Party time at the Fortress Britannia.

[ted1965]

It’s party time in the Potteries and even the bookmakers are celebrating as Paddy Power will provide any supporter who wishes to partake some humble pie ice cream. It is of course once more a good publicity stunt and will cost him little in real money but it shows he at least is prepared to venture to the Britannia and take a little ribbing.

Though Paddy’s sideshow is just that like a booth at a fairground because the real show and the real people who will provide the smiles this afternoon will be wearing red and white stripes, a manager who has matured like a fine wine, once he left a bitter aftertaste now he flows over the taste buds like Ambrosia, nectar from the Gods. An owner who’s second coming would have been thought of more like a Biblical plague than a triumphant march to Paradise, yet today, the playing heroes of Stoke City, Peter Coates and Tony Pulis will be worshiped with as much passion, adulation and belief as any ancient God ever received.

They deserve every accolade, every song sung, every moment of applause for what they have achieved as a unit is truly awe inspiring. Many years ago now back in the old third division we played Wigan at Springfield Park, it was one of the most humiliating experiences as a Stoke supporter, watching a team with no heart, no fight and absolutely no hope being thrashed by a side who were barely acclimatised to the league by comparison under a manager who had plenty of enthusiasm but absolutely no idea of how to build a side. In fact everything we have today we lacked back then. The contrast between the two experiences is amazing, today the hairs will stand up on the back of my neck, sitting amongst the best supporters in the world will make my chest swell with pride more than any silicone implant ever could. The knowledge that by the end of the afternoon your voice will be gone but the smile will stay in place for the whole summer, it’s days like these that make all those horror days like Wigan back in the darkest days worth it.

A little appreciation for everything about Stoke City.

S is for supporters, the loudest in the land, the kind of people you are proud to call your family, loud, proud and thoroughly genuine in their love for this football club.

T is for Tony Pulis, a manager who has become one of the most assured and calm Premiership managers you’ll see, once he stood in front of the camera like a virgin on her wedding night now he exudes confidence, assured self belief and most of all his sheer delight in achieving success for this football club.

O is for ovations that will wring around the fortress Britannia today for the heroes who have made this possible, honest, hard working and yes despite what many in the media try to say skilled practitioners of the art of football.

K is keeping the faith, when many thought we’d be an embarrassment to the top flight at the beginning of this season it was hard not to lose your control but because we had faith in the players, the club and those who run it, we dealt with all the barbs with humour, articulate style and most of all with sheer belief that we had something special and as Paddy Power’s presence proves today we were right to keep the faith in such a great club.

E is for entertainment, yes it’s not always cultured but nobody can deny that we have been thoroughly entertained at the Britannia this season, so many memories that will live with people forever. Wins against the odds, goals of sheer class and yes there have been the lows but they have been very few, even in defeat we have shown why we have stayed up.

C is for Coates, without him we wouldn’t be enjoying today, he came back with a clear plan, a vision of where he wanted to take this club. He knew who he wanted as manager, backed him completely and the rewards for all have been a truly golden period for all.

I is for inspirational, that applies to all concerned the 12th man who have stood behind their heroes irrespective of what others thought of them. As many now jump on the bandwagon those who have created the wall of sound at the Britannia deserve their title as loudest supporters in the land. We are a true and glorious throwback to an era when passionate raucous support was the norm at this level.

T is for thank you, thank you to everyone who made this season possible, thank you for providing us with all the smiles, the sheer pride people can once more take in saying I support Stoke City.

Y is for why, why, why Delilah, we all know why because to many we maybe Philistines but to those who understand we are simply Stoke City and proud to be so.

I can’t wait for this afternoon, a game that means nothing in terms of relegation, promotion but means everything to the supporters and all concerned with Stoke City because it’s a vindication of their belief in themselves, their ability to defy the odds and our belief and passion for what they have achieved.

[Sven]

fuckinell ted, cracking post again, got me welling up here and burstin with pride.

GOOOOOOAAAAARRRRRRRRNNNNNN STOKE!!!!!!!!! ;D

[shropshirelad]

Genius!

[Lightwood]

We love

T is for Typing, Ted doeas a lot but we all love to read his posts
E is for Entertaining, all of his masterpieces are worth reading
D is for Detail why use one word, when a hundred is better

[SCFC92]

Brilliant Post, and sums up pretty much everything that today means, we are stoke and we are proud!

[GRUMPY 1]

nuff said.

[Northy]

had my porridge with golden syrup, and on the 2nd cup of tea so now I'm ready to party ;D

[bigcashprizes]

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Just getting warmed up)

[trigger]

Hope the weather brightens up otherwise I'm gonna look pretty stupid in my Borat swimming gear.

[Lightwood]

;D

May 16, 2009 7:47:09 GMT trigger said:

Hope the weather brightens up otherwise I'm gonna look pretty stupid in my Borat swimming gear.

[Inverness Stokie]

Apparently lads it's going to be raining later on at 1.00pm.

[SCFC92]

May 16, 2009 7:47:09 GMT trigger said:

Hope the weather brightens up otherwise I'm gonna look pretty stupid in my Borat swimming gear.

It will rain now, you are gonna be f*cking freezing!

[jonnyd]

Great Post Ted, when we look back at our recent history (20 years) there have been to few highs but many many lows.

