ALTHOUGH evidence of competitive matches taking place is thin on the ground, it is widely believed the football club was formed in 1863 by pupils of the Charterhouse School while working as apprentices at the North Staffordshire Railway works in Stoke.
The club's first name was Stoke Ramblers and the team's first documented match was in October 1868 when they played EW May XV at the Victoria Cricket Club ground. The club's founder, Henry Almond, was also captain and scored the club's first ever goal.
The newly-founded club was proving quite a hit in the city and in 1875 rising attendances forced the team to move from the Victoria Cricket Club ground to Sweetings Field.
In 1878 the club merged with Stoke Victoria Cricket Club to become known as Stoke Football Club. As part of the merger the club moved to the Athletic Club ground, which would later become the team's first home - the Victoria Ground.
It was exciting times for the new club and they adopted the red and white stripes for their kit.
In 1885, 15 years after it was founded, the club turned professional.
In doing so, Stoke became one of the 12 founding members of the football league when it was introduced in 1888. Stoke lined up against Preston North End, Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion, Accrington, Everton, Burnley, Derby County and Notts County.
However the team struggled in its first two seasons and twice finished bottom.
In 1914 the First World War meant the league was suspended for a period of four years until it recommenced in August 1919. During this period Stoke entered the Lancashire Primary and Secondary leagues. They won that league in 1918 and finished runners-up behind Everton in 1919. During that period, forward Bob Whittingham scored 86 goals in four years.
The club had also played in the Birmingham and Southern Leagues.