The YYY-Files • Stoke City Stories

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss Peter Coates' polarising two spells of ownership of Stoke City. From a disappointing first spell as Chairman, to being driven out by his own supporters, to coming back and more than redeeming himself. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the social medi...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss Neil "Nello" Baldwin: a famous Stoke City supporter and former kitman, hired by Lou Macari. From raising team morale with a chicken costume, to locking a reporter in a cupboard, to becoming Supporter of the Year. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss Alan Hudson: a masterful Stoke midfielder whose first impression lived long in the memory. From a sensational move from Chelsea, to linking up with Jimmy Greenhoff, to funding the Butler Street Stand repair. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the soci...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss Frank Soo: a pioneering former Stoke City player of both English and Chinese heritage. From becoming the first player of a Chinese background in the EFL, to becoming a technical half-back, to being the first of ethnic minority background to play for England. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 C...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss Stoke City's two English Football League Trophy crownings, bookending a turbulent decade. From the first Trophy won by Stein, to the madness of the 90's, to beginning the Icelandic era with silverware. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the social med...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss Stoke City's three ventures into European competition. From two underwhelming exits in the 70's, to an impressive run thirty years later, to a memorable night at the Mestalla. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the social media @theyyyfiles or email t...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss the 1946/47 season, where Stoke came within one game of winning the First Division title. From forming an excellent squad following WWII, to Sir Stan's transfer saga, to Stoke falling at the final hurdle. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the social...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss Stoke 0-8 Liverpool, where even the scoreboard couldn't keep count! From a hope for a giant-killing in our new home, to a spanking against a rotated opposition, to how Stoke got their own back fifteen years later. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow th...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss the Britannia Stadium: which has been Stoke City's home for almost 25 years. From being nudged out of the Victoria Ground, to traffic issues from the very start, to becoming an infamous place to visit. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the social med...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss the collapse of the Butler Street Stand, and the devastating consequences thereof. From the shock following the event, to the dismantling of Stoke's best ever team, to capitulation from there on in. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the social media...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss Stoke City's League Cup triumph in 1972: the Club's only major honour. From an extended and demanding run-in, to facing a giant in the Final, to the significance of this victory and its timing. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the social media @they...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss Freddie Steele: arguably the greatest striker to have played for Stoke City. From developing into a goalscoring machine, to suffering wartime disruption, to unusual injury recovery techniques. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the social media @theyy...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss Gordon Banks: Stoke City legend and one of the greatest to have played the game. From arriving with a high reputation, to a wonder save against West Ham, to becoming one of the Club's greatest ambassadors. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the social...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss Stoke's dismal spell on and off the pitch during the late 1990's. From getting relegated to the third tier, to being cursed with debt from a new stadium, to the managerial roundabout. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the social media @theyyyfiles or...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss Liam Lawrence's memorable goal and celebration against Coventry in 2008. From how important Liam was, to how important his goal was, to how important it is to have people like him at Stoke City. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the social media @the...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss Mark Stein, Stoke's iconic striker in the 90's. From joining from Oxford's reserves, to playing his part in grand occasions, to becoming a long-standing fan's favourite. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the social media @theyyyfiles or email theyyyf...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss Sir Stanley Matthews: Stoke City's (and possibly the world's) greatest ever footballer. From a pioneering career, to a stat-studded testimonial, to being the ultimate ambassador for the Club. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the social media @theyyy...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss Chris Kamara's fourteen game stint as manager of Stoke City. From being a successful former player, to being dealt a bad hand initially, to winning just once during his reign. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the social media @theyyyfiles or email t...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss the "South Stand Jinx". From how it came about, to how twelve teams tried (and failed) to beat it, and how Stoke City came to triumph in the face of adversity. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the social media @theyyyfiles or email theyyyfiles@mail....

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss Rory Delap's long throw-ins. From finding the talent by accident, to how opposition players dealt with the threat, to recognising how crucial Rory has been for Stoke City. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the social media @theyyyfiles or email theyy...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss Stoke City 0-0 Leicester City: the day Stoke City were promoted to the Premier League for the first time. From an emotionally strained game, to the explosion of fans at full time, to how this game set Stoke up for a memorable decade. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyy...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss Stoke City 5-0 Bolton Wanderers: our perfect FA Cup Semi Final in 2001. From the tricky run-in, to taking it all in on Wembley Way, to how this game epitomised Tony Pulis' Stoke. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the social media @theyyyfiles or emai...

Ben and Martyn Cooke discuss John Ritchie: Stoke's all time top-goalscorer. From being signed by Tony Waddington, to scoring in a controversial Semi Final, to receiving an unusual perk at the social club. Please donate, if you can, to the Advent Calendar fundraiser for the Donna Louise by visiting https://bit.ly/yyyac2021 Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the social media @theyyyfiles or...

This is MYYYLLIONAIRE: a Stoke City quiz for Stoke City fans. Next to play is Dan Buxton: all round Stoke stats fanatic and co-host of the Every Step Along The Way podcast. Will his years of preparation help to make him a MYYLLIONAIRE? You can see the MYYYLLIONAIRE leaderboard, and take part yourself, by heading to theyyyfiles.com/getinvolved. Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow the social...

File 49 belongs to Michael Stockley. In the B-Side, he discusses both the constructive and destructive sides of social media, his hopes following Stoke's great start to the season and admitting to a big omission from his FILES FC. Find Michael's podcast, Every Step Along The Way, by heading to anchor.fm/esatw or searching for it in your podcast player. Create your file at theyyyfiles.com, follow t...