It is 23 years since Stoke last graced the top flight in English football, and since then there have been ups (a few) and downs (many). Included in these ups are 4 previous ocassions when Stoke have been the best team outside of the Premier League.
The first ocassion came in the 1996-97 season under Lou Macari. The expectation for the season was high as the team had lost in the play-offs to Leicester the previous year, and also this was to be the last season at the Victoria Ground The season had started well due to victories at Oldham (with Ian Cranson in goal) and at home to Manchester City (the end of Alan Ball's managerial reign) and Bradford. Stoke travelled to Elm Park and gained a point against Reading thank to goals from Mike Sheron (5th of the season) and Richard Forsyth which sent them to the top of the tree. This was the clubs highest position since the horror season of 84-85 had seen all records broken and Stoke drop out of the First Division. The spell at the top only lasted until the following day when Bolton beat QPR, and the season petered out thanks to money being diverted to stadium building rather than players and Lou Macari being distracted by his court case with Celtic. Stoke left the Vic for the Brit, and 12 months later Stoke left for the third flight of English football.
There was then a long wait for the next taste of the summit in 2003-04 under Tony Pulis. The previous season had seen a last day escape from relegation thanks to Ade Akinbiyi against Reading, and this season had started with a stunning 3-0 victory away to Derby. The Potters then followed this up with a 2-1 victory at home to Wimbledon thanks to goals from Carl Asaba and a last minute Wayne Thomas header, and they were then sitting on top of the league. This stay was again short lived as a 1-1 draw away at Walsall saw them lose top spot, and the team then plunged down the league before rallying to a mid-table finish.
The next season Stoke hit the top after 8 games with a 3-2 victory over Ipswich with Wayne Thomas (2) and Ade Akinbiyi scoring the goals. We again failed to keep up with the pace though as binary football took over and Stoke went through a run of 17 league games with no more than 1 goal. This eventually saw the Icelanders get rid of TP and replace him with the inimitable and unforgetable Johan Boskamp.
We then had to wait until earlier this season for the next spell at the summit after a televised 2-1 victory at home to Charlton thanks to Fuller and The Beast. This time though, despite a dodgy spell, Stoke have kept up with the pace and maintained their promotion challenge.
And so to Friday 15th February. Stoke went top thanks to Liam Lawrence and Richard Cresswell, and stayed there thanks to Watford and Bristol City both dropping points.Stoke are not in a unique position, but this time it is different. This time it is February and there are 33 games gone. This time we have had our dodgy patch. This time we have quality and backbone. This time we have a manager spending money and a chairman giving it away. This time we can be here for more than 1 game.
This time we will do it!