Transfer news

As Wolves sign their sixth new player of the summer (mind you Greg Halford formerly of Sunderland would hardly set the Wolves fans pulses racing) Stoke have yet to sign a new player. But hopefully this coming week will change that as the Oatcake MB and its regular posters with club contacts have hinted we could see two new players (Kevin Nolan of Newcastle Utd could be one of them) and maybe a couple depart (Dave Kitson seems most likely to be first out the door).

Pre-season training starts on Thursday 9th July followed by our first friendly against Newcastle Town on Saturday - be nice to see a few new faces by that game.

Signed Nik Kershaw items now online

Signed Nik Kershaw CD and signed photo now online and raising money for the Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust & Donna Louise Trust charities. All together now…’I won’t let the sun go down on me’

Signed CD  and signed photo

Thanks as ever for your continued support. More items online soon!

Signed Kelly Monteith DVD

Signed DVD from comedian KELLY MONTEITH. UK viewers may remember his rather good BBC TV series back in the 80’s and he also did a one-man stand up show at the Theatre Royal, Hanley back in the mid-80’s. The one sketch I remember was where he was in a car leading a group of people to a party and he kept getting lost with ensuing chaotic results – I can still picture my dad laughing away at this one

All funds go to the Parkinson’s Disease Society charity

Rory on his bike and the fixtures are out

Rory Delap starts his three day cycle ride from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Edinburgh today raising funds for the Donna Louise Trust. The total so far stands at £2,554
http://www.justgiving.com/stokecityfc

Stoke manager Tony Pulis has now raised a whopping £17,000 for the Dona Lousie Trust following his London marathon run back in April.
http://www.justgiving.com/tonypulis

Well done to both, make you proud to be a Potter and Stoke City supporter

Fixtures are out today and we face newly promoted Burnley at home on the first game of the season then Liverpool away. Last game of the season? Err Man Utd away

Full list of Stoke City fixtures can be found here

England going nowhere fast

England’s ICC World Twenty20 campaign ended somewhat creditably. They were unlucky to get the worst of a Duckworth Lewis-adjusted target against West Indies and made a good attempt at defending a low target.

The humiliating opening day defeat by Netherlands was not quite forgotten, but the wins over Pakistan and India prompted the management to suggest the team was improving in the format. This is wishful thinking.

As embarrassing as the Dutch defeat was, the more damaging defeat was that at the hands of South Africa. The tournament favourites are an impressive side, but England’s capitulation with the bat was so complete that suggestions of progression are nearly laughable.

All the old limited overs failings were present: the loss of early wickets, the middle order collapse and the total inability to rotate the strike or find the boundary. These characteristics were evident even in victory.

The bowling and fielding has admittedly been decent. Only James Anderson under-performed and the team did well to cover up the batting deficiencies with the ball.

England collectively lack the intent and ability to score quickly consistently, the key requirement of building a good Twenty20 target. Only Kevin Pietersen and Ravi Bopara have the ability to score rapidly naturally and the management needed to recognise this problem and include players who can, put simply, slog well.

Graham Napier was picked with this in mind, but did not make it into the starting 11. Instead Dimitri Mascarenhas was elevated to position of premier power hitter, a job beyond his limited batting capabilities – he was promoted to number four against India and barely played an aggressive shot in his sedate innings.

Luke Wright can score quickly but lacks the technique to prosper against quality pace bowling at the top of the order. England are too reliant on Pietersen and will not succeed in Twenty20 cricket until a formula for scoring big totals is found.

Not for the first time a rethink is required. The World Twenty20 is next year to become an annual event, so the rethinking process had better start now, especially if Twenty20  is to provide real excitement in the future.

