We are acutely aware that many of our former colleagues, both here and abroad, are followers (some could be classed as “fanatical followers”) of UK Football.

This has been quite the season for our football fans, with Liverpool dominating the Premier League, Man United and Spurs both having catastophic seasons but narrowly avoiding relegation, although Spurs pulled one out of the hat to win the UEFA Europa League final against Man United which might just save their Aussie coach’s career for one more season. Man City certainly dropped off the pace in the Premiership and went on to ignominiously lose in the FA Cup Final to Crystal Palace who had never in their history won a major championship.

Earlier in the season Keith Cassidy thought the world might be coming to an end when his beloved "Toffees", Everton were struggling but he must now be over the moon because they’ve steered well clear of relegation and now have a stunning new stadium in which to play.

Among the small goup of fans I keep in touch with, Bob Kinnon is surely delirous over Leeds' automatic promotion back into the Premier league,  while John Headey had a sliver of hope that his Huddersfield team was going to have a great season but his world fell apart  slightly when they lost a few matches but are finishing the season above halfway up League One 

Believe it or not, Iain Morrison and myself, along with our good friends and fellow 'Potters' fans Frankie Foggo, and John “Coco” Eve, all have reason to hold our heads high AGAIN this season as our Stoke City football club have narrowly avoided relegation from the Championship League,  BUT have won a major trophy -  and not for the first time!

So why the reason to celebrate the success of our Potters Club?  Well, Stoke City has just been crowned the English Football League (EFL) Family Excellence Club of the season for 2024-2025 for their “outstanding” matchday experience at the bet365 Stadium.  

This is the 4th year in a row that Stoke City have received a Gold Award for their matchday offerings for families following visits from independent expert assessors to the Club’s home matches. During this past season the Club received the highest ranking of any EFL club.  

“Stoke City is a wonderful family club with an outstanding matchday experience,” the report stated when it named the Potters as best in class across all three divisions. A spokesman said:- 

“I am not exaggerating when I say that our experience was one of the best we have experienced in years of going to football matches as a family.

“There wasn’t a single staff member that we spoke to who wasn’t happy to engage or speak with us.

“I was convinced after the visit that Stoke is a special club with community and families at the core of everything they do.”

The EFL’s Family Excellence Scheme measures the experience clubs provide for attending families through matchday assessors, who cover a range of touchpoints across ticket purchase, matchday activations, accessibility, facilities and communications.

Several areas of the Club’s matchday operation were highlighted for praise within the reports, including:

• The welcoming, friendly and proactive nature of knowledgeable Club staff, especially stewards, red coat matchday staff and those in the ticket office, club shop and concourse.
• Pre-match communication of the activities and facilities available at the bet365 Stadium, including the Club’s first-time fan guide on the official website.
• A personal first-time fan experience described as ‘above and beyond’ as young Stokies at their first game receive pitch side access, a signed letter and notepad to commemorate their special day.
• A plethora of kids’ activities in the Club’s well decorated family areas.
• Pottermus and Pottermiss, the Club’s mascots, who engage with junior supporters throughout the matchday.
• A wide range of hot food and drink options around the stadium, which are detailed in advance via the club website.
• The variety of items available to junior supporters in the Club Store, including personalised souvenirs.
• Post-match club surveys and phone calls, which show the club genuinely wants to create a great fan experience.

We contacted our own Potters expert fan, “Coco” Eve who added, "I am not surprised with the awards given to Stoke City, if only they could achieve some on the pitch.  This started many years ago due to one of the greatest players I had the fortune to see on many occasions, Lou Macari. Lou following both playing and management careers, settled in Stoke and formed an association to help down and outs which he still does to this day. 

"However he never achieved a knighthood which amazes me. The only reason I can think of is that he declined." 

I did ask Coco if he happened to have a photo of himself in Potter regalia, and his reply was disappointing to say the least.

He wrote,  "The sports shirts I have are of my favourite New York Yankees who I saw on a number of occasions with David Woodcock and also two games at West Ham’s ground. Also my favourite American football team, the Minnesota Vikings who I first saw on TV in the hotel at the Grand Canyon in 1968 and also live at Twickenham, but they have yet to win a Super Bowl, having lost in five finals."    There’s no accounting for taste!

 Frankie Foggo - a true Potters fan

But closer to home here in Bermuda,  Frankie Foggo, who might possibly have been brainwashed by Iain Morrison into becoming a Potters fan,  is always willing to show his Stoke City colours.

And as for myself I realized many, many years ago that Stoke City were never going to reach the heights of the legendary Premiership clubs, so with the help of my wife I found a way of flying Stoke City colours  high and dry in the best way Bermudians know how, by soaring my traditional Bermuda kite far higher than the bet265 stadium on Bermuda’s annual kite flying day -  Easter Sunday. 

EDITORS NOTE -  We’d be delighted to hear from our friends and colleagues wherever you are, about your favourite football teams, and that even includes Ernie McCreight’s Rangers and Charlie Mooney's Celtic. And how about sending us a photo of yourself in your club's colours?

Published 24th May 2025

29th May 2025

The Remarkable Rise of Wrexham AFC

Just days after publishing the above article we’ve received the following comment from our former colleague Vaughan Williams about the fact that we failed to mention the remarkable achievements of his own football club which happens to be Wrexham AFC.

“I saw references to football teams supported by members. However, my team (since about 45 years before the recent Hollywood takeover, I hasten to add), Wrexham, hadn't had a mention. Normally, I would understand but given that they recently achieved their third consecutive promotion (i.e., back-to-back-to-back), something that no other league club has managed, I was a little surprised but I've got broad shoulders. Perhaps it's because they're not in the Premier League (yet)?”

To be honest I’d never even heard of Wrexham AFC  so I did a quick check on Vaughan’s claims about  it’s “Hollywood takeover” and it’s remarkable progress in rising from non-league football to the Championship.. The "Hollywood takeover" was by the Hollywood duo of Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynalds  (must admit I’d also never heard of either  of them! Nor did I realize that Wrexham is in Wales!)  But sure enough Wrexham AFC has moved up 3 leagues from the National League to the Championshop League in just 3 seasons under their ownership  -   a phenominal achievement by any measure!  CLICK HERE to read all about Vaughan’s Wrexham AFC and their rise rapid rise through the ranks of the EFL.

Many thanks for pointing this out Vaughan. Look forward to following the progress of Wrexham AFC next season.