IARTICLE NAME : Delilah @ Wembley

DATE : 06/02/01

PUBLICATION : Waterford Soccer

It may not have been the European Champions League Final, the F.A. Cup Final or the Worthington Cup Final but it was our final the Auto Windscreen Shield final. When you support Stoke City any final these days is a time to celebrate. Having drawn twice this season with Bristol City, this meeting could not end the same way.

The trip across the Irish Sea is always worthwhile as we try to bring the glory days back to the potteries and to our new home The Britannia Stadium. Travelling along the London underground wearing a Stoke jersey is not to common a sight and I saw some people squinting their eyes trying to make out the crest of once the famous Stoke City. It's easy supporting United, Liverpool, Arsenal and the other glamour clubs, I remarked, but supporting Stoke you must be mad? Yeah but I was Wembley bound and I knew that shield was ours.

Telling people of the Icelandic consortium that took over the club in mid season and their joy at being involved in a final at Wembley so soon was a dream for them. 3,000 fans were also making the journey from Iceland for what is the start of bringing glory days back to Stoke City.

The Tube stops at Wembley park station, I walk out and look down Wembley Way, Wow, what a sight, a man beside me grabbed his mobile phone and shouts "F…… brilliant there's thousands of Stokies its all red and white f…… brilliant, you should be here" and proceeded to float in the direction of the stadium.

One hour before kick off, I enter the ground looking for Section 218, Row 14 Seat 24, where I hope to witness a Stoke victory. Stunned I stood their, mouth wide open; Wembley in its glory was a fabulous sight. A schoolboy match was taking place, 6a side in the middle of the pitch, couldn't help thinking the Villa would beat these two handy. Shortly afterwards a Celebrity match kicks off, Chris Evans outstanding in defence for Stoke, notice Mick McCarthy playing for Bristol (at least he wasn't the manager), lose one nil as nick Berry (Heartbeat fame) scores the winner.

Fifteen minutes to kick off as PA announcer plays a song by Tom Jones for the Stoke fans. Delilah started and the roof was lifted as fans sang aloud the Stoke Anthem. 1.20 p.m. the teams enter the stadium, now with a capacity crowd of 76,000 the noise is deafening. The Irish Stokies Graham Kavanagh, James O'Connor and Clive Clarke look confident as they walk out on the perfect pitch as the sun shines overhead. First twenty minutes players look nervous, as the woman next to me says "Irish players not doing very well today" then Kav collects the ball beats two players and rifles a left legged shot into the net and the Stoke end go mental as I smile at the woman. Delilah is started again and seems to last until half time.

The second half saw Bristol come out with all guns blazing, James O'Connor was battling hard in midfield, but at this stage had received a yellow card and had to be a bit cautious. Gunnlugsson, Gudjonsson, Gunnansson and Hansson were now finding out British football was all about. Then the sickening worst feeling in soccer, when the opposition scores and it looks as if your world is about to fall apart. Tension lifts as the man seated below me stands up with arms raised, our end goes silent for all of 5 seconds then our Anthem starts and we sing from our stomachs. A free kick quickly taken (rolling ball NEVER!) Kav squares it across the six yard box, Peter Thorne, 2-1. Eight minutes left and the Shield is on its way to the Britannia. The final whistle blows, Nicky Mohan climbs the famous Wembley Steps to lift the Shield as the Stoke fans cheer their hero's. Celebrations go on as the team completes their lap of honour.

Now talk is of the play offs, another trip down Wembley Way and Stoke promotion to Division One. The journey home seems to only take minutes, telling everyone in the tube stations and airports it's a Stoke jersey we won at Wembley today didn't you hear the Stokies sing "Why Why Why Deliah" the greatest ever football song.