By Philip Oliver

Transfer rumour mill…

The transfer rumour mill swings into overdrive especially over on the Oatcake MB where various posters claim to have insider info or have heard from a friend of the tea lady’s second cousin a player rumour. Below are a few more likely rumours although as ever knowing Tony Pulis he will sign a couple of players no-one had on their radar…
Incoming…

Cisse for a record fee keeps being mentioned. Would be a good signing but he is very similar in style to Fuller plus he tends to go missing in the later part of the season as he did at Sunderland.

Peter Crouch currently at Portsmouth, although can’t see this happening myself.

Villa’s Steve Sidwell is ‘99%’ according to some on the Oatcake MB. He did very well whilst at Reading but lost his way at Villa, hopefully he would be better unlike fellow ex-Reading player Dave Kitson.

Long term Pulis target Joe Ledley at Cardiff is again doing the rounds especially as the player is refusing to sign a new contract.

Two Newcastle players being linked with us are Kevin Nolan (bet he’s glad he left Bolton in January!) and Alan Smith. Yes please to Nolan but no thanks to Smith, he is past his best now.

Last season’s loanee Stephen Kelly looks set to sign permanently from Birmingham where he is currently third choice right back. Good signing provided we don’t pay too much for him. UPDATE 16th June – Kelly has today signed for Fulham.

Outgoing…

Former captain Andy Griffin is being linked with another of his former clubs, Newcastle although any move would be some way off as Newcastle are up for sale, managerless and haven’t even arranged any pre-season friendlies yet. Newcastle defender Bebe may come in the other direction which would be a brilliant piece of business if it goes ahead. I’d be very surprised if Griffin is still at Stoke come August.

Thomas Sorenson has been the subject of rumours of a possible move to Bayern Munich although he did tell the ‘Sentinel’ recently he was happy at Stoke and had no plans to leave the club. Certainly hope he stays as he proved the best signing last summer out of Fulop and Carson.

Matthew Etherington maybe heading back down south possibly to Fulham as apparently he hasn’t settled well. I hope he does stay as although he failed to score and has not proved a massive hit yet give him a full pre-season and I am sure he will prove his worth.

Michael Tonge is linked with a few clubs but again given a decent pre-season, he should along with Danny Pugh and Tom Soares give us some decent squad cover in midfield.

Although not linked with any clubs yet Carl Dickinson is my bet for leaving the club as he can’t seem to break into the match day squad.

Sweden Rocks 2009 review

IAN POLLARD’s cracking Sweden Rocks 2009 review…

http://www.getreadytorock.com//features/sweden_rock09.htm#

10 Q’s with LOU GRAMM…

http://www.getreadytorock.com//10questions/lou_gramm.htm

Signed DEEP PURPLE CD…

Signed by JON LORD a copy of DEEP PURPLE’s ‘Concerto For Group and Orchestra’ now on Ebay and raising funds for the RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People)…

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=300321827073

Mastedon are back

Oh how cool is this news…Mastedon released two great albums featuring Dave Amato (REO SPEEDAWGON), Dave Pack and many more. They are classic albums and overdue a full re-issue…can’t wait for this new album.

Frontiers Records announces proudly the signing of Mastedon featuring former Kansas singer John Elefante for the release of the long awaited third studio album.

