Celebrating Stoke City Legends
Stoke City Football Club, often referred to as simply Stoke, is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Founded in 1863, Stoke City is the second oldest professional football club in the world and the oldest in the English Football League. The club has a long and proud history of producing some of the finest players to have graced the game, and the current crop of players are looking to keep up this tradition.
Throughout its long and illustrious history, Stoke City has been blessed with some truly remarkable players. From the earliest days of the game to the modern era, Stoke City has seen some of the greatest players to ever play the game. In this article, we take a look at some of the greatest Stoke City legends and celebrate their amazing achievements.
Stanley Matthews
The first Stoke City legend we will look at is Stanley Matthews. Matthews was one of the most renowned footballers of all time, and his legacy lives on. Born in 1915 in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Matthews started his professional career with Stoke City in 1932 and remained with the club until 1947.
During his time at Stoke, Matthews established himself as one of the best players in the country. He was well known for his dribbling skills, which earned him the nickname “The Wizard of Dribble”. He was also an incredibly accurate passer of the ball, which earned him the nickname “The Maestro”.
Matthews was a key part of the Stoke City team that won the Second Division title in 1932-33 and the FA Cup in 1937. He was also a regular for the England national team, earning 54 caps and scoring 11 goals. Matthews was awarded the CBE in 1957 and was knighted in 1965 for his services to football. He was also inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
Gordon Banks
The next Stoke City legend we will look at is Gordon Banks. Banks was born in Sheffield in 1937 and began his football career with Chesterfield in 1955. He joined Stoke City in 1967 and went on to become one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Banks was a key part of the Stoke City team that won the League Cup in 1972 and was named the FWA Footballer of the Year in 1972. He was also an integral part of the England team that won the World Cup in 1966, famously saving a header from Brazil's Pele in the final.
Banks was awarded the OBE in 1970 and was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002. He sadly passed away in February 2019, but his legacy will live on forever.
Alan Hudson
The third Stoke City legend we will look at is Alan Hudson. Hudson was born in London in 1953 and began his football career with Chelsea in 1971. He joined Stoke City in 1974 and quickly established himself as one of the best midfielders in the country.
Hudson was an integral part of the Stoke City team that won the League Cup in 1972, and he was also named the FWA Footballer of the Year in 1972. He was an important part of the England team that reached the World Cup semi-finals in 1982.
Hudson was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and remains one of the most beloved Stoke City legends of all time.
Peter Shilton
The fourth Stoke City legend we will look at is Peter Shilton. Shilton was born in Leicester in 1949 and began his football career with Leicester City in 1966. He joined Stoke City in 1977 and quickly established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Shilton was a key part of the Stoke City team that won the League Cup in 1972 and was named the FWA Footballer of the Year in 1972. He was an integral part of the England team that reached the World Cup semi-finals in 1990.
Shilton was awarded the OBE in 1989 and was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2003. He remains one of the most decorated goalkeepers of all time and one of the most beloved Stoke City legends of all time.
Mark Stein
The fifth and final Stoke City legend we will look at is Mark Stein. Stein was born in London in 1966 and began his football career with Tottenham Hotspur in 1984. He joined Stoke City in 1991 and quickly established himself as one of the best strikers in the country.
Stein was an integral part of the Stoke City team that won the Second Division title in 1992-93 and the Second Division play-off final in 1995-96. He was also named the Second Division Player of the Year in 1992-93.
Stein was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2010 and remains one of the most beloved Stoke City legends of all time.
These are just a few of the many Stoke City legends that have graced the game. From Stanley Matthews to Mark Stein, these players have all had an immense impact on the game and will forever be remembered as some of the greatest players to ever play the game. They are all a testament to the quality of player that Stoke City have produced over the years, and they will forever be remembered as some of the greatest players to ever play the game.