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Post by stokecityscott on Dec 20, 2007 13:22:29 GMT
Its all good this week, never knew so much PR could, come out of stoke in 7days ;D ;D ;D
20/12/2007 - City's gift is just the ticket
A Stoke City fanatic whose house was destroyed in a fire has been given an early Christmas gift from the club.
Pauline Willett has had to live in a one-bedroom flat with her daughter and grandson for almost three months after their house on Salt Road, Stafford, was badly damaged.
After hearing about her plight, City manager Tony Pulis dispatched midfielder John Eustace to present her with flowers and eight executive box tickets to Saturday's clash with table-toppers West Bromwich Albion.
Mrs Willett, aged 62, said: "It is the best Christmas present we could have had. I am so pleased that the club has come through for us, because my whole family is Stoke City through and through.
"I go to a lot of games and listen to all the others on the radio, and my three children are all season ticket holders."
She said it had been hard coping in a small flat with her daughter, Sharon, aged 37, who has muscular dystrophy, and her 12-year-old grandson Alexander.
She said: "There are three of us and it is only a very small flat, but we are managing.
"It can be difficult when you are used to a three-bedroom house, but at least we are near to work and Alexander's school here."
Mrs Willett, a lunchtime supervisor at St Austin's Catholic Primary School in Stafford, said more than £70,000 worth of damage was caused in the blaze on October 11.
It is understood the fire spread from a nearby property on Salt Avenue.
She said: "Everything in the upstairs of the house was damaged. Everything has been ruined.
"There isn't a loft there any more and the electrics and pipework are damaged."
The Crown Prosecution Service is treating the case as deliberate and a man is appearing before Stafford Crown Court tomorrow charged with arson and being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
Mrs Willett, who attended her first Potters game with her father in 1954, will be joined in the executive box by Sharon and Alexander, as well as her eldest daughter Diana, aged 43, and her 41-year-old son David.
Sharon, who works as an NVQ assessor, said: "It has been horrendous. It has been one thing after another for us. Since the house was burnt down, it has been broken into twice.
"It has been quite tough in the flat. We have to use the lounge as a second bedroom.
"But we all adore football and Stoke City. This is the best present we could have had, short of waving a magic wand and getting our house back."
City boss Pulis was alerted to Mrs Willett's cause by Stafford MP David Kidney. He revealed the family were living in a small flat on Salt Road and would be unable to return home for at least six months.
Stoke City's community programme manager Adrian Hurst said: "The manager said he really felt for Pauline and wanted to do something about this."
Mr Eustace said: "The manager spoke to the players about Pauline and we were all touched by her plight. We all wanted to do something to raise her spirits."
Eustace speaks out: Back Page
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Post by PONTAFCE on Dec 20, 2007 13:23:54 GMT
What a prezzie that is bob on to stoke for that gesture top lads.
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Post by CillaBlacksPissFlaps on Dec 20, 2007 13:25:33 GMT
Yeah a cracking gesture is that, well done stoke. Top marks all around.
Hope they enjoy the day.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Dec 20, 2007 13:28:44 GMT
Top marks again to the club! Great gesture!
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Post by PONTAFCE on Dec 20, 2007 13:30:09 GMT
Whats goin on for stoke this december what a month fuller,shawcross,good gestures what on earth next absolutly quality.
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Post by mermaidsal on Dec 20, 2007 16:24:32 GMT
Doing it right yet again, can't believe it either. What a lovely gesture.
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Dec 20, 2007 16:28:34 GMT
8 boxes seems a bit over the top - I'd have thought one box for eight of the family would be better!  |
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Post by banburypotter on Dec 20, 2007 16:37:48 GMT
am i reading about the same stoke city from the beginning of the season when they could not do anything right?
whatever shake-up has gone on there has been for the better.
well done stoke city fc, lessons learned and quickly, it is things like this that will help to put bums on seats as well, as the community will start to see the caring side of the football club,alongside the current form of the team and the whole feelgood factor.
this is beginning to turn from the dreams we all harbour to the reality that we all thought might never happen.
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Post by bogus on Dec 20, 2007 16:39:19 GMT
Well done to TP in particular, too!
He was obviously behind the good deed.
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Post by GrandStokie on Dec 20, 2007 17:16:24 GMT
sounds like the club are trying to make some amends for the lousy PR in recent months, well done Stoke, the trick now is to keep it going.
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Post by stokecityscott on Dec 20, 2007 17:18:06 GMT
Well they have got rid of a few staff and brought in fresh.
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Post by Parkerson on Dec 20, 2007 17:27:40 GMT
ponta86, is it me or do you actually post on every thread on here ? Seems your presence on threads is popular with all that karma too  |
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Post by GrandStokie on Dec 20, 2007 17:29:50 GMT
certainly gives a better feel to the club
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Post by TheWiseMaster on Dec 20, 2007 18:23:06 GMT
They will have to make sure they get them out after the games though - check the curtains etc!  |
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Post by daverichards on Dec 20, 2007 19:32:34 GMT
nice gesture from the club indeed, long may it continue
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Rockape
Youth Player
We're Stoke City... We Only Score 5!
Posts: 395
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Post by Rockape on Dec 20, 2007 19:56:55 GMT
Well done to involved in this at the Club. Season of goodwill and all that eh!
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