John Elefante’s name came to prominence in 1981 when he became the new lead singer and keyboardist for Kansas. John sang the lead vocals and performed keyboards on three multi – Platinum albums with band, giving also a major songwriting contribution. In 1984, together with his brother Dino, he started to become involved for the first time in producing the Christian act Sweet Comfort Band. Soon the couple became one of the most renowned producers in the genre, in particular their tenure with Petra brought multiple gold and platinum albums, 10 consecutive CCM Magazine Reader’s Choice Awards, induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Hard Rock Cafe, and the only artist to ever have 4 albums in the SoundScan top-100 Christian chart.
Elefante also felt the songwriting muse and formed a metal band with his brother, Mastedon. The band’s name was a pachyderm-inspired reference to the brothers’ last name. Although John was an accomplished vocalist and performer, the Mastedon albums featured multiple lead singers and performances by other artists, creating an eclectic sound anchored by John’s songwriting. His brother Dino played a prominent role, contributing songwriting and handling most of the guitar work. Mastedon’s first release was titled “It’s a Jungle Out There!” (1989). A year later, the band released “Lofcaudio”. This album continued the guest performance theme, though John sang more of the lead vocals. Unfortunately, John and Dino’s production schedule preempted any touring to commercially support the album. Even so, the albums charted at #25 and #10, respectively in the Billboard Top Contemporary Christian chart. To this day, they are still considered classics in the genre.
John and Dino then formed their own record label, Pakaderm. Given their intense recording schedules, John and Dino decided to build their own recording studio in Nashville, the Sound Kitchen which soon became one of the largest complex studios in the USA, with artists such as Elton John and Bruce Springsteen that used it for their recording. In 1996 John started a solo career that brought him to release three successful albums more in the Adult Contemporary – Pop Rock vein.
After a few years of hiatus, John is now working on a new Mastedon album that – contrary to the predecessors – will only feature his amazing lead vocals. Musically, the new album will hearken back to the best of Mastedon and to his work with Kansas.

“Mastedon has far surpassed my expectations as far as longevity and shelve life” says John. “I would say it has garnered somewhat of a cult following. I have people from 17 years old to 50 something that still ask me about Mastedon and will there ever be another one? My answer has always been “I don’t know” But the writing is on the wall that after all this time, it is time to deliver a new Mastedon record and mainly because people that loved the first 2 can’t be ignored any longer. This record will differ in some ways and others it won’t. Being the majority songwriter there will be obvious similarities in style. I will be singing everything so that will change a bit from prior Mastedon projects. Also the sonic quality will be very much up to date. Rich melodic harmonies and melodies are the keys to a Mastedon record. This record will most certainly be the beginning of a new chapter in my life both musically and lyrically. One day you turn around and it’s been 10 years since you’ve done a project, but when it really sinks in that you were put on this earth to something, YOU MUST DO IT !!!”

Frontiers salutes the return of a legendary artist and looks set to release Mastedon III in the fall of 2009.

Five Quick Q’s with…

LEC ZORN released an album chock full of melodic rock and AOR treats back in 2007. Here Lec gets us right up to date with what he’s been up to…

1. What are you currently up to? (e.g. recording, gigs etc.)

I’m currently working on a studio album with a new band, which evolved from the live band I formed for Z Rock 2009. I began working on new a few new songs with some of those musicians and the original plan was for those songs to go on my second album with The Lec Zorn Project. But I realized that collectively, we had created a very cool and unique sound and that we should make a whole album together. We don’t have a name yet, but we probably will very soon. The album contains original material written by me and three others – Gareth Noon on keyboards and Chris Gould on guitar, both from the UK band Serpentine, and Mai-Helen from Norway on vocals. In addition, the album will feature many other great melodic rockers from around the world. They sound of the album is similar to my first album but more keyboard oriented and a sound more from the late ‘80s and early ‘90s than the early-to-mid-‘80s. The album is tentatively scheduled for release in November and I think that people who love my first album will love this one even more.

In addition, I’m preparing to perform a concert with The Lec Zorn Project on June 11 in my hometown, Madison, Indiana, for its 200th birthday. It will be my hometown debut.

2. How have the sales and reviews been going on the Lec Zorn Project CD? Have you seen interest continue as many releases appear in a blitz of publicity only to disappear from view a few months down the line?

Much to my pleasant surprise, every single review I’ve read of my first album – about 25 – has been positive. Sales have slowed down in recent months, but I think they’ll pick up again.

3. You were down for this year’s Z Rocks festival but had to cancel your appearance. What sort of set had you planned for the show and why did you decide to cancel?

