Tommy Clare was considered to be one of the first professional footballers at Stoke Football   Club, in fact he was one of seven, the plucky full-back signed up along with; Phillip Birch, Edgar Montford, Ted Smith, George Shutt, Alf Edge and Bernard Rhodes in August 1885; with each player in turn agreeing to a fee of half a crown per game (equivalent to 12p). Even in those days, although the term ‘football agents’ hadn’t yet been  thought of, money still became an issue, and when the club attempted to  introduce a different payroll for more experienced or senior players, they went  on strike...

Liverpool were defeated 3-1 by Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on Boxing Day 2012.

Stoke City's Jon Walters netted twice  to come from behind and win the match 3-1 after Steven Gerrard netted an early  penalty for the Reds in Staffordshire.