http://www.stokecityfc.com/news/article/potters-announce-retained-list-856356.aspx? STOKE CITY have announced the Club's retained list following the completion of the 2012-13 Barclays Premier League season. Long serving stalwarts Rory Delap and Mamady Sidibe head up a list of players released from the Club with Dean Whitehead, Matthew Upson, Jermaine Pennant, Carlo Nash and Matthew Lund also leaving the Britannia Stadium after their contracts came to an end. Delap and Sidibe both played major parts in the Potters' promotion to the Premier League in 2008 and the subsequent successful battles against relegation, before seeing their first team opportunities become increasingly limited following an influx of new arrivals. 36-year-old Delap was initially signed on loan from Sunderland in 2006 before making the move permanent despite sustaining a broken leg against his parent team in his home debut. He went on to make a full recovery to clock up 208 appearances and 8 goals for City, including starts in the FA Cup Semi-Final and Final as well as both Round of 32 games against Valencia. His long throws helped to propel the Club into national and global sporting headlines and his unique ability helped Stoke to memorable wins over the likes of Aston Villa, Arsenal and Manchester City. Sidibe was snapped up on a free transfer from Gillingham in the summer of 2005 and went on to form a great strike partnership with Ricardo Fuller for a number of years. Several serious injuries hampered his hopes of featuring more recently but his name will be revered by supporters for some crucial goals, including the memorable last minute winner from Delap's throw against Aston Villa in August 2008. Overall, Mama made 186 appearances and scored 26 goals. The Club would like to thank all the players for their contribution during their time with us and wish them all the very best for the future. Meanwhile, the Club can confirm Dave Kemp, Mark OâConnor, Adrian Pennock, Paul Maxwell, Dave Kevan and Gerry Francis have left their roles on the coaching staff. Good luck to all of them. Special thanks to Rory and Mama. They got us where we are today. Deano was symptomatic of our work rate, attitude and never say die attitude that turned us into a solid mid table team.
Good luck to you one and all... Especially Rory Delap I met him once and he's a great guy and thanks for the memories.. those long throws during our first season we're just brilliant. And I will never forget that Mama winner vs Villa our 1st ever victory in the Premier League. I think?
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/story-19225018-detail/story.html?#axzz2VbW0M8zG THERE have been many moments to make Stoke City supporters proud over the last few years; promotion, the club's first ever FA Cup final and the first European campaign since the 1970s. One that's hard to beat though is the moment in October 2006 when Tony Pulis and Peter Coates told on-loan signing Rory Delap to put his mind at ease because they would sign him on a permanent deal from Sunderland even though he had just broken his leg. It was a moment of class by Stoke which has been repaid ten-fold by one of the best professionals ever to pull on the red and white shirt. The 36-year-old's departure from Stoke after seven years and 208 games was an open secret, but was confirmed this week when City released their retained list. Delap became synonymous with the long-throws which allowed Stoke to inflict a set-piece battering on teams like Arsenal and once reduced Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes to tears. But there is far more to Delap, pictured, than long throws. He is a good player respected by team-mates, and respected by the media for never ducking an interview, whether City had just won or lost. Most of all he is respected by the Donna Louise Trust for whom Delap is a fantastic ambassador. If next season's squad play with half the pride in the shirt and their performance that Delap did, then new manager Mark Hughes will have no problems.
