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Post by march4 on Aug 28, 2015 14:51:29 GMT
The government should have stepped in and given the Vic heritage listing as the oldest football league ground in the world belonging to the 2nd oldest league club. Demolishing it was cultural vandalism on a scale with demolishing York Minster or Windsor Castle. Football is one of the things this country has given to the world and here was an opportunity to celebrate it. When you consider SCFC's pivotal role in the embryonic FA and Football League, a proper celebration of the great game could have been constructed. Because of the A500 and A50, it would have been more convenient than Preston or Manchester.
The cost of refurb could easily have come from lottery funding. Look at the amount given to PNE to host the national Football Museum (now moved, but stands remain) and the incredible amount being spent on the Olympic Stadium.
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Post by Sergeant Muttley on Aug 28, 2015 14:57:33 GMT
Used to stand in the Boothen Paddock not far from the dugouts and it was always a great place to abuse the opposition players.Parked in the Stoke market car park for many years and have to say still miss the walk to the ground from there.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2015 15:04:16 GMT
I know I'll get called an old bastard but I just can't see the abortion of a ground that is The Britannia Stadium home. We must have the worst "new" ground in the whole of the four divisions. To build it in the middle of nowhere with massive access problems was pure folly. I am sure the club and council hoped the area would develop in to something akin to Festival Park with shops, restaurants etc but it just hasn't happened. Its ok if you want to buy a car. Its sterile and souless.
The Vic wasn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, The Boothen Toilets were something of a biohazard, but it was a special place with special memories. We should never have moved.
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Post by kernowpotter on Aug 28, 2015 15:27:15 GMT
The sun was always out the walk to the ground as a kid was something that I will never forget the walk up the bootern steps the hustle and bustle of people going in then up the steps into the bootern it's self
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Post by nott1 on Aug 28, 2015 15:56:14 GMT
One thing about this thread is the fact that there are still so many of us old farts still supporting the mighty potters.It's a way of life!!
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Post by exeterstokie on Aug 28, 2015 16:01:12 GMT
A couple of pints in the Smithfield pub in blythe bridge,then train to stoke stopping off in longton when a good few lads got on, then charlies for more ale then having a burger by the away end! always mither after the match down the back alleys of the vic! happy days!
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Post by madelinesmithmmmh on Aug 28, 2015 16:57:35 GMT
I know I'll get called an old bastard but I just can't see the abortion of a ground that is The Britannia Stadium home. We must have the worst "new" ground in the whole of the four divisions. To build it in the middle of nowhere with massive access problems was pure folly. I am sure the club and council hoped the area would develop in to something akin to Festival Park with shops, restaurants etc but it just hasn't happened. Its ok if you want to buy a car. Its sterile and souless. The Vic wasn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, The Boothen Toilets were something of a biohazard, but it was a special place with special memories. We should never have moved. Always went for a "Lucky Piss" on arrival. One memorable bit if graffiti there "Congratulations - you are now a tributary of the River Trent" And if you think it wasn't cold you weren't at the BHam night game in the last season, or queuing overnight on the carpark!
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Post by march4 on Aug 28, 2015 17:00:06 GMT
One thing about this thread is the fact that there are still so many of us old farts still supporting the mighty potters.It's a way of life!! And in most cases our sons and grandsons do likewise.
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Post by elystokie on Aug 28, 2015 17:04:39 GMT
Wasn't the Sea Lion run by an ex boxer? I can't just remember his name, but it will come to me. EDIT: Larry Parks? This thread has certainly brought a few memories back. I remember one game when as I was queuing to get in through the season ticket turnstyle (Boothen End) a guy came up to me and asked me to take his son into the ground. He said that it was ok, he did it every game - he would crawl under the turnstyle. I was a bit concerned doing this but agreed to. The trouble was that the kid had grown and couldn't get under the turnstyle, so he started trying to climb over the top of the turnstyle. A steward started walking towards us, and I thought "shit, we've been caught". The steward just caught hold of the lad and lifted him over the turnstyle. I said "Thanks mate". All a bit different to today. Yes it was, Larry's my uncle, I was in the Sea Lion crib team when I was about 14/15 :) I'll have to pop by tomorrow to see if it's open.
