Stoke City Vs Portsmouth

Matchday 77 marked the second EFL Championship fixture in as many days, as we made another short journey up the M5 to Stoke City. Like the previous day, we had to negotiate some traffic, but fortunately, the journey took just over an hour without any major delays.

Prior to the game, I did some research and found parking at Longton Rugby Club. Although it required a 20-minute walk to the stadium, with dry weather and a fee of just £5 (compared to higher rates elsewhere), it was a great option. There was a noticeable police presence, with roads around the stadium being closed, so we were lucky to arrive at 18:15. This gave us ample time to explore the surroundings. We headed to the club shop before grabbing some food. Liam opted for cheesy chips, and I went for a hot dog from a nearby burger van.

After eating, we decided to visit the Stanley Matthews Memorial Garden and statue. Directions were unclear, but a helpful parking attendant guided us in the right direction. We took a few photos before heading back to the stadium and entering through the turnstiles to find our seats. Our view was directly behind the goal, which was unusual for us. It did cause some obstruction for Liam, but overall, the seats were decent.

Shortly after settling in, two friendly members of Stoke City’s staff approached us. I had contacted the club prior to our visit, and they kindly provided us with Stoke City lanyards and escorted us to the pitch for a brief tour and photo opportunity. Both staff members were incredibly welcoming and seemed genuinely interested in our 92-ground challenge. After the tour, we returned to our seats in time for a spectacular light show, which was truly impressive.

While the stadium wasn’t as full as we had expected, the atmosphere was lively. The first half of the match was action-packed, with four goals scored—Stoke City leading 3-1 at halftime. Unfortunately, I missed their stoppage-time goal as I tried to beat the long queue for the toilets!

The second half continued with high energy, including a penalty just three minutes in, followed by two more goals within five minutes. Portsmouth struggled throughout, allowing Stoke City to secure a commanding 6-1 victory.

After the match, we took the 20-minute walk back to the car. Due to road closures, we had to take a different route to the motorway. Everything was going smoothly until we hit standstill traffic between junctions 11 and 12, likely caused by an accident. After about 25 minutes of being stationary, we were back on the move and arrived home around 23:00, which wasn’t too bad considering the earlier delay.

With Stoke City now ticked off the list, our next adventure will take us to the far South West, visiting Plymouth Argyle for Matchday 78. Stay tuned!

Five Facts About Stoke City FC:

1. Founding Members of the Football League: Stoke City FC is one of the 12 founding members of the Football League, established in 1888.
2. Stoke City’s Nickname – The Potters: The club’s nickname, “The Potters,” reflects the region’s historical connection to the pottery industry.
3. Longest Serving Top-Flight Club: Stoke City holds the record for the longest consecutive run in the top tier of English football from 2008 until their relegation in 2018.
4. Famous Player – Sir Stanley Matthews: Sir Stanley Matthews, one of football’s greatest players, spent most of his career at Stoke. The Stanley Matthews statue and garden pay tribute to his legacy.
5. Record Attendance: The club’s all-time record attendance at the Bet365 Stadium (formerly the Britannia) is 30,022, set during a 2002 FA Cup tie against Everton.