The set was to be 55 minutes and comprised of:

The Rush of Passion’s Fire

Going the Distance

At the Speed of Light (new)

Heaven Or Heartbreak (new)

Starting All Over Again

Fighting Chance

We Belong (Serpentine)

You Keep Me in the Dark

Paradise Restored (new)

Cherokee

Play the Game Tonight

Second Chance

Give it All (new)

I withdrew from the festival because I never received a contract, despite having been promised one and having inquired about it several times from November-April. Being invited to perform at that festival, sharing the stage with so many artists, was a tremendous honor. But I wasn’t willing to travel thousands of km to perform a festival without the security of a contract. After the disastrous Rock-It Fest two years ago, I’m determined to never get screwed again in this business. I felt very sad about my withdrawal. I was very much looking forward to the festival, to meeting many of my friends and fans in the UK, which is one of my best selling countries, and to visiting the UK for the first time. I hope to perform there in the near future, preferably during football season, so I can attend my first match!

4. Do you think the age of record labels is nearing an end and that the future will be artists releasing their own albums/music via websites, ITunes, Amazon etc.

We’re already seeing that and I think the trend will continue. Most artists, provided they are good at self-promotion, will probably make far more money as indies rather than with a record company, and they’ll have total artistic control. To me, it’s the only option that makes sense in about 99.5% of all cases. Being an indie does mean that you have almost no chance to achieve mainstream radio airplay, but if you promote your music well enough to internet/satellite stations in your genre, get a lot of good publicly on web pages dedicated to your genre, and build a good live following, you can still sell very well. The internet is the best thing to ever happen to indies. It’s an awesome tool that enables us to reach out target audience very easily and at almost no cost.

5. Any recent music/books/films you would recommend?

I recently discovered a great melodic rock band from Spain called Hardreams, who sounds even more like Survivor than I do, which I didn’t realize was possible! I’ve listened to very little new music in recent months, simply because my time has been so filled with other things, but I hope to catch up on that very soon! I do very little reading, sadly, but I recently discovered a gem of a movie titled “Falling from Grace.” It’s from 1992 and stars my fellow Hoosier (Indianan) John Mellencamp, whose music I’ve never been a big fan of, but the movie is phenomenal. It was filmed in my native southern Indiana and is a flawless presentation of life there. I tell my friends around the world to watch that movie if they want to learn about my home area. And all bias aside, I strongly recommend my brother’s new mystery/drama “Trail of Crumbs” – http://www.trailofcrumbs.com – which is on the American film festival circuit. And I’m currently working on a drama titled “Soldier’s Song” about a paralyzed Vietnam veteran, which I hope will be on the film festival circuit within a few months. And though I discovered it four years ago, I still like to plug “Nói albinói” from Iceland, from Dagur Kári, my all time favorite foreign movie. It’s fascinating both as a character study and a portrayal of life in one of the most isolated towns in the world. Keep in mind, though, that I’m a nordophile!

Message for your fans…

Thanks so much for your continued interest and support. I will always appreciate it tremendously and never take it for granted. I hope you’ll continue to enjoy my past and future music and I hope to see you at a concert soon, somewhere in the world!

 

ERIC RAGNO is the keyboard player to the stars having appeared on many albums plus he has been working on his own bands CHINA BLUE (check this album out, released last eyar with TNT’s Tony Mills on vocals) and VOX TEMPUS…

1. What are you currently up to? (e.g. recording, gigs etc.)

Man it has been SO busy this month!  I did a song for the new Liberty n Justice CD featuring Stephen Chesney & Shawn Pelata of Waking Jonah, a track called For Better or Worse.  It went so well that I was invited to work on the band’s debut album, and we did a few more songs this month.  I also finished another track for Savage Paradise, featuring Graham Bonnet (vocals), Mario Parga (guitars), Tim Luce (bass) & Kevin Valentine (drums). I wrote six new songs for a new project called Skeleton Key featuring Lee Smalls (vocals) and Andreas Edman (drums), and others to be announced.  And I did a showcase in Hollywood last month with Steven Cooke & his all star band.  Steven just recorded a new song for an Audi ad campaign.  All in all, a busy month!

