West Ham United today beat Preston North End in the Championship Play-Off Final to take them into the Premiership. A single goal from Bobby Zamora in the 53rd minute was enough to secure victory for The Hammers. Sheffield Wednesday beat unfancied Hartlepool United yesterday to clinch the final promotion place into the Championship. Wednesday were 2-1 down with jus
The new version of "Delilah" - an unofficial Stoke City Football Club fan site - is now online. There are still a few pages yet to be updated, but this will be done in due course.
Tony Pulis will welcome back striker Ade Akinbiyi and midfield general John Eustace, for tomorrows clash with Crystal Palace in the the First Division. The two players have missed the last two league fixtures due to suspensions. The Potters will of course be hoping to continue their impressive run of form against First Division contenders, as they look to extend their unbeaten run into a second month. In other Stoke news, goalkeeper Neil Cutler has requested a transfer from the club, st
Stoke were held to a 1-1 draw yesterday at the New Den, when they faced Millwall. The two teams currently have the best form of the First Division, and so beforehand it promised to be an exciting encounter. The Potters were missing key men Ade Akinbiyi and Richard Johnson for the fixture, but took the lead after just 3 minutes. A free kick deep in the Stoke half wasn't cleared by the Millwall defence, the ball falling to Clive Clarke 30 yards from goal. Taking one touch, he struck the ba
Stoke City continued their impressive run of form yesterday afternoon, after beating West Midlands rivals Walsall in a 5-goal thriller at the Britannia Stadium. Walsall twice came behind to equal the score line at the Britannia, but it was Stoke's Carl Asaba- ending his 15-game goal drought- who had the final say on the outcome of the fixture. Goals from Darel Russel in the 8th minute, and Carl Asaba scoring twice in the 34th and 56th minute, were enough to secure the points in the clash
Stoke City will be without 5 key players on Saturday for their fixture against Walsall at the Britannia Stadium, due to suspensions. The players unavailable to Stoke boss Tony Pulis are Ade Akinbiyi (Disciplinary ban); John Eustace (10 Yellow Cards); Wayne Thomas (Disciplinary points); Richard Johnson (Red Card); Marcus Hall (Disciplinary points). In further news, the Britannia Stadium has been chosen to host the FA Coference Play-off Final in May 2004, the Football Association have announce
Stoke striker Ade Akinbiyi today failed in his appeal against a decision to ban him for two games, following a confrontation with a match official during a fixture against Gillingham earlier in the season. Akinbiyi has been banned after apparently using "abusive language towards a match official". Although unclear as to when the ban will take place, it will be a bitter blow for the Stoke player, after his current run of excellent form, having helped the Potters climb from the duldrums of Divisio
Stoke have had their appeal rejected to have the red card shown to Richard Johnson in the League encounter against Wimbledon rescinded. The announcement which came today, will mean that the player will be suspended for the forthcoming fixture against Walsall at the Britannia Stadium. Stoke manager Tony Pulis has also been quick to praise youngster Darel Russell, the only ever-present in the first team this season. Russell, who signed for The Potters from First Division rivals Norwich Cit
Ade Akinbiyi will face an FA Disciplinary Hearing on Monday 26th January. The hearing comes after an incident where Akinbiyi allegedly "verbally abused" a referee in a recent fixture. Akinbiyi is expected to deny the charge, and will attempt to prove his innocence. However, if found guilty of the charge, the player may find himself facing a fine, or possibly a ban.
Stoke manager Tony Pulis yesterday claimed that the time for a break from the football league had come at the worst possible time for the Potters. The claim comes after Stoke's vein of rich form, which has seen them score 19 points out of a possible 21, the best run of form in Nationwide League Division 1 at the current moment. Stoke were scheduled to play Birmingham City in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday of this week, but instead Birmingham will play Wimbledon, after the Don's succeed
Stoke manager Tony Pulis yesterday warned his players to be more careful of their own discipline, following the fracas at the end of the Wimbledon fixture, and with John Eustace's suspension by the FA being confirmed. Pulis commented on the scuffle at Wimbledon, which came after a tackle on Gerry Taggart, in a press conference yesterday. "Although I do not condone fighting, I do believe my players are correct in standing up for each other, as it shows good team spirit in the camp. However, t
Hey, first time i've read these forums and stuff... I'm in England, it's cold, damp, dark, and has been raining continuously for 7 hours... it does not help with my mood at the minute cos i have exams in two days also!!
