2015 16:25:07 GMT
I was one of the many sliding down the greasy grass bank. Also the first time I left early at 3-0. I was on the Thelwall viaduct when news came through just after five that Ball had resigned, my mood changed drastically and celebrated manically.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2015 16:33:34 GMT
The same season we played Hudders away not long after, 6th April. We took about 40 fans, one of the most miserable soulless games I've attended.
Lost 3-0 no fight, no spirit, a walkover for Hudders, most of our supporters seemed to have given up. Couldn't rustle up more than three of us to head north.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Oct 13, 2015 16:50:31 GMT
The only game I've left early. And by early I mean half time although we did have to persuade the Police and Stewards to let us out. Spent the rest of the afternoon in a pub with some Rugby League mentalists. Think I made it to the same bar after the game. Was there a bloke sitting at the bar naked by any chance? Huge rugby type and it was his birthday. Awful day from the start. My mates car broke down on the M6 before we'd got out of Staffordshire, 4 of us then got lifts in separate vehicles from random Stokies to the game with no plan on how to get back. Drinks with Mr Grey's crew before the game & lift home sorted. Shit game, freezing cold, slipping down mud bank. Police not impressed with fans exposing genitals when singing Ball out! Into rugby pub after, still in pub when news came through. Celebrate like we just won promotion and party at multiple hostelries on the way home. Dropped off at the Ritzy at 11pm. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2015 18:22:33 GMT
The only game I've left early. And by early I mean half time although we did have to persuade the Police and Stewards to let us out. Spent the rest of the afternoon in a pub with some Rugby League mentalists. I stuck this one out, but fearing another 4-0 drubbing left the game during the Brian Little season when we went two down and came back from the dead with a Greg Strong winner. Fucking typical ........ |
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Post by matelot1996 on Oct 13, 2015 19:44:11 GMT
My enduring memories of this match were the same as many others.
That grass bank was unbelievable, how did they ever get away with housing 4000 away fans on that thing.
As I remember, some stoke fans were muddier than our players.
Dreadful performance but good memories.
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Post by stokiojoe on Oct 13, 2015 19:48:25 GMT
I was there, drinking in the Springfield before the match and in walked Mickey Thomas having had a big row with Bally in the changing rooms.
Then got wiped out on the mud bank in the away end by some guy who slipped carrying a tray of beers from the shed at the top.
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Post by wokka59 on Oct 13, 2015 21:15:05 GMT
lord b, way before your reference vale fans used to walk on the cinder track around the pitch from the bycars to the hamil end
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Post by y_oh_y_delilah on Oct 13, 2015 22:56:55 GMT
A real pig of a day, I also was domiciled on the 'grassy bank'.
Stayed till the end, couldn't be arsed to boo anyone. Left Springfield Park soaked through. Got to the car with condensation running down the windscreen from eight sodden but drying feet. Heater didn't work causing the condensation (and smell) to get worse and worse.
Heard of Ball's demise (sacking, not death!) on mates transistor radio (car radio didn't work either) and quite frankly didn't give a fuck!
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Post by mattador78 on Oct 13, 2015 23:34:47 GMT
I was living in Lancashire at this time and convinced my Liverpool mad son that he should come and see the mighty potters. We also sat silently in the crappy stand and my lasting memory was my son asking me, why on earth I supported that load of sh*t. Have to say my love of Stoke was hard to justify that day but I'm glad I stuck with it. My son lost interest in football (could it have been that match?) and became a rugby league addict and has followed St Helens, home and away ever since and I too watch Saints at every opportunity, when it doesn't clash with Stoke games, despite me moving back to Stoke. Hence my username. My lasting memory of Alan Ball however has to be from Deepdale, where he kicked a hole in the advertising hoarding, alongside the dugout and got his foot stuck. Can't exactly remember the date but, all the same, happy days, sort of. Thats where a few of us can look back at when the highlight of the season was the manager losing it on the touchline. Gives me a boost any time i come on here lately and see some of the bile spilled about our time in the prem so far and think back about the journey some of us have perhaps been better of to have gone through, after all even if by some strange set of circumstances we barreled down the leagues again the belief we could get back would be there in a core of us thinking here we go again but its a hell of a good ride. After all ten years ago theres many of us who were praying for a match to finish with more than a 0 or a 1 in the results columm and twenty years ago dreaming what if lou and TGO had not left what could have been. I hate almost everymoment of those basement seasons but i wouldnt change the journey we've been on it makes the time in the sun warmer . |
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Post by JoeinOz on Oct 15, 2015 11:59:47 GMT
The Wigan catastrophe was the absolute end. Much of the game was spent watching people sliding down the grassy knoll in the away end and arguing about which pub to visit on our return to Stoke, the players indifference had got though to the supporters. On that day itself I don't even remember the anti Ball sentiments from the travelling Stokies being too vociferous. They didn't have to be, we all knew what was coming next. Less than an hour after the match Ball's departure from Stoke City had been confirmed.
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Post by Davef on Oct 15, 2015 19:49:08 GMT
Enjoy.  |
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Post by Sergeant Muttley on Oct 15, 2015 20:08:18 GMT
Was the game after this the Bournemouth match when Mick Kennedy got sent off?I always remember a game not long after also when we won 4-0 at Brentford with Wayne Clarke playing up front for us.
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Post by lordb on Oct 15, 2015 21:35:03 GMT
Was the game after this the Bournemouth match when Mick Kennedy got sent off?I always remember a game not long after also when we won 4-0 at Brentford with Wayne Clarke playing up front for us. Noel Blake scored a corker. 0.0 at half time,my mate Gary insisted it would be 4.0! |
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Post by davejohnno1 on Oct 15, 2015 21:39:52 GMT
The same season we played Hudders away not long after, 6th April. We took about 40 fans, one of the most miserable soulless games I've attended. Lost 3-0 no fight, no spirit, a walkover for Hudders, most of our supporters seemed to have given up. Couldn't rustle up more than three of us to head north. A game I remember for having to go back to hospital after my player cast got so wet on that open terrace that I further damaged my already broken leg. We were wanker than wank back in those days and Wigan was arguably as low as it got for us (though Gillingham and millwall away under little have to run it close) |
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Post by dutchpeter72 on Oct 15, 2015 22:24:09 GMT
I fell down the bank after playing football with a teapot lid. The ironic thing was, there was still great optimism about Stoke City (in that league). Lou Macari, took this club on and turned it around in no time. To me, the lowest Stoke City time was when Everyman and his dog could turn up at the Brit and win by four goals, during the Little 'era'.
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Post by JoeinOz on Oct 16, 2015 3:36:17 GMT
Enjoy. If ever anyone rewrites history and starts to get misty eyed and fond of our time in the 3rd tier just remember this shitness. |
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