Peter Kent-Baguley

Premiership Potters

To secure their promotion to the Premiership, Stoke City had to achieve at least a draw in their match yesterday. This they have done with a goaless draw, against Leicester City, a result which confirmed Leicester's relegation. So, for the first time for 23 years Stoke City is back in the top league of British football. It certainly seems a long time since I was at Stoke City's old Victoria ground with my eldest son who supported Arsenal. Now, once again top flight football teams will be playing in Stoke-on-Trent on City's new ground at the Britannia stadium where they secured promotion yesterday. Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, the whole roll-call of Premiership teams will be playing here next season. The home of the legendry Sir Stanley Matthews and the all-time great goalie Gordon Banks will once again play host to today's top ranking players. Thousands of extra supporters will be coming to the City, businesses will enjoy tremendous boosts to their trade (a pub in Stoke that normally takes £400 on a Sunday took £8,000 yesterday) and the City itself will gain a wider, national, even international profile. It's just the tonic the City needed. Congratulations Potters; enjoy your triumphal open top coach tour tomorrow evening around the southern and central parts of the City and the subsequent Civic Reception.