Factfile:
Nickname: The Potters
Founded: 1863
Manager: Michael O’Neill
Stadium: bet365 Stadium
Current league position: 12th
Last season’s finish: 15th
Current top scorer: Nick Powell (12)
FFV’s one for the future: Nathan Collins
INTRODUCTION…
Stoke City FC were founded in 1863 as Stoke Ramblers. This makes them the second oldest professional club in England, after Notts County.
Based in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, Stoke have played in all four top divisions of English football in their long history, winning one major honour in that time- the League Cup in 1972.
After languishing in the second and third tiers for 20 years, Stoke returned to the big time in 2008 and enjoyed successes under both Tony Pulis and Mark Hughes, but things turned sour for the latter in 2018 and Stoke were relegated to the Championship after a 10-year stint in the top flight.
The club still remains in the second tier to this day, but there is an air of optimism that Michael O’Neill can be the man to guide them back to the top flight in the coming years.