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Post by stokeharry on Aug 28, 2015 17:34:01 GMT
The government should have stepped in and given the Vic heritage listing as the oldest football league ground in the world belonging to the 2nd oldest league club. Demolishing it was cultural vandalism on a scale with demolishing York Minster or Windsor Castle. Football is one of the things this country has given to the world and here was an opportunity to celebrate it. When you consider SCFC's pivotal role in the embryonic FA and Football League, a proper celebration of the great game could have been constructed. Because of the A500 and A50, it would have been more convenient than Preston or Manchester. The cost of refurb could easily have come from lottery funding. Look at the amount given to PNE to host the national Football Museum (now moved, but stands remain) and the incredible amount being spent on the Olympic Stadium. I agree with that
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2015 18:50:25 GMT
half of stoke would have had to be demolished to make it work?
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Post by stokiejoe on Aug 28, 2015 18:54:18 GMT
I know I'll get called an old bastard but I just can't see the abortion of a ground that is The Britannia Stadium home. We must have the worst "new" ground in the whole of the four divisions. To build it in the middle of nowhere with massive access problems was pure folly. I am sure the club and council hoped the area would develop in to something akin to Festival Park with shops, restaurants etc but it just hasn't happened. Its ok if you want to buy a car. Its sterile and souless. The Vic wasn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, The Boothen Toilets were something of a biohazard, but it was a special place with special memories. We should never have moved. As one "old bastard" to another, I totally agree with you, for all its problem it had soul and great transport links. Just under cover in the centre behind the goal at the Boothen end, same group week in and week out.
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Post by stokiejoe on Aug 28, 2015 19:00:19 GMT
One thing about this thread is the fact that there are still so many of us old farts still supporting the mighty potters.It's a way of life!! Don't suppose many of us still have any hair left to tear out! Stoke have always been a surprise, winning when you don't expect it and losing the "easy" games, but I would change nothing.
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Post by Bombus on Aug 28, 2015 19:06:20 GMT
It was the greatest of great places. End of.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2015 19:19:49 GMT
admin......'those were the days' section?
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Post by Mr_DaftBurger on Aug 28, 2015 19:49:57 GMT
Wasn't the Sea Lion run by an ex boxer? I can't just remember his name, but it will come to me. EDIT: Larry Parks? This thread has certainly brought a few memories back. I remember one game when as I was queuing to get in through the season ticket turnstyle (Boothen End) a guy came up to me and asked me to take his son into the ground. He said that it was ok, he did it every game - he would crawl under the turnstyle. I was a bit concerned doing this but agreed to. The trouble was that the kid had grown and couldn't get under the turnstyle, so he started trying to climb over the top of the turnstyle. A steward started walking towards us, and I thought "shit, we've been caught". The steward just caught hold of the lad and lifted him over the turnstyle. I said "Thanks mate". All a bit different to today. Yes it was, Larry's my uncle, I was in the Sea Lion crib team when I was about 14/15 I'll have to pop by tomorrow to see if it's open. Me and my old man went on a few times. First time we went in I think Larry was expecting an 'opponent' that night and bought us both a drink. Now I don't know if he thought my dad was his opponent or he knew him from drinking in 'castle when they were younger, didn't he used to get in the Alma Inn? Thing was it went deathly quiet when we walked in until Larry bought us that drink. Strange experience and in retrospect quite frightening with the people who got in there, anyway we were both pissed at the time, and only wondered afterwards why he bought us that drink! Maybe he was scared of trouble!
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Post by elystokie on Aug 28, 2015 20:12:44 GMT
Yes it was, Larry's my uncle, I was in the Sea Lion crib team when I was about 14/15 :) I'll have to pop by tomorrow to see if it's open. Me and my old man went on a few times. First time we went in I think Larry was expecting an 'opponent' that night and bought us both a drink. Now I don't know if he thought my dad was his opponent or he knew him from drinking in 'castle when they were younger, didn't he used to get in the Alma Inn? Thing was it went deathly quiet when we walked in until Larry bought us that drink. :D Strange experience and in retrospect quite frightening with the people who got in there, anyway we were both pissed at the time, and only wondered afterwards why he bought us that drink! Maybe he was scared of trouble! (lol) Don't know about the Alma Inn but I do know he drank up 'Castle fairly regularly, he probably recognised him tbh, he's sharp like that, he did get people coming in now and then wanting to fight him presumably so they could go back to their mates from whence they came and brag about it, it never ended well for them as far as I know. He would try to discourage them, they mostly just wouldn't listen.
