For anyone familiar with The YYY-Files, you’ll know that I’m in constant search for the answer to the question “why, why, why are you a Stoke fan?”. I’m given all sorts of reasons, from the silly to the sentimental. Some fell head over heels for the spine-tingling atmosphere of 08/09. Some forged an unbreakable bond with their family and friends. Some admired the club’s identity and how strongly it represents its community. Some made an arbitrary pledge of support because of a video game, a Match Attax sticker or a red and white shirt. Some had finally found their sense of belonging, of commitment, of purpose. Whatever you think of their reason, it’s triggered them to fight the same cause as hundreds of thousands of other supporters from all across the world.

Football is known as “the world’s game” and for good reason: it’s one of the phenomena that can turn that delinquent young lad from down the road into an international superstar in the space of a couple of years. Football’s everywhere: it’s forever on your television, it’s plastered across the products you buy, someone somewhere is talking about every minute detail of the sport that you can think of. There’s simply no escape. It makes it so easy to become a football fan and it’s what makes it such a commitment once you take the plunge. Having said this, I’ve always wondered: is there anything quite like being a Stoke City fan?