Since we don't have a team to root for this season, we can at least follow and learn about our sister club over in merry old England. Some of you like myself may follow the Premier League but not know too much about the Championship or lower divisions. Most of you already know that the owner of the Aztex, Phil Rawlins, is also one of the owners of SCFC. The parternship between the clubs as stated by the articles I've read on it include the chance for local players to be scouted by the England club, a SCFC training camp that will be held in Austin, and several other beneficial aspects to being partnered with a major club in the Championship. Stoke City currently sits 4th in the Championship League table and are still in strong contention for a playoff spot (3rd-6th place team) if not outright promotion (1st-3rd). A promotion into the Premier League would amount to a huge pay day and surely would be beneficial to the ambitions of the Aztex. Official Club Page http://www.stokecityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Home/ Aztex Page on Stoke Site http://www.stokecityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/AustinAztexindex/0,,10310,00.html Some facts about Stoke City FC: - The club is based in Stoke-on-Trent, England, halfway between Birmingham and Manchester in the West Midlands. - The club's nickname is "The Potters". (Recognition of Pottery industry in the city, apparently) - Home ground is Britannia Stadium, a 28,000 seater opened in 1997. - SCFC is the second oldest Football League club in the world.(1863) - Club was last in top flight during the 84-85 season Key Players Ricardo Fuller (Jamaica)- Forward - 28 league appearences, 14 goals Ryan Shawcross - Centerback - Bought from Manchester United - 30 appearences, 6 goals Liam Lawerence - Midfielder - 29 league appearences, 9 goals Steve Simonsen - Goalkeeper - 30 appearences Good recent article about the team "Potters of Gold".http://www.skysports.com/experts/expert_story/0,19793,12086_3114345,00.html Excellent page from local paper dedicated to club http://www.whydelilah.co.uk/ Wikipedia article on Stoke City FC (certified 100% accurate by Wikipedia ) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoke_City_F.C. Schedule with Results from SkySports http://www.skysports.com/calendar/club/0,19944,11701_100_1,00.html I couldn't find a thread in the BS Championship forum dedicated to Stoke City. Hopefully some fans from across the pond will find us and correct this poorly researched testament to the team. The fact that the teams are actual business partners is a pretty cool concept. The Aztex future is definetely linked with that of the parent/sister club. Rawlins is quoted as saying that upon promotion to the Premier League, "Our television revenue alone would go from $2 million a year to $150 million. It's a huge step up." That has to be beneficial to the Aztex. Hopefully some others with perspective will have something to add to the thread. If nothing else I'll post results from Stoke City matches.
Looks like I have this thread to myself. Facts about Austin on Stoke Aztex page. http://www.stokecityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/AustinAztex/0,,10310~1222131,00.html - Austin has a humid subtropical climate, characterized by hot summers and mild winters. (so that explains the perpetual swamp@$$.) - Snowfall is rare in Austin, but once every year or two Austin is hit with an ice storm that freezes roads over and shuts down much of the city for around a day. (Ice Storm 07 is still too painful to talk about.) - Other popular sports in Texas include golf, fishing and lacrosse. (lacrosse ) - Nationally known Austinites include country and western star Willie Nelson, world class athlete Lance Armstrong, actor Matthew McConaughey, actress Sandra Bullock and former World Wrestling Entertainment champion Stone Cold Steve Austin. (Is it not enough we have to see that shirtless bum on the sideline of every Longhorn game? I'm pretty sure Stone Cold Steve Austin is just a stage name. ) - Houston Dynamo won the Major League Soccer Cup in 2006 & 2007.(whoa hey, they totally wrote this. not me.)
I'm with you, Rooneys, GO POTTERS! I've been following their movement (or lack thereof) in the Championship table on my blog. For instance, Saturday's results. I hadn't paid any attention to Championship soccer before, so I've been having fun. It's opened up a whole new league for me in FIFA '08 on our Wii, too. By the way, I'm not sure why, but the Championship teams are all playing tonight, too. Stoke City takes on Southampton at 7:45 PM. I think they're 6 hours ahead of us here in Austin, so that would be 1:45 PM here... Go Potters! Also, go Leicester! go Sheff United! & go Scunthorpe! (the teams playing Watford, West Brom & Bristol City, respectively)
Slight correction/clarification of your typo; only 1st and 2nd get straight promotion spots. You are correct about 3rd through 6th going to a playoff for the last promotion spot.
I know you did, but wanted to make sure others weren't confused. Before this Aztex/Stoke City business, I had thought the top 3 spots were guaranteed promotion. It must suck to work hard all season long and secure 3rd place and then potentially lose out to some 6th place team having a good couple of games.
Yes - big game for Stoke tonight. Promotion really wasn't on the cards at the start of the season. But 1 loss in the last 15 means everyone's getting ridiculously optimistic that we could be back in the top league after 23 years Stoke forum - http://oatcakefanzine.proboards27.com/index.cgi?board=Potters
Nothing ridiculous about it matey.......the boys are on the march and with 3 home games on the trot tonight is the start of our return to the big time
I can't believe BBC Stoke radio is blacked out. ****ing christ that's taking broadcast rights a bit far isn't it? Anyway, you can follow the score on Livescore.com and find the match report here later: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7236348.stm
Looks like it's finished: Stoke 3-2 Southampton L Powell o.g. 27 John 45 Shawcross 35 John 54 Sidibe 44 Oh, wait, I guess it's not finished yet. Go Potters!
According to the "Live Table" I am looking at that, they would now be in 2nd place behind Watford? Would be a big win.
Checking the right side of this page, looks like the Potters are in 3rd. Damn you, Scunthorp, for giving up a goal in the 83rd minute! And thanks to Sheff Utd!
Report on Tuesday's game vs. Southampton 2/12/08 Stoke City 3 (Davies og 27, Shawcross 35, Sidibe 44) Southampton 2 (John 46, 54) http://www.whydelilah.co.uk/matchreports/Stoke-City-3,-Southampton-2.aspx Current Table: (all teams having played 32 games) 1. Watford 58 pts 2. Bristol City 57 pts 3. Stoke City 56 pts 4. West Brom 55 pts 5. Charlton 51 pts Next Match: Home vs. Scunthorpe (7-15-10 24th place aka last) 7:45 (1:45 CST)
Stoke City World Matchlive console is the way you listen to BBC Radio Stoke live match commentary. There are also a couple of free streaming sites that do it but I pay GBP40 for the season and never miss a game, the money goes to the Club so its worth it for me
The Potters are looking good for tomorrow's match. According to Ladbrokes, they're 8/15 to win, while Scunthorpe are 9/2. More odds
LISTEN TO THE GAMES LIVE HERE FOR **FREE** Another Stoke forum, very friendly say stokered84 got you on there. Cheers lads n gals http://www.delilahs.co.uk/forum/
Gamecast: Stoke vs Scunthorpe http://soccernet.espn.go.com/gamecast?id=236668&cc=5901 [R] [result]Dammit! Stoke down 2-nil to the Irons in the 1st half.[/result]
Fulltime: [R][result] Stoke City 3 Scunthorpe 2. Still up in the table. Came back in the 2nd half with 3 goals. Massive result.[/result]
In the latest Guardian podcast. i heard Barry Glendenning refer to Stoke FC game as scrapy thugs who like to play the long ball, much like Bolton and Watford. I was curious if anyone has seen Stoke FC play. I'm still excited about the prospect of Stoke making the Prem. and then I can make my own judgement.