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Post by JoeinOz on Mar 3, 2022 23:47:36 GMT
50 years.
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Post by march4 on Mar 4, 2022 0:07:10 GMT
I can remember it as though it were last weekend. We had agreed to go down to Wembley in a battered old van owned by one of my Dad’s mates. We all met up at Trentham at the bus stop that used to be outside the gardens. There were 14 of us in this van. We set off at 6.30am on the morning of the game. Halfway down the M1, we ran out of petrol. The driver was elected to wander down the hard shoulder to a service station for fuel. We somehow got to the ground in plenty of time. While in the van, we noticed that everyone else’s tickets had ‘Stoke’ stamped on the front whereas the ones Dad and me had said ‘Chelsea’ on the front. Once we were at Wembley, the truth dawned that we were with the Chelsea fans. Thankfully, the only red and white we had were two bobble hats which we shoved into our coat pockets. Once in the ground, all was well until TC scored right after the kick off. I instinctively grabbed my Dad’s hand and gave it a tight squeeze. That was our only celebration. Osgood scored a jammy equaliser just before half time and we applauded half heartedly. By the time the second half was underway, I think some of the Cockneys surrounding us had sussed us, but there was no bother even when we both jumped up and down as Eastham scored the winner. The game ended and the Chelsea fans rushed for the exits. We were left alone in our corral to celebrate wildly as the players did their lap of honour right in front of us. We finally went off to find the battered van. When we got there, my uncle was no where to be seen. We waited and waited for him. Finally he appeared looking worse for wear. When TC scored he had an attack from his kidney stones and spent the rest of the game in the first aid post being given painkillers. Typically the van broke down on the M1 on the journey home. We got a tow off the motorway and managed to fix the problem. It was 6am when we got home. It was time for a few hours sleep before the whole family went into Longton to see the team return with cup. We stood on the corner of Baths Road and The Strand. The atmosphere was unbelievable. My Dad and uncle are no longer with us. Indeed I am the only survivor of the battered van who can tell the tale of March 4th and 5th 1972!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2022 0:13:49 GMT
I can remember it as though it were last weekend. We had agreed to go down to Wembley in a battered old van owned by one of my Dad’s mates. We all met up at Trentham at the bus stop that used to be outside the gardens. There were 14 of us in this van. We set off at 6.30am on the morning of the game. Halfway down the M1, we ran out of petrol. The driver was elected to wander down the hard shoulder to a service station for fuel. We somehow got to the ground in plenty of time. While in the van, we noticed that everyone else’s tickets had ‘Stoke’ stamped on the front whereas the ones Dad and me had said ‘Chelsea’ on the front. Once we were at Wembley, the truth dawned that we were with the Chelsea fans. Thankfully, the only red and white we had were two bobble hats which we shoved into our coat pockets. Once in the ground, all was well until TC scored right after the kick off. I instinctively grabbed my Dad’s hand and gave it a tight squeeze. That was our only celebration. Osgood scored a jammy equaliser just before half time and we applauded half heartedly. By the time the second half was underway, I think some of the Cockneys surrounding us had sussed us, but there was no bother even when we both jumped up and down as Eastham scored the winner. The game ended and the Chelsea fans rushed for the exits. We were left alone in our corral to celebrate wildly as the players did their lap of honour right in front of us. We finally went off to find the battered van. When we got there, my uncle was no where to be seen. We waited and waited for him. Finally he appeared looking worse for wear. When TC scored he had an attack from his kidney stones and spent the rest of the game in the first aid post being given painkillers. Typically the van broke down on the M1 on the journey home. We got a tow off the motorway and managed to fix the problem. It was 6am when we got home. It was time for a few hours sleep before the whole family went into Longton to see the team return with cup. We stood on the corner of Baths Road and The Strand. The atmosphere was unbelievable. My Dad and uncle are no longer with us. Indeed I am the only survivor of the battered van who can tell the tale of March 4th and 5th 1972! Too young sadly but have a lovely framed pic TC gave me of him holding the cup and a 'Those were the days my friend' dedication under my name. Great story btw
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1963
Academy Starlet
Posts: 206
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Post by 1963 on Mar 4, 2022 10:29:45 GMT
50 years ago at 10:25 I got on a football special from Stone to London - price was £3.25 return. Remember it as if yesterday. This post four minutes late.
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Post by crowey on Mar 4, 2022 12:13:33 GMT
… bloody Aussie ahead of time
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Post by chad on Mar 4, 2022 12:18:09 GMT
Fifty years. Unbelievable. Went on a football special train from Stoke. As a typical Stokie I went under the assumption that we’d lose. What a day.
