Your First Stoke Game.......

[Deleted]

I remember as 10 yr old being really starstruck on wanting to see gordon banks!!!

[raven]

Player Eddie Clamp decked was John Conneley

[Deleted]

I can't be certain on mine but remember my old man (RIP owd) taking me and my brother on the Boothen 87 I think v Leicester. He had a mate on the turnstile in the bottom corner who let kids in for a modest fee . I know Mick Mills was manager and I'm sure Beagrie was playing then. That's when it all started for me.

[raven]

John Connely was the player Clampy decked

[cobhamstokey]

March 77 Stoke 0-1 Leicester C

[dealstokie08]

I'm a glory hunter - Wembley final !

1992 Autoglass trophy, was a Spurs fan then! Thank fook Stoke were brilliant that day steinoooooooooooooo

[2004]

2004 Home 0-0 v Nottingham Forest

[edinburghstoke]

Had to check this but it was October 1981 at home to Swansea.

Stoke team that day: Fox, Smith, O'Callaghan, Hampton,Evans, Dodd, Maguire, Griffiths, Bracewell, Heath, Chapman.....can picture those guys better than I can picture what I had for breakfast this morning.

Griffiths made it 1-0 at HT but Latchford scored a winner to win 2-1.

[Deleted]

V Everton 8th december 1980. 2-2

[stokey127]

Cannot remember I was 7 yrs old my first game and remember the town hall when Stoke came back with the league cup, my best game county away and Gareth crooks. Great days came with the battles the atmosphere the adreniline. All still beats the fa cup final against Man City. Will never forget and the Britt is a great place but does not replace the great Victoria road.

[stoke65]

Stoke v wolves Feb 25th 1975. 2 nil down . Dad said were going. By time got hone it was 2-2 gutted

[Deleted]

May 11, 2015 14:02:02 GMT stoke65 said:

Stoke v wolves Feb 25th 1975. 2 nil down . Dad said were going. By time got hone it was 2-2 gutted

theres a lot doing that now

[Deleted]

Sept 28, 2010 21:58:45 GMT ParaPsych said:

Not a clue.

I guess that wasnt the day you were hooked then

[ParaPsych]

Dec 24, 2015 9:56:46 GMT @morningmist said:

Sept 28, 2010 21:58:45 GMT ParaPsych said:

Not a clue.

I guess that wasnt the day you were hooked then

Christ this is old. No i think it must have taken me a while to get into it!

[bornscfcdiescfc]

Stoke end when it was the open bank...played Leeds Utd 1973/4 we won 3-2....was a nipper...and it was rammed

[bornscfcdiescfc]

Sept 28, 2010 21:07:23 GMT @dontjusthuthit said:

Losing to Blyth Spartans in FA Cup 4th round replay, 78/79......and I still went back for more!!

lol how many of us went i did with my cousin...burning scarves they werre lol

[Deleted]

cant believe I went to the games as an 11yr old by myself (with a friend)......wouldn't let my 11yr old do that now

[futch]

2005 I think. Peschisolido's first season. Can't remember the game though....

[potterdave]

Stoke v Huddersfield early 70s with my dad. I couldn't believe how green the pitch looked. Stoje won and I was hooked!

Sent from my SM-T310 using proboards

[Deleted]

Stoke VS Charlton, 1998 - we lost 2-1. It was the day of my 8th birthday. Charlton wore a horrible green kit and all I can remember is the woman behind me talking about how horrible the kit was all game.

[trickydicky73]

Oct 1, 2010 0:23:01 GMT JoeinOz said:

November 2nd 1974. Infancy about to experience one of the defining moments of an entire
life. For the first time approaching the Victoria Ground, clinging to dads hand and The Four Tops I'll Be There hissing out from the tannoy. The turnstile itself provided a challenge. What a strange obstacle for a five year old to negotiate! Walking past the tea bar, up the steps to see a small strip of grass through legs. The higher on the steps more green becomes visible until reaching the top then looking down on a great big strip of grass....and it was paradise.

