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Post by s7oke on Sept 9, 2023 5:40:11 GMT
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Post by Scouse on Sept 9, 2023 7:43:01 GMT
www.merseysidepotters.com/Victoria.htm The old place was a fortress, a place where even superior teams dreaded to come and so often went away defeated - but more than that it was home , home to so many supporters and players over the 119 years it was our home - and just as the gales ripped the heart out the club in the 70's the move to the Britannia ripped the heart out of many supporters in the 90's, life and football can be so cruel at times. God bless the Boothen and the many Stoke fans for whom it was home and who defended their little piece of man made mound to the hilt. 'Give me a shirt forever, on the steps where I used to dream, In that corrugated shed of a fortress where the crowd became part of the team.'
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Post by Gods on Sept 9, 2023 7:49:52 GMT
www.merseysidepotters.com/Victoria.htm The old place was a fortress, a place where even superior teams dreaded to come and so often went away defeated - but more than that it was home , home to so many supporters and players over the 119 years it was our home - and just as the gales ripped the heart out the club in the 70's the move to the Britannia ripped the heart out of many supporters in the 90's, life and football can be so cruel at times. God bless the Boothen and the many Stoke fans for whom it was home and who defended their little piece of man made mound to the hilt. 'Give me a shirt forever, on the steps where I used to dream, In that corrugated shed of a fortress where the crowd became part of the team.' Great article, I was definitely one of the new Stoke End stand detractors to whom the piece refers. |
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Post by metalhead on Sept 9, 2023 8:00:39 GMT
Still maintain we got it wrong. Can't go back though.
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Post by callas12 on Sept 9, 2023 8:08:01 GMT
I miss The Victoria Ground massively. More so than I've missed old houses I've was brought up in that still have a special place in my heart.
I still dream about the Vic & everything appears the way it was back in the day..
Regretfully on reflection, I never attended that last match, I kind of wanted to always remember it how it was kind of thing as I'd have definitely been one of those clinging onto the crush barriers at the end not wanting to leave.
Remember stood outside the ticket office days prior to the game and 'shall I, Shan't I was going on in my head'..! As much as I wanted to go to the last match I guess I didn't want that knowing its 'final' the whole occasion would have brought with it.
Looking back I definitely wish I'd have gone but I suppose its easier saying that now than when I chose not to back at the time.
I know quite a few others still share my love for the Victoria Ground, and all that it stood for and the memories it created.
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Post by Gods on Sept 9, 2023 8:11:49 GMT
Yes to above, the ground was a bigger part of what we were than the team name and the red and white stripes to me.
Everything changed the day we left the Victoria Ground.
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Post by lordb on Sept 9, 2023 8:18:43 GMT
I'm glad we didn't get to experience the shit show that would have happened had we stayed
Absolutely no budget and that Charlatan Moxey in charge, the conversion would have been soul destroying
We would probably have got a shiny new Butler Street stand similar to the West Stand we have now but the rest would have been seats bolted onto the existing terracing which would have been super shit especially on the Boothen
Possibly a new roof there if we were lucky
3 of the stands needed demolishing instead only one would have
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Post by middleoftheboothen on Sept 9, 2023 8:46:33 GMT
I miss The Victoria Ground massively. More so than I've missed old houses I've was brought up in that still have a special place in my heart. I still dream about the Vic & everything appears the way it was back in the day.. Regretfully on reflection, I never attended that last match, I kind of wanted to always remember it how it was kind of thing as I'd have definitely been one of those clinging onto the crush barriers at the end not wanting to leave. Remember stood outside the ticket office days prior to the game and 'shall I, Shan't I was going on in my head'..! As much as I wanted to go to the last match I guess I didn't want that knowing its 'final' the whole occasion would have brought with it. Looking back I definitely wish I'd have gone but I suppose its easier saying that now than when I chose not to back at the time. I know quite a few others still share my love for the Victoria Ground, and all that it stood for and the memories it created. I was only a kid then but I cried the day we left mate. I still do miss the Vic and standing in the corner of the Boothen and if I close my eyes I can still smell all the smells and hear the crowd. I sometimes wish my lads could have experienced it and if I could go back and stand there just one more time I would but we have moved on and as much as I have grown to love the Brit/365, the Vic will always be the place where I fell in love with Stoke City standing on that wall with my old man behind me. |
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Post by tigermoth on Sept 9, 2023 8:49:08 GMT
It wasn't just a ground it was a spiritual home for many Stokies for generations right the heart of a working class community. I drove round the new estate on the site the other week just to have a look and it made me quite emotional.