Today for me is about celebrating STOKE - I just hope I can remember some of it tomorrow!

;D

[OldStokie]

You missed out 1863, Ted. That is for the minumum number of words in each of your posts.

But we all read them.

Good lad.

OS.

[ted1965]

;D OS

I am working on my auto biography, chapter three at the moment and I am still trying to force my way into the world.

[Lakeland Potter]

Well said Ted - you are the sort of prose version of Pottermouth - both of you are modern legends.

I think you should both be stuffed and mounted at the end of the season! ;D

[Lightwood]

May 16, 2009 8:40:05 GMT Lakeland Potter said:

Well said Ted - you are the sort of prose version of Pottermouth - both of you are modern legends.

I think you should both be stuffed and mounted at the end of the season! ;D

O've seen you in a different light now forny

[STAYIN UP FOR..scfcboothengirl]

im gonna be there in beach wear today regardless of the weather ... but i hope it will stop rainin soon lol

[tony harrison]

Brilliant post as usual Ted, I love reading your well thought out words of wisdom.

[ricardofuller10]

Let's Do This For The potters

[dadger]

fantastic post ready to burst with pride come on you reds

[blackcountrynige]

Reading that makes me so,so proud to be a Potter. Isn't life wonderful at the moment !

[harrysburrow]

I love you maaaaaaan!!

[KDT_SCFC]

May 16, 2009 7:07:43 GMT ted1965 said:

It’s party time in the Potteries and even the bookmakers are celebrating as Paddy Power will provide any supporter who wishes to partake some humble pie ice cream. It is of course once more a good publicity stunt and will cost him little in real money but it shows he at least is prepared to venture to the Britannia and take a little ribbing.

Though Paddy’s sideshow is just that like a booth at a fairground because the real show and the real people who will provide the smiles this afternoon will be wearing red and white stripes, a manager who has matured like a fine wine, once he left a bitter aftertaste now he flows over the taste buds like Ambrosia, nectar from the Gods. An owner who’s second coming would have been thought of more like a Biblical plague than a triumphant march to Paradise, yet today, the playing heroes of Stoke City, Peter Coates and Tony Pulis will be worshiped with as much passion, adulation and belief as any ancient God ever received.

They deserve every accolade, every song sung, every moment of applause for what they have achieved as a unit is truly awe inspiring. Many years ago now back in the old third division we played Wigan at Springfield Park, it was one of the most humiliating experiences as a Stoke supporter, watching a team with no heart, no fight and absolutely no hope being thrashed by a side who were barely acclimatised to the league by comparison under a manager who had plenty of enthusiasm but absolutely no idea of how to build a side. In fact everything we have today we lacked back then. The contrast between the two experiences is amazing, today the hairs will stand up on the back of my neck, sitting amongst the best supporters in the world will make my chest swell with pride more than any silicone implant ever could. The knowledge that by the end of the afternoon your voice will be gone but the smile will stay in place for the whole summer, it’s days like these that make all those horror days like Wigan back in the darkest days worth it.

A little appreciation for everything about Stoke City.

S is for supporters, the loudest in the land, the kind of people you are proud to call your family, loud, proud and thoroughly genuine in their love for this football club.

T is for Tony Pulis, a manager who has become one of the most assured and calm Premiership managers you’ll see, once he stood in front of the camera like a virgin on her wedding night now he exudes confidence, assured self belief and most of all his sheer delight in achieving success for this football club.

O is for ovations that will wring around the fortress Britannia today for the heroes who have made this possible, honest, hard working and yes despite what many in the media try to say skilled practitioners of the art of football.

K is keeping the faith, when many thought we’d be an embarrassment to the top flight at the beginning of this season it was hard not to lose your control but because we had faith in the players, the club and those who run it, we dealt with all the barbs with humour, articulate style and most of all with sheer belief that we had something special and as Paddy Power’s presence proves today we were right to keep the faith in such a great club.

E is for entertainment, yes it’s not always cultured but nobody can deny that we have been thoroughly entertained at the Britannia this season, so many memories that will live with people forever. Wins against the odds, goals of sheer class and yes there have been the lows but they have been very few, even in defeat we have shown why we have stayed up.

C is for Coates, without him we wouldn’t be enjoying today, he came back with a clear plan, a vision of where he wanted to take this club. He knew who he wanted as manager, backed him completely and the rewards for all have been a truly golden period for all.

I is for inspirational, that applies to all concerned the 12th man who have stood behind their heroes irrespective of what others thought of them. As many now jump on the bandwagon those who have created the wall of sound at the Britannia deserve their title as loudest supporters in the land. We are a true and glorious throwback to an era when passionate raucous support was the norm at this level.

T is for thank you, thank you to everyone who made this season possible, thank you for providing us with all the smiles, the sheer pride people can once more take in saying I support Stoke City.

Y is for why, why, why Delilah, we all know why because to many we maybe Philistines but to those who understand we are simply Stoke City and proud to be so.

I can’t wait for this afternoon, a game that means nothing in terms of relegation, promotion but means everything to the supporters and all concerned with Stoke City because it’s a vindication of their belief in themselves, their ability to defy the odds and our belief and passion for what they have achieved.

bravo