The first was possibly the most dramatic and came in season 1921-22. Stoke returned to the top flight thanks to a last day 3-0 victory over Bristol City at the Victoria Ground. The victory came thanks to 2 from Arty Watkin and a strike from Fred Groves, and was the first in 6 games as Stoke went up in second place on goal average over Barnsley, who had already played their game by the time Stoke kicked off.
The next promotion seen by the Potters came 5 years later in 1926-27 after only one season in Division 3 North as Stoke returned to Division 2 as Champions. This time a Johnny Eyres goal sealed a 1-0 victory over Accrington, again at home, and sent the club up with 2 matches left.
Top flight football next arrived after the 2nd division championship in 1932-33. Again the Vic was the scene of the conclusive act as Stoke trounced LIncoln 5-2 (Sale 2, Ware, Liddle, Palethorpe) to put them in a position much like WBA now as their goal average was vastly superior. It was of no concern though as despite losing their next (and penultimate match) other results confirmed the inevitable.
Tony Waddington masterminded Stoke's return to the elite 30 years later, and again the title came to Stoke with a 2-0 home win over Luton, thanks to goals from Jackie Mudie and Stanley Matthews (who had also played in the promotion season 30 years earlier!).
The next promotion attained was in 1979 and this was different from the others in many ways. The vital game was at Meadow Lane, the first time Stoke had been promoted away from home and the last time Stoke attained top flight status. It was also the most dramatic of promotions as a win would guarantee promotion, but anything less would be no good due to Sunderlands superior goal difference (sound familiar?). Notts County held on until Paul Richardson scored in the 88th minute to send Stoke up in 3rd place.
1993 saw Stoke's "every-30-years-we-win-a-title" sequence continue as Lou Macari's men beat Plymouth 1-0 at the Vic thanks to an early Nigel Gleghorn strike. This was the last time we finished in a "proper" promotion place and is still the last championship winning team.
The most recent climb through divisions came as Gudjon Thordarson's final act as manager in beating Brentford 2-0 at the Millenium Stadium in 2002. In truth the real work had been done in the semi-finals against Cardiff as Stoke finally laid to rest their play-off jinx, but goals for Deon Burton and a Burgess own goal capped a great day out.
And so to Sunday. It is 6 years since the last promotion, 15 years since the last title/home promotion, 29 years since the last top flight promotion/last day promotion, and 86 years since the last promotion to the top flight at home on the last day. Surely these great dramatic days need a new companion in the future histories of the club. It is time.
It is time for new heroes names to be written. Will it be the obvious ones as with Stanley Matthews and Tommy Sale? Or the more obscure as with Paul Richardson and Deon Burton? Who knows and frankly anybody will do. Just do it!!
GO ON STOKE!!!