2. China Blue have been deservedly getting some rave reviews. Are you planning to tour at all and will there be a follow-up album?

We were committed to do Z Rock in 2010, but there has been a lot of controversy surrounding that organization lately, so we’ll have to see how that plays out.  All the guys in this band stay busy with their main gigs, but we all really want to play these songs out.  I’m hoping we can explore more festival opportunities in the coming months.  As for a follow-up record, Frontiers has said they would like to discuss is once the summer is over. The band gets on well together and obviously we have a lot more to say!

3. Is there any news on when the Vox Tempus album will be finally released through Angel Milk Records? Did the Z Records version ever get an official release and distribution?

The Z Records version never got released, and there have been some shakeups over at Angelmilk that have delayed their version as well!  It’s a shame – we released the Vox Tempus as a small indie release back in 2004 to RAVE reviews, but most of the world still haven’t heard it!  I’d love to get this thing a proper release overseas, if we could find a way to make it work.

4. Do you think the age of record labels is nearing an end and that the future will be artists releasing their own albums/music via websites, ITunes, Amazon etc.

The role of the label has been greatly reduced over the years, no doubt.  With China Blue, we had the option to release it ourselves, as we did with Vox Tempus before it.  But the outcome is considerably different.  With Vox we didn’t have a budget or the proper connections to get that record out properly to the masses.  We had a tiny advertising budget and relied on online retailers to help with distribution.  In contrast, China Blue relied heavily on Frontiers to get the word out, to see that the CD was distributed to the proper channels (as well as a Japanese release) and to set up interviews and place ads on all the rock radio and print magazines out there in the world.  And of course they helped us recoup most of our costs right away. So you can definintely do it yourself, no doubt – but it takes a lot of work, time and money and frankly I’d rather spend that time making music. 

5. Any recent music/books/films you would recommend?

Definitely check out the new Fireworks magazine, which features a two page interview with me regarding China Blue and my ongoing endeavours!  Outside of that, the new Star Trek movie is pretty awesome. 

Message for your fans…

Be sure to stop by my website at www.keyboardplayer.net for all the latest info, or better yet become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Keyboardist-Eric-Ragno/22071037460 to keep up with the latest breaking news!

Rory Delap bike ride for Donna Louise Trust

Well done Rory Delap – a true Stoke City legend…

For the second year running Rory Delap has kindly decided to raise vital funds for our local Children’s Hospice. 

After recovering from last year’s cycle, Rory Delap, Andrew Brentnall and their team have decided to cycle from Edinburgh to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. This is a grueling 202 mile trek and will take around 3 days to complete. We hope everyone gets behind them and shows their support for them all!

Please dig deep and sponsor us online.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Donna Louise Trust will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 22% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor us now!
http://www.justgiving.com/stokecityfc

The summer transfer rumours are in full swing

Man Utd’s Paul Scholes to Stoke? That’s what amny papers are saying today a couple of days after the Oatcake MB first had rumours of this possible signing. If he did sign it would be as a player/coach.

Man City striker Ched Evans for £2m reckons the Guardian – he has mixed reviews but at 21 has room to improve and is streets ahead of Pericard.

A young goalkeeper as well is in our sights apparently with former Stokie Ben Foster now at Man Utd, on a season long loan one name. The other is Coventry City’s Westwood.

Cisse is again linked with Stoke and the Metro has us and Pompey after Everton striker Yakubu. Now that you could see as he has been crocked for most of this season and we do like our recovering crocks at Stoke.

Classic Rock Newswire forum

www.atfreeforum.com/crnewswire/

For discussions on all things classic rock, metal, AOR, melodic rock and hard rock plus football, politics, gig meet ups & more.