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Post by stokie63 on Mar 4, 2022 13:00:09 GMT
I went with my dad on the football special unbelievable day one of the best and to this day I still go to watch the game with my dad and son and daughter happy family's.
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Post by GoBoks on Mar 4, 2022 13:11:16 GMT
Wow! Wish I had been in England! Instead, I spent all day alternating between re-reading Gordon Bank’s column in “Shoot” magazine and “re-enacting” how the final would go ( most frequent result Stoke 4-1 Chelsea). I remember clearly how Banks ended his column…… “The result? It’s going to be close, but I’m going to say Stoke 2-1 Chelsea”
After an almost sleepless night, rushing down to the paper seller on the corner to get the news ……. I kid you not…….a one liner in a 40 page newspaper ….. “English League Cup Final: Chelsea 1-2 Stoke” I think I woke up the whole neighborhood with my celebration! Back to re-reading Banks’ article.
The joys of supporting Stoke from a different continent!
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Post by Staffsoatcake on Mar 4, 2022 15:01:50 GMT
2nd oldest club,yet only 1, yes 1 major trophy to show in nearly 160 yrs.of trying.
We Stoke fans have suffered,a vast majority of our grandfather's & fathers (grannies & mums) never got to see Stoke win a thing all their lives,let's hope our offspring get to see Stoke win a major trophy before their offspring,or even their offspring do.
Shirley, we can't go another century or more without winning nowt.
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Post by jimmygscfc1234 on Mar 4, 2022 15:12:07 GMT
Caught the Green Bus from Uttoxeter as a 14 year old, fresh from watching the semi at Old Trafford. Can remember the goals and Jackie Marsh scrambling around looking for his contact lens. Little did I know that 14 years later I'd be playing footy in the same side as Mr Marsh for a short while in Utch! Got to the FA cup semi and final and would give a small fortune to see us win at Wembley again in my lifetime.
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Post by march4 on Mar 4, 2022 16:42:40 GMT
Heard the Radio Stoke feature on the anniversary this morning. They were talking to TC about the reception at Barlaston Station. By a strange coincidence, I was in the car waiting at the level crossing by the station while I was waiting.
Nigel Johnson said he went with his Dad and shed a few tears when we won. His words really struck a chord.
It was great to hear John Abberley’s commentary of the winning goal.
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Post by Laughing Gravy on Mar 4, 2022 16:57:50 GMT
Wow! Wish I had been in England! Instead, I spent all day alternating between re-reading Gordon Bank’s column in “Shoot” magazine and “re-enacting” how the final would go ( most frequent result Stoke 4-1 Chelsea). I remember clearly how Banks ended his column…… “The result? It’s going to be close, but I’m going to say Stoke 2-1 Chelsea” After an almost sleepless night, rushing down to the paper seller on the corner to get the news ……. I kid you not…….a one liner in a 40 page newspaper ….. “English League Cup Final: Chelsea 1-2 Stoke” I think I woke up the whole neighborhood with my celebration! Back to re-reading Banks’ article. The joys of supporting Stoke from a different continent! Is your handle a giveaway as to which continent?
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Post by AlliG on Mar 4, 2022 17:00:55 GMT
Went on a coach from Quickfit & Quartz in Stone with my Dad and his mate.
My mum stayed at home to look after my little sister. Her view was "oh well, there will be further chances in the future". They went to the Alhambra in Longton to see Paint Your Wagon. Apparently, they put the final score up on the screen during the film to loud cheers.
As a naive 13 year old at the time, I just assumed it would be the first of many trophies I would see us win in my lifetime.
My Mum is now almost 85, still a season ticket holder and still waiting to see us win a major trophy.
On the Sunday my Dad's older brother (a lapsed Stoke fan from the 50s/60s) and sister came over and we all went and joined the crowds on the road into Longton (can't actually remember exactly where).
I think I might dig out the old "Salute to Stoke" Official Souvenir LP album (as it says on the front), for a night of nostalgia.
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Post by deeside2 on Mar 4, 2022 17:00:57 GMT
Great day at Wembley, it truly was one of those days that you remember all your life. Next day me and my dad went and stood in the Strand in Longton to watch the team return with the cup - it was an absolutely brilliant atmosphere.
Can't believe it's 50 years ago. Such a pity we've never won another major trophy since '72.