Football matches had a specific aroma in those days. The unique smell of bovril cigar smoke and anxiety. A moody autumn sky added to the morose demeanour. A childs mind is unhindered by critical faculties. When our players emerged each one of them held God like status. OK, some were no doubt better players than others, but just wearing our red & white stripes secured my affection. However, there is still room for a special one. Mine was our blonde bombshell Jimmy Greenhoff. I've seen better players (though not many) but it was Jimmy who opened the window, through which I gleefully climbed, to open my heart and mind to the possibilities of the greatest game on earth.

Jimmy dominated my early football watching career. Sitting on the wall in the Butler Street Paddock and Jimmy moves to a wide position. The first time in my life I felt awestruck. The great Jimmy Greenhoff was a matter of feet away from me. Being in the park with my brother and dad practising Jimmy volleys. And a blistering one against Leeds winning us a cracking game. (By Jimmy not by us in the park!) Sadly, I also remember crying on a Saturday morning in December 1976 when dad showed me the back of the Daily Mirror and it displayed the unthinkable news. Greenhoff had gone to Man Yoo. He didn't want to leave us. Betrayed by Stoke City Football Club. That news indelibly stamped a cynical edge in my mind. Seven is too young to endure heartbreak as deep as that. The next game I sort of expected him to be playing for us. Stoke City without Jimmy? Impossible. The next game I expected him to be there as usual. But gone he was...to win the FA Cup as we got relegated.

For all the heartbreak attached to supporting a football club, would we really want things any other way? Surely the glory of the great moments is exacerbated by their rarity. When we see gloryhunters we resent what they symbolise. Soulless empty mercenaries bathing in tepid reflected glory which is riddled with poison. Could the brigade of parasites who attach themselves to a football club by way of a bedspread feel the warmth I feel when I reflect on my infatuation with Jimmy?

The pride and passion we feel for our team is something few of us would really want to change. And, I'm sure like many of you reading this, I'm so glad I grew up loving that great big strip of grass.

That is one of the best posts I have read on here. Jimmy was my hero, too. I can't remember my first game, but my earliest memory was the 3-2 win over Leeds.

I seem to remember Greenhoff scoring against Leeds in a night match, but I was very young at the time, so my memory is hazy!

Did Aston Villa used to let off balloons? Or is my mind playing tricks on me?

Listening to a little Sony radio on the bus back from Stoke to Hanley.

Standing with my dad in The Stoke End, absolutely living for the football.

Cheers, Joe, you've brought back some happy memories.

[JoeinOz]

Apr 23, 2016 2:08:53 GMT trickydicky73 said:

Oct 1, 2010 0:23:01 GMT JoeinOz said:

November 2nd 1974. Infancy about to experience one of the defining moments of an entire
life. For the first time approaching the Victoria Ground, clinging to dads hand and The Four Tops I'll Be There hissing out from the tannoy. The turnstile itself provided a challenge. What a strange obstacle for a five year old to negotiate! Walking past the tea bar, up the steps to see a small strip of grass through legs. The higher on the steps more green becomes visible until reaching the top then looking down on a great big strip of grass....and it was paradise.

Football matches had a specific aroma in those days. The unique smell of bovril cigar smoke and anxiety. A moody autumn sky added to the morose demeanour. A childs mind is unhindered by critical faculties. When our players emerged each one of them held God like status. OK, some were no doubt better players than others, but just wearing our red & white stripes secured my affection. However, there is still room for a special one. Mine was our blonde bombshell Jimmy Greenhoff. I've seen better players (though not many) but it was Jimmy who opened the window, through which I gleefully climbed, to open my heart and mind to the possibilities of the greatest game on earth.

Jimmy dominated my early football watching career. Sitting on the wall in the Butler Street Paddock and Jimmy moves to a wide position. The first time in my life I felt awestruck. The great Jimmy Greenhoff was a matter of feet away from me. Being in the park with my brother and dad practising Jimmy volleys. And a blistering one against Leeds winning us a cracking game. (By Jimmy not by us in the park!) Sadly, I also remember crying on a Saturday morning in December 1976 when dad showed me the back of the Daily Mirror and it displayed the unthinkable news. Greenhoff had gone to Man Yoo. He didn't want to leave us. Betrayed by Stoke City Football Club. That news indelibly stamped a cynical edge in my mind. Seven is too young to endure heartbreak as deep as that. The next game I sort of expected him to be playing for us. Stoke City without Jimmy? Impossible. The next game I expected him to be there as usual. But gone he was...to win the FA Cup as we got relegated.