Paul Kossoff (FREE/BACKSTREET CRAWLER) remembered…

Interviewed by his daughter Besty, Mike Green on his time working with Paul Kossoff in his Back Street Crawler days…

http://www.getreadytorock.com/rock_stars/paul_kossoff.htm

Arsenal 4-1 Stoke City

Good job we didn’t need points to stay up today. At least Fuller got us a goal.

Newcastle went down as the four teams threatend with relegation all lost today. Middlesboro join Newcastle and West Brom in the Championship next season.

Rumour time is upon us again and Man Utd’s Paul Scholes to Stoke? Well that’s one doing the rounds on the Oatcake MB. Doubtful as I’d expect he stay on as a coach or go to Oldham, Man Utd’s retirement home for old players. Sunderland’s on loan striker Cisse is another possible signing and he would be more likely of the two.

Bye bye Pericard and thanks for nothing…

The summer transfer changes start at Stoke as Vincent Pericard is given a free transfer. One of the worst players I have seen at Stoke for many years and he won’t be missed. Port Vale here’s your new summer signing…

Players coming into Stoke? Well the rumour mill goes into overdrive over the summer and already players like Liverpool’s Ryan Babel is being linked with a season long loan. Despite mixed reviews from Liverpool fans he’d be a hit at Stoke I am sure.

Player of the Season awards & pre-season friendlies announced

Fans’ Player of the Season: Abdoulaye Faye

Players’ Player of the Season: Abdoulaye Faye

Coaching Staff’s Player of the Season: Rory Delap

Young Player of the Season: Ryan Shawcross

Top Goalscorer: Ricardo Fuller

Goal of the Season: Ricardo Fuller (versus Aston Villa H)

Academy Player of the Season: Andrew Nicholls

Pre-season friendlies…(players are back in training on 9th July)

July 12th Newcastle Town/Nantwich Town (would have thought the more seinor players and any trialists would play at the Newcastle fixture)

July 15th-22nd July Austrian tour

July 25th Preston NE (A)

July 29th Notts Forest (A)

August 1st Derby County (A)

August 7th (Home friendly TBA)

August 15th Premiership season starts!

Stoke City 2-0 Wigan

Well done the boys again with a home win on out last home game of this season. Fuller and Beattie got the goals with the players doing a lap of honour at the end of the game.

THANK YOU Stoke players, Tony Pulis and the club for a great season. Come on the mighty Potters next season!

New interviews – HERMAN FRANK (ACCEPT), BURNING POINT…

THUNDERSTICK (Ex-SAMSON), HERMAN FRANK (ex-ACCEPT),

MICHAEL T ROSS (ANGEL/HARDLINE), BURNING POINT…
http://www.getreadytorock.com/10questions.htm

FOGHAT…(interviews with all four current band members)
http://www.getreadytorock.com/rock_stars.htm

COVERED CALL…(cracking melodic hard rockers)
http://www.getreadytorock.com/rising_stars.htm

The Seven Deadly Sins of Football

Interesting series coming from the Guardian and Observer this next week - the Seven Deadly Sins of Football. Mind you I am not sure I want reminding of David Mellor’s toe sucking exploits in ‘Lust’…

Sloth #49: Pistone gets a sheep’s heart

Secret Santa theoretically provides an opportunity to get a colleague an ingenious Christmas gift (or spend as little as possible safe in the knowledge that they won’t know you are the skinflint). But in 1998, Newcastle’s footballers took it as an opportunity to tell other members of the squad what they really thought of them. Especially those pesky foreigners. The Italian full-back Alessandro Pistone was given a sheep’s heart, as a sign of his perceived commitment, or lack thereof. Duncan Ferguson, who had done time in 1995, was given a prison’s shirt. And Dietmar Hamann – he’s German, you see – unwrapped a copy of Mein Kampf. Suddenly a deodorant set from Superdrug didn’t seem so bad.

