It is January 1983 and Stoke have reached the 4th round of the FA Cup for the first time in 4 or 5 years - in fact since that other 4th round defeat we dare not mention..... (Sgt will be able to correct my stats) I have just turned 18 and have been allowed by my strict parents to go on one of the official coaches going to Anfield. It will be my first time at Anfield and I am so excited. The atmosphere was fab both on the coach, being escorted across Stanley Park by the police and in the ground. The game was ****e. Here's how we played..... Richie Barker decided to play it tight. So tight we parked the bus across the pitch We only had one attacking option and that was from a dead ball set piece (remember the flick on near post corner loved by Big Bren?) Our midfield never touched the ball as Richie was a big fan of the long/direct ball (a la Charlie Hughes at the FA) At the end of the game Big Georgie Berry came across to the fans and shrugged as if to say sorry but that is how we were told to play That style of football worked for Richie Barker from 1981 to his departure in Dec 1983 as Stoke survived back in the 1st Divison against many expectations (especialy after Alan D left). But other clubs found the answers to unlock it. Bill Asprey just kept them up that season (83/84) but they went down the next. Seem familiar? Richie's first season was 81/82 and Stoke went down in 84/85 Wigwam's first Prem season was 08/09................
