VICTORIA GROUND AND THE GENTLEMAN OF FOOTBALL

FROM BUTLER ST ENTRANCE A LITTLE OF VICTORIA PARK FIXTURES STILL IN PLACE

During the close season the blog has popped in to have a look at a few non league grounds to see how they are progressing in the close season and a couple of weeks ago took a look at the Baseball Ground, former home of Derby County.

The latter have a nice little statue/monument in memory to the former glories of the site which is now adorned with houses and a selection of pictures featured on the Facebook page [we all stand together] including in the comments was a reference to Stoke City's former home The Victoria Ground and the sad state this was now in.  So with those thoughts in mind and a little research the blog decided to pop along for a trip up memory lane and imagine, much like The Baseball Ground, the excitement, players and glory days witnessed in the Potteries.
The plan was to visit the former ground before moving on to take in the clubs new home, more of that experience later and then onto the birthplace of Sir Stanley Mathews Stoke's most famous and admired son.

THE VICTORIA HOTEL NOW UNUSED FOLLOWING YEARS OF MATCHDAY TRADE

Upon on departure from Stoke station I remembered the walk that on a few previous visits I had made to the ground, under the railway line and over the canal bridge before passing the Minster before turning into the narrower terraced streets that made up many a Football League ground of the day.  This blog is not intended to be a full historical account indeed there are many of these on the internet including an excellent site dedicated to The Victoria Ground.  But suffice to say nearing the end of its time it had been the longest FL ground in use 119 years from 1878 to its closure in 1997.

THE SIGNS ARE STILL THERE AT THE ENTRANCE TO BOOTHEN OLD RD

Approaching the ground the streets were quiet save for an old lady with shopping trolly wheeling back to here house now overlooking a fenced off derelict field.  I couldn't help but wonder what tales she may be able to tell about the past surrounding the ground.  Stanley Mathews as a young man starting out at Stoke City and having read his biography a few years back now and the closeness he had to the fans walking to the ground with them on a match day, travelling on the local bus etc.  How times have changed in football today Sir Stan was clearly a footballer who didn't lose touch with the fans at his passing in 2000 it was reported that 100,000 people lined the streets of Stoke to pay their respects, amazing.  On many of the sites you read about a man who had time for supporters autograph yes but then a handshake oh also a chat as well-how times have changed and how football as left behind its roots.  I didn't see him play but did have the pleasure of seeing him in the 80's being presented to the players before a Chesterfield v Notts County game at Saltergate.  Well I remember the efforts made by the locals to clear the pitch and Oxford referee Dennis Hedges to get the game on and their esteemed visitor.
Back to the ground and at the junction of the Boothen Old Rd to the right is the large, but now unused, Victoria Hotel with its old red Marstons sign still visible.  Again one can only guess of the many pre match/after match pints taken with discussions around the game as supporters swarmed to the ground.

FROM THE ANGLE OF THE STOKE END STAND AND CORNER OF BUTLER ST STAND BY THE FORMER CAR PK.  YOU CAN STILL SEE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE GROUND WITH THE GRASS MOUND TO THE LEFT AND CONTINUING TO THE RIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE PICTURE FOR THE BOOTHEN END.

The small passageway which now runs behind the old Stoke end was accessible running behind the terraces and to the small finale of Butler St which housed the stand running opposite the main stand and also a car park at an angle.  Here there are still one if not two of the original security doors still in situ showing some slight wear and tear to the red paint. 

THE ONCE MAIN STAND TO THE LEFT WAS TIGHT TO BOOTHEN OLD RD,
WITH FORMER SUPPORTERS CLUB[?] TO THE RIGHT

Back up Boothen Old Road and the tightness of the ground to its neighbouring terracing houses had to have been witnessed now that the 'wasteland' is fenced off with green metal spiked fencing.  Passing on the right a former bike workshop which I believe may have been the former supporters club bar, but I'm not 100% on this as my visits were during the 80's.


GLEBE ST TO THE LEFT THE FORMER MAIN STAND ENTRANCE

Onwards to Glebe St, directly opposite the main entrance, which housed on the end two terraces some club offices and again I believe at some stage a club shop, again faded memory here.  Continuing onwards to the Boothen End which to those who remember it was a massive terracing.  At this point there is a tarmac footpath which as also been gated off and it appears closed for perpetuity, although locals have clearly made a way in for a little dog walking. 

OLD GATE AND STEPS WITH TO THE LEFT COVERED SUPPORT BOUNDARY WELL AT THE BOOTHEN END

The boundary retaining wall remains in place and behind the former grounds fading red gates you can still witness the approach steps which must have had countless eager and exciting supporters tread their path.

LOOKING BACK TOWARDS THE STOKE END WITH THE BUTLER ST TO THE RIGHT

The grassed area on google maps still give away the lines touchline and half way if you look very closely and with some slight banking left you can even on a visit realise were the stands resided.
My last visit must have been in the 80's when I went along to see former Welsh referee Clive Thomas officiate his last game at the ground.  Hopefully Stoke fans will forgive me for any inaccuracies it was a ground I only visited on probably 3 occasions  but it was a visit that I enjoyed today if not somewhat sadly that this former football league ground looks so sad nearly 20 years since its closure.

ONE PERSONS MEMORY TO THE VICTORIA GROUND ON A WALL BY THE BOOTHEN END HOPEFULLY ACTS AS A REMINDER OF THE GENERATIONS WHO WALKED THESE STREETS TO SEE THEIR TEAM

SIR STANLEY REMEMBERED DAILY IN THE BUSY
HANLEY TOWN CENTRE

Onwards then to Stokes new ground a venue again I had probably watched a game on around three times.  Sadly there are no pictures of the ground due to the club making it clear by two separate officials that this was not allowed and unfortunately it was not too warm a welcome.  Its sad really because its a steady ground with a lovely memorial to Sir Stanley Mathews and it does make you wonder where football is going.  The blog is a genuine football fan and has had some lovely welcomes at other grounds during the close season and been greeted warmly......but of course rules are rules.
So onward back towards the city centre of Hanley and once again outside the main shopping centre and on a main thoroughfare there is the chance to further say hi to Sir Stanley Mathews in statue form.

A SIMPLE PLAQUE THAT SAYS IT ALL

The final leg of the journey took us a short stroll out of the town centre to Seymour St the birthplace of Sir Stanley Mathews where a plaque has now been installed on the terraced house.  As we walked back to the centre you had to wonder if we managed to walk in any of the footsteps the great man had trodden many years ago.
The constantly returning thought about today and Sir Stanley was summed up by the wall plaque 'footballer and gentleman'.