Det kom ett brev från en Stoke supporter
Det kom ett brev från en Stoke supporter till supporter sajten onevalefan. Där skriver han om det som förenar oss alla fotbollssupportrar oavsett klubbtillhörighet nämligen kärleken till fotbollen och våra klubbar och hur det förenar oss alla. Vi väljer att publicera hela hans inlägg.
Many heartful thanks
I've always thought Stoke fans of a certain generation/vintage feel differently than the younger element of our support. There's always been an undercurrent of respect, understanding and a doff of the cap to those who follow a team that has chosen them, and not the other way around.
I'm 44, my dad was 72. Despite the banter, cheap digs and, especially in the fanzine I edited, numerous jibes at those in black and white, it was always done with standards. Those standards are simply to pay due respect to anyone who follows their club. There was never anything malicious - we speak the same, we breathe the same Potteries air, we work together, we drink together, we sometimes even marry into the 'enemy'.
Stoke City have always been my club, my dad's club.
But as someone of a certain age, and with Vale supporting mates, I spent many hours as a kid watching Vale on Monday nights. It was another game to go to. You were never the 'enemy' then, and I don't know if I ever could describe you as such, even in the nineties when I had good reason too.
I stood level with Sir Jimmy Greenhoff when he volleyed in the prototype Crouch-volley (against York, night game?) and I have Stoke mates swelling the Spurs FA Cup crowd. I enjoyed and apreciated Seth Bottomley, a fine zine, and read DIG and The VPB when I get my hands on them. I appreciate why you really don't like us and yet I understand and am not surprised at the thread dedicated to my dad - Peter Bunn.
Dad is the first close member of my family I've lost. God it hurts, but the strength me and my family have got through The Oatcake and then reading OVF has been beyond belief. Kindness costs nothing but makes you a millionaire in my eyes. You didn't have to/need to do it, but that's what makes you proper Potteries folk. I would like to think that The Oatcake would have done exactly the same if the reverse happened, god forbid - indeed, if I saw similar then I would start a thread myself.
I have some great Vale mates - Chris Rogerson, Andy Griffin and his dad Ken being three. I now feel like I have a few more. And for that, I will forever be grareful, and I sincerely hope you go up this season. Although I will take bucketloads of sap if you don't - because we are all football fans, aren't we, and banter is part of our manifesto. The day it stops is the day I stop. It's expected.
So many, many heartfelt thanks to you all. Keep having pops at Stoke as that's what it's all about - but also, make sure you buy your loved ones Xmas pressies they'd love this festive period, get them that Vale manager's coat that might cost a bit more than you've got in your wallet but they deserve - and then give your loved ones a massive hug. That would make a normal lad from the Potteries very happy.
All the best,
Källa: onevalefan.co.uk
BUNNY
I've always thought Stoke fans of a certain generation/vintage feel differently than the younger element of our support. There's always been an undercurrent of respect, understanding and a doff of the cap to those who follow a team that has chosen them, and not the other way around.
I'm 44, my dad was 72. Despite the banter, cheap digs and, especially in the fanzine I edited, numerous jibes at those in black and white, it was always done with standards. Those standards are simply to pay due respect to anyone who follows their club. There was never anything malicious - we speak the same, we breathe the same Potteries air, we work together, we drink together, we sometimes even marry into the 'enemy'.
Stoke City have always been my club, my dad's club.
But as someone of a certain age, and with Vale supporting mates, I spent many hours as a kid watching Vale on Monday nights. It was another game to go to. You were never the 'enemy' then, and I don't know if I ever could describe you as such, even in the nineties when I had good reason too.
I stood level with Sir Jimmy Greenhoff when he volleyed in the prototype Crouch-volley (against York, night game?) and I have Stoke mates swelling the Spurs FA Cup crowd. I enjoyed and apreciated Seth Bottomley, a fine zine, and read DIG and The VPB when I get my hands on them. I appreciate why you really don't like us and yet I understand and am not surprised at the thread dedicated to my dad - Peter Bunn.
Dad is the first close member of my family I've lost. God it hurts, but the strength me and my family have got through The Oatcake and then reading OVF has been beyond belief. Kindness costs nothing but makes you a millionaire in my eyes. You didn't have to/need to do it, but that's what makes you proper Potteries folk. I would like to think that The Oatcake would have done exactly the same if the reverse happened, god forbid - indeed, if I saw similar then I would start a thread myself.
I have some great Vale mates - Chris Rogerson, Andy Griffin and his dad Ken being three. I now feel like I have a few more. And for that, I will forever be grareful, and I sincerely hope you go up this season. Although I will take bucketloads of sap if you don't - because we are all football fans, aren't we, and banter is part of our manifesto. The day it stops is the day I stop. It's expected.
So many, many heartfelt thanks to you all. Keep having pops at Stoke as that's what it's all about - but also, make sure you buy your loved ones Xmas pressies they'd love this festive period, get them that Vale manager's coat that might cost a bit more than you've got in your wallet but they deserve - and then give your loved ones a massive hug. That would make a normal lad from the Potteries very happy.
All the best,
Källa: onevalefan.co.uk
BUNNY
Tomas Silfver2012-12-10 00:10:00
