Legend is such an overused word in sport in my opinion. My question is who truly deserves the title of Legend of Stoke City? I've been supporting Stoke for about 13 years and I cannot honestly say there have been any legends in my time. Thorney and Hoekstra are the closest in my time, in my opinion I'll start off with the biggest Legend of them all, Sir Stanley Matthews Who does everyone else think?
Legends, in no specific order, except the first entry Sir Stan Tony Waddington Jimmy Greenhoff Denis Violet Denis Smith Alan Bloor Terry Conroy John Mahoney Gordan Banks Peter Shilton John Ritchie Peter Dobing Ricardo Fuller Harry Burrows Approaching legendary status Matty Etherington Ryan Shawcross Robert Huth Sure I've missed one or two out but I agree with the OP, Legend is a word that is too often misused
I suppose Freddie Steele might be considered a legend as well, he is our leading league goal scorer after all
Easy for me We have won one proper major trophy in our history, so putting all other things aside it has to be the 72 league cup winners side and manager. With a special mention to the great Gordon Banks. Without his memorable penalty save off Geoff Hurst in the semi 2nd leg, we would not have lived to progress in a second replay. Sorry to live in the past but contrary to what Sky Sports believe, football was alive and well before the PL. 1 Gordon Banks 2 John Marsh 3 Mike Pejic 4 Mike Bernard 5 Denis Smith 6 Alan Bloor 7 Terry Conroy 8 Jimmy Greenhoff 9 John Ritchie 10 Peter Dobing 11 George Eastham 12 John Mahoney Tony Waddington
Sorry do not agree that the cup winning side are LEGENDS, yes they were a great team, but too class them all as LEGENDS is ridiculous. As sgt stated at the start of the thread LEGEND is an overused word
I`m surprised nobody has mentioned Alan Hudson ,however I suppose he wasn`t with us for long enough to be a legend but was certainly one of the best players I have ever seen in a Stoke shirt.
Northern, I've got a framed set of all your legends as cards on my wall. The mrs calls it stokie corner.
Fill in the corners All entitled to our own view The team are legends in my view. As a 7 year old at the time, to see Stoke win a national trophy against a Chelsea side packed full of stars deserves legendary status. Anyway in terms of players Jimmy Greenhoff was fantastic for us 270 odd games more than 70 goals and would have stayed with us but for the stand issue-mind you does his short spell at port Vale rule him out Gordon Banks-his injury robbed the whole football world of a few more years of a true legend in my eyes, but does he qualify in Stoke terms for a relatively short career with us. In my eyes yes due to his England links and being a world cup winner. There are others that sweated blood and tears -Dennis Smith would come to mind -born in the city, playing just short of 500 games for us-in his own way he was a legend just for loyalty and longevity. It all depends on your criteria for being a legend.
It all depends on your opinion of what should make a legend. For me its a player who had the club he played for in his heart and was the only club he played for (professionally). There wouldn't be too many Legends these days, can only think of Ryan Giggs. Believe it or not there is not one Stoke Player who would be a Legend under this criteria but has kid I idolised Greenoff
It all depends on your opinion of what should make a legend. I think 5 broken legs, numerous cuts n bruises and a chipped back bone courtesy of Shilts for the cause puts Smithy straight in. Knackered knees due to cortisone injections pus Bluto there as well ... all the 72 side and Waddo and for me Huddy and Macari
Must agree with that 72 winning side, ONLY major cup win? I think anyone who was there and I was, wouldn't argue Fill in.. No argument really and of course Waddington. Denis Smith abosolute rock solid and bravest defender's I've ever seen. The others... Matthews and Freddie Steele. One, our best ever player and the other STILL our top scorer.
Which fans? The fans who were with us during the dark days or the plastic fans we've had since we got promoted?