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Post by Mr_DaftBurger on Aug 28, 2015 21:35:19 GMT
Me and my old man went on a few times. First time we went in I think Larry was expecting an 'opponent' that night and bought us both a drink. Now I don't know if he thought my dad was his opponent or he knew him from drinking in 'castle when they were younger, didn't he used to get in the Alma Inn? Thing was it went deathly quiet when we walked in until Larry bought us that drink. Strange experience and in retrospect quite frightening with the people who got in there, anyway we were both pissed at the time, and only wondered afterwards why he bought us that drink! Maybe he was scared of trouble! Don't know about the Alma Inn but I do know he drank up 'Castle fairly regularly, he probably recognised him tbh, he's sharp like that, he did get people coming in now and then wanting to fight him presumably so they could go back to their mates from whence they came and brag about it, it never ended well for them as far as I know. He would try to discourage them, they mostly just wouldn't listen. It was a world away from today, back then, but always a buzz. This bloke was supposed to be coming from Glasgow!
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Post by StokieSC on Aug 28, 2015 21:58:08 GMT
I feel for these kids today or never experienced it. If you could bottle that atmosphere and sense of belonging and sell it you'd be a millionaire.
It will always be home.
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Post by JoeinOz on Aug 28, 2015 22:48:27 GMT
It's all right to re-write history and get all nostaligic BUT the move to the Brit was absolutely the right thing to do. We should of demolished the vic and built the brit on that site . Had that happened it would have been a bodge job. How long would it have taken? Sharing with Vale for three years? Would that be a feasible option?
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Post by StokieSC on Aug 28, 2015 22:57:52 GMT
How true was it that Vale were offered to share the Brit with us?
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Post by JoeinOz on Aug 28, 2015 23:01:37 GMT
How true was it that Vale were offered to share the Brit with us? Moderately true. It was an early suggestion as the project was being negotiated. Vale made it very clear they didn't want to share with Stoke and that was that. I am the only person from the Potteries who thought it should be shared!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2015 7:03:59 GMT
How true was it that Vale were offered to share the Brit with us? Moderately true. It was an early suggestion as the project was being negotiated. Vale made it very clear they didn't want to share with Stoke and that was that. I am the only person from the Potteries who thought it should be shared! NO WAY!!!!!
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Post by JoeinOz on Aug 29, 2015 7:04:53 GMT
Moderately true. It was an early suggestion as the project was being negotiated. Vale made it very clear they didn't want to share with Stoke and that was that. I am the only person from the Potteries who thought it should be shared! NO WAY!!!!! I did say I was the only one!!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2015 8:00:59 GMT
We should of demolished the vic and built the brit on that site . Had that happened it would have been a bodge job. How long would it have taken? Sharing with Vale for three years? Would that be a feasible option? Joe I know what you are saying but it can't have been more of a bodge job than The Brit, we've been there 18 years and it's still not finished.
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Post by lordb on Aug 29, 2015 8:07:15 GMT
100% true that the council wanted both clubs at the New ground. I think Vale took the right decision.
If we had stayed the Vic,especially the Boothen End,would have been a cheap as possible bodge job.
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Post by JoeinOz on Aug 29, 2015 8:14:31 GMT
Had that happened it would have been a bodge job. How long would it have taken? Sharing with Vale for three years? Would that be a feasible option? Joe I know what you are saying but it can't have been more of a bodge job than The Brit, we've been there 18 years and it's still not finished. We got relegated because of the Brit building, and that was with lots of financial help from the council. Bearing in mind how skint we were and the scaale of the job how do you think a renovated Vic would have turned out? The school behind the Boothen would have to be knocked down, as would some of the houses on Lime St. The river trent would have to be re-directed which in itself as a logistical nightmare. How long would it have taken? Where would the money come from?
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Post by JoeinOz on Aug 29, 2015 8:15:12 GMT
100% true that the council wanted both clubs at the New ground. I think Vale took the right decision. If we had stayed the Vic,especially the Boothen End,would have been a cheap as possible bodge job. It would have just been plastic saucers fixed onto the terraces.
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Post by lordb on Aug 29, 2015 8:15:18 GMT
Had that happened it would have been a bodge job. How long would it have taken? Sharing with Vale for three years? Would that be a feasible option? Joe I know what you are saying but it can't have been more of a bodge job than The Brit, we've been there 18 years and it's still not finished. The Butler St was to be replaced by a stand very similar to the Q railings stand. That would have been the only new stand. Seats would simply have been bolted onto the remaining retracing,if we we're very lucky there might have been a new roof on he Boothen End. The Britannia,cheap as it was,had far more money spent on it than the Vic would have had. The grants we got would not have been as large,the council would not have invested a penny,no sponsorship e.t.c. Capacity about 22000 with about a third of that on seats on old terraces which is always awful. Have no doubt whatsoever that it would have been terrible.
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Post by JoeinOz on Aug 29, 2015 8:19:39 GMT
One thing we can say for certain, despite it never happening, is if we had stayed at the Vic now there would now be people moaning saying we should have moved.
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