CITY have already landed one trophy in the 21st century - the Auto Windscreens Shield at Wembley in April 2000. Goals from Graham Kavanagh and Peter Thorne beat Bristol City before 75,000 - over half from the Potteries - and maintained a 100 per cent record at the national stadium. That was sweet enough - but nowhere near as sweet as the victory at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in May 2002 in the Second Division play-off final. The 2-0 victory over Brentford clinched a return to Division One after a four-year absence and confirmed the ambition of the club's new Board of Directors, led by chairman Gunnar Gislason, for more success. Defeat to Gillingham in the Second Division play-off semi-finals in May 2000 was a disappointment, as was defeat to Walsall in the play-off semi-finals 12 months later, but 2002 proved third time lucky.

In May 2002 there were further major changes when Steve Cotterill, after significant success at Cheltenham Town and considered one of the best young coaches in the country, succeeded Gudjon Thordarson as manager, only to leave in October 2002 to join Sunderland as assistant manager. He was succeeded by former Gillingham, Bristol City and Portsmouth boss Tony Pulis, who made an immediate impact when he helped the club avoid relegation back to Division Two after a season-long struggle.

Stoke City is proud of all supporters, young and old, who have followed the team down the decades and worked hard in all the right ways to carry the good name of the club across the world.