For more sinful-tales of footballing misdemeanours, see our seven-part series with:

16 May – Greed featuring David Beckham and Ashley Cole
17 May – Pride featuring Andrei Arshavin and Mike Ashley
18 May – Wrath featuring Craig Bellamy and Roy Keane
19 May – Envy featuring Bruce Grobbelaar

Hull City 1-2 Stoke City

YES! We are staying up! Well done to Tony Pulis, the players, the club and the fans. Great result today, only our second away win of the season with goals from Fuller and Lawrence, fittingly two players who helped us into the Premiership this time last year.

Great to be safe with two games to go and now we can spend the summer speculating who we may sign and who will leave. Pericard must be going surely?

Stoke City 0-1 West Ham

Only our fourth defeat at home this season and only the fourth (and final) team to do the double over Stoke this season. We battled but couldn’t get the equaliser so another week of fretting over whether we will stay up…and then its Hull away next weekend.

Still at least West Brom can’t catch us now as they lie 11 pts behind us with only 9 pts left to play for. Helped as well today by Boro, Portsmouth and Blackburn all losing today.

Well done Tony Pulis in today’s London Marathon

Well done Tony Pulis on completing the London Marathon today in 4 hrs 31 mins (he beat my PB of 4 hrs 38 mins set back in 1999!) and over £15,000 (including a £5,000 donation from Stoke chairman Peter Coates – top man!) he has raised for the Donna Louise Trust. Well done as well to everyone else who completed the marathon today.

Well done to the mighty Bees Brentford as well on being promoted and League Two champions. Shame Port Vale stayed in the League though…

Fulham 1-0 Stoke City not a major surprise seeing as we have only won once away from home so far all season and Fulham are very good at home. But at least Hull, Sunderland and Boro all lost so we still need just a point or better still a win, from our remaining four games to stay up. West Ham next at home…mmm maybe another defeat as they are desperate to get a place in the Europa League next season but a draw would be an excellent result.

Stoke City 1-0 Blackburn

A vital three points takes us up to 39 pts and another win from our last five matches will see us safe. Great to see Liam Lawrence score today and from a James Beattie flick on!

Wolves finally made the Premiership today after clinching promotion and Leicester are back in the Championship after their first attempt. But a former Premiership team sinks into League One for the first time since 1981, Charlton Athletic. Last week sadly saw Luton Town leave the league as they were never going to overcome their 30 point deduction.

Just Giving page – Adrian Chiles & Chris Jericho signed books

There is a Just Giving page here for the Shooting Star Children’s Hospice should you wish to support the Great Bid ‘N’ Buy Fundraiser but none of the Ebay auctions take your fancy.

Plus now live are a signed copy of the excellent book by ‘MOTD 2′ presenter and West Brom fan Adrian Chiles ‘We Don’t Know What We’re Doing’ and a signed copy of WWF/WWE wrestler turned metal star Chris Jericho’s book ‘A Lion’s Tale’.

New charity auction – signed Chris Jericho t-shirt (WWF/WWE)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=300308191291

New interviews with RICK WAKEMAN, PENDRAGON and BLAZE BAYLEY

Rick Wakeman discusses his two shows on May 1st and 2nd at Hampton Court Palace performing  his album ‘The Six Wives Of Henry VIII’. Nick Barrett of Pendragon talks about the band’s latest and possibly best album to date, ‘Pure’. Finally Joe Geesin interviews former Iron Maiden and Wolfsbane vocalist Blaze Bayley.

Stoke City 1-1 Newcastle Utd

A hard earned point although if we had put away one of our numerous chances we could have won the game. Still another point towards safety and Blackburn at home next weekend is another must win game.

Pottermouth is back and this time he’s rapping!

The mystery man Pottermouth is back with a rap to keep Stoke up. You can view it here

Come on the mighty Potters!!!

West Brom 0-2 Stoke City

Yes! Our first away win this season against the old foe West Brom/Brazil. Ricardo Fuller tormented West Brom again and James Beatie made sure we got the vital three points. Next up? Shearer’s Newcastle come to the Britannia Stadium…