As the "Brit-10-Years" project continues, we take a look back at Chic Bates' manager's notes for first ever game at the Britannia Stadium.

From The Top (versus Rochdale)

Welcome to the Britannia Stadium for tonight's Coca-Cola Cup tie against Rochdale. It is a pleasure for me to say that and an honour to be the manager of Stoke City on such an historic occasion.

Although there will be further celebrations on Saturday when our fabulous new stadium is officially opened before the first home League game against Swindon, there is still a special magic about this evening's game.

The Britannia Stadium is a magnificent setting in which to play our football. I'm sure it will inspire our players during the forthcoming season and for years beyond that.

It is an absolute credit to the two years hard work by the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Jez Moxey, their partners in the development Stoke-on-Trent City Council and St Modwen, the technicians, designers, builders - in fact everyone who was worked on the project to make it possible.

Because of their efforts Stoke City can now rightly and proudly claim to have one of the finest and up-to-date football arenas in the country.

When I applied for the manager's job four months ago the new ground was very much on my mind. I realised the club were on the threshold of a new era and I wanted to be part of it.

I was delighted when the club subsequently offered me the job and had no hesitation in accepting. I believe Stoke City can be successful and we are laying the foundations of that success.

We were quite active in the transfer market during the summer and I have brought in a number of players in order to increase the size of our squad and give more competition for places.

We had a tough start to the season with four successive away games. I felt the players did a thoroughly professional job on the first leg of our Coca-Cola Cup tie at Rochdale by winning 3-1. That result has put us in a great position to progress tonight and I expect our players to finish the job.

Finally, I would like to welcome the players, directors, officials and supporters from Rochdale here tonight as our visitors on this auspicious occasion, with particularly warm welcome to our "old boy" Mark Bailey.

Chic Bates