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Post by Scouse on Sept 9, 2023 9:12:04 GMT
It wasn't just a ground it was a spiritual home for many Stokies for generations right the heart of a working class community. I drove round the new estate on the site the other week just to have a look and it made me quite emotional. I know what you mean Day of Banks funeral , was offered a place at his service , was honoured to be offered , but the occasion would have been too much for me and I didn’t want to cause further upset to those who’d be struggling with far greater reason than a mere fan respecting his school boy hero. After watching the cortège at the Brit , I made my way down to the site of the Vic ..and stood opposite the old main entrance , second guessing it’d stop there . as you say it was a spiritual home to so many |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2023 9:50:45 GMT
I was 11 years old when we made the switch to the Brit, so I can't really say I miss it as I don't remember much of the games I went to at the Vic.
That being said, knowing that I could have walked from the Staff of Life to the Vic in around a five minutes fills me with great sadness.
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Post by Staffsoatcake on Sept 9, 2023 9:56:14 GMT
Most modern stadiums are souless, the old grounds like the Victoria ground had a soul, maybe because they had a history that these new stadiums don't have, yet.
Stoke fans at the Vic, we're following in the footsteps of their fathers, grandfathers etc.
These new ones will need Donkeys years to have that, if they are still standing after 100 years.
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Post by march4 on Sept 9, 2023 9:58:55 GMT
The oldest league ground in the world. It should have had some sort of protected status. There are plenty of younger and less significant buildings in this country with heritage protections. I suppose football doesn’t appeal to the decision makers.
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Post by silsdenstokie on Sept 9, 2023 10:19:48 GMT
Miss it to this day
Yeah it needed massive upgrades and yeah there were plenty of times in the mid to late 80s whennit was only a quarter full but it always had that homely feel to it
Walking down Campbell Road and turning the corner at the Vic pub, i used to buzz every time I saw it. Even if there wasnt a game on.
Unfortunately Ive never had that buzz when approaching the Brit/bet 365
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Post by nott1 on Sept 9, 2023 10:26:15 GMT
Best thing for me was to catch the train at the bottom of Limekiln Bank to Stoke Station with my mates and an easy walk to the ground, no pissing about trying to find parking spaces (I was too young to drive then).
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Post by Gods on Sept 9, 2023 10:33:13 GMT
Like to adapt a bit of Bob Dylan at moments like this...
