Stoke City

Around and about Stoke

1. Is there anything unusual about Stoke-on-Trent?
Stoke isn’t really a city at all, but a conurbation of six towns that are very close together (including one called Stoke, and another called Hanley). But Stoke isn’t even the centre, or the main shopping area – that’s Hanley.

2. So why is it called Stoke-on Trent, not Hanley-on-Trent?
The name Stoke was chosen in 1910 mainly because that’s where the train station is, and also because Stoke is older than the other towns.

3. Where in the UK is Stoke?
Stoke-on-Trent is situated almost equidistant to all the major cities in the North/Midlands of the UK (Manchester, Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham, Liverpool, Sheffield). Each of those six cities is approximately 75 kilometres away.

4. What is Stoke famous for?
Stoke and the other towns have always been famous for making china. In fact, the area is also known as ‘The Potteries’.

5. Why are Stoke City nicknamed ‘The Potters’?
As many Stoke people were employed making china in the potteries, the team became known as the potters. This was the job of many of the players.

6. Who are big names in football in the area?
Two names spring to mind: Sir Stanley Matthews, who played for Stoke City in a career spanning from the 1930s to the 1960s is a football legend. Robbie Earle, TV presenter, played for Stoke City as well as local rivals Port Vale in the 80s and 90s. He also represented Jamaica at international level.

Click here for a vocabulary activity

What do you remember about Stoke?

Read the statements about Stoke and decide if they are true or false.

Exercise

Does anyone else famous come from Stoke? Search the web to find the answer.
One of the UK’s top pop stars is from Stoke. But is it

• Paul McCartney
• Duffy
• Robbie Williams
• Amy Winehouse

Find out more about Stoke-on-Trent from Visit Britain's Stoke-on-Trent destination guide.