Throughout its long history, the badges of Stoke City FC have reflected both its local heritage and its strong connection to the city of Stoke-on-Trent. Many of the club’s crests have incorporated symbols associated with the region’s pottery industry and civic identity, helping to create a distinctive visual tradition.
The first known Stoke City crest appeared in 1882 and consisted of a stylised letter “S.” At the time, players would often stitch the emblem onto their shirts themselves, a practice that was common during football’s early years. The badge was used only briefly, and for many decades afterwards the club played without a regular crest.
A significant development came during the 1950s when Stoke began using the shield from the Stoke-on-Trent coat of arms. The civic crest reflected the club’s close relationship with the city and was worn intermittently until 1977. Like many English clubs of the period, Stoke relied on municipal heraldry rather than a dedicated football-specific badge.
In 1977, the club introduced a completely new and simpler crest. This design incorporated a Stafford knot, one of the most famous symbols of Staffordshire, together with a pottery kiln representing the region’s world-renowned ceramics industry. Red-and-white stripes were also included to reflect the club’s traditional colours. The badge successfully combined local identity with football symbolism and remained in use for fifteen years.
In 1992, Stoke adopted a more elaborate crest based on the full Stoke-on-Trent coat of arms. The design incorporated the city’s heraldic elements and prominently displayed the club’s name across the top of the badge. This version strengthened the connection between the football club and the city it represented.
A further redesign arrived in 2001. The modern badge retained the famous red-and-white stripes while adopting a cleaner shield design. For the first time, the club’s nickname, “The Potters,” was incorporated into the crest, paying tribute to Stoke-on-Trent’s historic pottery industry and the trade that has defined the region for centuries. The foundation year, 1863, was also included, highlighting Stoke City’s status as one of football’s oldest clubs.
In 2025, following an extensive supporter consultation process involving surveys, fan forums and discussions with supporter groups, Stoke City began work on a new club crest. Supporters were invited to vote on whether to retain the existing badge or adopt a redesigned identity inspired by the club's historic crest of 1977–1992.
In August 2025, the club confirmed that supporters had voted in favour of change, with 68% backing a new design. The crest, which will officially be introduced from the 2026–27 season, is a modern interpretation of the popular 1977–1992 badge. It reintroduces several traditional elements including the Staffordshire Knot, a bottle kiln representing Stoke-on-Trent's pottery heritage, the club's red-and-white stripes and the foundation year, 1863. The redesign was intended to strengthen the connection between the club, its supporters and the city's industrial history.
Stoke City FC Club History
Stoke City Football Club is one of the oldest and most historic clubs in world football. Founded as Stoke Ramblers in the 1860s, the club is recognised as a founding member of the Football League and is widely regarded as the second-oldest professional football club in the world. The club adopted the name Stoke Football Club in 1870 before becoming Stoke City in 1925, following the granting of city status to Stoke-on-Trent.
The Potters, as they are famously known, take their nickname from the pottery industry that made Stoke-on-Trent famous around the world. The connection between the club and the city’s industrial heritage remains a central part of Stoke’s identity to this day.
Stoke played at the Victoria Ground from 1878 until 1997, making it one of the longest-serving homes in English football. The stadium witnessed many of the club’s greatest moments before being replaced by a modern venue on the outskirts of the city. Since 1997, Stoke City has played its home matches at the bet365 Stadium, which has become the club’s modern home.
As one of the twelve founding members of the Football League in 1888, Stoke played a significant role in the development of organised football. Although the club spent much of its history moving between divisions, it established a reputation as a resilient and competitive side with strong local support.
One of the greatest players in the club’s history was Sir Stanley Matthews, widely regarded as one of the finest footballers ever produced by England. Matthews began and ended his legendary playing career with Stoke and remains one of the most iconic figures associated with the club.
For many years, major honours proved elusive. Stoke’s first significant trophy arrived in 1972 when they defeated Chelsea to win the League Cup. The victory remains one of the most important achievements in the club’s history and secured Stoke’s first major national honour.
Another landmark moment came in 2011 when Stoke reached the FA Cup Final for the first time. Although the club was defeated by Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, the achievement secured qualification for the UEFA Europa League and represented one of the most successful seasons in Stoke’s modern history.
The club enjoyed an extended period in the Premier League between 2008 and 2018, becoming an established top-flight side under manager Tony Pulis and later Mark Hughes. During this era, Stoke earned a reputation for being a difficult opponent and regularly competed against England’s biggest clubs.
Supporter culture plays an important role in the identity of Stoke City. The club’s official anthem, We’ll Be With You, was famously recorded by the players themselves and remains a popular part of the matchday experience at the bet365 Stadium.
Stoke’s traditional rivalries are with fellow Midlands clubs West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Derby County. However, the club’s fiercest rivalry is with nearby Port Vale. Matches between the two sides are known as the Potteries Derby and reflect the close proximity and shared history of the two clubs within Stoke-on-Trent.
