Can you remember when you first took me down to a Stoke match? I cant, but i remember you passing me over the turnstiles to me Grandad( because you had to go work ), me Grandad was a steward & he walked me upstairs into the gym.There i played nonchalontly with Greenhoffs twins, there were other kids there but i do not remember there names. Then the players came in & we were abandoned to the players wives balcony, whilst the stoke players went through their training regime. After the the game began & me & the other kids sat there in awe watching the game, looking across a packed out Boothen end just eyes wide, wondering just what is football about. Well eventually a few years later i found out what it was all about, i'm a Stokie born & bred, & Stoke would allways be in my blood, my life. Dad, after relegation from the old Div 1, it did not hinder your appetite to follow Stoke City, we eventually found ourselves in the old Div 3, but we still went to games.( afterall you did say we are Stoke & will follow them whatever ) So after 20 Plus years in the wilderness, we finally made it too the promised land, dad, what would you say now to people on forums like this, that do not appreciate where we are? Dad, what would you say about us signing an England international, but people say he is ****? I know what you would say dad, you would moan about summat as well, but i know you would tell everyone enjoy it people, cause life is a lot harder in the 3rd division. Unfortunately people my dad died 2 months before we hit the promised land, that was my 1 hope that he would finally see us reach the heights when he first started taking me to Stoke. Enjoy our life in the Prem, because you never know what is around the corner. Huth
Excellent piece and pretty apt right now Huth. I lost my Dad back in 1978 and HOW I wish he could sit along side me at the Britannia Stadium. He would have been so, so proud of where the club is today. Last game I think he was with me was 73 v Liverpool at the victoria Ground. God bless em one and all.