Stoke City won 1-0 at the Hockey Stadium, Milton Keynes, in a game which saw them pitted against Wimbledon for the fourth time this season, the third time in just two weeks. The Potters ran out victors after a quickly taken free kick from Peter Hoekstra from 25 yards out, set Clive Clarke free on the left wing. Running to the dead-ball line, Clarke swung a left-footed cross in, which eluded two defenders at the near post, allowing Gifton Noel-Williams to volley the ball into the top of the
Stoke boss Tony Pulis is expected to bring back Gerry Taggart and Ade Akinbiyi into the first team for tomorrow's fixture against Wimbledon. The stalwart defender Taggart was absent from Tuesday's fixture due to Leicester City wishing him to be available for them should they require his services back at the Walker's Stadium, while Akinbiyi was absent due to a leg injury sustained during the previous match against Derby County at the Britannia Stadium. Pulis is hoping that tomor
Stoke City lost in the FA Cup on Tuesday evening, in the third round replay versus Wimbledon. After the initial game at the National Hockey Stadium just over a week ago, manager Tony Pulis claimed his team were unlucky to have to face a replay. The replay however, was a disappointing and sorry story, from start to finish. With only 6,500 fans passing through the turnstiles, the few fans that arrived must have been hoping for a Cup run to be proud of, similar to those of recent seasons.
Stoke City are likely to face tomorrow evening's 3rd Round FA Cup replay against Wimbledon without key team members Marcus Hall, Gerry Taggart, and possibly striker Ade Akinbiyi. Akinbiyi has scored four goals for the Potters in the past 5 matches, but boss Tony Pulis still believes that the striker is not performing to his full potential. "We haven't seen the best of him yet" said Pulis yesterday. Commenting on his side's 2-1 victory over Derby County on Saturday, Pulis also stated tha
Stoke yesterday fought back from a 1-0 deficit, to beat Derby County 2-1, in the league encounter at the Britannia Stadium. Stoke conceded one of the quickest goals of the day, as Mills struck for Derby after only 59 seconds. Stoke though, fought hard after the early set back, to continue their excellent run of current form. A goal from Ade Akinbiyi, in the 28th minute, was enough to ensure the two teams went in on equal terms, and it was Stoke's Gerry Taggart who had the final word on the o
Marc Goodfellow has today signed a two and a half year contract with Second Division Bristol City, two days after being given permission to talk to the club. The Goodfellow transfer saga has been going on for some months now, with Bristol City desperate to take the young striker to the south of England. Goodfellow is a product of Stoke's youth policy, an extremely quick left footed striker. He made his mark on his 19th Birthday, when, making his debut, The Potters played Premiershi
Gudjon Thordarson, former Stoke boss and now manager of Second Division Barnsley, has reportedly refused Stoke's estimation of £150,000 GBP for striker Chris Iwelumo, after the player was transfer listed by the Stoke management. In other transfer news today, Marc Goodfellow has been granted permission to negotiate a contract with Second division Bristol City, after the two clubs finally agreed a fee for the player, after much deliberation between the two clubs. Despite the news that Stok
The Potters have confirmed that Gerry Taggart will remain with the club for another month, after extending his loan contract from Premiership outfit Leicester City. The Stoke management have been trying to seal the player's services, due to the recent upsurge in results after Taggart's initial move from The Foxes. Meanwhile, in-form front man Ade Akinbiyi today announced he hopes to be fit for the forthcoming fixture against Derby County at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday. Akinbiyi has mis
Barnsley's assistant manager Noel Blake, has announced that the club are trying to re-unite Stoke striker Chris Iwelumo with his former boss Gudjon Thordarson, by purchasing Iwelumo from The Potters. Iwelumo was brought to Stoke in 1999 by Gudjon Thordarson, after several attempts to lure the player to the club had initially been unsuccessful. However, Director of Football John Rudge, along with Thordarson, finally managed to persuade the 6 foot tall striker to sign, and he often played an i
Stoke City have been drawn last out of the hat in today's fourth round draw of the FA Cup, and as a result will face Birmingham City of the Premier Division, on the 24th or 25th of January, but only if the Potters are successful in dispatching Wimbledon out of the Third Round, which it has been announced will be replayed on the 13th January, with kick off at 7.45pm GMT time. Stoke boss Tony Pulis announced that it was due to the high number of important fixtures over the coming week, that f
Stoke City were held to a 1-1 draw at The National Hockey Stadium in Milton Keynes yesterday, as they surrendered a one goal lead to fellow Division One strugglers Wimbledon. The Potters raced into a first half lead through a volley from in-form midfielder John Eustace, after a Carl Asaba shot cannonned off the cross bar and back into play. Asaba again struck the bar later in the first half, which Stoke should've easily scored more goals in due to their sheer domination. The second half
Stoke boss Tony Pulis has described Wimbledon as "a dangerous threat", especially as they themselves are fighting relegation from Division One. The Potters go into tomorrow's FA Cup fixture knowing that only a win will suffice, and Pulis admitted this would be harder than first thought, due to Wimbledon's lowly position in the league table.
Stoke City boss Tony Pulis has indicated his concerns over the fitness of experienced goalkeeper Ed de Goey and stalwart defender Gerry Taggart ahead of this weekends clash with Wimbledon in the FA Cup 3rd Round. It will be a bitter blow for the Stoke management if the team has to be changed around, having completed a successful December in which they haven't lost a First team game. However, Pulis will be able to select former Arsenal defender John Halls for tomorrows fixture, after the club suc
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