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40-odd ways Stoke City’s stadium has changed without you barely noticing

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There have been a couple of big changes to Stoke City’s stadium since it opened in August 1997 – but a lot more that might have almost passed you by. It’s not just a new corner and a big scoreboard that have made the Britannia-come-bet365 Stadium a different place over the following 23 years, even if it’s still just as windy. We have been going through our library of photographs to look back at how headquarters has evolved.

  1. An artist’s impression of how the Britannia Stadium was going to look.1 of 48

  2. Early plans for how the stadium was going to look.2 of 48

  3. The old writing on the seats in the month before the ground was opened.3 of 48

  4. The Britannia Stadium from above shortly after it had opened.4 of 48

  5. Workmen set up the front of the new stadium in 1997.5 of 48

  6. The original area set up for disabled fans.6 of 48

  7. Fans making their way to the Britannia Stadium on opening night.7 of 48

  8. Cheerleaders join in the celebrations at the official opening of Stoke City's new ground.
    Cheerleaders join in the celebrations at the official opening of Stoke City’s new ground.8 of 48

  9. Stoke City fans celebrate Richard Forsyth's goal at the new stadium.
    Stoke City fans celebrate Richard Forsyth’s goal at the new stadium.9 of 48

  10. Stoke City fans celebrate Richard Forsyth's goal at the new stadium.
    Stoke City fans celebrate Richard Forsyth’s goal at the new stadium.10 of 48

  11. Stoke v Swindon: Feet First... Richard Forsyth stretches for the ball
    Stoke v Swindon: Feet First… Richard Forsyth stretches for the ball11 of 48

  12. Former top jockey Willie Carson tests the Stoke City manager's saddle at the new home of Stoke City.
    Former top jockey Willie Carson tests the Stoke City manager’s saddle at the new home of Stoke City.12 of 48

  13. Sir Stan waves to the crowd after he official opened the new home of Stoke City.
    Sir Stan waves to the crowd after he official opened the new home of Stoke City.13 of 48

  14. Pottermus is seen in action at the official opening of the Britannia Stadium.
    Pottermus is seen in action at the official opening of the Britannia Stadium.14 of 48

  15. Sir Stanley Matthews waves to the fans as he officially opened the new home of Stoke City, the Britannia Stadium.
    Sir Stanley Matthews waves to the fans as he officially opened the new home of Stoke City, the Britannia Stadium.15 of 48

  16. All action for Stoke as they play at their new ground.
    All action for Stoke as they play at their new ground.16 of 48

  17. The Victoria Ground and Britannia Stadium seen from up high. Houses have now finally been build on the old Vic site.17 of 48

  18. A new footbridge to connect the stadium with the Michelin car park was opened in October 1997.18 of 48

  19. Then-manager Chris Kamara tried out a new cash machine at the stadium in 1998.19 of 48

  20. The original scoreboard at the Britannia Stadium.20 of 48

  21. A hint of Iceland was added in 1999, although this banner was only temporary.21 of 48

  22. Dennis Viollet Avenue, next to the Britannia Stadium, was opened by Dennis’s wife Helen Viollet in 2000.22 of 48

  23. Kevin Keegan unveiled the Sir Stanley Matthews statue behind the Boothen End in 2001.23 of 48

  24. The Sir Stanley Matthews statue was lit up at night for the first time in 2002.24 of 48

  25. Phil Rawlins set up a plaque to commemorate the miners who worked in collieries on the Trentham Lakes site.25 of 48

  26. Johan Boskamp sitting back in the old dug out.26 of 48

  27. A bust of John Ritchie was set up behind the Boothen End in 2008, unveiled by his grandchildren Laura Bloor, Sean Ritchie, Ellie Ritchie and Sarah Ritchie.27 of 48

  28. Stoke fans watching through the open corner after promotion in 2008.28 of 48

  29. Fans queuing up at the ticket office, which initially was uncovered.29 of 48

  30. The big screen in the south east corner was installed following Stoke’s promotion.30 of 48

  31. A new underpass to the stadium was opened in 2010.31 of 48

  32. Stoke and then-sponsors Britannia hung two huge mosaics on the side of the stadium in 2010, one of Abdoulaye Faye and one of Sir Stanley Matthews.32 of 48

  33. Ricardo Fuller helped decorate the family stand.33 of 48

  34. The old foldable tunnel at Stoke City FC
    The old foldable tunnel at Stoke City FC34 of 48

  35. Froghall Wharf
    That tunnel now leads to a shed in Froghall Wharf.35 of 48

  36. A signpost by the club shop showed the way to Stoke City’s Europa League opponents.36 of 48

  37. Old seats have been replaced stand by stand.37 of 48

  38. The Gordon Banks statue was put in place in May 2015 – on the day Stoke trounced Liverpool 6-1.38 of 48

  39. The Stanley Matthews mosaic blew down in late 2015, leaving behind a ghostly image of the winger in full stride.39 of 48

  40. Posh heated dugout seats were installed for Mark Hughes.40 of 48

  41. An artist’s impression of how the stadium would look with a second corner.41 of 48

  42. Up goes the new corner.42 of 48

  43. New glass – described as ‘frameless balustrades’ – was set up in front of the disabled bays.43 of 48

  44. A new big screen was set up in 2017.44 of 48

  45. The new corner was built and opened in 2017.45 of 48

  46. Stoke City's headquarters, the bet365 Stadium.
    How the stadium looks today. Imagine a lot more rain.46 of 48

  47. The bet365 Stadium from above in 2019.47 of 48

  48. A line from Pottermouth’s Battle Cry has been written on the wall in the Stoke City tunnel.48 of 48





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