TONY PULIS has issued a rallying call to supporters with Stoke City’s fifth season in the Barclays Premier League now less than a week away.
Pulis cast an eye over the opening games in the 2012-13 campaign and then commented: “We need our supporters as much as ever this season.”
City kick off their season with a visit to newly-promoted Reading before their first home match sees them take on Arsenal at the Britannia Stadium.
There are still a significant number of tickets left for the visit of Arsene Wenger’s side and so Pulis wants fans to get behind the team once again.
“This is going to be a tough season for us; everybody realises and recognises that it does get tougher,” said Pulis after City’s final pre-season game.
“The supporters have been the difference between us being successful and not being successful in the Premier League, so we need them behind us.
“The first eight matches make it as tough a start as we’ve had since we were promoted and we are going to have to scrap for every point.”
Pulis will be hoping that City’s fans will show the same passion and commitment that a small group of them did in the game at Sp Vgg Greuther Furth.
“I couldn’t believe it; you come out of the tunnel and there was a group of our supporters in among about 10,000 of them in their end singing Delilah,” said City’s boss as he struggled to make himself heard with fans continuing to chant away in the Trolli Arena long after the final whistle of the 1-1 draw with the Bundesliga newcomers.
“We’ve come to expect that support, but we’ll need more of it over the next ten months if we are going to continue our progress in the Premier League.”
Tickets are on general sale for the first home game of the season against Arsenal which takes place on Sunday 26th August with a 1.30pm kick-off.
The meeting with the Gunners is A* category in the matchday prices and these can be booked by going to www.scfcdirect.com.
Alternatively, they can be purchased in person at the Britannia Stadium Ticket Office or the Club Stores in the Potteries Shopping Centre and the Roebuck Centre in Newcastle-under-Lyme while the Ticket Office Hotline number is 01782 367599.