Stoke City FC, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest professional football clubs in the world and a cornerstone of British football culture. Based in Stoke-on-Trent, the club has a rich history marked by resilience and passionate local support. Stoke City has been a significant presence in both the top tiers of English football, including memorable stints in the Premier League, and in various cup competitions. Their loyal fan base and the club’s identity are deeply intertwined with the local community, making Stoke City an emblematic figure in the cultural make-up of British football.
Delilah – Stoke Lads 1990-92 is a photographic series by photographer Tony Davis that focuses on the supporters of Stoke City Football Club during matches at the historic Victoria Ground in the early 1990s. The limited edition A5 photo zine contains 40 black and white photographs across 40 pages, and a anecdotal information by celebrated photographer and lifelong Stoke City fan Tom Oxley.
Delilah – Stoke Lads 1990-92 | Tony Davis
Delilah – Stoke Lads 1990-92 is a photographic series that focuses on the supporters of Stoke City Football Club at the Victoria Ground in the early 1990s.
A limited edition A5 zine containing 40 black and white photographs across 40 pages.
It was the 90s, and Stoke City’s fans were revelling in the electric atmosphere only derby days generate.
Photographer Tony Davis was right there in the thick of things at the Victoria Ground, first for the visit of Birmingham City in September 1990, and then the Potteries local showdown with Port Vale in October 1992.
Davis remembers the tension before the games, the feeling that different rivalries would “kick off” at any time. Second and Third Division football, he says, away from the multi millions of the Premier League.
“Proper football; proper fans. You had standing terraces in parts and could turn up at five to three and pay on the gate. Stoke is a proper lads team. The fans had a reputation to protect and they were right up there with other notorious groups of supporters.” Tony Davis
“A match day at The Vic was on another level. The close proximity to the town meant people were able to keep drinking right until kick off. The new ground is so far out of the way, without the infrastructure. Now you have to plan the time getting there, and crucially, the buzz fades. It’s such a shame that all the new grounds lack the old intimacy. I know they’re safer and ‘progress’ etc… but give me the old ground over the new any day of the week.”Tom Oxley
Stoke City v Birmingham City, September 1990
Stoke City v Port Vale, October 1992
The Potteries Derby and other Stoke Rivalries…
The Potteries derby is a fiercely contested football match between Stoke City and Port Vale, the two primary football clubs in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. This local rivalry, rooted in geographic proximity and community pride, has been a highlight for fans of both clubs since their first meeting in the 1880s. The matches are often intense, filled with passionate displays from both players and supporters. Beyond Port Vale, Stoke City has developed significant rivalries with other clubs over the years. One notable adversary has been Wolverhampton Wanderers, due to historical clashes and competitive encounters, especially in the mid-20th century. Another notable rivalry is with Derby County, stemming from numerous tightly contested matches and regional competitiveness in the Midlands.
Who were Stoke City’s Naughty Forty and where did the name come from?
The Naughty Forty was a notorious football firm associated with Stoke City FC, emerging prominently during the late 1970s and continuing their activities through the 1980s and 1990s. Known for their violent confrontations and hooliganism, the Naughty Forty became infamous within the English football casuals scene. Comprised mainly of young, working-class men, they engaged in organised fights with rival firms, both at home and away matches. Their name derives from the group’s initial membership count of around forty individuals. The firm was part of a broader culture of football hooliganism that existed around English football during this era, and their activities contributed to the wider societal concerns and subsequent crackdown on football violence.
From the Victoria Ground, to the Britannia….
The Victoria Ground was the historic home of Stoke City FC, situated in Stoke-on-Trent. It was opened in 1878, serving as the club’s home for 119 years. The ground underwent various renovations and expansions, with its capacity peaking at around 56,000 spectators in the mid-20th century, though safety regulations later reduced this number. The stadium witnessed countless memorable matches and moments in the club’s history. In 1997, Stoke City moved to the newly built Britannia Stadium, now known as the Bet365 Stadium, marking the end of an era at Victoria Ground. The move to the Britannia Stadium, with a modern capacity of approximately 30,000, was part of a broader trend of football clubs upgrading to more modern, all-seater facilities to meet contemporary standards and enhance the matchday experience.
Over the years Davis has compiled a deep archive of pictures that capture British football culture in the 80s, 90s, and 00s as well has being well known for his rave photography, his work with the British Culture Archive and Café Royal Books.
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