Stoke City F.C.
English football team.
Stoke City Football Club, commonly known as "The Potters," was founded in 1863 as Stoke Ramblers, making it one of the oldest professional football clubs in England. The club changed its name to Stoke in 1878 and finally to Stoke City in 1925 after Stoke-on-Trent was granted city status. Stoke is notable for being one of the twelve founding members of the Football League in 1888, and they have a rich history characterized by periods of success and challenges.In its early years, Stoke City played at various grounds before settling at the Victoria Ground in 1878. This venue became synonymous with the club for over a century and was known for its passionate atmosphere. The club adopted its iconic red-and-white striped kit during this time, a tradition that continues to this day.Stoke City enjoyed early success, finishing as runners-up in the FA Cup in 1899 and again in 1912. However, the club faced financial difficulties and was relegated from the First Division in 1907. They entered liquidation shortly thereafter but were re-elected to the Football League in 1919 after several years of playing in lower leagues. The club's resilience during this turbulent period laid the groundwork for future successes.The post-war years saw Stoke City experience a resurgence under manager Tony Waddington. In 1972, they won their first major trophy, the League Cup, defeating Chelsea 2-1 in the final. This victory marked a significant milestone for the club and was celebrated by fans as a turning point in their history. Stoke also reached the FA Cup final in 1964 but were narrowly defeated by Leicester City.Throughout the late 20th century, Stoke encountered ups and downs, including relegation to lower divisions and subsequent promotions. The club struggled to maintain consistent performances but continued to attract dedicated supporters.A major turning point came in the mid-2000s when Stoke appointed manager Tony Pulis. Under his leadership, the team achieved promotion to the Premier League at the end of the 2007-08 season. This marked a new era for Stoke City as they established themselves among England's elite clubs. The team became known for its physical style of play and strong defensive organization, which earned them respect across the league.Stoke's home matches are played at bet365 Stadium, which opened in 1997 and has a capacity of around 30,000. The stadium has modern facilities and provides an electric atmosphere during home games, contributing to the club's strong fan culture.The rivalry with Port Vale is one of Stoke's most intense derbies as the two professional sides from Stoke-on-Trent.