With hungry hearts through the heat and cold
We never much thought we could get very old
We thought we could stand forever in fun
And our chances really was a million to one
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
That we could stand simply on that terrace again
Ten thousand pounds at the drop of a hat
I'd give it all gladly if our lives could be like that
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Post by mickstupp on Sept 9, 2023 10:45:14 GMT
I'm glad we didn't get to experience the shit show that would have happened had we stayed Absolutely no budget and that Charlatan Moxey in charge, the conversion would have been soul destroying We would probably have got a shiny new Butler Street stand similar to the West Stand we have now but the rest would have been seats bolted onto the existing terracing which would have been super shit especially on the Boothen Possibly a new roof there if we were lucky 3 of the stands needed demolishing instead only one would have Yep, we would have been lumbered with something similar to Oakwell. |
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Post by maninasuitcase on Sept 9, 2023 11:06:41 GMT
I'm glad we didn't get to experience the shit show that would have happened had we stayed Absolutely no budget and that Charlatan Moxey in charge, the conversion would have been soul destroying We would probably have got a shiny new Butler Street stand similar to the West Stand we have now but the rest would have been seats bolted onto the existing terracing which would have been super shit especially on the Boothen Possibly a new roof there if we were lucky 3 of the stands needed demolishing instead only one would have But we could have done what preston have done to deepdale. One stand at a time, when finances dictated. They are still at their spiritual home, still in their community, still following in their grandfather's and father's footsteps, having a prematch pint in the same pubs from yesteryear and we, we have lost all of that, our history, the heritage, the community, all gone, and that makes me sad inside. |
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Post by maninasuitcase on Sept 9, 2023 11:10:04 GMT
I'm glad we didn't get to experience the shit show that would have happened had we stayed Absolutely no budget and that Charlatan Moxey in charge, the conversion would have been soul destroying We would probably have got a shiny new Butler Street stand similar to the West Stand we have now but the rest would have been seats bolted onto the existing terracing which would have been super shit especially on the Boothen Possibly a new roof there if we were lucky 3 of the stands needed demolishing instead only one would have Yep, we would have been lumbered with something similar to Oakwell. Is that a nad ground then since redevelopment. I thought it was decent on 3 sides. |
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Post by lordb on Sept 9, 2023 11:10:17 GMT
I'm glad we didn't get to experience the shit show that would have happened had we stayed Absolutely no budget and that Charlatan Moxey in charge, the conversion would have been soul destroying We would probably have got a shiny new Butler Street stand similar to the West Stand we have now but the rest would have been seats bolted onto the existing terracing which would have been super shit especially on the Boothen Possibly a new roof there if we were lucky 3 of the stands needed demolishing instead only one would have But we could have done what preston have done to deepdale. One stand at a time, when finances dictated. They are still at their spiritual home, still in their community, still following in their grandfather's and father's footsteps, having a prematch pint in the same pubs from yesteryear and we, we have lost all of that, our history, the heritage, the community, all gone, and that makes me sad inside. We could have but the point is with Moxey in charge we 100% would not have done that Sensible long term development was utterly alien to the club at that time it would have super cheap seats bolted onto the existing terracing and, if we were very lucky, a lick of paint |
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Post by mickstupp on Sept 9, 2023 11:33:16 GMT
Yep, we would have been lumbered with something similar to Oakwell. Is that a nad ground then since redevelopment. I thought it was decent on 3 sides. It’s tidy enough. I was thinking about a comparison with a stadium that rebuilt one side of the ground and then revamped the other three. If I recall correctly, the plans for the Victoria Ground was a new Butler Street stand, and then put seating into existing terracing on the Boothen End and the Boothen and Stoke End paddocks. Would have looked really shite and a capacity of around 22,000 which isn’t enough for a club with premier league ambitions. |
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Post by march4 on Sept 9, 2023 12:38:41 GMT
Is that a nad ground then since redevelopment. I thought it was decent on 3 sides. It’s tidy enough. I was thinking about a comparison with a stadium that rebuilt one side of the ground and then revamped the other three. If I recall correctly, the plans for the Victoria Ground was a new Butler Street stand, and then put seating into existing terracing on the Boothen End and the Boothen and Stoke End paddocks. Would have looked really shite and a capacity of around 22,000 which isn’t enough for a club with premier league ambitions. It would have needed more inspiration and imagination. We could have done with Uncle Peter’s £Bs. |
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Post by callas12 on Sept 9, 2023 12:42:01 GMT
Wolves managed to upgrade their ground over the years despite limited spacial options nearby. I get the River Trent was always the problematic issues connected to improving The Vic but wonder if it was more of a financial burden or the work required just wasn't even deemed viable back at that time.
Matters not, I get we are where we are now but still doesn't hurt to reminisce and discuss the what ifs and maybes!
I always glanced across the A500 to take in the Victoria Ground when travelling past, day or night would always have a look, it just naturally happened.