For all the heartbreak attached to supporting a football club, would we really want things any other way? Surely the glory of the great moments is exacerbated by their rarity. When we see gloryhunters we resent what they symbolise. Soulless empty mercenaries bathing in tepid reflected glory which is riddled with poison. Could the brigade of parasites who attach themselves to a football club by way of a bedspread feel the warmth I feel when I reflect on my infatuation with Jimmy?

The pride and passion we feel for our team is something few of us would really want to change. And, I'm sure like many of you reading this, I'm so glad I grew up loving that great big strip of grass.

That is one of the best posts I have read on here. Jimmy was my hero, too. I can't remember my first game, but my earliest memory was the 3-2 win over Leeds.

I seem to remember Greenhoff scoring against Leeds in a night match, but I was very young at the time, so my memory is hazy!

Did Aston Villa used to let off balloons? Or is my mind playing tricks on me?

Listening to a little Sony radio on the bus back from Stoke to Hanley.

Standing with my dad in The Stoke End, absolutely living for the football.

Cheers, Joe, you've brought back some happy memories.

Villa fans with balloons yes!! Greenhoff scored a rasping volley in a 3-2 win v Leeds 75/76 in the daytime. He scored a dramatic late winner v Citeh in a FA Cup 4th round nightgame in 1976.

[yellowfang]

Sept 28, 2010 19:04:13 GMT @sonofthunder said:

.....Can you remember it?

My dad was always too busy playing football himself - i never saw stoke play until my mates dad took us to see an evening game in the late 60's against leeds - at the back of the stoke end - great memories - i remember thinking how good harry burrows was

1970/71 season .....Night match, a Texaco cup match against Motherwell aged 11, always remember going up Stoke end steps and seeing the magical green illuminated turf........Stoke won 2-1 making it level on agg......extra time still level .....we lost on pens  

[chuffedstokie]

1967 home game against Leicester. We won 3-1 I seem to remember. Older brother and myself, Stoke end pushed to the front until half time then played the 'spot your dad in the crowd ' game with all the other kids. Same again at the end.
Never forget that unique smell. It was pure fun and excitement.
Little bit rowdy walking back to the car under the railway bridge and dad had to help a lady with her shopping who got ruffled about a bit.
Six years old but it was the best day out ever. And the rest as is said brilliant history. Standing that close to Gordon Banks was a bit special as well.
There's only one Stoke City.

[Deleted]

First watched on TV - Charlton at home, Parkin scored the winner was on SKY. 

First match - The following game after that against Rochdale (or before?) in the cup, lost on pens. 

[Deleted]

Football had a different smell in 68

[woodstein]

V West Ham (H), sat Feb 24, 1973
On open Stoke end with big brother, the colour was astounding after years of a black & white tv, helped by the hammers excellent away kit too. Brilliant volley over wall by Greenhoff from Eastams flicked free kick, Jimmy Robertson added one later to make it 2-0.

[stokiejohnss]

I could never remember mine and it frustrated me greatly ! That was until a couple of years ago when I said to a few mates I'd seen Stoke play England (at home) in the 60's and all I could remember was the score 7-5. None of the others had any recollection.
After a fair bit of googling I found it was v an England X1 I'm May '67. It was Dennis Viollets testimonial though I had no idea of this as a youngster !
Was anyone else at this game or remember it ?

[Deleted]

Stoke 1 (Stuart Jump) Blackpool 1 Fri Night before Cup Final ? Stood on Stoke End with my Dad (RIP)

[stokieinnz]

Oh yes, this must have been sometime in the fairly early 50s. Luton from the top of the Butler Street stand. My maternal grandfather was a great friend of Stan Matthews and his dad and was also a league referee. I remember his giving me a leather football - ye gods, it was SOOOOOO heavy!