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Post by march4 on Mar 4, 2022 17:47:14 GMT
Great day at Wembley, it truly was one of those days that you remember all your life. Next day me and my dad went and stood in the Strand in Longton to watch the team return with the cup - it was an absolutely brilliant atmosphere. Can't believe it's 50 years ago. Such a pity we've never won another major trophy since '72. We must have stood near to each other on The Strand. If only we’d known!!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2022 17:47:37 GMT
2nd oldest club,yet only 1, yes 1 major trophy to show in nearly 160 yrs.of trying. We Stoke fans have suffered,a vast majority of our grandfather's & fathers (grannies & mums) never got to see Stoke win a thing all their lives,let's hope our offspring get to see Stoke win a major trophy before their offspring,or even their offspring do. Shirley, we can't go another century or more without winning nowt. True but Notts County hardly running out of Brasso. Is nice to be an underdog in a world of bandwaggoners but every dog has its day is a myth 👍😂 when is ours ?????
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Post by suck_the_mop. on Mar 4, 2022 18:05:37 GMT
Was there i was 5 and a half years old but can remember it clearly, the massive steps (to me) up to the turnstiles the noise the atmosphere (to be repeated the next day in stoke) went every match home and away since a 2 year old and been a season ticket holder ever since still waiting for that 2nd major trophy 🙄 also don't know why but my memory remembers Wembley being a bit grimy and dirty perhaps because it was an overcast day.
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Post by deeside2 on Mar 4, 2022 19:10:52 GMT
Great day at Wembley, it truly was one of those days that you remember all your life. Next day me and my dad went and stood in the Strand in Longton to watch the team return with the cup - it was an absolutely brilliant atmosphere. Can't believe it's 50 years ago. Such a pity we've never won another major trophy since '72. We must have stood near to each other on The Strand. If only we’d known!! I remember we stood opposite Bevan's record shop.
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Post by prestwichpotter on Mar 4, 2022 19:42:58 GMT
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Post by GoBoks on Mar 4, 2022 20:19:04 GMT
Wow! Wish I had been in England! Instead, I spent all day alternating between re-reading Gordon Bank’s column in “Shoot” magazine and “re-enacting” how the final would go ( most frequent result Stoke 4-1 Chelsea). I remember clearly how Banks ended his column…… “The result? It’s going to be close, but I’m going to say Stoke 2-1 Chelsea” After an almost sleepless night, rushing down to the paper seller on the corner to get the news ……. I kid you not…….a one liner in a 40 page newspaper ….. “English League Cup Final: Chelsea 1-2 Stoke” I think I woke up the whole neighborhood with my celebration! Back to re-reading Banks’ article. The joys of supporting Stoke from a different continent! Is your handle a giveaway as to which continent? Darkest Africa where soccer is only played/watched by "girly-men".
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Post by GoBoks on Mar 4, 2022 20:21:35 GMT
2nd oldest club,yet only 1, yes 1 major trophy to show in nearly 160 yrs.of trying. We Stoke fans have suffered,a vast majority of our grandfather's & fathers (grannies & mums) never got to see Stoke win a thing all their lives,let's hope our offspring get to see Stoke win a major trophy before their offspring,or even their offspring do. Shirley, we can't go another century or more without winning nowt. True but Notts County hardly running out of Brasso. Is nice to be an underdog in a world of bandwaggoners but every dog has its day is a myth 👍😂 when is ours ????? You missed it!
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Post by prestonstokie on Mar 4, 2022 20:46:38 GMT
Thanks March4 for sharing. We were on the last train special to leave Euston at about 10.00pm on the Saturday night.. We slept on Stoke station overnight and on Sunday morning went down to Kingsway for the appearance at the Town Hall. I got up into some serious trouble when I got home at about 7pm on the Sunday night. No phones in those days.
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Post by march4 on Mar 5, 2022 9:52:58 GMT
Today is the 50th anniversary of the homecoming. The tour started at Barlaston and ended in Stoke. An estimated 500,000 people turned out.
What a fabulous day.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Mar 5, 2022 12:10:59 GMT
Today is the 50th anniversary of the homecoming. The tour started at Barlaston and ended in Stoke. An estimated 500,000 people turned out. What a fabulous day. Looking at this photo, it looks like it’s from the Kings Hall looking towards where the car park is now. Is that right? I’ve never not known it other than being a car park. What was the building?
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Post by andystokey on Mar 5, 2022 12:24:31 GMT
Today is the 50th anniversary of the homecoming. The tour started at Barlaston and ended in Stoke. An estimated 500,000 people turned out. What a fabulous day. Looking at this photo, it looks like it’s from the Kings Hall looking towards where the car park is now. Is that right? I’ve never not known it other than being a car park. What was the building? Yeah they came out on the balcony, we were wedged in the kingsway near where the Bourne sports old shop was. Still have the Sentnull paper from the day that photo was on the front. That photo is taken from the balcony.
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