Loved the old floodlights and the way you could see the pylons from miles away when approaching not only the ground, but also Stoke On Trent itself. The downward light effects would guide you towards the ground on a matchday akin to how GPS does nowadays!
I definitely find that it doesn't matter how much you tell someone about the Vic and how special it was, unless you ever went there or have memories of the place and the special times we had there, you can never portray how special it was and what it meant to be a Stoke fan there. Pictures, videos and even numerous stories and accounts just aren't the same as actually treading foot in the place.
It was our place of worship & will forever hold a special place for those who were fortunate enough to have sampled it's quirkiness & uniqueness.
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Post by mickstupp on Sept 9, 2023 12:48:24 GMT
It’s tidy enough. I was thinking about a comparison with a stadium that rebuilt one side of the ground and then revamped the other three. If I recall correctly, the plans for the Victoria Ground was a new Butler Street stand, and then put seating into existing terracing on the Boothen End and the Boothen and Stoke End paddocks. Would have looked really shite and a capacity of around 22,000 which isn’t enough for a club with premier league ambitions. It would have needed more inspiration and imagination. We could have done with Uncle Peter’s £Bs. If money was no object, we could have utilised the one area of land on the site that had plenty of space (behind the butler street stand), turned the pitch around 90 degrees and built a a new stadium on top of the old one a bit like Spurs have done and not unlike what Wolves did. This would have meant redirecting the Trent, but I always thought that was made out to be a bigger problem than it actually was to try and persuade fans it was better to move. They have since been able to do it when building the housing estate so it wasn’t insurmountable or even that expensive. |
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Post by furry on Sept 9, 2023 12:51:31 GMT
I still have the odd surreal dream that I'm back there on the Boothen End watching a match. Wake up feeling quite sad that it was just a dream but also quite happy that the memories live on in the dark recesses of my brain.
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Post by callas12 on Sept 9, 2023 12:54:46 GMT
I still have the odd surreal dream that I'm back there on the Boothen End watching a match. Wake up feeling quite sad that it was just a dream but also quite happy that the memories live on in the dark recesses of my brain. Exactly this mate, glad I'm not the only one who still has these dreams! |
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Post by stokiejon03 on Sept 9, 2023 12:57:38 GMT
I was 11 years old when we made the switch to the Brit, so I can't really say I miss it as I don't remember much of the games I went to at the Vic. That being said, knowing that I could have walked from the Staff of Life to the Vic in around a five minutes fills me with great sadness. I am a similar age and it’s exactly how I feel. During the premiership years of a full stadium it could have been a time of regeneration for Stoke town. Having 20-30 thousand people wanting food & drink within a 5-10 minute walk of the stadium |
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Post by wembley4372 on Sept 9, 2023 13:00:09 GMT
It was climbing the steps in the boothen and the re-birthing as you emerged into the light that will live with me forever.
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Post by bigvern on Sept 9, 2023 13:06:03 GMT
I don't think I've ever got the same feeling walking up to the Bet365 as I had walking to the Vic. A ground full of character and loads of characters knocking about outside. You used to know that it was going to be a big game when all the pubs windows in stoke town centre were boarded up.
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Post by tigermoth on Sept 9, 2023 13:07:04 GMT
It wasn't just a ground it was a spiritual home for many Stokies for generations right the heart of a working class community. I drove round the new estate on the site the other week just to have a look and it made me quite emotional. I know what you mean Day of Banks funeral , was offered a place at his service , was honoured to be offered , but the occasion would have been too much for me and I didn’t want to cause further upset to those who’d be struggling with far greater reason than a mere fan respecting his school boy hero. After watching the cortège at the Brit , I made my way down to the site of the Vic ..and stood opposite the old main entrance , second guessing it’d stop there . as you say it was a spiritual home to so many For those of us that were there week in week out it will always be there and always be a part of us . It wasn't just the ground it was the era, was a time in history when Stoke was Stoke. |
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